I want to say Merry Christmas to everyone. This year has been quite a ride I must say. It has so many ups and downs, and twist and turns. I have come to expect the unexpected. I have always told my family and friends that, but this year, it has taught me that lesson very well.  With so much violence and chaos, destruction on every side , people are so stressed out, and not sure which way to turn. We have to stop and remember the real reason for this season. The holiday that is called Christmas.

Isaiah 9:6 tells us, ” For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

John 3:16 says, ” 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.”

Romans 8:32 tells us, ” He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

Christmas means God gave His very own Son to us. Without Him there is darkness. God’s Son, Jesus or Yeshua, depending on where you are from, is the only one who could pierce this darkness.

Jesus is a gift to us from the Father.  That means you and me, everyone. It is up to us to decide whether to accept a gift or not. It was offered, in this case God, the creator of life itself, gave His Son to us.

Have you ever noticed that “Religions” say that God only rewards those that do right, or I have even heard that ” God only helps those that help themselves.”

We sometimes feel like we are truly unworthy to receive gifts.  I know I do, I grew up being treated by others that I was unworthy, I didn’t have much growing up and I was even told that I was not to want or need anything, especially if it was pretty. If I thought something was pretty, I was told no, I could not have it. I grew up thinking that I was not entitled to have nice things. So of course I didn’t get a whole lot of gifts, I didn’t know how to accept them when I did get one.

Then something happened. It started with an Avon lady.  This Avon lady by the name of Victoria came to see my mom. She would bring those little bitty samples of perfume and lip stick, and my mom would give them to me. I couldn’t wait to see Victoria, and see what she would bring because I knew that when she came by, there would be something pretty for me. Years later, I was shown that those little samples of perfume and lipsticks were actually little gifts from God. He loves to give people gifts. God uses other people to give gifts to you, even they don’t know it sometimes. James 1:17 tells us,” Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”  God gave the ultimate gift to us in this world, He gave His only Begotten Son.

Sometimes you feel like you are unworthy, or not valuable enough to receive a gift, but God the Father, said Yes, you are. You are worthy to receive this ultimate gift. You are valuable enough, even the angels did not know the value of people until He gave His only Begotten Son for the world. In Romans 8:32 we are told that God did not even spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for all of us, how shall He not, with Him, freely give us all things?

That is the very reason for this season that we call Christmas.