Christmas '09

Every year the coming of Christmas makes me very excited. I absolutely love Christmas.

However, I hate getting lost in the stress of gifts, wrapping, parties, planning, etc...

I love the simplicity of what Christmas is.

Last week we sang this song in Church. I was thinking about the words and what Christ did for me in becoming a baby, born into a sinful world to die for the sins of mankind. His birth was miraculous and amazing. Yet at the same time, humble. Born to average people, in a less the glitzy place. Those who came to worship? Not the King, or the most famous, but travelers and shepherds.

He came to give hope, fulfill prophesies and give eternal life. But He didn't demand the world's attention to be focused on Him then, and He doesn't demand we give Him our lives. He gave up everything because He wanted us to surrender everything we have.

Could've come like a mighty storm

With all the strength of a hurricane

You could've come like a forest fire

With the power of heaven in Your flame

But You came like a winter snow

Quiet and soft and slow

Falling from the sky in the night

To the earth below

You could've swept in like a tidal wave

Or an ocean to ravish our hearts

You could have come through like a roaring flood

To wipe away the things we've scarred

But You came like a winter snow

(Yes, You did)

You were quiet

You were soft and slow

Falling from the sky in the night

To the earth below

Oh, no, Your voice wasn't in a bush burning

No, Your voice wasn't in a rushing wind

It was still

It was small

It was hidden

You came like a winter snow

Quiet and soft and slow

Falling from the sky in the night

To the earth below

Falling

To the earth below

You came falling

From the sky in the night

To the earth below

Winter Snow; Chris Tomlin

There's so many amazing, earth shattering ways Christ could have made his earthly physical appearance. But it makes his sacrifice so much more amazing to me the quite, humble, way He did.

Luke 2:4-20

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

GLORY TO GOD, for ALL THE THINGS HE HAS DONE!

Merry Christmas Friends