The Gift of Christmas
The Christmas season means many different things depending on the person. There are so many great Holiday traditions. For some it’s going to the Christmas tree farm with your family all bundled up and cutting down a fresh green tree. For us this year it was going to Lowes to pick out the “perfect” tree or at least one that stood up straight. We found one, tied it to the roof of our little car and headed home. Once home we all gathered round to create a master piece, my girls dropped more decorations then they hung. I practiced my slow breathing and willed myself to enjoy the chaos. We also love to pile into the car with hot cocoa and drive around looking at all the beautiful Christmas lights. Other traditions include big work parties and caroling through the nursing homes with the kids. The hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping for the perfect gift (as if it could be found in a mall and bought with money) is one of the traditions I least look forward to. There must be more to the Christmas season, right?
For many the month of December can be a time of great sadness and stress. The Christmas season is the time really we miss loved ones who live far away. It can be a time of loneliness for those who don’t have a warm and fuzzy support system. All the great Christmas memories remind us of the people who won’t be here this year to celebrate with us. It’s a time many feel financial strain. Parents feel the pressure to have the biggest most expensive presents for their children tucked under the perfectly decorated tree. This is real life stress for most of us! Before I drag you into the dark place let me share the Good News! I know it sounds so cliché to say Jesus is the reason for the season but he really is!
Isaiah 9:6 “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
December doesn’t have to be a time of sadness it can be the time we stop and let Jesus be the love that covers all of our hurts, inadequacy and broken pieces. Often times we get so caught up in the chaos that we forget to allow Christ’s love to shine in and out of us. Christmas don’t have to be a dreaded time. It can be a time to snuggle up with Love himself. We can let Love heal us. Jesus Is Love! He brings joy to replace morning and gladness to replace sorrow.
Jeremiah 31:16-17 But now this is what the Lord says: “Do not weep any longer, for I will reward you,” “your children will come back to you from the distant land of the enemy…” “There is hope for your future…”
The Lord says we shall be satisfied with his goodness. This is our promise when we repent and make Jesus (LOVE) Lord of our life! He always makes good on His promises to us!! Isn’t this such great news?
So, this Christmas we have a choice. The Christmas season is about celebrating the peace and rest that comes from knowing the Savior of the world. He came down not only to save us from our sins but also to save us from the chaos and confusion that threatens to overwhelm us.
1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
He is The Healer, The Comforter, our place of Refuge, He’s our defense, He’s our strength and power! We get to choose how we are going to feel. We have hope through Christ but it’s up to us to accept it. We have comfort waiting to be ours. Gladness is standing by just itching to put a smile on our face! There is no circumstance or person in the world that can keep you from accepting the greatest gift of all, Christ Jesus!
The great news doesn’t stop there! We get to be his body here on earth. As a child of God filled with his spirit we can share Jesus (LOVE) with everyone around us! We get to speak light into the darkness around us. We have the power to heal the broken people around us! By speaking the words of God and sharing his love we bring hope to the hopeless. Once you receive the revelation of giving you will know the Joy of Christmas. Isn’t it amazing that Christmas isn’t only about receiving the love of Christ but also giving that same love to those around us?
My prayer for you this Christmas Season is that you discover True Love (The Lord Jesus Christ) the one and only perfect Gift! (If you don’t know how to accept this gift please private message me. I would love to help you with the first step of your salvation journey)
Luke 2:9-14 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
My second prayer is that you don’t keep this Perfect Gift to yourself but share it with everyone you meet!
Romans 1:14, 16-17 For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike.
For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
We have the key to unlock hope, joy and true peace! We access this by accepting Love and letting it flow through us. We mustn’t keep this to ourselves. I hope I was able to share Christmas cheer with you and lift your spirits. Let’s start a new tradition of carving time to actually celebrate Jesus the true Love we are all searching for each Christmas season and all year round. May the light of the world brighten your life today and always. God bless us everyone!
May all your days be merry and bright!
Love, Melonie M Howard
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