“‘…listen, and resolve to honor my name,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Malachi 2:1 (implied)
Christmas, being the most wonderful time of the year, has had me looking at life through a lens of mucus and ‘humbug!’ A week ago I intercepted a nasty cold virus, and lately, my main goal in life has been to simply breathe! Yesterday I felt terrible and apologized to the Church for what I felt was a terrible sermon! Then Scrooge came home to my opposite…Christmasland & and my Elf!
For the past week Katie has been decorating our house for Christmas. While I have been fighting for breath, popping pills and laying around trying to get better, SHE has been smearing the house with lights, baubles and the stuff of Joy! As of right now, there are 7 Christmas trees in our house! My dark office is the only room she HASN’T touched…yet!
I don’t like feeling this way! Because when I’m down and feeling ill, it is easy to let that spirit move in and set up camp. Last night I got up 5 times, and each time I could sense Scrooge looking down on me with satisfying contempt. He had me and knew it. Making my way back to bed, I passed the smallest tree, its light piercing the darkness. And something sparked.
When I awoke the 6th time, it was still dark. The clock said I had 30 minutes before the alarm would go off. I felt Scrooge start to grin at my feeling of despair. When the chill of the air met the warmth of my bed, I suddenly smiled and replied in gratitude, “Ahhhhh!” I thanked God for peace in the darkness, the light in my spirit and the Elf who lay beside me! Scrooge ran!
First thing this morning my Bible opened to Malachi 2, a depressing chapter! I found God dressing down the priests of that day for ACTING like I have been FEELING. Flipping the verse around in my head forced me to see that THEIR actions COULD actually become MY instruction! I could sense Jesus crooking His finger at me saying, “get over here!” And smiled because I knew what was coming.
‘Feeling follows Faith,’ is something I learned long ago. Unfortunately, being human, I have to KEEP learning it. God wants me to listen and RESOLVE to honor Him BEFORE I take stock of how I FEEL! Katie Elf doesn’t love decorating as much as she loves how it looks after she has decorated! Looking forward gives her the motivation to move in that direction. Lesson learned! THANK GOD this Scrooge lives with an Elf who loves Jesus!
Who lives with YOU?
