I Hate Tinsel!

We just celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary so I have been inundated with memories from the past sometimes making me somewhat sad because of times gone by.  Since the celebration is over I still continue to remember things from those first years of marriage.  One of them is our first Christmas tree.  It was, of course, a fresh tree bought from a lot.  We went out and bought all new ornaments and lights for the tiny tree.  I remember bringing home to our little apartment boxes of red apples for bulbs, garland and twinkling lights of all colors.  Although I hate it, we bought silver tinsel and strew it about until you could barely see the ornaments.

For years I drug these ornaments out at Christmastime but the years took a toll on them.  The red came off of the apples, the garland was in pieces and the lights had to be replaced several times.  But then the tinsel covered up the chips, brokenness, and darkness.

Sometimes we feel like these pitiful decorations.  Once we were brand new in our faith after we had accepted Christ into our hearts, but then life began to tear away our "bright and shiny"!  Our life changed as trouble came our way, our health deteriorated, or relationships changed.  But then there was lots of tinsel to cover our disappointments.  There were church services, Christian friends, and bible studies, but inside there was something missing, a longing for new life.  Why had the paint chipped away?  Why had the beautiful twinkling lights gone black?  Why are we left with only the tinsel?

 We as busy believers have forgotten our first love!

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.  Consider how far you have fallen!  Repent and do the things you did at first.  Revelations 2:3-4

So in this busy season, if you feel you have somehow lost your first love, turn your life around and seek your first love this Christmas.  Don't hide behind the tinsel!

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.  Jeremiah 29:13 NLT

Let us cast off every distraction so that we can run free and unhindered in pursuit of Christ.

There is still hope in the manger!
There is still hope in the cross!
Seek him while he may be found!

I still hate tinsel!