Christmas is my very favorite holiday! Perhaps it's because I have such fond memories of the season from my childhood or maybe it's because of the music, the joy of children, the food, and the presents. Actually, when I really stop to evaluate it, I realize that it's about something much deeper. 

I love Christmas because of what it means! Oh, I'm sure we've all heard the reminder to remember the reason for the season, and that's good and true. But do we stop to think about what God actually did when Jesus was born?

Do you know the meaning of the word Immanuel (sometimes spelled Emmanuel, but has the same meaning)? God with us! WOW! Yes, God came to be with us, but there's more to it. Not only did God come and hang out with real people, he actually became one of us!!! Wait! What? God became a human?

This is the wonder of it all for me. God took on our humanity. He chose to limit Himself in order that we could experience the limitlessness of His love for us! How could He do that? The mystery is stunning, but the reality of Christmas is that He actually did just that. The God who created the universe and everything in it, the One who exists before and forever, the Almighty becomes a dependent baby, the Ever-present confines Himself in space and time, all for the sole purpose of demonstrating how much He loves us.

The ultimate demonstration of that love would occur about 33 years later on a cross, but at His birth, God shows up to make the boldest statement of all time, "People of the world, I LOVE YOU!"

Yes, the Lord of All loves you and He longs for your love in return. May this Christmas be a time of wonder for you in that amazing grace of Jesus! 

Joyfully,

Pastor Mark