It is Christmas Eve morning and, for just a few minutes, all is still in my house. Keith is sleeping unusually late, Geli is nestled up on her bed (because a single degree under 80 is far too frigid for that whiny-baby German Shorthaired Pointer) and Star is outside chasing squirrels from the bird feeder. I slept late myself and have just finished my quiet time and my second cup of coffee. Things are about to rev up around here and I know the same is true for your household, or if you’re out of town, your family and hosts. I’m looking so forward to it. I dearly love this time of year. I’ll do much cooking today in preparation for tomorrow. I’m also having a little cooking class with Melissa this afternoon to teach her how to make a homemade pie crust.
You and I are delightfully comprised of all sorts of women: too young to be married, married, single, single again, and many widows. For those of us who are married, our husbands are the God-ordained head of our homes but, according to my man at least, the wife is largely the heart of the home. We often set the thermostat, so to speak. (Unless we’ve got a mean alcoholic husband who keeps the temperature enraged constantly. If that’s you, I’m so sorry and I will pray for God to deliver all of you to His great glory and by His tender mercies. I hope you are seeking solid, godly counseling and loving wisely. I just had to throw that in. I am an optimist by nature but I have not had the kind of life that lends itself to much naivete.)
I think this ability to set the thermostat of our gatherings is true for all of us women in many ways, married or single. Just watch and see if the temperature in our homes or apartments, and in many of our celebrations and among our friends these next few days is not set in large part by
our female tenderness,
our joy,
our willingness to overlook an offense,
our mood in serving,
our ecstasy in giving…and our enthusiasm over receiving.
Holidays are a LOT on a woman. I haven’t been sick in three years but I came down with a bad cold two days ago. Last night my sweet man hugged me and said, “Woman, you’ve been working too hard, writing, scurrying all over the place, then working on all of this.” He motioned with his expression to a lively, perhaps overly-decorated den, many presents, and a kitchen full of groceries for cooking. He couldn’t have been kinder and more sincere nor could he have offered to help more. Had he been none of those things, I would have wanted to say with considerable attitude, What was the other option? It’s got to all get done.
Yes, it does. We could all argue that we could down scale the whole thing and it would be easier and that’s absolutely true but that’s not liable to happen around here anytime soon. This is a family that loves celebrations and four lively generations engage at the drop of a hat. We thrive on it! But it is a LOT of work, isn’t it, Sister Friend?? And, it just occurred to me as I am writing this that the major reason I don’t delegate more of it is because I want to control all of it.
Ouch.
That was painful.
Let’s have a real live MERRY Christmas this year and at least quit stressing over all manner of thing that doesn’t even matter. There’s enough that does! Let’s get to it! I’ll pray for you and you pray for me that this will be our best Christmas celebration EVER. Let’s fire our inner Martyr Martha and let’s fire up the indwelling Spirit of the living Christ. Let’s serve lavishly and joyfully with a fresh awareness of His reigning presence in our homes as we celebrate His glorious advent. And then, let’s have guts to say to everybody at some point, “I’m going to take a nap! I love you guys and I’ll see you in an hour!”
We tried to think of a gift we could give all of you that might whisper to you how much you are loved here at LPM, a gift that might be used of God to encourage you this holiday season. This is a collection of things I’ve written and recorded around the Christmas theme and story. It’s not liable to be everybody’s taste but, for those of you who would like it, we want you to have it as a free download. Maybe you could listen to it while you cook or while you nestle up with a blanket for a few minutes by the fireplace.
If you’d like to have this free download, click on this link and then enter the Promotion Code: christmas2012
Once you enter your promotion code, you will see instructions on how to download each of the three sessions, Mary’s Reflections, A Country Christmas and The Shepherd’s Story.
Oh, mercy, Sisters, we love you so much. I love you so much. Stay in the light these next few days! We are blessed women indeed.
Merry Christmas.
Many blessings to you, Beth and all those blog readers out there. Thanks for the Christmas downloads. And THANK YOU so much, Beth, for the timely comments about the readers with a mean, alcoholic husband. I was given a surprise divorce last week by my mean, Rx drug-addicted husband, and am dealing with unpleasant emails about what credit cards, bank accounts, and cell phone service has been cut off this week. How I praise God that you have helped me KNOW that I can trust God in all of this and depend on Him and His Word! I will be okay if I follow God, and God will deal with my husband in the way God needs to deal with him. Have a blessed Christmas.
Thank you so much for the downloads. Will listen in the am during quiet time. Hope that you feel much better. You are such a blessing.
Thank you for the gift. I look forward to listening soon.
Your comments about Christmas “attitude” remind me of a conversation I has with myself earlier in the month after a minor surgery followed by an injury than still has me hobbled. I was feeling anxious and pressured but said to myself, “If I don’t do it, it won’t get since. I’m the wife, and it’s my job to make a good Christmas for my family.” In the next silent second, I thought I heard the Lion of Judah clear his throat and instantly realized it’s not my job. Christ has already made every Christmas good if I’m just open to receive him. It relieved my mind, and I hope I don’t forget before next year.
May our healing God grant you rest and healing, Mama Beth.
Beth Moore,
Thank you so much for sharing the Christmas stories. I listened, sitting at my computer and hand to hold back the tears. It was a great blessing and reminder to me, Christmas is not about the busyness, but about the gift of the Christ Child:)
Much love to you and your family this Christmas!
joy french~
Hey Beth! I’m so glad I didn’t miss your Christmas Greeting post!:) I will have to download those messages when I’m at home:) That’s funny, I took that nap today:) Broken up by visits from my almost three year old but it was refreshing!:) HUGS, HUGS, HUGS to you!
Thank You so much Beth! I hope you feel better very soon! I love you and Thank God for you! 🙂
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
I love you so, Beth! Merry, Merry Christmas!!!!
Thank you Beth and Merry Christmas to you and your family. I so need to fire that inner Martyr Martha. She keeps leaping out like the eight Lords a Leaping. You have been a blessing to me for many years. I wish I could be there for that cooking lesson with Melissa. What fun!
Thank you so much for the download as I’m a few bedtime kisses away from MORE WRAPPING and prepping in general! It really is an exhausting joy. 🙂 Now I have something sweet to listen to as I do all the stuff we do.
God bless your Christmas, Momma Beth. I’ve handed out 5 of the 10 SSMT spirals I ordered and each wonderful woman was so excited to imagine what God has in store for those who hide His Word in their hearts in 2013. He’s going to out-do Himself again! I’m sure of it.
God bless your precious family this Christmas as well!!!
Thank you so much for the downloads! I actually listened to them yesterday and enjoyed them immensely! I pray that all of you have a wonderful Christmas and ENJOY each other and the celebration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Merry Christmas!
Sacha
Thank you Mrs.Beth! That was wonderful! I am in a season of loneliness and saddness, but I KNOW my God will not leave me. I am so thankful for you and everything you and Lindsee post. It really helps me see the light at the end of the tunnel!:)
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
~Danielle~
Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and yours! Love Jesus and thanks be to God.
Thank you so much Beth am looking forward to listening. God bless you and take a minute to breath, hug your husband and daughters, kiss the grandbabies and pet the dogs and enjoy you family. Thank you have a blessed Christmas.
Oh thank you siesta mama for that timely word! I really needed to hear that this year!
I love that Christmas selection. I’ve had it for many years and in fact played “Mary’s reflections” for my Sunday school class. The Kleenex box got passed around to quite a few. It’s a yearly tradition to listen to all of them for me. I love them. You’ve definitely got a knack for telling a good story.
May you have a very blessed Christmas with your loved ones.
Heidi in Fayetteville, GA
Well, that was exactly what I needed to hear. Glad to know others struggle like I do (control, stress, etc). May Jesus be the joy that gets us through.
Love you and Merry Christmas!
What a precious gift to us! Thank you so much! I love the “Mary’s Reflections”. You are so special, Beth Moore, and we love you!!
Merry Christmas to you and all at LPM!
Thank you so much for such a timely word. I am at a cabin with my husband, 3 kids and my father in law. It has been so relaxing. I know all holidays won’t be like this, but I’m glad to read your blog and be reminded to ENJOY this time of rest and simplicity. I’m tempted to fret over the very simple gifts under the tree, but I’m just not going to do it. We are together and all thankful for Jesus. He is more than enough.
Merry Christmas Beth
Thank you so much! We will be listening to this tomorrow at breakfast with our four kids (twins age 10, a 7 year old and 1 year old!!)
Hi Beth,
I have been listening to my copy of this every year on Christmas morning as I am preparing for our day and it has blessed me so. We moved 18 months ago and I guess I didn’t listen to it last year or loaned it out and when I went to share it last night with someone here at the house it wasn’t anywhere to be found. I thought, I wonder if Beth might if this on her website as a free download…AND LOW AND BEHOLD!!! There it was!! God knew my need and heart to share it and now I get to share it with my friends far and near!
THANK YOU SO MUCH and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Barb
Thanks so much, Beth, for your sweet words of encouragement…and for just ALL you give to all of us in Jesus’ name all year long:) Blessings to you and all your loved ones as you gather this Christmas! And prayers for strength and healing, too, so you can enjoy each minute.
Beth, I have done a few of your Boble studies and I enjoy them. But I stopped reading your post today at the part about the woman married to the alcoholic husband. I do not believe that all alcoholics are mean. I am quite offended that you would portray a woman who is married to an alcoholic husband to be such a pitiful person. We still love our husbands. I know very godly men who have suffered from many addictions which does not make them “mean”. I am sure there are lots of mean people in this world and I am surprised that you would label alcoholic men as mean. It is an illness not a curse, I have a sister that is an addict and she is not a mean person. I hope you can clarify your statements. Maybe I missed something.
That was a good word, Leigh. Thank you and I will try to qualify bold statements like that more carefully. I wholeheartedly agree that all alcoholics are not mean. I was only referring in that part of the post to those who are. I say that sincerely. Oh, Sister, if you heard the stories we hear in this women’s ministry, you would be flabbergasted. There are some people out there living with a coldness and meanness that is astounding and most of the time it is related to alcohol or substance abuse. As the illness progressive, sometimes the meanness progresses and it is heartbreaking. When it happens, she – or he, in the cases where it is the husband who suffers second hand – is worthy of much compassion. I completely get what you are saying and wouldn’t have offended you for the world. If you are in a situation or relationship where pretty severe alcoholism is involved but carries with it a meekness and gentleness, bless the Lord for that extra measure of grace. I’m honored to serve you, Leigh, and I appreciate you talking to me about this.
Merry Christmas Beth. You have changed my life in ways that I don’t think you will ever know this side of Heaven! I just purchased LPL 2012 Simulcast. All I can say is that message was just for me. I can’t thank you enough and can’t wait to see how God is going to use it.
Get better soon and thank you for the gift. You are so very loved!
Crystal
Thank you Beth! I hope you have a beautiful Christmas!
What a lovely gift! Thank you, Beth, and Merry Christmas!
Thank you for the downloads and have a great, merry Christmas!!
I love that CD and have given it as a gift several times. Merry Christmas, Beth, to you and your precious family and thank you so much for being part of all of our families too throughout the year. Will certainly be praying for you and we covet your prayers over all of us. Sending a sister in Christ love to you.
Merry Christmas Beth to you and your family. You are such a blessing to me. God bless you. I hope you feel better. 🙂
Merry Christmas Beth! Thank you so much for these downloads. It is quiet in my house right now, and just checked on your blog, hoping there would be something from you, and was doubley blessed to not only have a post from you, but also these extra gifts of your messages! I have downloaded all three, and am going to curl up and listen right now. I pray you have a Merry Christmas, and thank you so very much for all you have done for me this year. Words could never ever express the gift your teachings have been to my life and I pray the Lord blesses you more abundantly than you could ever imagine! Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!
Thank you so much for the gift and Merry Christmas!
Hugs,
Sandy (Lloyd, Stephen & Michael too)
Thank you so much for the downloads. My girls (10 & 12 ) and I enjoyed listening to them this afternoon. Their favorite was the Country Christmas Story. I really appreciate you sharing your gift of storytelling. It made for a memorable moment for my girls and I. Merry Christmas. Thank you for being such an encouragement.
Dear Beth,
I cannot begin to list all the ways you have blessed my life this last year. With your help I have broken free from some pernicious bondage and am on my way to believing God more fully through your blessed and needed wisdom!
I am sending heartfelt prayers of gratitude for your genuine care and desire for all of us Siestas in Christ. The Lord has blessed us through you and I for one will never be the same (and that is a very good thing).
I can’t wait to enjoy your generous downloads. Thank you and may The Lord bless you and your family this Christmas and always,
Leah
Merry Christmas to you Beth & all my sisters in Christ. I am a nurse & am at work right now. Get off at 7:15 & can’t wait to be at church by 8:00. Twenty-two years ago my church was blessed with a wonderful Preacher, Archie Ratliff. He started the Christmas morning service his first year there & my family has never missed one. It is the most special time. Preacher Archie is spending this Christmas in the presence of the one whose birth we celebrate. He went to be with the Lord on Dec.17th, leaving a legacy of unwavering love & faith in Jesus. I learned so much from his passion & obedience to our Lord. Please pray for his sweet wife & girls this Christmas. May you all be Blessed in the New Year.
Thank you! Merry Christmas!
Thank you, dear Beth! Blessing on you and your family as you celebrate tomorrow! Will enjoy listening to your Christmas messages as I celebrate as well, between now and New year…
Woke up this morning…put the presents out under the tree and it is now 3:45 am….thought I would pop into the blog to see if perhaps what my siestas have been up to…and what a blessed surprise this morning……..MERRY CHRISTMAS! Thank you for your gift and thank you that in your business that you would think of us! Thank you for the wonderful reminder of the rightness of serving well and as always~ thank you for pointing the eyes of our hearts to our Lord and Saviour….a gift that will/is cherished. Wishing you all a most blessed Christmas day! Got the spirals in the stockings!!! Can’t wait!
Merry Christmas, Beth
It’s Christmas morning and I am in that window between my quiet time with my Lord and waiting to hear the voice of my 5-year-old granddaughter say, “is is time yet?”
What a wonderful gift awaited me. Thank you for loving us so much and for this lovely gift.
Praying that your day will be filled with family, food, joy and tons of blessings. We love you too!
Margie
Merry Christmas Day Beth! And Merry Christmas to your family and Living Proof family, too. God’s timing is marvelous – I am so glad to be reminded how we set the temp of our households. Just spent a quick moment with our Lord and now have a complete smile on my face. Not just a little one.
Thank you for the gift of the downloads. I will listen when my guys take their snoozes after presents and food.
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Christmas blessings, and many thanks for your encouragement throughout the year! You make a huge difference for the cause of Jesus Christ, and this family has been blessed by what you do!
Dearest Beth,
My the Lord Bless you and yours this Christmas. Thank you for all you do for us by letting the light of Christ shine trhough you.
Love Susan
Thank you Sister Beth for always being a blessing – Merry Christmas to you and your Family!!
Christ the Lord is born today! Pray for the families in Conn. Pray for those who are suffering. Pray for those, like my husband and I who will spend the days with family who are hostile to the Gospel, who have walked away from the faith, who have grandchildren growing up in homes that work against the truth. Pray for those whose spouses are not walking with the Lord. There is Hope in the Lord and prayer and the presence of God gets us through.
Merry Christmas Light in a very dark world.
Oh my, my sweet friend! How I love me some “control”. I remember well when my dear mother gave over control. The one good thing about that was the fact that she became “Queen Mother” and stood firmly in that role until she went to be with Jesus. I am now at that retirement age and have now chosen to become “Queen Mother II” and relinquish control to my daughter and daughter-in-love. I never once thought of how hard that was going to be BUT am now saying a big OUCH!! Troy and I are really trying hard to gently go into that good night. We have become the “Patriarch Parents” and are loving it. We so love you and yours and wish you the very best Christmas ever and that 2013 would be the best year yet until we get to see Jesus face-to-face!
Thanks Beth, I just love your blogs, and I always read them all the way through! Your precious spirit and creative writing gift are such a potent combination. So often I have recieved the encouragment I so needed here. God bless and Merry Christmas!
~Sierra Schwartz
Merry Christmas! So thankful for the words of encouragement in this post and the hundred’s of others in all your writings over the years. God bless you and your family this Christmas season!
A most merry Christmas to you, Beth, and to all the lovelies who labor alongside you. Thank you for speaking into our hearts, for the loving mix of truth and grace. I’m thankful for you.
Merry Christmas Beth and family!
Thank you for the downloads. I look forward to listening to them!
Oh my goodness can you be a little more precious, Beth? Precious! Thank you for these perfect gifts that are making me cry sweet tears on Christmas morning!
The cold germ found me too – YUCK! I sound like a female Barry White!! LOL
Merry Christmas to you, Mama Beth! Thank you for the gift! I wish I could give you something in return! Since I can’t, I know that my prayers for you, your family and the Living Proof staff will suffice 🙂
Love you all of you!