Musings on Christmas

I love the Christmas season. Not being in the States during my favorite time of the year is an inner battle. I find myself missing the comforts of home, but at the same time glad I'm not there. Now hear me out...of course, I miss my family and friends during this time to get together with loved ones and celebrate our Savior, but at the same time I am glad to be away from all the commercialism. My dad is probably keeling over right now, because he calls me the ultimate consumer. Since moving away from the land of convenience and desire I have learned that I am fine without the latest trend or gadget. Do I still like them, yea, but it's not a necessity (nor ever was, I just thought they were). I feel like America has commercialized Christmas so much that we forget what it is truly about. We quickly forget about Jesus' birth and focus on the gifts, parties, and decorations. I don't think it's bad to do "Christmas" but just keep it in perspective. It's easy for me to keep it in perspective as I am not bombarded with commercials and store windows. As much as we have pumped up the commercial Christmas we have downplayed the true CHRISTmas.



I have spent the last two weeks listening to my Pandora Christmas station and I love it. Most of the time it is just background music as I work, but when I took a break I really listened to the words. Christmas is so amazing. The birth of our Savior to an unwed woman and a man in a stable. Can you imagine being Mary? She must have been terrified when she was pregnant. One because she was not married, times back then weren't as forgiving as they are now and it was not acceptable. Two, because she had the Lord's son in growing in her! I can't even imagine. One of my favorite Christmas songs is "Mary Did You Know? " I always try to think of what she would feel like as the mother of Jesus. I love the last lines of the verses. Can you imagine?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.



What an awesome God we serve and praise. To think He made his son a man to take away our sins by dying on the cross. I grew up hearing all the stories about Jesus' birth and his miracles, and that's what they were to me stories. As I get older and think about the amazingness of Jesus I am blown away. To heal a blind man? Walk on water? Calm a storm? Are you serious, that is so freaking AWESOME. More than just stories, they are a testimony to our God. And for Jesus to live a life that is sinless for me? I don't deserve it at all and nothing I can do will ever be enough to deserve it. It is by His grace that I am saved. I could kick myself for how often I take that forgranted. So often I down play the severity of not having His grace. Without it I am lost, yet I don't cling to it as much as I should. An all time favorite verse of mine and one that got me through some hard times is 2 Corinthians 12:9... But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

That's all for now, just wanted to get my thoughts down for my future self. Hopefully wherever I go in my future I will remember and won't be dragged back into the craziness of Christmas.