The first jewel is the PEARL OF GREAT PRICE – Jesus.

Matthew 13:45-46 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who on finding one pearls of great value went and sold all that he has and bought it.”

The second jewel is the SAPPHIRE

James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom let him ask God, who gives to all men (and women) generously and without reproaching, and it will be given to him.”

Oh, do women need wisdom during the Christmas season. So many decisions to make – so many people to TRY and keep happy.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

Young Mamas – This is a time to make traditions

Mama-in-laws – This is also a time to break traditions

But young mamas remember also that the way you treat your parents especially during this holiday time is the example you are setting for your children and the way they will treat you when you are a grandma.

The third is a BASKET OF JEWELS – The Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”

Don’t give up the Fruit of the Spirit for the Fruit of your Labors.

For the Following:

The most beautifully decorated house

Magnificent outdoor Lights

Hand made gifts for many

All kinds of baking

All uniquely wrapped gifts

Beautiful Christmas tree

Friends for dinner

The special day planned perfectly!!

Have we given up the Fruit of the Spirit and become:

Critical

Angry

Restless

Impatient

Unkind – especially to those in our home.

Selfish – thinking of what WE desire for a perfect Christmas.

Unfaithful – to basic principals of our faith, in order to celebrate Jesus’s birth

Intense

Uncontrolled – with our credit card, our temper or our eating.

In John 10:10 Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” He did not say “He came” to make us a nervous wreck in December trying to celebrate his birth.

In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus said some wonderful words, that I think can be especially meaningful for women during the Christmas holiday. “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Is your burden heavy? Especially right now during these days before Christmas? If so, perhaps you are carrying more than Jesus would have you carry. Maybe some of that burden is of your own doing not his? If so, take him at his word and “Come to Him” and find rest for your souls. Don’t let the cares of the world, the delight in riches, and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. (Mark 4:19)

The last jewel I shall call a DIAMOND.

Our “diamond” can be found in Psalm 62: 5-6 “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.”

And it is to help us in “unfulfilled expectations”. Hidden deep in the Christmas story is a message to help us with this. Sometimes our life is not as we expected it would be:

My husband has faults I never saw before marriage.

Married life just isn’t what I dreamed as a child.

I thought children were a reward from the Lord, sometimes mine feel like a punishment.

I studied years to have this position job wise, and now it seems empty.

I had such a happy marriage and never expected to be a widow so young.

I thought the senior years were supposed to be ‘golden’. Mine aren’t, I don’t have enough money to travel and am lonely.

How can the Christmas story help us with these expectations? What did the Jews expect? They expected a King who would execute justice and righteousness in the land. The reality was a baby born in the manger.

They expected a King to deliver them from Roman rule. The reality was that Jesus came to deliver them from their sins.

What did Mary expect? A messiah, but not to be the mother of the Messiah.

Can we be like Mary and say, “For with God nothing is impossible.” Luke 1:37 and verse 38, “let it be according to your word.”

Can we believe the words also of Elizabeth in Luke 1:45, “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

If you have found the Pearl of Great Price then you claim Romans 8:28 with assurance. “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.”

If you don’t know the ‘Pearl of Great Price’ you can be praying this simple prayer. If you do, this will be the most joyous Christmas you have ever experienced!

References to explain this: Romans 3:23-24, Romans 5:8-9, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-10, Romans 10:13, John 1:12, 1John 1:9, Isaiah 61:10

How to make Christmas a time of celebration and not a time of survival…

The one most important and vital things we can do is this: Have a quiet time with the Lord, either in the early morning or the night before, BUT for the new day coming. Asking directions, asking for creative alternatives, what to do in all problem areas. HE WILL HELP YOU. Give him a chance.

James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom let him ask God, who gives to all men/ women generously and without reproach and it will be given him/her”

Ask confidently- claiming this promise- believing in your heart he will give you ideas and direction.

James 1:6 “But let him ask in faith- with no doubting- for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”

As you enter this Christmas season are you feelings driven and tossed? Driven by your own desires for a perfect Christmas? Driven by traditions of your family and tossed by what your own children want and the desires of your husband’s family? Only Jesus can give you peace!

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou dost keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.”

Read Isaiah 30:15-19. Part of it says, “In quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

Oh, try to do what the Lord tells us to do. See if His promises are not true.

Psalm 34:08 “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in Him.”

What are the promises we as women can claim everyday but especially this moth to help us through Christmas?

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.”

How? Sit down- in a quiet place- no one else around- with a cup of tea or coffee- and have a chat with the Lord. Have a pen and paper ready.

Make a list of the all things you have to do….for the day… the month… the things that are making you feel pressured regarding Christmas. THEN give the list to the Lord. Commit your work to the Lord.

“Lord this is all I would like to do for Christmas. Please show me what I am ABLE to do, as a blessing to my family and not making them crazy. What can I eliminate? What can I do in any easier way? Show me Lord. I will listen. I need your help.”

Then CLAIM THE LORD’S PROMISES!

Proverbs 16:9 “A mans mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

Proverbs 20:24 “A mans steps are ordered by the Lord.”

Then Listen- TO THE STILL SMALL VOICE, joy down ideas that come.

I Kings 19:11-12 “………….But the Lord was not in the wind… But the Lord was not in the earthquake…..But the Lord was not in the fire…… And after the fire A STILL SMALL VOICE.”

Learn to know that still small voice. It comes with practice. We can claim the promise that we will know His voice. He has promised!

John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me.”

John 8:47 “He who is of God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

(Do you really know him? Is he your personal savior? None of this will work for you if you are not His. If you do not know Him and would like to, ask a friend to pray with you to invite him in. What a Christmas gift to yourself this Christmas! Or just pray yourself.)

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.”

“Oh Lord, I acknowledge that you know what is best for me and my family. I acknowledge that you are wiser than I am. Please now take these jumbled plans and make them straight. Make them easy. Make them joyful. Oh, Lord take my burden. “

Psalm 56:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you.”

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laded and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gently and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and MY burden is light.”

Is your burden heavier than you can bear? Then perhaps it is not the burden the Lord would have you carry, as he has promised that HIS burden is light.  What are your burdens? Are your desires greater than your time, energy, and budget? Are you being pressured by certain relatives and friends? Are you short of money? Are memories of past Christmases- good or bad-keeping you from enjoying the present Christmas? Whatever your burdens- Give them to the Lord. Go over each one with the Lord. You will be amazed and more likely will say, “That was simple- why didn’t I think of that?”

What hidden lessons can we learn from Christmas? Our expectations are often different from God’s, just like it was with the Jews prior to Jesus’ birth.

The Expectation: The Jews expected a King. Mary expected a Messiah.

Both represent power. But the reality was that Jesus was born in manger. Luke 2:11 & 12 “For to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you; you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

The Reality: Jesus came to deliver the Jews from their sins. God used Mary to bring forth the Messiah.

How can we apply this to our lives? Do you have certain expectations for…. your husband? kids? home? lifestyle? job? ect…

The reality of these expectations is often different than what we had planned. What can we lean from Christmas to help us with the reality of our expectations? Are we sometimes disappointed as the Jews were disappointed? What did the Jews do? Who came to know the truth?

Some looked for God’s plan in the midst of disappointment. They didn’t look just at the outward circumstances but BELIEVED GOD. They focused on the hidden jewel in the manger stall. They found power and purpose in that little baby. When the reality of your expectations doesn’t look at all as you dreamed- When your husband has flaws you haven’t seen before… When your children disappoint you…. When your physical home will not be featured in a magazine. What can you do?

Look beyond the circumstances. Look for the hidden jewel.

Psalm 127:3 says “Sons and daughters are a heritage from the Lord, and the fruit of the womb a reward.”

Can we respond like Mary in belief when there are times those children do not seem like a reward but more like punishment? When my first child, Becky, was born I knew nothing about being a mother. I was raised an only child and had never been around babies. Also, I was given no training prior to her birth as to what to expect. When she arrived, she had severe colic, volatile vomiting, and slept very little. She would sleep for 45 minutes and then cry most of the day. I remember crying out to the Lord, “What have I every done to deserve this?” Then as this baby grew into a beautiful girl, inside and out, she became a child who loved the Lord. And then she began being my great helper and helped me raise the other children. She was a great example for the other kids to follow and I cried out to the Lord “What have I ever done to deserve such a child as this?” That was truly a great lesson to me that God only gives us good gifts.

May we each learn from the hidden lessons of Christmas, some truth that will help us with the expectations of our life. May we find the hidden jewel in all of our circumstances.