Monday, December 22, 2014

What is Christmas really about?

Christmas time is in full swing. There are lights magically strung everywhere you look. Christmas tunes on every radio station. And loooong lines at every store you go to. Ready or not, Christmas Eve is in two days. It is a time that is spent with the people you love, eating way too much, and giving/receiving. As the song goes… "It's the most WONDERFUL time of the year."

However, to some people, it is not the most wonderful time of the year. Recent losses of family members or loved ones can make this holiday season seem almost unbearable. Expectations of providing Christmas morning joy to young children to someone who has just lost their job/went through a divorce that left them penniless/ or is a single parent just trying to get by can be overwhelming. The romance and love that surrounds this season can be defeating for a man or woman who has just gotten out of a relationship or longs for that companionship. So to some, it is not the most wonderful time of the year. To some, it is a really difficult time that comes with reminders of failures, hurts, aches and longings that were not fulfilled.

Take heart though, dear friends. This is not how it was intended to be. This is not what we were created for. We were created to worship. And many of us do-- but, we have lost sight on what we were created to worship. We were created to worship a sovereign Father who pours out unconditional love and grace on us. We were created to live in freedom from sin, hurt, pain, and disappointment. But that all changed in the garden. That all changed when we, as humans, pushed away the agape love that was being poured out on us and chose to try and satisfy our dissatisfied hearts. But thankfully, that isn't where the story ends. Our God, being good and kind and loving, didn't leave us in our sins. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."-John 1:14 The Word has a name… and His name is Jesus. So, when it says the Word became flesh-- meaning fully human-- this doesn't mean He became less. It means Jesus willingly allowed Himself to be restrained. He was still fully God but He chose to become fully human as well. He allowed Himself to feel pain, rejection and heartache. He subjected Himself to ridicule, hurt, and even death on a cross. Not because He "had to"… but because He CHOSE to.

So that is why we celebrate Christmas. We celebrate that while we were still sinning Christ chose to remove Himself from the glory of the Father and come down humbly with the intention to love us well, share the Good News and die on our behalf (Romans 5:8). He wasn't born in a palace… He was born in a manager. A humble birth. So sweet friends-- whether I know you personally or you stumbled upon this blog accidentally-- know that we were created for a purpose. We were known and formed by the Creator of the universe. He loves you so much and has plans to help you and not to harm you…. plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). So rest in Him. Turn to Him. Worship Him. He loves you dearly and longs to answer your prayers. They might not be answered in the way you expected, but they will be answered in the way that is needed. So during this holiday season-- even though the lights and music and family time is fun-- remember what it is really about. Take time to sit and think on why we celebrate. We celebrate because our eternity was in need of a Savior… a Savior to take the place of us on a cross and absorb all of the wrath that was intended for us. A Savior that loved me and you so much that He WILLINGLY took our place. That is something to truly CELEBRATE during this season.

You are loved and prayed for. If you have any questions or specific prayer requests, that I can intercede on your behalf about, please comment or email and let me know. Merry Christmas sweet friends… remember, you are important and precious and cared for by a good, good Father.