Yeah, I bet I know what you're thinking...is this an ad for Target? After all, Target gets into the Christmas spirit sooner than any person on entity on the planet. I'm quite sure that last year I saw some Christmas pillows, nutcrackers, and knick knacks in late September. Geez. Get ready people, because like it or not, the Christmas juggernaut will soon be upon us.
But that's not what I'm pondering right now. Nope, it's been a difficult week for a lot of different reasons. Disappointments, exhausting busyness, but also deep sadness. For you see, my husband's dear, sweet Mama is very, very sick...in fact, she's even now gradually stepping her way to heaven. And while that's a wonderful blessing and mercy for her, it's also just so hard and sorrowful for those of us left here.
So I came home and decided it was time to put on a little Christmas music for a few minutes. I just needed to be reminded that we are a Christmas people.
That because Jesus came to earth and was born a tiny, fragile baby in a manger, we will be born again into new, eternal, abundant life.
Because He came to a cradle and willingly went to a cross, we can one day come to heaven and live forever and ever in perfect, glorious, joyous Life.
Yes, we are a celebrating Christmas people...even when life's hard or confusing or sad. Because this is not the end of the story. It's only the end of the very, very, very beginning. And believe me, He's told us in His Word--the rest of the story just gets better and better and better....
"The Lord is for me" says the Psalmist. (Ps.118:7) He is for you--from beginning to end to eternity. He is for you when the sun shines and the birds are singing...and when the clouds hang low and threatening.
The Lord (the Savior of the world, the Creator of the universe, the Mighty King who is high and lifted up and who rules all, all, all things).
Is (always and forever present tense--He is for you right now, today, this moment...and the next moment...and the next. It's always "is" to Him).
For (always on your side, always on your team ,and always loving, forgiving, empowering...)
You (you, yes you! You--even with all your faults and sins and crazy idiosyncrasies--He knows every bit and loves you and is for you).
If you ever doubt that, just look at the cradle...then the cross...and then the empty tomb.
So don't forget to hum a few bars of Christmas in your heart, even in mid September. Because we are a Christmas people...just in case you needed reminding.
Yes, indeed, "Joy to the Lord, the Lord is come!" "Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!" To God be the glory.
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