An Uncluttered In-Box for the New Year

As I sit here on the eve of the New Year watching a bowl game with my husband, I am cleaning out the messages in my e-mail IN-BOX – I have 2,531 messages!  It has obviously been a long while since I cleaned them out.  So here I am deleting and deleting so I can start with a clean box for the New Year.  As I go down the row, I have to stop and open some of them and read them one more time - it’s like revisiting an old friend, or reliving a memory of an event that was fun.  Several of the messages are from friends who have passed away and that strikes a sad chord in my heart.  But, oh the exuberance of getting all those messages cleaned out once and for all! 

Here's hoping I can do the same with my mind.  It seems I have about the same number (2,531) thoughts and ideas that need to go – I need to delete them, send them to the recycle bin - and not go back and retrieve them!  Give myself a “clean slate” for the New Year!

Those e-mail messages did not all appear in one day- it is an accumulation over time.  I let a few stack up and then some more came in, and then some more, and before I realized it, I had 1,000’s.  I could ignore them for months, but then my computer slowed down or I got overwhelmed when I tried to find an important message that I needed in a hurry.  And I always hope I don’t get a message that contains a virus! 

The beginning of the New Year is a great time to mentally toss out bad memories, negative thoughts, and anything that “exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (I Corinthians 10:5).  I want to get rid of all those before they crowd out the positive thoughts and the Word of God that guides my mind to righteousness and peace.  I know the feeling of being overwhelmed with negative thoughts and foolish ideas, and I know the peace that comes when I saturate my mind with positive thoughts and God’s peaceful words. 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  Philippians 4:6-8

Isn’t it refreshing when the calendar flips over to a whole new year?  365 blank blocks to fill in.  More birthdays to celebrate, more babies to be born, more adventures to be experienced.  I am going to make an effort this year to keep my messages deleted periodically, and also to keep my mind uncluttered as well.  Happy 2014 – a year of blessings and triumphs for us all! 

TO SEE AS SIMEON SAW

When reading the Christmas story in December each year, I usually focus on Mary.  I am always inspired by how she was so receptive of God’s plan for her life, even though there would be many trials and ridicule for months to come.  I yearn to have a heart like hers, and be highly favored in God’s eyes.   

But this year, I keep being drawn to the part of the holy story in Luke Chapter 2, where the infant Jesus was taken to the temple and Simeon held him in his arms – what he had been waiting for all his life.  And studying the painting of Ron DiCiannie’s, “Simeon’s Moment,” I am awestruck!  The expression on Simeon’s face as he is realizing he is holding the Messiah…  wow!  

 

 

Think about this – how many babies had he lifted up for blessing in his lifetime?  And each time he was thinking, “is this the promised Messiah?”  Now this day as he held the baby Jesus in his arms, he knew in his heart that THIS was the one!  And why did he SEE Jesus in the dimensions that he did?  Because he WANTED to see Him.  He had asked God not to let him die until he saw the Messiah.  The scriptures say that the Holy Spirit was upon him.  The Holy Spirit led him to the temple.  The Holy Spirit revealed to him the salvation prepared for all nations.  And he got what he desired in his heart.  

From Luke 2:25 – 35 (NIV), “ Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.  Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.  Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

This Christmas as I look at baby Jesus, I don’t want to just look at a little baby in swaddling clothes, but I want the Holy Spirit to help me see as Simeon saw – in the dimensions that show me a Lord for my entire existence  - and for future generations.  I desire to see a Savior, a redeemer, and a King for all eternity.  And if I truly want to SEE Him this Christmas, he WILL reveal Himself to me.