“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give praise to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Most of you know our guest writer, Carol Abersold (center), as the Bestselling Author of “Elf On The Shelf” which is #3 on the USA Best Seller List. But what you may not know is that Carol is wife, mother, Bible teacher, mentor and woman of God who longs to glorify God. Please check out her wonderful website at:www.elfontheshelf.com. My daughter goes onto her website often to create cookies, color, and play games.
I know you will be blessed by Carol’s devotional today and it’s timeless message to let your light shine everyday of the year. Enjoy!
Although I had tried to faithfully serve the Lord for more than fifty years, my light, for all intents and purposes, was out. I found myself in the blackest of pits mentally, physically and spiritually. I had been physically suffering with three herniated discs in my neck, my husband’s business was failing, and my in-laws let me know how much they disliked me after thirty-four years of pretense. I found myself curled up in a ball weeping and crying out to God for help, healing and deliverance. All hope seemed gone.Why was I, a Sunday school teacher, amateur Bible scholar, a word believing, walking, talking Christian suffering from hopelessness?!!My usually strong husband was suffering from his own worries ( I was one of them), and I “turned to God” but He seemed to be on vacation. What was the deal!
My oldest daughter came over to pray for me. She took action and made an appointment for me to get professional Christian counseling, and she encouraged me to start writing. My Eeyore-like reply was, “I have nothing to say.” Determined child (adult) that she is, she looked up on a shelf in my kitchen where my little pixie elf from childhood still remained even though the holidays were past. “Why don’t we write a book about the elf tradition?” she said. My reply was, “Oh, Chanda, nobody would want to read that……Okay.”
And so we began writing what turned out to be The Elf On The Shelf: A Christmas Tradition. While we were in the process of writing the story, I received the professional help I needed from Tracy Hurst. These two women, Chanda and Tracy, let the Lord use them to shine His light upon me. He graciously healed me from my pain, the source of our financial drain was revealed to us, and most importantly… I got my light back.
The point is this: a Christian woman’s light never completely goes out, but it can grow extremely dim. Perhaps, you, like I, need someone to shine their light on you until you can get your “batteries recharged.” Don’t be afraid, just receive it. In turn, when darkness seems present in another’s life do not hesitate to shine your God-given light.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, let me be equally as willing to be set alight, as to shed light. Let the Holy Spirit remind me not to lose heart, because I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Let me not be ashamed to seek proper help when my light seems to dim, and let me be a beacon shedding Your light on everyone I meet today. Amen.
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:11-14, NIV
This article has become a Christmas Tradition on my website and it was only a year ago that First For Women Magazine published this in their 2009 Christmas Edition. I cannot help but continually give God praise for His abundant favor. Be encouraged my friend, if God can do this for me, then what will He do for you this Christmas? May you have a miracle-filled Christmas!
My Christmas Miracle
As the Christmas season beckoned at my door, I could not help but reminisce about the memories of Christmas past. A lot of my flashbacks revolve around running to abuse shelters from my stepfather who was physically abusive. Even when things seemed calm on my home front, I could always count on the never-ending drama within my family to spice up the holiday season. Holiday drama and my family seem to go together like macaroni and cheese. While the majority of my early memories could put anyone in therapy, I did think about one Christmas that still puts a smile on my face even to this day.
It was the Christmas that my aunt, uncle, and cousins drove 12 plus hours in the sleet and snow to be with us during the holidays. I was in sixth grade and I still remember the smell of burning wood in the fireplace and the amazing meals my mom prepared. But, the best part of that Christmas was a present I received. To the outward eye it appeared that my aunt gave me a game, “Stop Thief” by Parker Brothers, but it was much more than that.
You see, that evening my family gathered around the dining room table and played until the wee hours in the morning. The entire room was filled with laughter as we chased the fictitious thief all over the game board. As an abused child who later nearly took her life at the age of 15, I held onto the laughter of that night during some of the hardest times in my life. The memory of that Christmas is still with me today. I am not sure when it happened or which state I lived in at the time, but I lost my most prized game, “Stop Thief.”
Now in my thirties, I decided it was time to replace my favorite game. My research uncovered that Parker Brothers no longer makes the game, and to my dismay, “Stop Thief “ is now considered a vintage game! My husband suggested that I attempt to locate the vintage game on E-Bay. I held my breath as I typed in the words “Stop Thief” on the E-Bay website, and there it appeared before my eyes, not only one, but several “Stop Thief” games were being sold that very day. I placed my highest bid, and to my surprise, won the game. I eagerly anticipated its arrival, and just three days later it was placed at my front door in Atlanta, Georgia. I opened the package, pulled out the game and saw my very own handwriting on the front cover that stated, “I love Michael Jackson” in red ink. The memory of using my brand new ink pen with multiple ink colors flooded my mind and I remembered choosing red because Michael Jackson wore a red leather coat in his Thriller video. Tears filled my eyes as I realized that I had not just received any “Stop Thief” game, but my original game from my childhood.
It was a miracle and I knew who had done it for me- my sweet Jesus. I had known of His love for me, but the fact that He found my original game that I had lost a long time ago is beyond amazing. God led a stranger in Illinois to end up with my game, sell it years later on E-Bay, and then have it delivered several states away to my front door. That shows me the restoration power of God! Joel 2:21-26 talks about how God will restore the years the locusts have eaten. I don’t know what you may have lost over the years; maybe the locusts of life have stolen from you as well. I encourage you to ask God to restore unto you things that you have lost. God is able to not only restore former things, but He always brings things back with increase beyond its original state. Jesus truly is the restorer of all things lost. After all, we once were lost, but now we are found.
Prayer: Lord, I declare that the enemy must give back everything he has stolen from me! I proclaim that 2011 will be a year filled with the restoration power of God. I ask that you restore my body, my mind, my spirit, my relationships, my family, my reputation, my finances and anything else needing the restoration power of God. I love you Jesus and it is because of your love that I believe 2011 will be a year crowned with Your goodness and dripping with abundance (Psalm 65:11).” Amen.
Please take a moment and watch this amazing video. The question is: Will you have Christmas as usual this year or will you decide to “get less” in order to “give more?”
Spend Less
Give More
Worship Fully
Love All
My church has embraced the Advent Conspiracy and I am also determined to not have Christmas as usual, but to give more. Instead of joining the hustle and bustle, needless spending and making this season about me, myself and I… I want to enjoy this season by laughing more with my family, being thankful for all my blessings and GIVING MORE to those in need – more time, money, prayers and attention!
Let’s make a difference in the world and give more this Christmas. Listed below are a few places where you can give. Please feel free to use these links or to give wherever God leads you, but let’s not experience Christmas a usual, let’s give of ourselves, spend less, give more, love all and worship fully this season.
“You’ve (God has) always given me breathing room, a place to get away from it all, a lifetime pass to your safe-house, an open invitation as your guest. You’ve always taken me seriously, God, made me welcome among those who know and love you.” Psalm 61:3-5, The Message
Our scripture today makes me want to say, “Ahhh….Jesus take me away!” There are times when all we simply need is some breathing room; a place to escape the business and stress of life and to know that God provides such a place for us is awesome!
A few weeks ago I had the privilege to attend a women’s retreat. Notice I said, “attend” and this alone was breathing room. I knew a few people, but I was overwhelmed with the warmth I received from these women. God knew that I needed refreshment and these Godly women made me feel welcome. I left the retreat energized and filled with God’s peace and joy.
Maybe you are in need of some refreshment in your life today? I realize that you may not be able to attend a women’s conference such as I did, but our scripture today tells us that God always gives us breathing room and in spending time with Him we can have a “mini-retreat” in His presence. It is my belief that one moment with God can change our lives. God takes our concerns and needs seriously and He welcomes us to run to Him because God alone is the One who will meet all of our needs.
My daughter recently taught some children at an abuse shelter Philippians 4:19, which states, “My God will meet all your needs.” You should have seen these kids shouting from the top of their lungs this truth and jumping with all of their might to choreographed dance moves! It was powerful. Now to say that I was proud of my four-year-old daughter for teaching these kids God’s Word would be an understatement! My question for us today is, do we believe this truth? Do we believe that God will supply all of our needs? Whether we need refreshment, peace, joy or financial provision – He is faithful and His Word is true.
If you need anything today, run to God. He will heal you everywhere you hurt and provide for you exceedingly, abundantly, above all you could ask think or imagine. God’s guest room is always available to us. Are you in need of some breathing room? If so, then run to the safe house of God – His Word
Prayer: “Lord, thank you for giving me breathing room, a place to get away from it all to be refreshed in Your presence. For in Your presence is the fullness of joy. During this Holiday season, keep me from being distracted and to focus on the real meaning of the season. No matter what is going on around me, I can be confident that You will supply all of my needs. Amen.”
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7, NKJ
It’s time to let the past be in the past and to become men and women of Grace. God once shared with me before a family gathering, “Tracy, a woman of Grace never brings up the past sins of another person. Just as I have forgiven and covered your sin under The Blood, you must also cover the sins of others… A woman of Grace always builds up and never tears down.”I will never forget these words because they were like water to my soul. You see, I have a shameful past, but God never reminds me of it. Sure, there are times when I reflect on what God has done in my life, but never with despair or regret, but with thanksgiving of what God’s Grace has done.
So, as you sit with your family and friends this Holiday season, I encourage you to build up and not tear down, speak life and not death, extend mercy and not judgment, express love and not hate, offer forgiveness and not bitterness, share of God’s goodness and no matter what happens at your Holiday gathering – be men and women of Grace.
Just as we season our meal with salt, let us also be purposeful to season our fellowship this Thanksgiving with God’s amazing Grace – it is delicious to everyone who has ears to hear!
We need to trust that when evil is spoken of us, God will take care of it. All we need to do is simply walk in God’s grace and no evil plan shall prosper. God will send His angels concerning us as we flow in His love. And it is my prayer that God will grant us all a gathering seasoned with Grace!
Prayer:
“Lord, please forgive me of my sins and cover them in Your Precious Blood. I rebuke the devil and his tormenting spirits – I am forgiven and redeemed – I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. Help me Lord to be a person seasoned with Grace. I will no longer bring up the past sins of my brothers and sisters in Christ, but use my mouth to build up and edify. I ask for a Graceful Gathering this year and I realize this desire starts with me. No matter what happens Lord, I invite you to be with me this Holiday season. Guard my lips and heart as I choose to trust that You will vindicate me when needed.” Amen.
“None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” Romans 8:40, The Message
Ever have “one of those days” when you feel as if the weight of the world is on your shoulders? Maybe your child is sick or a close friend has let you down, but no matter what solution you try in order to resolve the situation, a spirit of heaviness still remains in your heart – has anyone else been there?
It is when our hearts are overwhelmed, that we desperately need to run to God and His Word. Our current situation may make no sense at this time, but you can rest in the fact that God loves you and is for you. God alone can bring refreshment to your weary soul. I love our scripture today because it focuses on the fact that God loves us and there is nothing we can do or not do that will separate us from His love. Just take a few moments today and ponder that God loves you. He knows all about your situation and He will be with you to the end and make all things work together for your good simply because He loves you.
It is my prayer that you will meditate on the fact that God loves you. You may feel alone in this world, but God is right beside you and longing to love on you this very moment….the question is will you take the time to let Him do it? As you go through your day, I want you to continually tell yourself that God loves you. When you grab that piece of cake that you know you shouldn’t have – eat it with joy knowing that God loves you. When a friend disappoints you again– pray for them and ask that God would surround you with His perfect love that casts out all fear and torment. When you child is up all night with a fever – pray over him or her and declare that God loves you and your precious one. God is for you and loves you with an everlasting love. And there is nothing, absolutely nothing you can do about it!
Prayer:
“Lord, thank your for loving me at all times. You loved me when I was yet a sinner. You love me when I make good choices and you even love me and help me when I make wrong decisions. You are for me and therefore who can be against me? Please reveal this truth to me today. Amen.”
Tracy became a Christian at the age of 16 and her life was changed forever. She went from being a depressed, suicidal, rebellious teenager to a dynamic leader for Christ. Immediately after accepting Jesus as her Savior, Tracy fought the school board in order to begin a Bible study on school grounds at her high school in Illinois. The dramatic transformation in Tracy's life has inspired many, including her own mother, to give their lives to Christ.
