It happens every year.

I run around like a mad woman, shopping, wrapping, addressing, sending, and spending. My email fills with ruthless attempts from stores to lure me with lines like, “Last chance!”  “Only one more day!” “Last day to save!” Oh, the pressure.

Then Christmas Eve dawns. Something inside me shifts. I can feel it.

The gifts are wrapped. The cards are sent. The baking is done. Everything I meant to do is either finished or doesn’t matter now, anyway. The stress I’ve felt from the tasks which for weeks shouted for my attention, melts away as my attention turns towards the one thing that whispers to me all along: Jesus is here.

Immanuel, which means, God with us.

God with me. God with you. Right here. Right now.

Relax your weary shoulders. Breathe deeply as you pause to soak in this truth. This is the message of Christmas.

[bctt tweet=”God came to us so we could come to Him.” username=”donnajonesspeak”]

So, my sweet friend, there’s really only one thing left to do today: Come, let us adore Him. He is Christ, the LORD.

Merry Christmas!

My Christmas prayer for you:

Lord Jesus, I pause and come to you because you paused to come to me—to us. I pray for my sweet friend who’s reading this today. God, bless her with the gift of knowing your presence; of knowing it to her core. Guide her. Comfort her. Direct her path. Give her your wisdom and your words and may she walk in your ways. Bless her from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. Protect her and those she loves.

Jesus, you paused long enough to come live among us. May we pause long enough to soak in this great act of love. Jesus, we worship you. We love you. And yes, we adore you. Because Jesus, you are worthy. The words “thank you” aren’t adequate to express our gratitude for the greatest gift of all, access to You. Amen.