“Grace upon grace..” John 1:16
Lord Jesus, the affirmation “grace upon grace” is always precious to us and needed—especially during the end of the year stretch. Every Christmas season carries a certain amount of emotional drama, relational challenges, and Yes, much for which to give thanks.
We dream of experiencing the last scene in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”—a beautiful story of family healing and community reconciliation; or “Christmas in Connecticut,” very quirky, but fun and snowy. But some of us are bracing for a visit from “Cousin Eddie” and the head-spinning bedlam of “Christmas Vacation.” Have mercy, Lord. Charlie Brown’s needle-dropping tree, with a kind dog, smallness, and a few friends would do quite well.
Jesus, because you have visited us (and remain), we don’t need a visit from Scrooge’s friend Jacob Marley, to turn our “Humbug” into “Hallelujah.” Because the Gospel is true, we don’t have to pretend, deny, or merely survive. Because the Gospel is good and beautiful, we can risk hope, love, and joy.
We look to you for copious grace, multiplied mercies, and redemptive surprises this year. The world into which you were born was filled with madness and sadness, weariness and fearfulness, broken relationships and broken everything.
Jesus, thank you for coming to make your blessings flow (not drip), “far as the curse is found.” By your Spirit, sabotage our pity-parties and whine-fests, and give us big grace-parties and much mercy-merrymaking. So Very Amen. party