Christmas!!

Come on.....it's 4 days til Christmas. It has to be done....


I love this time of year, and this year I've been doing Christmassy things since 1st December. We've read Christmas books; counted down to Christmas with our Christmas snowman; had advent chocolates; decorated our house with the tinselly, glittery wonders that drive me to distraction being a bit of a clean freak; baked Christmas cookies; planned Christmas food; lit Christmas candles; sang Christmas songs and carols; took many walks to look at the Christmas lights; picked and wrapped presents and written cards.  But the reality of Christmas being just 4 days away doesn't incite the same wonder and excitement within me as it did when I was a little girl. I only hope that all these things we have done have made memories so sweet and precious in my own children that will live with them their whole lives.

I'm not a bah-humbug, though, don't mistake me. I don't feel the magical excitement of expectation that I had as a child. However, I realised that I have two things that are just as ....no, actually, even more special and priceless than that child-like wonder, awe and anticipation that Christmas brings to children.
The first is the amazing privilege of creating wonderful memories for my own children, and watching their joy that Christmas, and the run up to it, brings. The little family traditions we are building and the excitement of such simple things like opening the advent calendar and having that tiny little chocolate, and having Christmas stories around the advent candle by the big beast of a Christmas tree (yes, it's huge! but I've come to embrace it as the children adore it). The excitement for me and the magic for me lives in the delight of my children at this special time.

Secondly, as the years pass on, and the presents I receive dwindle, I have found an increasing revelation of the true meaning of Christmas. The best and True Gift that God so loved the world, that He so loved me, that He sent us His precious Jesus is more and more real to me.  The magical excitement of presents and reindeer and a big red suit, has been far surpassed with an immeasurable sense of wonder and awe of what was really done for us. God, Creator of the whole universe, had this plan from the very beginning. Man's fall in the garden of Eden did not faze God. He always always has a plan for us, no matter how much we mess up or deviate from His best plans. He will always always provide a way back to His loving arms. And when man messed up big style, God's redemption plan was a cost so high, so huge, that we can never even come close to contemplating what it felt like for the Father to know that to bring His beloved creation back to Him, that He would need to sacrifice His Son. And that is the heart of Christmas - God giving us the most costly and dear Gift that man could imagine.

Do you sometimes skim over the nativity story, dismiss the idea of God coming to earth as a man, think the virgin birth a little far fetched? Do you think God wouldn't really care that much to bring mankind back to Him? It was foretold by God right at the very beginning, in Genesis after the fall of man. It was prophesied time and time again throughout the Bible. It was expounded upon with every detail of prophecy coming to pass, not a single detail unfulfilled. Whether you know much of the Bible or not, let me tell you that once you start seeing it in the Old Testament, it's utterly awe inspiring to see how God's Gift of Jesus was His heart and longing because He loves us so much.
And that love, that sacrifice from God the Father, to make a way back to Him is the true magic and wonder of Christmas. That depth of that love is a far greater gift than any earthly gift. The ultimate gift of Love comes from knowing Him. That's what Christianity is - a real relationship with God. It's not rules or religion. I believe with all my heart that God hates religion because it shackles people. It puts them into a place of distance from God because they're always striving to fulfil a commandment or follow a set of rules, when all God really wants from us is to let Him love us. That is what God created us for. To love us, and us to love Him, because falling in love with Jesus is the easiest thing in the world. (Yes, I said falling in love with Him because that is all you can do when you start to get to know Him, He's irresistably loveable it's unlike any love you will ever or have ever felt before). And that knowledge and the presence of that love, personified in the Person of Jesus, is so wonderful and magical and exciting. For me, as we place our eyes and thoughts on the birth of Jesus, the wonder of His love is the most amazing thing about Christmas.

Have a wonderful Christmas. I pray that you have the courage and audacity to ask Father God to show you His love this Christmas, to give you a glimpse of what true wonder, amazement and joy there is at this time of year. I know if you do, He will welcome you with His loving arms and show you His ultimate Gift of love to you: Jesus.
Amen, xx