Time Remembered

    

     Merry Christmas to you all as we remember the real reason we celebrate the Holiday.  Today is not about the gifts, which we all love to receive and to give.  Today is not about the decorations no matter how beautiful they are.  Today is to be spent with family and loved ones, but it is not about them either.  Today is the day to remember how gracious our Lord God, out Savior, really is.  Today represents the day that He sent His only son to us, a hopelessly flawed people.  Today represents the love He showed us. 
      I love reading the Christmas story.  I can just picture it.  How scared the shepherds must have been to have angels, heavenly creatures, that have not been seen in over 400 years just appear.  I would have thought that I had died, gone insane, or was dreaming.  Either way, what a shock.  I can imagine how excited the Angels were to be declaring the news of the gift that God was presenting His people.  After all, they were the only ones who truly comprehended the true relevance to the gift.  To Mary and Joseph, it was a miracle, something to be treasured.  To the rest of the world something to watch and wait to see what comes of it all.  To some a threat.  No person was able to understand the importance of that small perfect baby.
       Today we are so blessed to have a Bible at a hands reach whenever we chose to read it.  We are more than capable to understand the miracle and touch the reality that God loves each of us as an individual.  That He would have sent His son to live in this world and die that gruesome death for just one of us, but He did it for all of us.  If we can't rejoice this Christmas, then we need to look deep within ourselves and search for what is missing.  I may not have much in the opinion of this world, but I am beyond blessed with what God has given me. 
I also want you to be praying for the children across the globe that will be receiving shoeboxes today and probably throughout the week.  Remember how it is a blessing to all who were able to give, just as much if not more than it is to the children who will be receiving the boxes.                                                     Merry Christmas!