Christmas in the Home

Can anyone else believe that we are just a few weeks away from Christmas? Wow, where has the time gone? I know growing up everyone says the years go faster and faster but I never really believed it until now. I know you are all probably busy doing your countdown advent calendars, or catching up on them if you're like me. As Christmas is approaching let's be thinking about how we can be Jesus to those who are in our homes and will come into them. Or maybe we will be going to other family member's homes? 
I have personally been challenged with slowing down and spending time with people. Who cares if the house is decorated perfect or if the lights are up outside, it is people that matter the most. I need a daily reminder of this, when the list of to-do's is longer than the hours in the day.
A friend was over recently and we were talking about the importance of people and taking the time to invest into others lives. I mentioned that I would rather have meaningful conversation with someone while sitting on a dirt floor rather than having the most beautifully decorated HGTV style home with no life in it. Now if you know me, that it huge that I would say that. God has really done and I should say is doing a work in my life with this. I love a clean, prefect and orderly home, but I can't let that dictate how my life. Trust me I wish I lived in one of those beautiful homes you see on tv. But God has been teaching me and showing me that it isn't about the actual physical home as much as it is about the relationships in the home.

"Better is a dinner of vegetables where love it, 

than a fatted calf with hatred." 

Proverbs 15:17   

"Better a dry crust eaten in peace 

than a house filled with feasting and conflict." 

Proverbs 17:1

"It's better to live alone in the corner of an attic 

than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home."  

Proverbs 25:24

I want to encourage all of us to begin to see those in our homes and those who come into our homes as opportunities show the love of Jesus to. Jesus was with people all the time and he didn't care what the physical home was like. Jesus cared about the heart of each individual that he came in contact with. He was living on purpose with a purpose. As Christmas and the New Years are fast approaching, it's okay if the house isn't perfect. Let's turn the cell phone off, shut down the tv and spend some quality time with the people in your life. I'm praying that it will be a joyful time that you spend together.