{"id":16296,"date":"2013-12-17T00:01:10","date_gmt":"2013-12-17T06:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=16296"},"modified":"2013-12-16T23:44:22","modified_gmt":"2013-12-17T05:44:22","slug":"promise-michael-w-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2013\/12\/17\/promise-michael-w-smith\/","title":{"rendered":"The Promise"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"gchcarolsbloggraphic\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Michael W. Smith performed a date of his Christmas tour last December 2012 at my church, and it was my honor and privilege to be included in the choir that accompanied him and the orchestra.\u00a0 It was in preparation for that concert that I first heard the song, \u201cThe Promise.\u201d \u00a0The song is intensely beautiful and grand, with a lush orchestral score and choral arrangement.\u00a0 Combined with the lyrics, it is a song of worship and promise that brings me to tearful and grateful praise \u2013 every time I hear it. (In fact, I made myself listen to it so often last year that I quit listening to the words \u2013 I was afraid I would start crying during the concert!) To me, it’s message is the essence of Christmas.<\/p>\n

It often makes me sad around Christmas time, when I hear people wishing that the \u201cspirit of Christmas\u201d would last the entire year. It makes me sad, because it IS entirely possible \u2013 the \u201cspirit of Christmas\u201d is entirely<\/strong> within our grasp. \u00a0Granted, Christmastime is often stressful (perhaps even because you have to endure someone else\u2019s<\/i> stress or impatience), but what do you think of when you think of the \u201cspirit of Christmas?\u201d\u00a0 Love?\u00a0 Peace on earth?\u00a0 A sense of joy?\u00a0 Of hope? \u00a0Of child-like wonder and belief? \u00a0People giving, being generous, and watching out for others? \u00a0Or perhaps folks gladly volunteering time, money, and\/or other resources to help the poor and those less fortunate?\u00a0 What about a desire for beauty and an appreciation for what we have?\u00a0 When you think about it \u2013 don\u2019t all of those things<\/em> describe Christ<\/b>?\u00a0 When the world wishes for the \u201cspirit of Christmas,\u201d ironically, they don\u2019t realize that they are wishing, literally, for the spirit of Christ to reign. \u00a0Hallelujah!\u00a0 \u00a0One day, it will, and HE WILL<\/strong>!!<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t we, then, sisters, have the \u201cspirit of Christmas\u201d within us every day? \u00a0Doesn\u2019t it live within us and want to shape how we live our lives?\u00a0 Don\u2019t we have the power to make others around us feel like it is Christmas every day?\u00a0 Perhaps the way to win others to Jesus is to fill our lives with the Spirit of Christ daily.<\/p>\n

My favorite verse from \u201cThe Promise\u201d says: \u201c\u2026\u2026we will see Emmanuel, GOD is with<\/b> us, GOD is for<\/b> us, GOD IS IN<\/b> US, we will see\u2026.\u201d\u00a0 The fulfillment of the promise of the God Child that will redeem us, restore us, heal us and free us lives in us<\/i> every day!\u00a0 When we allow that to really<\/b> sink in, won\u2019t it be easier to have that feeling of Christmas every day?\u00a0 We<\/strong> can<\/em> all have it. The world<\/b> can<\/em> have it.\u00a0 Oh, dear God, that is my prayer this Christmas!<\/p>\n

Merry Christmas, sisters! May the spirit of the Living God fill you this Christmas, and every day thereafter!\u00a0 I hope you enjoy the song \u2013 I hope the praise in Heaven feels like this!<\/p>\n