Every time I reflect on Christmas, I always return to my childhood experiences of Christmas. As a child, I sensed that Christmas meant more than the food and the gifts. Because the gifts and the food could not seem to satisfy the longing of a young heart that continued to search for more than what the human events were presenting. The stars seemed to be brighter during Christmas and there was always a mysterious glow in the sky. To a child, these sights represent heaven, the home of God. The God who created Christmas, or who made Christmas possible, gave His perfect gift to the world – His Son Jesus to redeem the world.

The externals of Christmas...the food, the gift giving, loved ones, friends and the joyous noise from a collective sense, remind us of the presence and the grace of the Lord – all of these will have immense value, when we are moved into a prayerful reflection. However, even more important is the internal realization of the profound meaning of Christmas, the celebration of Christ’s infinite divine grace for our people and the entire world.

Let us use this time to reflect on what God did and whom He gave. Let the externals move us to search for and see God in all of these things – remembering His goodness and His infinite grace. God has showered us with undeserved favors; our lives clearly speak about this. They all started when He sent His Son Jesus to be born in a manger – the beginning of His mission of redemption.

Our prayer is....Lord, thank you for loving us, thank you for sending your Son, thank you for saving us, thank you for your goodness and the favors You shower us every day of our lives.

May you celebrate Christmas with depth and joy – embracing the unfolding mystery that it brings to all of mankind.

Merry Christmas!

Bro. Babes & Sis. Nickie

click photo to download this message in PDF file