MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!
Well, it's that time of year to give a shout out to you all that I am still here being my usual Christmas joyous self. I absolutely love this time of the year when the glistening lights on houses and business centers light up the night. I love the music of carolers, symphonies and Praise bands with the sounds of Christmas, the still yet reminder that our Savior came to Earth, as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger with the mission to redeem us and bring us humans in reconciliation to God. Emmanuel, God is with us!! Joy to the whole Earth that God incarnate would love us so much that He would come not only to live among us, but as a Lamb to slaughter, the Lamb that takes away the sins of the whole world, would choose to do so. With the mission of the Cross outside of Jerusalem on Golgotha, the hill outside of the city, there Jesus would bare all our sins upon Himself sacrificially as God the Father poured out His wrath in Judgement of our sins. There that little baby grown into fully man/fully God would die for us.
But for now, how we adore that little baby, Jesus, that perfect lamb who knew no sin entering by choice to Mary and Joseph who took on the task of being his parents. O come, O come Emmanuel!!! The Shepherds look on as a multitude of angels announce Him, praising God in the heavens above. Can you imagine how the lowest on the economic ring in Israel, shepherds, would feel as they were startled at this announcement! And, they took off to go and follow that star in the night sky to Bethlehem to seek the Christ Child. I wouldn't hang out in the fields either. I would certainly go as fast as I could to see this baby, the Messiah, Savior of the world. Nope, no hesitation on my part.
But, I have lived a life like that. Looking now for the King of Kings to come in the sky to snatch me up to meet Him in the air. I look forward to that day when He comes to put His feet on the Mt of Olives outside of Jerusalem to bring final peace on Earth and goodwill towards all men, but it will be not without the cost of human lives who would choose to live by choice in defiance, full on abounding sin, to make declaration that they can live in anarchy, anyway they choose. For God Himself cannot look upon sin, nor allow sin in His presence, all peoples will know Him as Messiah, King of the universe and bow before Him. But their hearts may not change and in minds and hearts refuse to not only believe but receive Him into their hearts and lives. A sad day that will be them.
But as for Patty, I face my daily challenges with the knowledge I don't walk this path alone. I have God, His Word and filling of the Holy Spirit in me. He has gifted me with wonderful people in my life to cheer me on in my journey. It was asked of me will I be with my family this Christmas? Absolutely I will. I see family at church, I hear family by phone, and the family that have gone to be in the presence of Jesus, their voices, their memories I have with me always. I am so thankful for the family God has placed me in. They cheer me on. make me laugh, point me to the Lord and that is a wonderful gift.
Though my physical challenges are so often like being on a roller coaster, many days being good and many days that are hard and sometimes even harder, God's gift of humor as many are so aware of, I have learned to laugh and learned not to allow the physical maladies to own me, or when difficulties occur in relationships, to value them and work away the difficulties as people hold in themselves treasures to grow by and God given value worth those struggles.
Christmas is the story of all contained in this Christmas letter. And I am the most grateful for it. And the neatest part of the story is it is a TRUE STORY in the history past, present and in all ahead of us. It is my hopes that your hearts rest in the redeeming true story of Immanuel, God with us!! God rest ye merry Gentlemen and women..... and Peace on Earth, Goodwill to all men, women and children!!!
Merry Christmas!!! And even, a Ho! Ho! Ho! ,
Patty