This Christmas

Holy turkey! Did Thanksgiving fly by already? Where did the fall go? Winter is creeping up on us (although it doesn't feel like it in Richmond with highs of 70 degrees recently), and Christmas will be here before we know it. We enjoyed a lot of quality family time this fall and look forward to more of that in a few weeks. Steve's parents as well as his aunt & uncle from Cali came to visit in October. It was a real treat to have them here in our home. We spent our time exploring colonial Williamsburg and just relaxing & catching up at the house. They also joined us for worship at our church on Sunday morning. We appreciated how eager they were not simply to visit us but to see and be a part of our lives for the weekend. So special. We spent Thanksgiving with my side of the family in Northern Va. and enjoyed more rich time with people we love. My mom & step-dad are so hospitable and always generous in opening their home to us and our big, goofy pups. I'm pretty sure the Yorkies hate when we come, ha! We shared good times with both sides of my family and for that I am thankful.

Now, we're falling into Christmas...

This Christmas we are not celebrating the magic, the festivities, the warm sentiment of the season, not even the giving of presents (gasp!). No, this Christmas we are celebrating something much bigger than all of that. This Christmas we are celebrating how Jesus Christ, the son of God, took on flesh and came to earth as Immanuel. He came not only to be with us but further to save us, to redeem us, to fight for us, to destroy sin and darkness through his life, death, and resurrection. Christ's birth in a manger so many years ago was an immense display of love for the world and a fatal blow to sin and its allies. Light came to earth and darkness had no defense. This is good news to us.

We all know and feel the brokenness of the world we live in. We have separated ourselves from God by our sin. We long for healing and renewal even if we don't realize it. And you know what? Healing has come! Jesus has come and "darkness does not win" as my pastor put it. This, my friends, is what we celebrate! Sin and darkness do not have the final word. Jesus eliminates their grip on all who believe. We have hope in him. Although we experience trials now, we look forward to a day, I look forward to a day when there is no conflict in family, no physical pain or injury, no disappointment or deception, no bitterness or resentment, no jealousy or comparison, no insecurity, no selfishness, no self-righteousness, no sin, no death. There will be a day. Jesus came, and he will come again.

This season, enjoy the festivities and your families, but consider this"grace upon grace" as my fellow blogger puts it here. We don't deserve it yet it is poured on. And consider how you might extend grace to others.

Merry Christmas to all! 

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.  -Psalm 126:3