The Hush of Black Friday at Home

This morning, while millions of people were out shopping at the Black Friday sales, Arlene and I were enjoying the hush of home. Were you? We spent time doing things that just never seem to get done, like organizing books, and cleaning out my desk. No rushing, no long lines, no craziness - just the contentment of knowing we would be fine without whatever gadget everyone else wanted to be first in line for.

Sometimes we struggle with contentment. That is why I am focusing on Jesus for these 40 days before Christmas. If my eyes are on Him, they will not be on me, or on the things of the world around me. I can celebrate Christ as the true and real reason for the Christmas season if I remember that His gift was the perfect one for the hole in every heart.

I almost did not write anything today, because I knew if your inbox is anything like mine, it is bursting at the seams with Black Friday ads. 

But I wanted to write you a note - just to remind you how much you are loved! I needed to tell you that God's grace is big enough to fill all the emptiness you might be facing. And I needed to remind myself to enjoy the hush... of a Friday spent at home.

40 Days of Christmas ~ Seeking Jesus in our everyday lives

Today marks 40 days until Christmas

Instead of letting that news send you into a mad rush to buy, decorate, and give before December 25th, let's try something a little different this year. 

This year let's choose to celebrate Jesus every day for the next 40 days. Let's turn this into a season of celebration. Let's choose to look around us and look for Jesus and His work in our everyday lives. If we want to spend November being thankful, what better way than to be thankful for all Christ has done for us. If we want to focus our hearts in December, let's spend Advent not just thinking about the birth of Christ and preparing for His arrival, but also, asking Him to have all of our year, all of our lives, and to work on making us more like Him.

For the next 40 days, let us spend time daily reading God's word, let us commit to pray for those around us, and let us think past the material presents that may or may not be given this year, and instead focus on the eternal present of forgiveness offered through Christ's death and resurrection.

May you be drawn into a closer relationship with Christ this Christmas season.

Looking for more encouragement? Hop over to the Homeschool Blog Link Up every Friday!