His People...

For so many people, today has been fast and furious. I was up early. Woke up the grandson, and we were off to the store to buy the rest of "his gifts" for "his people". His people. I love that. I started this blog today and thought that I was going in one direction, but now, thanks to the Good Lord, I'm going in another. The title of this blog was going to be "Overflow". I thought I was going to be sharing and talking about what happens when we have God. No, that wasn't where I needed to be. I need to be with "His people".

You see, (I love that phrase), I didn't grow up in such a great place, environment, family, or life. During the holidays, I would tell a few close friends that this time was hard for me. Holidays and Christmas were especially hard. There was a Santa that would come to our house with the "Angel Tree" gift of pajamas or a shirt, and maybe a toy. They would come to the door with a garbage bag with the wrapped presents, devoid of bows, plainly wrapped, but given for us. I know someone each year placed our names on the tree. I am so grateful for those people. I am so thankful for that ragged Santa suit and the special people who wrote our names, bought the presents, took time out of their Christmas Eve, drove into the countryside, and gave to us.

I am blessed to co-lead a group of women at church in Bible Study on Sunday night. We have a Group Me page where we share and keep updated. I shared not too long ago that this was a hard time of year for me. Our pastor at CFBC is a man of God's choosing, caring, and thoughtful, and someone I have gone to for prayer and advice over the last few years. He never seems aggravated at my questions or texts at random times about something I have read in the word and want clarification. Shortly after my statement, our pastor preached on "Christmas Joy". In essence, the message said to me that if you don't have Christmas Joy, you don't have the understanding of the true Savior. You have forgotten what the meaning is of Christmas and you have forgotten who He is. You have forgotten who the Savior is! Wow moment. He is our Joy. John 15:11 states "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." Romans 5:13 states "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." I just noticed that now I'm merging Overflowing together with His people. It is amazing to me how the Lord leads from the direction we think we are going, into the direction He wants us to go.

My peace, my hope, my Joy comes from the Savior. It doesn't come from the circumstances, the things that have happened, or what will happen. The Joy of the Lord lives within us, within me. My view of this time of the year changed at that moment. I stopped thinking about why this time of the year is hard, but the Joy that lives inside me. The Joy that He gave, the Joy that His love brought, and the Joy that is Jesus Christ. "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11. My Joy. I can claim that Joy and so can you.

I said earlier that I am grateful for those people. You see, each person who submits to the will of God, whether listening, bringing presents or food to an "Angel" child, preaching God's word, praying for someone, working at a food pantry, spreading the Gospel, or just simply supporting someone in love is His people, God's people. To my grandson, the people who will surround him this Christmas are "His people". But, to me, my brothers and sisters in Christ, these are "His people"...