I Love Christmas!

My family loves celebrating Christmas because we love the Christ of Christmas. We decorate, celebrate our family traditions, sing the carols, enjoy the food, invite many friends, along with those who don't have a place to be with loved ones on Christmas day. We love the bells, the music, the sounds, and the people.

But, most of all, we really enjoy celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ one more time. It never gets old, because He is new every day of our lives. Christmas provides yet another opportunity to prepare our hearts to receive one more rebirthing/renewal of the life of Jesus Christ in our lives.

We love the Christmas story as it is told in the Bible. We often read at least a portion of the story from Luke chapter 2. My favorite part is when the angel says, "Don't be afraid! I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior, yes Messiah the Lord, IS BORN FOR YOU..." How exciting that He came to bring to all people everywhere hope and peace. Historically, the Middle East as it is today, was greatly troubled by wars and skirmishes, economic crises, and political unrest. The same story of world events today. It seems not much has changed. How timely for Him to come in the middle of a mess and offer hope and peace.

Hope means to possess a confident expectation that God will keep His promise. What is His promise? His love and peace! Peace, not a political, governmental, or geographical peace like we might expect, but a lasting peace of mind, emotions, will and conscience - heart peace - that is a direct benefit of being a recipient of His amazing love. How great is that?

The Bible says He is the same from the beginning to the end. Whatever is happening in our world because of the sin in peoples hearts, like the circumstances of Jesus' birth times and our present being the same as back then, He never changes. His hope and peace continue to be available because of His amazing and indescribable love. When unloved, lonely, hopeless, stressed out people, along with those who have the appearance of having it together, bow before Him and "repent"- ask forgiveness, for disobeying the ways of God, He eagerly fulfills His promise of hope and peace!

May you and your family know and therefore rejoice in the fulfillment of your hope and satisfy your heart with His peace as you celebrate Him this Christmas.