The many joys of Christmas...

I love this time of year! I love Christmas lights, ornaments, shopping, hot chocolate, food, cookies, santas, elves, and presents. Oh I love it ALL!!!! I love It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, White Christmas, and the rest of them. I love being with family. And now that I am "working" at a school, I love seeing the excitement through the eyes of a 6 year old. How fun!

BUT most of all, I love celebrating the Savior. I still cannot fathom what a miracle it all is. God chose Mary to give birth to His Son. I cannot imagine what Mary must have thought....or felt. Can you imagine? How scary! As incredible as that part of the story is, the fact that God sent His Son at all is amazing...and undeserved. Why us? What did He find about us worth saving? How could He look down at all of the sinful people that were living at the time...and knowing the ones to come (Christie Bergeron, to name one) and want to offer us The Gift. The only gift that ever matters: the gift of salvation. I do not deserve it. Nothing in my life warrants this saving grace. Yet He CHOSE me! Isn't that something?? He chose to call me out of darkness, He forgave my sin (and continues to forgive my sins), and has prepared a room for me in Glory. It is only by His grace I am saved!

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is CHRIST the LORD.
-Luke 2: 10-11

I love that verse. "Born for you a Savior"....how can people miss it? A SAVIOR! The Enemy does not have to win....he does not have to have control over your lives! We have a SAVIOR! Messiah! Christ the Lord!

As I said, I love this season. The sweet reminder of the Gift that has given me eternal life is like the star at the top of the tree. It makes it all perfect!