The Christmas Story

A very wonderful Christmas to all! This Christmas has meant something different to me than other before. We all think about the beginning of the Christmas story, but what about the end? No, I am not talking about the journey back to Nazareth, but rather about the Journey to Golgotha. I have been reading the book of Matthew recently, with different eyes. It felt like I was living along with it. Watching Him grow up as a child, taking on His Father's work... I was growing closer as I watched events unfolding, one by one. The healings physical and spiritual, the miracles, the showing of infinite unmatchless Love. Than they took Him into captivity, mocked Him, SPIT on Him! They degraded Him.... the Innocent. And He took it all. Without retaliation. And than He died... and bore our sins. He BORE our sins. He took upon Himself the blame, the humiliation, the shame, the sinfulness, the wretchedness of OUR sins, and not just one persons. Take all the people who ever lived and will live, take all that sin, allll the blame, humiliating wretchedness, shame, take it all and put it together on one Man. That's what Jesus did, for me. He did it for you. As this came clearly to my eyes... I felt so unworthy. Jesus did it for me. And in turn we have the gift, The Gift of Salvation. Can I actually accept it? Can I actually receive it, the Gift of Forgiveness, Acceptance, from Him? Please do. Accept and think on the best Christmas Gift of all. On His Birth, He began to give us.... The Ultimate Gift.
To me, THIS is the Christmas Story.

Love.

This December, I've been amazed at many things. The simple things in Life. Caroling, singing songs about Jesus. The one lady had tears rolling down her cheeks and the most radiant smile on her face as she listened to the carols being sung. As we began to leave, she exclaimed, "Oh, I thought I was hearing angels tonight!" It's the simple things of life. Today I was walking hurriedly through the mall, trying to find that last minute Christmas gift, when an older lady sitting on a bench looked at me, and gave me a smile. Somehow, it made my day. So the next person I came into contact with, I smiled at them and the tired look was replaced with a smile. :) the simple things of  Life.
     Most of all, I've been impressed, and amazed, all over again at the most simple thing, yet the most wonderful thing of all. God's Love. Wow. The continuing amazing simplicity, and endurance of His Love. Time and again, I fail, you fail. Yet because of this awesome Grace and Love, we can start over, and keep walking in the Way. The Forgiveness. All because of that awesome infinite Love. Love came down as a baby, Love walked on the earth. Love was subjected to the abuse and rejection of  It's creation. Love loved them anyway. Love died for me, for you. Love chose this, when It would never have had to. Love, pure undefiled Love. Love loved me and you even when we thought we knew better, thought we could make it on our own. Love kept loving us when we forsook Him. Isn't it amazing?  How Deep the Fathers Love for us, how vast beyond all Measure. The most simple Thing ever, yet at the same time, the most complex Thing. God's Love.
    May you all have a wonderful Christmas Dav :)

...The Reason...

     We hear about it all the time. We read about it, yet how much do we actually think about it? Taking Christ out of Christmas. This year as December approached a few of my friends and I were talking about Christmas, what we liked about it, and so on. Caroling, being with friends all the time, gift giving, you get the picture. But, thinking back, we left out the most important part. We left out the essence of Christmas. Not one did "the reason for the season" get brought up! Jesus Christ, the True Reason. That really got me thinking! Surely I / You / We are not scared to talk about it?! OR-  Is it because it actually slips our minds? My friends and I are Christians. Jesus is the central theme of my life so I say, but do I actually get so caught up with the rush, with the activities, the "hustle and bustle" of the season, so to speak, that i forget about the most important part?    
     Please, don't get me wrong. I love everything that comes with it, and I should. I do not think God requires that I not look forward to the activities etc. Its just, well... how about let's not let our focus get off..... the Reason. 


 ~Peace~