Christmas

"Christmas" is for children - the toys, the excitement, and the challenge to stay up until midnight to open your gifts Christmas morning; that's for the children. As I've grown, the older I get, the wiser I get. Christmas is the day we should all put "sacrifice" into perspective. Let go of the negative connotation that sacrificing means you have "to go without" and accept that it means you have to give of yourself more. It's viewed as cliche to say that JESUS is the reason for the season; but He is! The celebration of his life isn't about the toys or the exchange of the gifts. Christmas is about the birth of Christ -Jesus Christ! The man who was born to die. Isn't that amazing? I mean, seriously think about it. God created life inside of a virgin...knowing she would be giving birth to the son of God, whose souls purpose of living was to save people and show them the miraculous power of God. Her sacrifice was AMAZING! Then he died in pain for our sins -every sickness and infirmity...He lived and He died for US! Today as we celebrate Christmas with our families I urge you to keep everything in perspective and remember why we celebrate in the first place. Thank God for sending His son, the true representation of sacrifice. Happy Birthday Jesus! Jesus I love you! It never hurts to tell Him Thank You!

Isaiah‬ ‭9‬:‭1-7‬ MSG

"But there’ll be no darkness for those who were in trouble. Earlier he did bring the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali into disrepute, but the time is coming when he’ll make that whole area glorious— the road along the Sea, the country past the Jordan, international Galilee. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. For those who lived in a land of deep shadows— light! sunbursts of light! You repopulated the nation, you expanded its joy. Oh, they’re so glad in your presence! Festival joy! The joy of a great celebration, sharing rich gifts and warm greetings. The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants— all their whips and cudgels and curses— Is gone, done away with, a deliverance as surprising and sudden as Gideon’s old victory over Midian. The boots of all those invading troops, along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood, Will be piled in a heap and burned, a fire that will burn for days! For a child has been born—for us! the gift of a son—for us! He’ll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness. His ruling authority will grow, and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings. He’ll rule from the historic David throne over that promised kingdom. He’ll put that kingdom on a firm footing and keep it going With fair dealing and right living, beginning now and lasting always. The zeal of GOD -of-the-Angel-Armies will do all this."