This series combines a study of God’s Word with a Christmas carol or song. This week’s song is Katherine Kennicott Davis’s “Little Drummer Boy.”
I have no gift to bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit to give our king
Pa rum pum pum pum
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. —1 Corinthians 1:26-27 NIV
It’s the week before Christmas. How are you doing with the wrapping and card writing and baking and decorating and that sitting-at-His-feet-to-meditate-on-who-He-is time? This is a busy, beautiful, and bewildering time of year, isn’t it? You know, no one really “does Christmas” the way the magazines and Pinterest and even good Christian books imply it ought to be done. None of us. If we were to do all that could be done for Christmas, we wouldn’t sleep. Or eat. And we’d still be making some homemade something into January. If we’re not careful, false expectations will rob us of the joy and the sheer blessedness of this time—this time of remembering the Incarnation: God become man.
So, in the midst of the hectic, what can we give to Him who is the actual Reason we even celebrate Christmas? Like the little drummer boy in the song, we are little and small and totally inadequate to honor a king, let alone the King of kings. And yet, it seems that God delights in weak, small folk like you and me. “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” Here are my suggested offerings—gifts we can bring right in the midst of busy days. May the King be pleased with this simple giving!
Praise Him … every time we see Christmas lights, as the Light of the World … every time we wrap a gift, as the greatest of all Gifts … every time we sit with His Word, for coming as THE WORD—God made flesh and dwelling among us.
Surrender … our busy days … our expectations that cannot be met … our desire to “look good” in the eyes of the world—and our family—with our Christmas brilliance … our hearts that want to wander away from the One who loves us most.
Confess … our failures … our jealousies … our self-centeredness, and then believe we are forgiven and move on with joy, not wallowing in false guilt and condemnation.
Thank Him … for each friend who writes a card or bakes us cookies … for finances that allow us to celebrate His birth and give to others … for His indescribable love in coming to earth to die for us.
Ask Him … to bless each person as you wrap their gift … to minister to each friend whose card we have just read … to make us keenly aware that He is, indeed, Immanuel—God with us—every moment of every busy and blessed day that He lends us breath!
Stop and sit with Him … to offer Him the first moments of our day, yielding that time to His wishes … to still our hearts and hear His voice … to meditate on what He actually did for us by taking on skin and living among us … to honor His command to rest and come to Him when we are weary … to experience “sweet Selah moments” right in the middle of the busy.
Heavenly Father, we praise You for lighting our darkness with Your brilliant, glorious Light! Forgive us when we grow so absorbed with doing Christmas that we forget to be present for Christmas, and forget You, who came to earth for us. We surrender our pride and our high expectations for this day, asking only that You lead us and guide us throughout. Thank You for all the gifts around us in the beauty of Your creation and the comforts of life You give us. Help us to pray often during this season as we go about our preparations, remembering those who are hurting. And grant us the self-control to simply sit and be still for a while, savoring time with You as the most precious gift of all.
Then He smiled at me
Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum
You are loved,
Sharon
Sweet Selah Ministries
Vision
To encourage a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth that stillness and knowing God matter most—
and will be reflected in more effective work and service
Mission
To offer resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)
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