Making Room For Christmas!

Eternity -No Rehearsal

Dear Patheos Friends: Reading from a recent feedback- one of the reasons why many of you like this platform is the different voices that share their faith, provide encouragement and insights on Biblical worldview that help in your faith and walk with God. As always, I appreciate all your feedback. This is an example of Proverbs 27:17- “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Eternity is indeed eternity with no rehearsal available, and every sharpening we get is helpful in rooting and grounding us deeper in God’s love (Ephesians 3:17).

Beauty of Advent

This has been an amazing Advent season– the slower pace has been the best! Appreciate all the resources shared. The beauty of Advent leads us to the celebration of our Savior Jesus Christ in a few days. Though this season is known as a wonderful time of year, research shows it is a difficult time for many people. According to a Pew Research Center survey, a significant portion of Americans report feeling lonely or sad during the Christmas holiday season, with many expecting to experience these feelings, particularly those who recently have experienced major life changes.

Hoarding Toxic Emotions

From trauma, to grief, and loss, the reasons for difficulty during Christmas season are real for many people. However, there is help for every person experiencing any form of difficulty during this Christmas season. Instead of hoarding toxic emotions during this season, it is best to seek help that provides targeted support and solutions towards healing and wholeness. That help can be spiritual, emotional or clinical. Recently, had the privilege to walk with a precious family experiencing some difficulty. The son mentioned how he was learning to express his negative emotions to their therapist.

No Room In The Inn

When we look at the Christmas story – from Luke 2:7, after Mary (Mother of Jesus) gave birth, the scriptures states, “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”  This is what hoarding toxic emotions looks like (no room). Hoarding takes up much needed space in our spirits, souls and even bodies that can be debilitating to overall health. Hoarding of emotions happens when negativity, loss, resentment, unforgiveness, bitterness etc. piles up and henceforth blocks the human mental capacity to respond to life in ways that are healing both to us as individuals and to others.

Make Room -Take Action

This Christmas, if experiencing any debilitating emotions, I urge you to make room by not only taking inventory, but cleaning out all the negative clutter on the inside (spirit, soul, and emotion) from trauma, grief or loss- be it mild or severe. Sometimes, this requires the help from a spiritual leader or licensed professional like a therapist.

God’s Higher Ways

Please, know that seeking the help of a licensed professional does not diminish the power of God in anyway (especially if you are a new believer in Christ). Being a recipient of both approaches to healing and wholeness, am an advocate for both, because God cannot be put in a box. God works through anyone, at any time, exactly how He chooses to show Himself.

Merry Christmas

As you prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth in a few days, think of making room in your heart to declutter any toxic emotions. And open your heart to the fresh in-filling of the Holy Spirit, to the transforming love of God, to the empowering Prince of Peace, to the unlimited joy of Christ, and to the equipping Presence of God. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not” (I John 3:1). Merry Christmas Friends!