Merry Christmas from the very bottom of my heart! Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King! I think this post will be very full of exclamation points, because my heart is so full! I am so grateful for this beautiful time to reflect on God's gift to mankind, his present to the world. He gave the most precious thing he had to offer--his Son. So many are somewhat familiar with the Christmas story, and they have a basic understanding of the gospel and could probably mumble out the gist of John 3:16. It's a popular message because America was once a Christian nation. That's right, once. She is not anymore. America is so far gone from following the Lord, fearing God, and keeping his commandments. We the people have turned our back on the very One who's hand was in the founding of our nation. What a tragedy. But there is repentance. And there is HOPE! And there can still be found everlasting life in the Man whose name is Jesus! He left his glorious home in heaven, came to earth, was born of a virgin, led a sinless life, ministered to many here on earth, and finally, died for the sins of the world.

But not finally! For he rose again, conquering sin and death and doing away with our sins for ever! Thank you, Jesus! It is us who now have a choice. If we have heard the gospel but reject it as old wives fables or fairy tales, then the Bible says that it will be more tolerable for Sodom (an extremely wicked city in the Bible that was destroyed for its sins) on the day of judgment than it will be for us. If we turn away from the Son of God then we are condemned already.

But...if we accept, if we receive, and if we repent, we will become new creatures and the righteousness of God! What an awesome and incredible gift. What an awesome God to do that for us little people here on earth. We are undeserving, yet his mercy is great! And he is a forgiving God and Father.

So many today are celebrating Christmas. They may not be celebrating Christ, but they are still rejoicing in the occasion of the day and making festivities of their own. Our society is bathed in the influence of Christianity. And even as we turn kicking and screaming away, it still remains. We may try to emphasize Santa Claus, sing his name on the radio, rejoice in one horse open sleigh rides and countless other distractions, but Christmas is still here, and it's still a holiday that almost everyone celebrates. People may have forgotten the reason we celebrate such a day, and yet they're still celebrating. The halls may be decked with holly and the season jolly. But Christ is the first name of Christmas. And he came to save this lost and dying world from their sins. It's a beautiful story and one that my heart longs for every man and woman, boy and girl to receive for their own.

I wish you the merriest Christmas in Christ who came to bring salvation and everlasting life!

Merry Christmas!

Joyfully,

Lauren