I attended our Christmas services at Evergreen Community church last night (you can still come tonight at 6pm!) and our Pastor talked about being dead and coming alive in Jesus. It reminded me of the story in Ezekiel about the dry bones of Israel. “Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone, there’s nothing left of us.” Ez. 37:11.
In this passage God is telling Ezekiel to prohesy (preach) to the dead bones. Tell them to get up. He says “You’ll realize I am God. I’ll breathe my life into you and you’ll live.” Ez.37:14

Before I made the decision to turn my will and life over to the care of Jesus (and btw-this was the grace of God, so it wasn’t REALLY even my decision,) I was dead. I lived a hopeless life not understanding the hole I was trying to fill could only be filled by God. I didn’t even understand the feelings I felt of lonliness, hopelessness, irritable discontent had anything to do with a lack of spiritual development or connection. I thought those feelings were due to my circumstances so I would look to food, shopping, alcohol, television, anything to change those circumstances.

So many people try this same thing, this may be why christmas, which can be a lonely, depressing time for those far from God, changed from celebrating the birth of our savior to searching for the perfect gift.

This Christmas, take a step closer to an open heart. Attend a church service. You may just find what you’ve been searching for.

“They all were looking for a king
To slay their foes and lift them high:
Thou cam’st, a little baby thing
That made a woman cry.
O Son of Man, to right my lot
Naught but Thy presence can avail;
Yet on the road Thy wheels are not,
Not on the sea They sail!
My how or when Thou wilt not heed,
But come down Thine own secret stair,
That Thou mayst answer all my need-
Yea, every bygone prayer.
-George Macdonald