Stressed Much???

   I'm feeling so stressed out today.  Seriously.  Overwhelmed.

   There's just SO much to get done!  The house needs a serious scrub and polish, there's a sink full of dishes, spilling onto the counter.  Don't even get me started on laundry.  Our bedroom is being overrun by boxes of wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, and hidden gifts.  The things I truly LOVE doing this time of year are falling by the wayside.  My wrapping isn't even started... and here I am on the computer...

   Check it, self!!!

   What is the Christmas season all about?  Celebrating Christ's birth!  All that he came here to accomplish began with his birth; God made manifest.  This time of year is for us to reflect upon what HE did, not what we are doing.  It's about praising him for HIS work, not our own.

   When God returns, He isn't going to care how clean or tidy our home is.  He certainly won't care if our Christmas gifts were wrapped in a timely manner that year or what was in them.  He absolutely WILL care if we believe and were baptized.  While our good works could never earn our salvation; even our good deeds are like filthy rags, we will have to answer for how we lived during our Time of Grace.

   So instead of being rushed, overwhelmed, stressed, and disappointed about all the things we are not going to get to this year, I'm starting today with a prayer:

   "Almighty Father, sometimes my priorities are simply wrong and my heart isn't always loving and sincere.  You promise that You will work all things to the good of those who love you and yet, I'm all to quick to ignore your purpose and trade it for my own.  How foolish!  Please forgive me Lord and be with me in my moments of weakness.  In Your Son's name, Amen."

   His mercies are new every morning and I'm both humbled and thankful to see what this fresh start will bring.

   Are you feeling the Holiday crunch?  When standing is tough, kneel.

Yours in Him,
Alyssa