I Dropped Baby Jesus

Wednesday, Dec 2 - Prepare the Way of the Lord
There are a lot of weddings coming up over the holiday
season. I have the invitations and am working on the
gifts. I’m so glad I’m not the one having to prepare for
a wedding amidst preparing Christmas planning. Can
you imagine? Honestly, I’m feeling a bit anxious on
behalf of these brides, grooms, and their
families. Preparing for a wedding is a very big
DEAL. It’s also very expensive. Do you know the
average cost of a wedding? Let me spare you the
research. Answer: it depends on where you get
married. The average number of dollars spent in the
U.S. overall as of last May was (drum roll) $27,021.00.
I did not make that up. However, if you live in New York
City, the average cost of a wedding is (GONG).....
(GONG)...(GONG)...$65,824! I did not make that up,
either. My girls were lucky to get a wedding for $3000.
They were robbed! What does this have to do with a
Christmas reflection?
Obviously, it’s the word prepare. We prepare months
for a wedding, some girls take years. We spend more
money on the day, than we do in preparation of the life
to come. I find that to be very sad; but what about
preparing for Christmas? I’m not thinking of the plans. I’m not thinking of the decorations, or who
you are having over for dinner, or how many presents you have to buy, or how big the tree is, or
whether or not God will co-operate with the weather man and bring you snow. I’m asking this
question, “What are you doing to prepare your heart for Christmas?” What does that mean,
really…practically?
PREPARE, that was John the Baptist’s mission. Remember the verse from yesterday? He gave
us one way (repent), which we already discussed. Here was our focal verse:
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he
said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths
straight.”
Here are a few more ways to prepare:
1) Make room for Jesus. Remember the Christmas story? There was no room for Jesus in
the inn. Have you made room for Him in your daily life? Room for Him in your home? Room
for Him in your extra time? Room for Him in your Christmas celebration?
2) Treasure & ponder the Jesus-moments in your life. Remember Mary? All of a sudden,
following the birth of her first-born-son, all these unexplainable things began to unfold. These
were Jesus-moments and Mary treasured them and pondered... Take time during the holiday
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