Christmas in the hands of God

Christmas approaches on soft winters' feet, despite what the parking lots of Walmart might seem to indicate. From the close of a crazy loose-ends day like this one, I can gaze across the weekend and see Christmas Eve approaching in all its splendor and mystery, Christmas Day with all its joy and celebration.

I am glad that it is near.

These last weeks have brought some of the most difficult pastoral concerns to this young man who presumes to call himself a minister. I have just now finished the heavy lifting required to get them off my heart and into the hands of the God whose coming gave birth to this great holiday season. It was His heavy lifting of course, His gentle reminders echoing to me in the well-worn paths of the Lord's Prayer: "...for Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, now and forever."

The burdens are mine to bear as a servant and fellow-sufferer with Christ, but they are not mine alone. They rest more fully in the hands of a merciful and subtly powerful God who is working things according to His good purposes, mysterious and dark though they be to these stubborn eyes.

Christmas approaches on soft winters' feet. May God bring joy and peace to you and yours this season, and may whatever burdens you bear rest also in the hands of God.

Merry Christmas.