Hey, friend! Welcome to the Fierce Calling Podcast, where I usually talk with guests who are taking action where their passion, compassion, and conviction intersect, but not this week. This is Christmas week, and I am replaying an episode I recorded back in 2022, Are You Ready for Christmas? A Special Christmas Episode with a Christmas Poem & Prayer.

It was the year of Hurricane Ian, and our home flooded for the first time. Little did I know that two years later, we’d experience yet another house flood. But that first flood? It was a devastating event, but it was also a defining moment, because I would learn what true joy is all about and experience Christmas in a more profound way than ever before.

When all the fanfare is stripped away, what are we left with? We’re left with the only thing that really matters in the first place–family and a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

That first flood experience was taxing, emotionally and physically, but you know what? Not spiritually, because it was also the year I was in the midst of writing my Bible study, Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You, and although I didn’t know how much I personally was going to need that message, God knew. Nothing is a surprise to him. So if this season is a hard one for you, I invite you to pick up a copy.

Experiencing a flood comes with loss, but there are other reasons we might find Christmas to be hard, like someone missing someone at the table. We mourn those losses seemingly more deeply in the glow of twinkling lights and activities steeped in family traditions. And maybe your loss is of a different kind–loss of a relationship–loss of a career–loss of a dream. Life is hard and loss cuts deep, but what if we looked at Christmas and saw all we have gained because of Jesus. The year after the flood, we lost my dad, and the year after that, we flooded again.

Life has a way of changing channels, seemingly in the middle of a show, but when we experience Christmas for what it truly is, and what it truly means for us and the world, it settles our hearts and quiets our souls.

The Light has come! And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

A Fresh Perspective on The First Christmas Story

Besides my special episode, I’m also adding this link to a recent Christmas-themed sermon, Advent: Joy in Suffering, given by one of my amazing pastors, Jeff Savage. He brings a fresh perspective on the Christmas story and how we often miss the suffering parts, which are so evident yet overlooked.

Friend, God is not far from our pain, and not far from our sorrows. He is in it with us, and He is no stranger to it. Emmanuel–God with us.

Now, Onto that Replay …

So please enjoy this replay of this special Christmas episode with a Christmas poem and prayer …

How often have you heard the question, “Are you ready for Christmas?” How do you respond? Do you base your readiness on whether your Christmas shopping is done? Cookies made? I must admit, in past years, I tended to gauge my readiness for Christmas on my shopping list–but not this year.

This year feels a little different. Our entire home flooded in September, and we’re still not back in it. I usually have a tree dressed to the nines by now and lighted garland adorning the entryways. Gifts wrapped, bagged, and tagged and cookies baking in the oven (well, the Pillsbury Dough Boy ones, and you can read about that here in my post, Confessions of a Faker Baker).

This year?

Not so much.

At first, I feared the dreaded FOMO (fear of missing out) when I’d see all the beautiful Christmas tree photos plastered all over social media. Not being judgy, I usually plaster mine there too. But I realized what I feared most were my feelings. How would I feel about not putting up a real tree and not having a living room ready to put it up in? How would I feel about not decking the halls with boughs of holly?

Then it hit me. I don’t need a tree or boughs of holly–I have Jesus, and He is all I need. We hear the phrase “the reason for the season,” and Jesus truly is our everything. Plus, God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, and He makes it clear in 2 Timothy 1:7:

“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Self-control–hmmm …

That’s a fruit of the Spirit, and we’ve already received it when we are in Christ. So we can focus on what is really important this Christmas–the birth of our Savior, and because of His birth–we can accept Him and become children of God. We can celebrate because not only did Jesus put on flesh to dwell among us–He’s coming back to get us.

We’ll be back in our home soon enough, and all will be good again. But even so, God is still good and hope is still ours because we have Jesus.

Speaking of hope, I hope you enjoy this special episode where I read a Christmas poem and offer a Christmas prayer.

If this season is a hard one–know that Jesus placed His joy in you that your joy may be complete.

Merry Christmas and Much Love,

Doris

Featured image: Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Christmas music featured on this episode: Silent Night by Daddy’s Music – Royalty Free on Pixabay

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas a Long Time Ago found on https://www.christmasmagazine.com/twas-the-night-before-christmas-a-long-time-ago/

Does Your Soul Feel Its Worth? How to Experience True Christmas Joy