Christmas Memories

Merry Christmas Everyone!

As we sit in a quiet house, just the two of us, my husband reads Luke 2 about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, one more time. We have been together 49 Christmases, counting the one when we first started dating. What a blessing! Memories flash back in my mind. Our first Christmas as a married couple of only one month filled a little trailer with love for each other. We had no idea what lay ahead, such an adventurous and blessed life serving Jesus. I took a lot of pictures, that first Christmas, but they were lost when I went to pick them up at the drugstore. Such a disappointment. By the time our second one came, we had a sweet baby girl added to our family, just one month old. She brought a new meaning to celebrating Christmas with a baby. Such love! Then we bought a little house and enjoyed being young parents, although we didn't have much money. Four years later when we celebrated Christmas, we had another addition to our family, a son. What joy filled my heart! I can relate to how Mary must have felt, such joy, holding her baby boy. The Word was God... (and) the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. (John 1:1, 14)

The first Christmas worship service was conducted not in a temple, a cathedral, or a synagogue, gut in the great outdoors. The tidings of Christ's birth echoed in the skies as the angel of the Lord proclaimed the good news to lowly shepherds. Do you think it strange that this glad word was not first given to the priests, the scholars, or the Pharisees? The reason is clear; God speaks to those who are prepared in their hearts to listen. Apparently these humble shepherds were prepared, and therefore able to discern the voice from Heaven above the noisy dim of earth's confusion. (Wisdom for Each Day, by Billy Graham) 

What did those shepherds to after they heard a heavenly choir singing praises to the Savior? They quickly went to the place where He lay, not in a palace, but a manger where stinky animals were. After they worshiped the newborn king, they returned to their work as changed men, glorifying and praising God. (Luke 2:20) Isn't that what we should do?

Is our heart prepared to hear from the Messiah? The One who came to be the Savior of the world still speaks to us lowly people. Isn't that amazing, that a Holy God would speak to us sinful folks? The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;... a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2) Are we willing to let this Light of the world shine upon us, in us, and through us? Will we share this Light?

You know, we tend to only focus more on the baby Christ and His simple birth place. Yet He grew up and became a holy man-God in the flesh. A loving God-man He was living here on earth with mankind. In Jeremiah 31:3 He tells us, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Dear friend, has this loving Jesus drawn you to Himself as your Savior? Have you fallen in love with Jesus, spiritually speaking?

No matter what you are going through, where you are in your walk of faith, Jesus is with us, Emmanuel. Although Mary did not understand how she could have a baby, being a virgin, nor did she understand what was ahead of her, she humbly submitted to the will of God. Have you gotten to the point of saying, "Yes, Lord, You will be done?" Truly, nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:37)

Actually, we are not going to be alone this Christmas season. I fixed a dinner last night for our son and his family. We have more plans for tonight and tomorrow, visiting with extended family. And then there is a way through technology for us to visit with our daughter's family far away. I hope you are with loved ones this holiday. If not, know that you are loved by our Savior, Emmanuel, and those of us reading this post.

I will leave you with a verse found in 1 Peter 4:13, But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

May we be filled with joy today, for we are loved with an everlasting love, have the Light of the world, are held by a God who does the impossible, and fills us with exceeding joy-Jesus Christ. So go make some memories today.

Merry Christmas,

Linda