Wow, it’s December already and I am totally amazed at how weeks and months seem to pass more quickly with every year! December marks the 12th month on our calendars. The Biblical meaning of the number 12 is: joined; united; govern; government (the means by which people are united into common purposes and goals); oversight.

Every day I am becoming more deeply aware of how the Lord is drawing me unto Himself, not only in my heart, mind, soul and spirit, but also through His physical, tangible, manifest presence. I can be in the midst of normal daily activities when suddenly He makes me intensely aware of His presence…the weight of His glory on my physical body consumes, delights and overwhelms me.

As we move from the Thanksgiving season (thanksgiving is a lifestyle in the Kingdom of God) to the Christmas season (the joy of this season is also a lifestyle in the Kingdom of God), I am sensing His call for all to draw nearer to Him than ever before; as individuals and as families. In His Word He promises to draw near to those who draw near to Him. Joined and united to Him and in Him, together as families in the common purpose and goal of worshiping Him, loving Him, and becoming vessels that He can manifest His love, His glory and His purposes through on the earth. We are to draw near through worship, through praise, through thankfulness, through fasting, through prayer, through being still, through meditating on His Word, through availability and through obedience. We are to seek Him more deeply, more passionately and more intensely than ever before. In that place, which is contrary to our holiday culture of crazy schedules, shopping, gifts, parties, parades, programs, over-indulgent eating and increased busyness, I am sensing His challenge to drink deeply of His presence and see what He will do.

Many years ago on the very first Christmas, God came to earth (present in all of His glory) through the innocence of a child (Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given”), who became the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29b, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”‘). There is a generation being stirred to cry out for Him to come again to earth in all of His glory…this time He will come as the Lion of Judah…in praise, in might, in power, in victory and in all His splendor…He will come with fire to make ready a people for His return…He will draw a generation unto Himself and His glory will manifest by His Spirit through those who have said, “Here I am, Lord, send me;” through those who have persevered through years of trials and testing; through those of childlike faith.

Isaiah 9:6b-7,“…and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” The government is on His shoulders, and it will increase through a generation united in bringing His Kingdom to come and His will to be done, here on earth as it is in Heaven; a generation united in the common purpose and goal of advancing His Kingdom here on the earth; a generation who understands who they are in Christ – who understands His authority and how to apply His blood in taking dominion on the earth for the glory of His name.

As we prepare to celebrate His birth, let us prepare as never before to encounter His presence and His glory. As a generation called by His name (2 Chronicles 7:14), let us purpose to give Him the gift that He would desire most from us: to love Him with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength that He might love others through us. This season is all about the love of God the Father. This season is about the love of Jesus, His Son; it’s about the Lord in all His glory. This season is all about His manifest presence through the power of Holy Spirit. Let’s press in to know Christ and to be aligned in Him like never before; pressing into a new year like never before…in preparation for 2009, which will be the year of abundant fruitbearing for His Kingdom…the year of His abundant harvest like never before seen on the earth! It’s the season to draw near to the One who this season is all about.