HSBC Coffeebreak

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41-42

A couple of months ago I took a part-time temporary job as a way of making a little extra money for Christmas. It was fun, and for a time, I did not have too much trouble juggling an already busy family. I even marveled at myself at how well I was keeping the family schedule going.

Then came THAT day. Have you ever had one of those days? It started out all right. I knew I was going to have a more than average workload because I had volunteered to do a couple of extra jobs. “Don’t worry,” I gloated, “I am sure it is all under control.” I worked hard to accomplish my many tasks, but shall we say a number of complications entered the picture? So, I passed off a chaotic mess to my husband as I left for work. The poor guy did his best, but most men are not equipped to multi-task like us women (and frankly, they usually do not over commit like we do either! ha ha). He did a valiant job, but the lesson for me came when I was driving home from work. I pulled into the center lane to turn left toward our home and there right in front of me was my husband and daughter in the same center lane turning the opposite direction as he was rushing her to a birthday party. I laughed at how ridiculous it all was. We were in a race going opposite directions. Not only had we missed each other, but they also hadn’t even had any dinner, as I had underestimated the cooking time on the hastily thrown together mess of a evening meal I had made.

When I got home, I reflected on those events and how my life had changed in the previous weeks. With my newly organized schedule, I had quit doing my devotions in the morning (why is that usually the first thing to go?). In reality, I was just barely holding my days together. We rarely ate dinner as a family anymore (a precious and guarded time until now). The Lord, in His merciful and gracious way, allowed me to see that my life was out of balance and I was on a one-way course toward disaster.

I had to evaluate my day and ask myself if I was choosing the “best part.” I had added too much into my schedule and dropped the most important part. Martha did what was right and good, but for that moment, when Jesus was in their presence, Mary chose the best part and was blessed for it. Let us not forget to sit at our Savior’s feet so He can pour out the blessing of His loving presence on us, too!

Precious Jesus, King of my heart, let me not forget to sit at your feet each day. Help me to seek first your Kingdom and trust that you will take care of the details that I am worried about today.
Amen

Written by
Joanne Kauzlarich

HSBC Coffeebreak

For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NIV

I was just unpacking a ceramic nativity set that my mom made for me. You see, she has made very few things for me, so this is a precious treasure; in fact, I have not had it out for several years because our kids were young and I wanted to protect it. I pulled the stable out of the box and started to unload its precious contents. As I unwrapped each delicate character, I found comfort in the joy and memories. Then suddenly, I was appalled and disgusted by the sight of mouse feces and urine on the wrappings and in the box. Apparently it had been “home” for a while. I was offended that a vile creature could do such a thing to my treasure that not only was a reminder of my Lord and Savior, but also a precious gift that I went through great effort to protect!

Just as quickly, the realization of what I was seeing washed over me. Is not the birth of a holy perfect Christ into an imperfect world similar? Did he not come for every depraved and “vile” soul seeking refuge and peace? And am I as overly protective of His gift that is more precious than anything as I am of my nativity scene?

Luke 2:11-12 states, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” I am in awe of my God and Savior, my Lord Jesus Christ!

Written by
Lanie White

HSBC Coffeebreak

“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" — which means, "God with us.”
Matthew 1:23 NIV

So much of what we do during the Christmas season turns our attention away from Jesus, instead of towards him. Today I got out my nativity scene, and as my young daughters set it up, I was reminded again of the continual problem I had last year. The scene of Joseph, Mary, Jesus, the wise men, and shepherds looks best when you can see all their faces. But every time I set the scene up that way and leave, on my return, I find all the shepherds and wise men turned with their backs facing out, bunched up around the manger.

Reasoning with my daughters doesn’t do a lot of good, and this year, I find myself reluctant to do it anyway. To a six-year-old, four-year-old, and two-year-old, it’s very simple to determine what is important. Jesus is who everyone came to see. Jesus is the whole point, the central focus, the main attraction! Why would anyone want to look anywhere else? Why would the shepherds and the wise men travel so far, only to turn their backs on the One they came to see?

The God of the Universe humbled himself, became a man, and dwelt among us! What else in all the world is worthy of taking our attention from that?

Written by
Melody Anderson