Christmas

As I think about the Lord, lately, the word Trustworthiness keeps pushing me forward. My heart broke with so many when the little children were shot to death at Sandy Hook school over a week ago. Reading about the actions of the faculty and students was a mix of heart ache as well as encouragement because of the love that was shown. Teachers that laid their lives down for the children. Funny (not funny ha ha) that's what God did for me, for you, with Jesus...He put flesh on, stepped in my place and took the "bullet" that was meant for me.

In His Trustworthiness, He is steadfast and faithful. These words also make me think of a marriage relationship when the husband and wife choose to make these commitments to each other for better or for worse. Today, mmarriage is experiencing the worse.  I am reminded of Hosea in the Old Testament whose wife Gomer continued to be unfaithful to him, yet in God's faithfulness to him, he did not give up on her.

I am thankful that God is still God. He is the one who truly knows my heart, my burdens, my prayer cries, and my insufficiency.  He does not give up on me especially when I am heavy laden. He knows about my best friends mother in the hospital, our young friends premature twins in the NICU, my moms and mother-in-laws  "heart" and health challenges, several adult nieces with emotional turmoil including single motherhood, my father in law who no longer recognizes family, dynamics surrounding family, employment instability and pressure.  God fills the gaps, gives me strength, shares my burden, quiets my heart, shines the light in the darkness, gives me peace and hope because He is Love. 

Come let us adore Him.

For a child has been born - for us! The gift of a son - for us! (Isaiah 9:6)

Love came down at Christmas; Love all lovely, love divine; Love was born at Christmas, Star and angels gave the sign. (Christina Rossetti)

Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please Him. (Luke 2:14)

Sing praise-songs to God. He's done it all! Let the whole earth know what He's done! Raise the roof! Sing your hearts out, O Zion! The Greatest lives among you: The Holy of Israel. (Isaiah 12:5-6)

It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you. Yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand. (Mother Teresa)

I thank God for Christmas. would that it lasted all year. For on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, all the world is a better place, and men and women are more lovable. Love itself seeps into every heart, and miracles happen. (Peter Marshall)

He came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter. God tapped humanity on its collective shoulder, "Pardon me," he said, and eternity interrupted time, divinity interrupted carnality, and heaven interrupted the earth in the form of a baby. Christianity was born in one big heavenly interruption. (Max Lucado)

Holiday and Holy day, Christmas is more than a Yule log, holly or a tree. It is more than natural good cheer and the giving of gifts. Christmas is even more than the feast of the home and of children, the feast of love and friendship. It is more than all these together. Christmas is Christ, the Christ of justice and charity, of freedom and peace. (Francis Cardinal Spellman)

If we could condense all the truths of Christmas into only three words, these would be the word: "God with us." We tend to focus our attention at Christmas on the infancy of Christ. The greater truth of the holiday is His deity. More astonishing than a baby in the manger is the truth that this promised baby is the omnipotent Creator of the heavens and the earth! (John MacArthur)

This Christmas, may you know the One who loves you enough to take the "bullet" for you.