Christmas

I have to admit that this year I had trouble getting into the spirit of Christmas. It just didnt feel like Christmas to me. I know thats weird.

I love Christmas time. I love what we are celebrating, I love the family time, I love the relaxation, I love the Christmas songs and Christmas movies. I watch Christmas movies year round. Usually every Christmas break, I get out all of my Christmas movies and watch them, numerous times. I usually finish most of my shopping by the beginning of December.
I listened to little Christmas music and didnt finish a single Christmas movie this year. I finished my Christmas shopping 3 days before Christmas. I did do a lot of relaxing and I desperately needed that.

Sad to say but I made myself focus on what Christmas was really about and then I got to thinking. An infant, something so small, so precious, so helpless, so dependent, was sent to us. He wasnt sent as a king, he wasnt sent into a family of wealth or honor, his birth was . . . simple. He was born to a woman and a man, young and unmarried. There wasn't a parade in His honor or a marching band playing to announce his arrival. Shepherds came to celebrate, shepherds . . . . nothing special about shepherds.

BUT his birth was something very special. He came for one purpose and that was to save. To save unworthy, obnoxious, rude, selfish, greedy, sinful, dishonorable people. And in the end, as BJ said in his sermon on Christmas Eve, we have to ask why? Why did God choose to have Him come in such an unworthy way? Why did God choose to send Him at all? It doesn't make sense! And the answer, though it's short and seems uncomplicated it's so beyond me, he came out of LOVE! I can't fathom or begin to understand this love. I know its there and I know that it only comes from Him but I don't understand it.

Why do we choose to celebrate His birth once a year? Something amazing happened, long time ago that changed the world and we celebrate it ONCE a year. We celebrate graduations, birthdays, other holidays, super bowl, BCS championship games, the Cowboys win (though not very often), we even celebrate the return of our favorite TV show. We celebrate a lot of things once a year or more.

My challenge to myself and to those that read this is to celebrate His birth, His life, and His resurrection every day. Remember what His birth brought to the world. SALVATION! Remember what His birth is still bringing to the world, HOPE! I was created in His image and others should see that, They should see me celebrating Him everyday!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!