What's in Your Christmas?

In college, quite a few of my roommates decided it’d be fun to get a job at a disco. Dixie Electric Company, the famous Ohio disco at the time, was a ton of fun to work at. During that era, the amazing song, Stayin' Alive came out. Whenever it came on, we’d go crazy and find a way to get on the dance floor.

A few years later, John Travolta created famous dance moves to Stayin' Alive in the movie, Saturday Night Fever. Who didn’t try to mimic his dance moves? It was years later, on a bicycle ride up the coast of California, where I got to meet Mr. Travolta in person in a Carmel restaurant. A moment for this disco-loving gal.

Now, Travolta is back with another rendition of Stayin Alive for Christmas. He’s “older” now, but he hides his hair color too. He’s a disco-dancing Santa in Capital One’s Holiday commercial. It’s cute, it’s fun and it has several memorable moments of the classic film.

In the commercial, wherever Travolta Claus goes, he spreads cheer, with help from a can of “glitter paint” and his Capitol One Quicksilver card. The big question at the end of the commercial is Travolta Claus asking, “What’s in your wallet?”

Gosh, I love that commercial because of the music that brings back fantastic memories. In terms of getting me ready for Christmas, not so much. Maybe the question I would have is “What’s in your Christmas?”

What’s in your Christmas this year? In just a few days, it will be December 1. Have you thoughtfully considered how you’d like to approach the Christmas holiday? Here are some questions that I ponder: How will I try to keep the main thing (Christ) the main thing this holiday season? How can I encourage, support, and pray for those who might struggle this Christmas? How can I maintain a spirit of peace amidst the busyness of the season? What hopes and dreams might Jesus (The Wonderful Counselor) have for me? What might my response be this Christmas to the baby in the manger? 

I find it helpful to ponder, reflect, and consider why I celebrate Christmas. It’s so easy to avoid the real reason for the season, Jesus. Will you take the time to do so this season? What’s in your Christmas?

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end." Isaiah 9:6-7

Take a listen as you prepare for this Christmas season: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FvUTXcRwvo

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Thanksgiving Love

Thanksgiving stirs up all kinds of emotions. For the widower, it’s a holiday without the one they love. For the single person, it’s joining in with another family. For the family with relational strife, it’s coming together wishing they weren’t together. For others, it's a beautiful gathering with those in our lives we love.

I’m convinced that our God can help us with all the “feels” and “fears’ that the holidays conjure up. I believe God truly helps us give “love” even though we may not feel it in return. God would not command us to do what we are incapable of doing. John 15:12-13 says “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Loving others pleases our God. Loving others is intentional.

As you approach Thanksgiving this week, maybe consider a few things:

Pray about the holiday gathering: Pray for those that you will be with on Thanksgiving. Ask God to show you ways that you can intentionally love them. Pray for each person coming that THEY would have a joy-filled holiday. Pray for all the preparations and that we’d be more focused on the people than the perfection of the table or food. Pray for opportunities to encourage others. Everyone has their issues and holidays tend to magnify those issues. Don’t allow your opinions, albeit politics or anything else, to take over. We need God’s help to love like He loves.

Love is intentional: I’ve been to Thanksgiving meals where I’m not sure I “felt” like I had much to give. Thankfully, God enables us to love even when we may not feel like loving. There is not one of us that are great at loving in our human nature. We all botch it. But love comes from the Holy Spirit when we walk with God. God can help us love even when we don’t feel like loving. Who is that EGR (Extra Grace Required) person that you need God’s help in loving?

Model Jesus’ love- This verse resonates with what I desire for not just Thanksgiving, but a way of life. Romans 12:10, 18 says “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves…. if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Have you ever been at a gathering where everyone is just talking about themselves and talking over everyone else? It’s sure is common for us to want to focus on ourselves, isn’t it? Jesus models the love found in Romans 12:10, 18 and requires conscious choices, conscious actions, and even sacrifices in our relationships. How might God be calling you to model Jesus’ love during the holidays?

A Gospel Mindset- We were born spiritually dead, through the failure of the first Adam. But because of Christ, we can be made alive and live in Jesus’ forgiveness and righteousness. In my flesh, I am a mess. But, because of my relationship with God and the Holy Spirit in me, He can help me be more others-centered, loving, and caring through my union with Christ. Nothing will ever separate me from his love. (Romans 8:31-35) Having a gospel mindset helps me when I’m in challenging situations. God is near. He is present and He gives me all I need to walk with love and peace.

I have a feeling every one of us can give more love this Thanksgiving, no matter what our circumstances are. I pray that all of us can walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 4:30-5:2) Happy Thanksgiving!

Check out this song, Love One Another, by Newsboys! What a great challenge for us! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAFMGRMhFsM

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Satisfied

I don’t like it when God’s not doing His job. You know, fixing the problems of this world. Keeping cancer away from precious people. Helping cure anxious hearts. Dealing with the burdens we carry.

You and I have probably eyed a few job descriptions throughout our lives. We get what we’re supposed to do in our jobs because it’s laid out for us. But have you ever thought about God’s job description? Maybe we’re not so acquainted with what God’s work is every day.

Check out a story in the Bible where people could have wondered whether Jesus would show up. It’s found in John 6:1-14. Jesus was on a mountainside and looked up to see a great crowd coming to him. Jesus’ first question was to Philip “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” (vs. 5) Interesting, right, because Jesus already had in mind a plan! Philip complained that eight months' wages wouldn’t buy enough bread for each one to have a bite. Andrew gave his input and showed Jesus a boy who had 5 small barley loaves and two small fish, while at the same time questioning how far that would go. Everyone had their solution to dealing with the problem.

Then Jesus took over. He had the people sit down, all five thousand of them. He then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated. They ate as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When everyone had enough to eat, he asked the disciples to gather the leftovers. They filled 12 baskets with the pieces of leftovers!

The feeding of the 5000 is more than just a story. It speaks to the rule of God over time, history, and every event in the world today. Even in this story, the crowd, after seeing Jesus’ miracle, wanted to make Jesus King. They wanted a king on THEIR terms that would satisfy THEIR needs and desires. I would venture to see that we do this too! We make up our job description for God, which is basically to come through for us when we need Him to.

God is sovereign over this whole world, which means that He alone controls everything. When I study the sovereignty of God, it calms my fears. I realize I don’t have to try to control so much of my life! He controls and guides everything for His glory and good. I don’t have to figure things out or maneuver outcomes. Instead, I go to Jesus in prayer and ask for His help in all the things that concern me and those I care for. I can find true “rest” in His sovereignty, even when I don’t understand or like the outcome.

The people in this story needed food, and Jesus provided it in abundance. What is your greatest need? God invites us to slow down, read His Word, and look to Jesus. He is the one to calm our fears and forgive our sins. Jesus can be trusted completely with all our needs. He alone satisfies. 

The bottom line is that we need God! (Same God by Elevation Worship, Take a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LawxIZE9ePE

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Interruptions

My husband is a Texas Tech grad, although it’s his wife who keeps him informed on Texas Tech sports. This week, Tech played TCU and they won, but the real story is who showed up at the game. Not someone famous or even a former quarterback Patrick Mahomes. It was a POSSUM who showed up and ran across the field, interrupting the play of the game.

The fans got involved too! It was between the first and second quarter of the game, that the possum came running across the field on the 10-yard line. The fans cheered the possum on! Finally, someone who appeared to be from animal control caught it with a snare pole. Viral videos of the possum show him being dragged off the field near the sideline.

Check it the possum of the week: https://www.foxsports.com/watch/fmc-njk964vi1y8kz10o 

Funny how something so small as a possum can interrupt a college football game and make the news. Yet, how do we respond when silly little things disrupt our plans?  Even this week, we weren’t prepared for getting stuck in traffic due to a train or coming down with the respiratory flu. We’re never quite ready for them. How we respond to them matters.

Expect interruptions: I assume that Texas Tech football must have been prepared for something like this to happen since they caught the possum quickly. As adults, we know that these disruptions happen. We have a choice in not throwing a tantrum or pity party. What I’ve learned is that God uses these types of interruptions to help me rely on God and become more like Christ. When I’m sitting in traffic trying to make a dinner reservation, can I be okay?  God’s in control of all the details of my life, can I trust Him with this? Yes.

Gain perspective:  I loved how all the fans just joined in with the fun and started cheering the possum on! What a great way to turn a disruption into a bit of fun! If you walk with God, do You believe that His grace is sufficient to get us through each day? Do you believe that He is in control? Can you, in the moment, believe that Christ is enough to satisfy all your needs, even when things don’t go your way?

Life with God: I’m reminded daily that I can’t do life without God. I just can’t. Interruptions remind me that no matter how much I plan and try to control things, I’m not in charge. God is! I don’t have life figured out and just when I’m not expecting it, things can go south. It’s these challenges, that keep me running back to Jesus. I’m so thankful for his grace and forgiveness when I fail to respond to life’s frustrating events calmly.

How about you? How do you handle the interruptions that come your way? We all have them. May the Lord help us and guide us to walk through them with grace and peace.

This is one of my favorite worship songs...a contestant reminder of how I need Him to make room for God in those challenging interruptions: (Make Room, Community Music) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrQuKK6jz-4

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.