The Christmas season makes me even more sentimental than I usually am. During this time of year usually unexpectedly, like while walking down an isle at Walmart, I think about my Mom or Dad and the tears flow as I quickly wipe them away before anyone notices. How silly to be crying while looking at candles or Christmas napkins. I miss them so…. especially during this season. I also think about those family members and friends, dear to my heart who we are not able to see during the holidays for various reasons. I remember my neighbors and local friends and acquaintances that I wanted to be kind to during the year but for what ever reason, I neglected a visit, a call, or a plate of cookies. My heart goes out to those who are fighting disease or are very ill right now. I have a friend in the City of Hope fighting Leukemia and a dear family friend who is fighting cancer. My prayers are that they would recover and grow spiritually and physically again. I think about my own family and want to make Christmas special for them. My husband….my dear Mother-in-law, my boys and my siblings. What about the friends at my husbands work? I can’t forget about his co-worker or his new supervisor. As the mail arrives, I receive lots of requests for Christmas gifts….the local rescue mission, Samaritans Purse, Missionary friends, food banks, World Vision, The disabled Veterans, and The American Bible Society. I feel overwhelmed each year as I work through all of these emotions and what I should do.
Then it happens. Sooner or later some time between Thanksgiving and New Years (sometimes it happens after Christmas!) I tell my dear husband ( who is happily hanging lights and building a Christmas village) with a smile on my face that I’ve finally received the Christmas Spirit!!! What finally got through my thick head and stubborn heart is the real meaning of Christmas. I begin to celebrate my Savior and begin to think about Him and all that he means to me. Joy begins to flow in my heart when I focus on His goodness and grace in my life.
I could not even begin to express the joy I feel when I remember his sacrifice for me….for us all. How He left his heavenly home to come to this wicked world as a babe in a manger. I think about his life of service and sacrifice….how he gave his all for me. For me… so that I could one day join Him in heaven. This sounds like a fairy-tale to some. But its as true and real as the ground we walk on. God really does love the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son….that whoever will believe in Him would receive everlasting life.
I recently heard someone talk about his first trip to Disneyland when he was a little boy. He was so excited about going to Disneyland and did not worry about the ticket at all. He just knew that his Dad would buy the ticket for him and his family. His Dad did not ask for help in buying the ticket…It was on him. That’s exactly how it is with Christ. If we want to get to heaven we need to let him buy our ticket. He already paid for it and now all we have to do is receive it from him. There is nothing we can do to contribute to our trip to heaven. It is paid for and bought with a great price. My prayer this Christmas is that you will say yes to Christ and let him take you on a journey…. a ride (an E ticket) at Disneyland. Following Christ does not make all of our problems go away…for sure. But there is peace knowing that we are not alone and that we have a ticket to heaven waiting for us. This alone makes even the most difficult trials seem easier. His love is so amazing and too awesome to express in words. May the Lord give you the spirit of Christmas this year. Please consider getting to know Him this Christmas. Oh how he loves you and me! Merry Christmas!!
Anne
John 3:36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”
John 5:24 “I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”
John 6:47 “I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.”
John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 11:25-26 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus …
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.”
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 10:9-13 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
1 Thessalonians 5: 9-10 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
1 Peter 1:8-9 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body and one spirit–just as you were called to one hope when you were called–one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 10:9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.
