Jesus is the reason for the season. We say this in churches all over the US, but do our actions reflect that we believe this is true? If you have been following my blogs, you know about my current struggles and frustrations with materialism both at home and abroad. Christmas isn't about the material possessions, the Christmas cheer, the delicious food or even the quality time with family. It is about so much more and should be celebrated as such. It is the birthday of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That is a big freakin deal and we should treat it as such and TELL the nations why we are celebrating.
This Christmas, I had the opportunity to do just that. This month, our main ministry was Christmas caroling around the villages of Cainta. While it was wonderful to bring Christmas cheer all week leading up to Christmas, the most amazing night of caroling was Christmas Eve. When everyone else in the village was preparing for “Noche Buena” (a Filipino Christmas feast tradition that takes place at midnight. It is a big family reunion complete with spaghetti, fruit salad and many other delicious food items!), several families gathered in the dirty alleyways or makeshift shacks. Now, let me paint a picture of what this was like: these families pretty much had NOTHING. They lived along the dirty, trash polluted river side. No electricity, no running water, little or no furniture and every step on the old wooden boards is a step of faith.
On Christmas Eve, we were able to bless 3 very poor families of San buena. We gave them a bag of groceries, sang a few Christmas carols and had the opportunity to share the gospel with them. In a dark, dirty, smelly alleyway, we shared the the good news of the birth of a Risen Savior who lived, died and rose again. A savior who loves us so much that he humbled himself and came to us in a dirty, smelly manger in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago. THIS IS CHRISTMAS. Standing in that alley, praying with this man to accept Christ just broke me. Tears started streaming down my face as the reality of Christmas hit me like a freight train. The God of the universe LOVES us so much that sent His one and only Son into the world so that we could enter into relationship with Him forever. Now if that's not reason to celebrate, I don't know what is!
I love the song “What is Christmas” by Kutless because it talks about. The chorus and second verse go: “What is Christmas? If there never was a Savior wrapped in a manger. What is Christmas without Christ? Remember how the story goes, God's gift wrapped in swaddling clothes, Beneath the star, one great and holy night. The shepherds heard the angels sing, The wise men brought an offering, Peace on Earth began in Bethlehem. Have we lost the reason that we celebrate each year?” I can say that this Christmas I truly experienced the meaning of Christmas. My heart was overflowing with joy and gratitude as I came to understand that Christmas is about God giving the greatest gift that has ever been given. I do not want to take that lightly any longer. I want to shout it from the roof tops and proclaim how great my God is and how grateful I am for giving us the gift of His Son!
“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6
