http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euTEjnZBv1s
Oh 98 Degrees if you only knew
As we are nearing the Christmas countdown (10 days to be exact) I begin thinking and wishing I was at home with family, where its cold (well colder than here- South Carolina doesn’t get too cold), wearing sweaters/mittens/boots, watching my favorite Christmas movies, listening to Christmas songs while driving, singing my favorite Christmas songs, decorating the Christmas tree, seeing Christmas lights, wrapping presents, baking Christmas cookies and preparing to go to Williamsburg to visit my grandparents for Christmas. But God has been showing me that Christmas isn’t about any of that. Those are just things that we have made Christmas to be. Tayo gave me a devotional to read about Christmas and in it the author wrote “if we had our hearts set on Christmas being all of the things the world has made it then we have set our expectations too low.”
Hello! That smacked me upside the head and gave me the perspective I’ve needed all along. I know that we all know “what Christmas is all about” – Jesus being born. But when you take away all the lights, the family, the traditions, and all you have is the gospel; then you really realize the true meaning of Christmas and that my friends, is when you truly get in the Christmas spirit.
The Christmas spirit is nothing that we’ve made it. We’ve made Christmas to be a low expectation of what CHRISTmas really is. It’s nice to have decorations, family, good food, and traditions but really and truly it’s about the hope that a little baby born in a manger brought to this world. It’s about the freedom that is found through Him. It’s about our sins being forever forgiven. It’s about sacrifice. It’s about eternal life. It’s about eternal joy. It’s about love.
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Oh 98 Degrees how you got it so wrong. Every day is Christmas. It is a wonderful world because we do carry this feeling within us throughout the year because Jesus Christ who was born on this day reigns in our lives and we have hope like an anchor as a seal upon our hearts. Let me encourage you through the decorations, fun family time, joy, laughter, songs, to take a moment to remember what we are really celebrating and the joy you feel now should last all through the year because every day is Christmas.
With all my love- Cam
