"Choose you this day whom you will serve....as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." - Joshua 24:15

Monday, December 22, 2008

Christmas Time

Christmas is almost here. I can't believe how fast it has come around again. This will be my and Mollie's first Christmas in our new house. It has been a busy December for us. We had a Christmas Open House the first weekend of December and then spent the next two trying to Christmas shop. Last week we had Christmas Parties or events going on practically every night of the week. This Christmas will be a little bittersweet for Mollie and her family. Her brother and sister-in-law have traveled to the United Arab Emirates to be with her family for Christmas. Charisse's parents are missionaries. Her whole family will be together this year for Christmas. My mother-in-law asked Charisse when was the last time her whole family was together for Christmas and she said that she couldn't remember. I am happy for the Armstrong family, but I know that Preston and Charisse will be missed here this year.

Despite all that is going on, I have been trying to keep the real reason for Christmas in my mind. I received an email from a co-worker this morning that really ministered to me and helps put all of the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season into perspective. I am including it below in hopes that it will minister to you as it did me.

"A woman was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable; and after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids. She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season time of the year - overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday food and treats, getting that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, making sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card. Finally the elevator doors opened, and there was already a crowd in the car. She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two kids in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors closed, she couldn't take it anymore and she stated, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot." From the back of the car, everyone heard a quiet, calm voice respond, "Don't worry, we already crucified Him." For the rest of the trip down in the elevator, it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. This year, don't forget to keep "the One who started this whole Christmas thing" in your every thought, deed, purchase and words. If we all did it, just think of how different this whole world would be."

We must not forget the true reason for Christmas. Over 2,000 years ago a Savior was born to us. You see we we are unclean people. By unclean I mean that we naturally live lives that are unpleasing to God. This is called sin. Because of this sin, we are forever separated from spending eternity with God (Romans 3:23). God is a loving God, but he is also a just God. The only punishment for our sin is death (Romans 6:23). However, God has given us a means of overcoming the sin in our lives. This means is Jesus, His only Son (Romans 6:23). Jesus was God in the flesh. He came to earth in the form of a human and lived a perfect life. He was ridiculed and mocked by many and was eventually crucified. The story did not end there. Three days after He was killed, Jesus rose from the dead, thereby conquering death, and ascended back into heaven to sit at the right hand of God. When Jesus died, He took the punishment for our sins upon his shoulders and paid the price (Romans 5:8). Now, because of this, we can spend eternity with God. All we have to do is confess that Jesus is the Lord and Son of God and believe that He died for our sins and that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9,10; 3:20). Once we do this, we become children of God (Romans 10:13). That is why we celebrate Christmas. We celebrate the birth of Jesus. If you have never put your faith in Jesus, why not now? Accepting the gift of eternal life will be the best gift you can receive this year. If you have never done this, I encourage you to speak with another Christian or even contact me. There is hope out there. No matter who you are or what you may have done, Jesus loves you and wants to spend an eternity with you. Always remember, no matter what is going on this holiday season, the real reason for the season is Jesus. May God bless each and every one of you this Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

1 comment:

Pat said...

Wonderful testimony! Thank God for Christ-mas!