Christmas isn't for candy canes

Christmas is for Jesus. God sent His Son, His one and only Son to be born so He could die...for me. Can you imagine having a baby, KNOWING that one day that baby would be hung on a cross, to die in the worst way possible, to suffocate and be humiliated, mocked and beaten. Can you imagine the love God has for us to make a sacrifice like that? Can you even fathom that?

We live in a world that is f'd up, for lack of a better term. It is. This world is so focused on what we don't have or who has it better than we do or who's stuff we wish we had. Stuff. If you had to get rid of all your stuff and live as minimal as possible, could you? If God called you to sell your house, walk away and move to a foreign country where stuff doesn't exist, could you? Honestly, I'm not sure I could... I mean I know I could, but would I? I'd like to think that I'd be like Isaiah, here I am Lord, send me.' But I'm comfortable, as I sit here typing this looking out to the lake, in my favorite fuzzy slippers, from my comfy couch... yet I often think about what I want out of life, where I hope to end up with my business, my finances, my relationships...and quite frankly, I get on my own nerves. None of that matters without God in my life, not one thing.

We have to focus on Him, we have to put Jesus back in this world my friends. We are going to hell in a handbasket, and we're heading there quickly. We'd rather fight about being right or politics or who's lives matter when in all actuality, if we'd have Jesus first, none of that would even be an issue. We'd know that we're ALL made in His image, not one political party or race over another... ALL of us. I am no better than another sinner. We are all made in His perfect image. We've got to get back to 'love thy neighbor.'

Think about that. If you quit gossiping or talking shit or fighting... what would you have of VALUE to say? How would your actions look different than they look now? How would your words and actions better the lives of those you come in contact with? I'm convicting you the way He's convicting me. Our pastor during service Sunday said, it's not about being right, but RIGHTEOUS in CHRIST. YES! BOOM-SHAKALAKA! Can I GET an AMEN?!

Christmas is to celebrate the life of Jesus, the One who was born, knowing He would die for a bunch of sinners... did He complain because He knew we'd disappoint Him? Was He lazy because He knew we'd fail? Nope. Not for a second, He did what His Father in Heaven called Him to do. So, let's GO and be Christ like. Let's Go and add VALUE, real VALUE to the people we meet. Let's put some LIGHT back in the world. Jesus said, as long as there is Light in the world, I am in the world.

We have SO MUCH to be grateful for... and it's not stuff. It's the faith and belief we have, it's those we're blessed to have in our lives, our health and home and loved ones. Let's focus on what we do have, the opportunity each day for God's mercies. He died so we could live, let's never take that for granted again. I know I do and I am feeling called more than ever to share His word, His love and help put Light in this world. God is good, alllll the time. Merry Christmas friends, may you choose joy and blessings and BE a blessing to someone who needs it this Christmas season.