That's What Christmas Is All About

                                                        
                                    

Like many people, one of my favorite Christmas traditions is watching "A Charlie Brown Christmas".  I've watched it practically every year since it's debut in 1965.  I think I only missed it about 3 or 4 times, since I was five years old.


Every year it's the same thing.  Charlie Brown looks into his empty mailbox, receives no respect from the actors he's trying to direct and is ridiculed for his choice in a Christmas tree.  He feels alone and depressed.  All around him is the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, and he doesn't enjoy it at all.  What's it all about, anyway? 

Then his close friend Linus tells him.

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
   And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
   And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
   For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
   And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
   And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
   Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."  Luke 2: 8-14 

Christmas wasn't about decorations, presents or Christmas cards.  It wasn't about the music, the play or the Christmas Queen.  It was about the God in the manger.  The God that loved us enough to become one of us.  The God that wanted to transform our lives and one day give us the ultimate renewal.

We are like that tiny Charlie Brown Christmas tree...outwardly insignificant and worthless.  But as Linus said, "All it (we) needs is a little love."  God offers us that love.  To Him, we aren't worthless at all.  To Him, we are worth dying for.  That's why He came to us as a tiny baby, to one day die on the cross for us.  Once we accept that Love of God we are transformed, as that little tree, into something beautiful.  We don't do the changing...God does it.  He gives us an extreme makeover...from the inside out.  The beauty of the Presence of God in our heart shines forth outwardly.  We are a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 

Reach out to accept the best Gift, this Christmas.  It doesn't cost a thing.  His name is Jesus.

All Mine

     Yesterday morning I went to babysit two of my granddaughters for the day.  I arrived around 7 a m, and A. (3) was laying down watching the royal wedding on tv. 
     I cuddled up next to her and asked her if she had seen the new princess.  She said she had, and then proceeded to ask a lot of questions about what was on the television.  I told her to look for the Queen, that she was wearing a yellow hat and dress.  When she saw her, I pointed out that she was the prince's grandmother.  "She is his grandma.  You know how you have a grandma?  Well, she is his."
     "And YOU are MY grandma!!" She said, with a huge sleepy smile.
     "Yes, I am!", I said, kissing her head with a lump in my throat.


     Mine.  That little word means so much.  It claims ownership and worth.  It is something valuable that attaches us to the possession by heartstrings.  It takes time for us to learn what is ours, and what is not.  From an early age, we begin learning this lesson. 
     A.'s sister, J. is beginning to learn it.  She is only 1, and as far as she is concerned...EVERYTHING is hers!!  "Mine, Mine, Mine!"  She's in the process of learning that everything is not hers.
     For those of us who are believers, we have to learn that lesson, also.  In actuality, NOTHING belongs to us.  Everything belongs to God.  In, Psalm 50:12 God declares, "The world is mine, and all that is in it." Although we are not one year old, we tend to think of our possessions as , "Mine, Mine, Mine!"    It is really owned by God, but given to us to be caretaker of. 
     Anything we have, is a gift from God.  The Bible declares in  "Every good and perfect gift comes from heaven."  How do we treat those gifts that we have?  Do we treat them like something to be treasured, or after the 'new' wears off forget about them? 
     The gifts we have include the people that God has placed in our life.  Do we treasure them, or after the 'new' wears off, do we take them for granted? 
   Our friends and family don't "belong" to us, but God has placed them in our lives for a reason.  They are given to us, to enrich and bless our lives.  Do we wonder about whether or not they are a 'gift' sometimes?  Probably!  Coexisting with them, we discover the lessons we need to learn. Many times it is all in our point of view. It's one thing to see them as people...quite another in looking at them as a personal gift from God.
     Thank you, God for the gifts in my life.




         Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17)

For everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all (1 Chronicles 29:11).