Hello Ladies
As you are busy with getting ready for Christmas, I thought it would be good to just think
on the love of Jesus for a little bit.
Lets think of the wonder of God’s love during this Christmas time?
The Christmas message of God giving us His Son Jesus can often be forgotten, and not just because of the busyness and presents. But something even more important is lost during Christmas. Something much deeper-- the wonder of God’s amazing love for us.
Maybe you were blessed with a warm, loving childhood, and the wealth of memories from Christmases past leaves you feeling full of joy and cheer.
But for many others, Christmas recalls memories that dredge up dark times and feelings of despair. The sights and sounds of Christmas may be a painful portrayal of family fights, broken promises, and loneliness. Memories may be buried but leave a trail of betrayal and hurt. But oh remember!!
"Oh, How He Loves You and Me"
Another message so often lost during Christmas is that the journey of Jesus doesn’t begin with Christmas. It began whereever time began, he always was.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” (John 1: 1-2).
Chuck Swindoll’s said last week: Jesus didn’t have to come. He was with God the Father from eternity past and yet He chose to be born in a stable and die on a cross. Why?
Love. A word we throw around so casually all the time.
So how can we even begin to grasp the power, depth, and provision of this kind of love shown to us by God?
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17
My challenge to you: “Do you ever just let God love you?”
Heart of Christmas is Love
This may be the real Christmas challenge, the one we forget and secretly struggle with daily. Not just that Jesus is the ‘Reason for the Season’ but that God’s love is behind it all. The warmth, the joy, the happy memories – they all come from one Source. We need to simply accept the gift of His love and let Him love us.
Yet it is one we forget so easily. And sometimes it is not just Santa that distracts us. we get wrapped up in, wrapping presents, the endless list of parties, shopping, programs and making food, cookies and candy and every other well-meaning distraction.
Because all of that still misses out on the deeper message: He didn’t have to come. But He did-- out of a deep depth of love for us. (Ephesians 3:17-19) We can not understand this kind of love. That’s a difficult message for us (me)to grasp. Even after decades of being a believer, I know I still struggle with it. Santa and worldy things are so much easier. But So is the cute little baby boy and the wonderful story of His birth.
But the real heart of Christmas is the love that started it all, way back before Mary and Joseph got turned down for a place to stay in Bethlehem.
Here's your "Christmas Challenge" for all of you who chose to accept this:
It’s the message for us to share with those around us -- especially the ones hurting who need it the most. You know---the not-so-lovables? Perhaps like the scraggly shepherds that God chose to send His angels to long ago. (Luke 2:8-20)
God wants us to heal the brokenhearted and to set the captives free (Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18). He wants to shake us and remind us why Jesus came at all: I LOVE YOU, He shouts! But all-too-often we can’t hear Him over Santa’s sleigh bells and carols about baby Jesus.
The Bible is a book of love, God’s desire for a love relationship with us, and the gift of His Son. How can we stretch outside our comfort zone, go beyond the commercial ‘reach out and touch someone’, and truly love someone this Christmas? (1 John 3:23, 1 John 4:7-11)
Oh, and don’t forget to let the wonder of God’s miraculous love in to bless you this Christmas.
Love you all so much and praying for you all
Carolyn
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