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December 24, 2008
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
It's Almost Time ..., by Tom Norvell
It's Christmas Eve. It's almost time ... The family will soon gather.
Moms and dads, grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts, uncles, cousins
and all the children will be gathering tonight to share the joy of this
special season. Gifts have been purchased with great care, wrapped and
are about to be opened. There is a bit of anxiety in the air because we
want them to like what we're giving. There is peace and joy over being
together. It's Christmas Eve. It's almost time.
It's Christmas Eve. It's almost time ... The children are in bed.
Finally they have gone to sleep. They have given up the battle to stay
awake until Santa comes. They have placed the cookies and milk and
their note to Santa in the designated place. In just a few hours they
will awaken eager to open their gifts. It's Christmas Eve. It's almost
time.
It's Christmas Eve. It's almost time ... Now that the children are
asleep you can go to the attic, the trunk of the car, under your bed,
the storage building in the back yard, and all the other secret hiding
places you have used for those things you've been hiding for months.
You have bikes to assemble, batteries to install, and wrapping to
finish. And, somehow find a power tool that will cut through the hard
plastic packaging that encases almost everything you buy without
getting so agitated that you disturb the neighbors. The hour is late.
You're really tired, but the thrill of seeing their faces when they
come down the stairs keeps you going for as long as it takes. It's
Christmas Eve. It's almost time.
It's Christmas Eve. It's almost time ... we are anxious and excited and
hopeful and ready and nervous and scared and all those other emotions
we feel when we anticipate something big is about to happen. Unlike the
children, we know what is about to happen. We know the thrill of seeing
our children receive the longings of their heart. We know it's
Christmas Eve. We know it's almost time.
He knew the right gift.
Do you suppose that God, on the eve before He sent His one and only Son
into the world, experienced some of the same emotions or had any of the
same thoughts that we have on Christmas Eve. He knew what was about to
happen. Will they love my Son? Will they realize how much thought has
gone into this? Will they appreciate the sacrifice I am making? Will
they have any idea of the value of this gift? What will they do with
what I am giving them? Was He experiencing any of these thoughts during
those centuries of silence?
Whether God felt those things or not, I do not know, and I do not
presume to make Him like me. What I do know is that He knew the right
gift. He knew what we needed. He knew that some would accept the Son
and love Him, and He knew that some would despise and reject Him. He
knew what was ahead. He knew it was about time.
Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see
his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will
prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see
the light [of life] and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous
servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will
divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life
unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore
the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors (Isaiah
53:10-12 NIV).
It's Christmas Eve. It's almost time. Enjoy the gift.
---------
(c) 2008 Tom Norvell <tomnorvell@mac.com>. Used by permission. A
Norvell Note <http://www.anorvellnote.com> is a weekly email
message from Tom Norvell. Check it out!
RELATED LINKS:
* The Astonishing Christ
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200612/20061215_astonishingchrist.html
* What was God Like?
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200001/20000119_family1204.html
* Nativity Set
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/199912/19991223_nativity.html
* A Norvell Note
http://www.anorvellnote.com
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200812/20081224_almosttime.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
BREAKING FREE, by Beth Moore
Moore teaches us to identify--and remove--the spiritual barriers that
hinder our daily freedom in Christ.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?252
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
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