Sunday Sentiments

Yesterday was Christmas at WillowBridge, and amid all the conversations being tossed back and forth among team and tenants, I heard Sarah gently reminding one of the tenants not to forget that Jesus is the true gift of Christmas. A bunch of shiny wrapped presents sat under the tree, waiting for each tenant, but we definitely want them to remember that all of this is because of Jesus. 

After the party was over, the gifts were opened, and we'd cleaned up all the food, I changed into jammies and climbed into my trusty spot on the couch to rest by the light of the trees. Just in front of me is my beloved Christmas print that I've showed you before. It was done by our friend Brent Vernon:

As I stared at it, I remembered some thoughts I shared with a MOPS group back in 2018. I crafted my whole message around this piece of art, and I talked about what I saw on each face as I looked at the print. 

Take a look at the young, wide-eyed face at the top in the middle. The upside-down face. You know what I see there?

Wonder.

This guy looks like the youngest one of the bunch, and I like to think he hasn't gotten old enough to be jaded by life, overrun by skepticism and cynicism. Life still holds wonder for him. And isn't that one of the best parts of being around small children at Christmas? They see it all with such wonder. The lights, the presents, the beauty...they see it. We get bogged down by it, but they soak it up. They love it. They may not fully understand it, but they run straight for it, eyes and heart wide open, ready to receive. 

Have you lost your wonder? Wouldn't it be a gift to get that back this Christmas? Even if you haven't finished your shopping and baking is unlikely to happen, wouldn't it be everything if you could find wonder for your Savior again?

The moment I saw this picture for the first time and saw that shepherd's face, I immediately thought of the lyrics to Matt Redman's song, Mercy:

May I never lose the wonder, 

Oh, the wonder of Your mercy. 

May I sing Your hallelujah,

Hallelujah, amen!

Sweet friend, make that your prayer this week. As you think about THE gift of Christmas, make it your heart's cry....May I never lose the wonder, oh the wonder of Your mercy! May I sing Your hallelujah. Hallelujah, amen!