Each week we’ll be writing about different ways that we, as leaders, can effectively be examples to our students, and we’ll discuss different topics to talk over with our students. These topics range from relationships to being active in a small group. All of these topics are nuggets every leader can apply to his or her life. It’s our hope that you’ll check back to see what next week’s topic is, and that you can apply what we’ve learned in your own life as a fellow volunteer youth worker.
“Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever, praising your greatness from generation to generation.” Psalm 79:13
Today’s blog topic is: No room at the inn… Do you have room for Jesus in your life?
When Joseph and Mary were wandering in Bethlehem looking for a place to stay for the night, they found out that there was no room at the inn for Jesus. Do you make room for Jesus in your life and do you show your students how they can make room in their lives for Jesus? Steven and Matt offer some practical tips for spending time with Jesus during the busy Christmas season.
Matt: As hard as I try to keep the true reason for Christmas first and foremost in my mind during the holiday season, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the material world. At the same time, I need to make sure that the students who look up to me know that even in this hectic time of year, I slow down and make time for what’s really important. Our small group held a Christmas party instead of our normal bible study last week. I wanted to make sure we stopped and remembered that what we are really celebrating is the greatest gift ever given. I have had the opportunity to speak at two other Christmas parties in the past couple of weeks. I took time to read from Luke, chapter two, about the birth of Jesus. That was a family tradition in my home when I was a kid, it was a way of making us kids take a minute to stop and remember that Christmas is not about the G I Joe with the kung fu grip or Hot Wheels cars that I hoped were going to be under the tree on Christmas morning.
One of my favorite lines from “It’s a Wonderful Life” is the inscription that Clarance the angel puts in George Bailey’s book, “no man is a failure who has friends.” That line makes me realize that I am a very blessed guy because of the amazing people God has placed in my life. We need to remember that Jesus has placed these people in our lives for a reason, and what better time to let those close to us know how special they are and how much we love them. It doesn’t have to be with extravagant gifts, sometimes it just means spending time with them. And what better way to make room for Jesus this time of year, than to spend time with Him. Spend time in the word, spend quiet time, and time for prayer. Don’t just pray, but after you pray, sit there quietly and LISTEN for what God has to tell you. If you passed these traits on to your students, you are helping them establish excellent habits for the future.
Steven: This is the first year that I’ve actually had to realize what all this busyness around Christmas meant. I heard people talk about it all the time and heard it in church sermons, but since I’m still a student and I wasn’t working much I didn’t quite understand what people were talking about. That changed this year. The Christmas busyness has been very real to me, especially working at a church during the month of December. Every year for the last 18 years I have woken up on Christmas morning, opened presents with my family, ate breakfast, and never got out of my pajamas. It’s always a great family bonding and relaxation time, but this year I’ll be working for eight hours on Christmas. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I love my job and the people I work with, and I love the atmosphere around our church, but it’s just not the same as being at home with family. Because of the extra work hours, I have felt busier than ever around Christmas.
It’s always hard to keep Jesus constantly at the forefront of our minds, especially during busy times like the Christmas season. Many times it’s difficult for me to wrap my head around the fact that Christmas isn’t just about presents, snow (even though we don’t get any in Southern California), or parties, it’s about Jesus. Sometimes Jesus gets lost in all the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, especially when modern culture has made Christmas into the consumer holiday that it is. One thing that I’ve done to keep Jesus alive during Christmas this year is extremely simple: Instead of turning on one of the generic “holiday” music stations, I plug my iPod in and listen to songs that actually praise the Lord for what He has done. Silver Bells and Santa Baby are great “holiday” songs, but they don’t address the reason for the season. Christmas isn’t about presents, but it is about a gift. Don’t forget God’s gift to you this Christmas. The more we remember to put Jesus first in our Christmas celebration, the better we can pass on the true meaning of Christmas from generation to generation.
