A Cup of Cocoa

“They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.” Psalm 145:7 (NIV)

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, there’s one thing that always calms my heart and quiets my thoughts – a cup of hot cocoa. Who doesn’t feel warm and peaceful while sipping a cup of steaming cocoa with marshmallows piled on top?
But, there is another reason I love cocoa. Each letter of my favorite winter drink helps me focus my heart on Christ at Christmas:
C – CHRIST

“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:18 (NIV 1984)
We all know Christ is the reason for this season, yet it’s easy to focus on shopping and planning instead of Jesus. This month, let’s spend as much time seeking God’s heart as we do searching for the perfect gifts.

O – ORNAMENTS
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV 1984)
We can easily spend more time decorating our house to look like the holiday edition of a magazine, than we do adorning our inner spirit with God’s love and compassion. Let’s ask God to make our hearts beautiful by giving us His patience and kindness. Then let’s look for ways to bless those around us, especially those in need.

C – CHEERFULLY CELEBRATE THE SEASON
“A happy heart makes a face look cheerful. But a sad heart produces a broken spirit.” Proverbs 15:13 (NIV)
As gift lists grow and calendars get full, our physical and emotional energy can be drained. Although Christmas is meant to be a joyous season, many of us struggle with depression and discouragement during this time of the year. Let’s take time each day to focus on how much we are valued and loved as children of God. The holidays are merely a season, but God’s love and compassion for us are permanent.

O – OVERJOYED not
OVERWHELMED
“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:10-11 (NIV)
Do you ever feel overjoyed to kick off the holiday season but overwhelmed by the middle of the month? If we take time each day in December to thank Jesus for coming as our Savior, we could become overwhelmed by His kindness instead. When we focus our hearts on all God has done, we won’t get as easily overwhelmed by all that still needs to be done.

A – ABUNDANCE
“…I came that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10b (NIV)
Whenever I think of Christmas morning, from my childhood to the present, the word ABUNDANCE comes to mind. Abundance of presents, food and activities. But these things are temporary. What we need is the abundant life Jesus came to give us. Our hearts need His mercy, peace and love, not only on Christmas day, but every day throughout each year.
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a cup of Christmas cocoa. Will you join me? Let’s take time to ponder these Christmas truths and, as that chocolaty goodness warms us, let’s allow the warmth of God’s love to pour into our hearts and His abundant goodness to pour out into the lives of those around us.

Dear Lord, thank You for giving me the gift of Your Son. Please help me not get so caught up in the earthly celebrations of Christmas that I forget to celebrate all I have in Christ. Remind me of Your love each day and show me how to share it with others each day of this month. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application Steps:
Share today’s devotion with friends and family.
Why not print the acronym for COCOA on a gift card and tie it to a pretty cup to give as a gift this Christmas?

Reflections:
Have I allowed the chaos of Christmas to overshadow my love for Christ?
How can I share God’s goodness with others this season?
Power Verses:

Number 6:25-26, “The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (NIV)

© 2011 by Tracie Miles. All rights reserved.

For The Ladies…

Gossip.  Sadly we’ve all done it in some way or another.  But it’s important to remember what James says in Chapter 1:19-20.  “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”

Slow to speak.  That’s something we don’t see happen very much in today’s society.  Were driving down the road and somebody cuts someone off, then there is yelling and screaming and it just isn’t pretty.  When people are waiting to be seated at a restaurant and they hear that it’s going to be a 25 minute wait, people aren’t too slow to speak then.  Well luckily there aren’t just negatives to this.  In today’s encouragement from Proverbs 31 ministries, they talk about another way to revert gossip to gentleness and edification to build others up.

Check it out:

October 14, 2011 A Slice of Cheesecake, or Dirt? Rachel Olsen

“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.” Proverbs 18:8 (NIV)

Get-togethers with my friends or family typically wind up the same way. The men gather by the grill or TV, and talk about music or sports. Meanwhile, the women congregate in the kitchen for some old-fashioned “girl-talk.”

For women, people and relationships tend to be the common ground of conversation. We are the more emotional and relational gender. And of course we gather in the kitchen—it’s the heart of the home. Plus, that’s where the food is. After all, girl-talk is deliciously enhanced by coffee or cheesecake.

However, there is a side of girl-talk that is dangerous and addictive. It’s called gossip.

Why do we gossip? I believe it’s the same reason we do other things we know we shouldn’t, like flirt with the boss, or gorge ourselves on cheesecake—because it’s pleasurable.

In the case of gossiping, we like the feeling of being “in the know.” At least for the moment, we can command everyone’s attention. Eyes widen and adrenalin pulses as we tell our friends the unbelievable news. They hang on our every word.

Hearing gossip can make us feel almost as good as telling it—like we’ve been chosen and trusted with a secret. Gossiping feels good to everyone—except those who are the object of it.

When I look inward at my own motives for gossiping, what I see is not appetizing. I see pride, carelessness and judgment. I see a self-serving attitude that likes the feelings gossip brings. Although gossip may taste good at the time, just like too much cheesecake, it can negatively affect my well-being. Gossip goes down into my soul bringing with it the weight of guilt and sin.

I’ve come to realize that when I dish the dirt, or even listen to it, I’m serving dirt to my own soul.

Next time the girls gather, I’ve decided I’m going to fast from gossiping. I’ve pre-decided I’ll redirect the conversation, or simply excuse myself to the bathroom when gossip arises. I don’t wish to dish or devour dirt. When my heart is sensitive to God’s, gossip only gives me a sick feeling later.

I will, however, have a cup of coffee and small serving of dessert. Which would you rather enjoy—a slice of cheesecake, or dirt?

Dear Lord, please forgive me for gossiping. I know that it hurts others and harms me as well. Help me be sensitive to when I’m starting to gossip and give me the courage to hold my tongue or change the subject. Fill me with words of wisdom, discernment and encouragement. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
For her favorite fall cheesecake recipe and a chance to win a copy of her book It’s No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know, visit Rachel’s blog today.

It’s No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know by Rachel Olsen

God’s Purpose for Every Woman a P31 Devotion book by various P31 authors with General Editors Lysa TerKeurst and Rachel Olsen

When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can’t compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!

Application Steps:
Pray the prayer above and commit to neither dish nor digest gossip today. If you read celebrity gossip online or in magazines, fast from that as well.

Reflections:
Have I ever jumped full force into a gossipy conversation? Have I regretted it later?

If I regretted it, how did I handle that regret? If I didn’t regret it, what might that tell me about the condition of my soul?

God is fully able and willing to cleanse us of the dirt we’ve spoken or ingested.

Power Verses:
Proverbs 11:13, “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.” (NIV)

2 Thessalonians 3:11-12, “Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.” (NLT)

Psalm 139:4, “Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.” (NIV)