What It's All About

It's funny, how I had this plan laid out of what I thought I needed to study and learn through this Advent season, but once again God had other plans. He had something more important that He wanted to remind me of. Through the events of my life this week I was once again reminded of the brevity of life and it was also through these circumstances that God reminded me of the things that are most important in this life. It's SO easy to get caught up in this world. The materialism, the greed, the selfishness. I know it's there, but I don't realize how much it controls me sometimes especially at this time of the year. Although sad circumstances, I was thankful for this reminder and grateful that God realigned my focus.

We say oh it's not the gifts that make Christmas, yet 5 minutes later we are writing a wish list or stressing about those last few people that we still have to buy for. I thought about this a lot today. If I was on a deserted island in December without my box of Christmas decorations, or a grocery story to buy a turkey and all the fixings and without a Christmas tree surrounded by gifts to give and receive I could celebrate Christmas, in fact in would probably be a lot easier. I don't need all that fluff to celebrate the love of God who sent His son that would eventually die for my sin so that I could have a relationship with Him. You see because that is the most important thing about Christmas and when it comes down to it that is what life is about.

Jesus didn't leave the throne so that we could hang Christmas lights, cut down a tree, stand in long lines at WalMart or even so that we could get together for family dinners - He came to bring hope to a broken world, peace to our chaotic lives and love to our hurting hearts. He was born that we may have life, abundant life (John 10:10). This Christmas I am celebrating a love that knows no end and growing in my love for the One who will I get to spend eternity with. Oh Lord, how I long for that day.