Merry Christmas!

Dearest family and friends,

Thank God for this season! I love Christmas! What do you think about when you hear that word: Christmas? A tall pine tree, dazzling lights, pretty ornaments, snowflakes, snowmen, poinsettias, ice skating, sledding, lots of presents…? Yes, but these are merely the decorations we use (like streamers for a birthday) and fun events we are privileged to have for the celebration of a very special event in history. There is a hint in the word “Christmas” that tells us what Christmas is about…rather, who Christmas is about.

Christmas is about a virgin giving birth. Christmas is about the Creator entering His creation to take the lowliest position imaginable--that of helpless infancy. Christmas is about a baby…the Christ child…God made into flesh. “And she [Mary] shall bring forth a son, and…shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) He was born in a cradle to die on a cross. There was no personal gain for Him who left the glorious splendors of Heaven to dirty the sole of His foot and walk with sinful mankind. There was no gain…except the redemption of our souls from Hell. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) He came to earth to seek us out; to save us He offered His own body in our place. Whipped, beaten beyond recognition, His beard ripped out of His face, led like a dog through the streets, a crown of thorns pressed into his skull, and then nail through with rusty spikes to an old rugged cross…to bleed and suffer unutterable agony… “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5-6) Jesus Christ became our substitute. The face of every person ever born and to ever be born passed before Him as the sin of the entire human race was placed in His body and crucified to that cross. And as He hung between Heaven and earth, His agonizing cry was, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” What love! What love is this! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) Jesus humbled Himself to enter His creation. Jesus came…that is why we celebrate Christmas. He is Emmanuel…God with us.

May His radiant light saturate your soul and the warmth of His love fill your heart.

Merry Christmas!

With a singing heart,

Hannah