The Best Christmas Presence.

So did anyone get any good presents yesterday? I got a new 2008 planner, a few shirts, even a new pair of throw back Jesus sandals. How about you? Anything good?

It's so easy to get caught up in the exchange of presents on Christmas and forget about HIS PRESENCE on Christmas. On this joy filled day, we should really celebrate the greatest of all presents, which is the LORD's PRESENCE in our lives. His entrance into our lives calls for much rejoicing.

One area I would like to suggest working on over these next days is called the "practice of the presence of God." God is always present, right? Always there for us, right? Yes! and yes! Well when we practice the presence of God in our lives, we try our best to remember throughout the day that God is right there by our side and in our hearts all the time. We can do this by simply talking to Him and saying hello at various times throughout the day. Little "thank you's" go a long way. Go ahead, try it. All day today, try as hard as you can to remember Jesus in all things that you are doing. Thank Him for as many things as you can. "Thanks for this toothpaste Jesus." "Thank you for hot water to take this shower." "Thanks for this shirt that I am putting on Jesus." "Thank you Lord for this car that I can drive to work." "Thanks for getting me to work safely Lord." etc...

Brother Lawrence, a Carmelite monk who lived in the 1600's said this, "In the practice of the presence of God we call Our Father to mind at every possible moment. At every opportunity, we focus our attention on Him and silently say, "Thank You, Father" throughout each day."

On Christmas day we said "thank you" for every gift that we received, let's try our hardest to say thank you to the Lord for all of the gifts we receive today, most especially the greatest present of them all - His PRESENCE in our lives!

-Tim Hanley
Hard as Nails Ministries
Newark, NJ