What are we celebrating anyway?

I've been blessed with a very quiet and warm Christmas Eve at home with nothing that must be done. Grace Louise is napping and Jimmy is headed in from the woods; I've been given the gift of solitude for the next hour. My heart has been hungry for God this week so I have stayed up the past four nights later than everyone else, spending time with Him, honestly, afraid of waking up the day after Christmas realizing that I had not spent precious moments alone with sweet Jesus. I earnestly do not want this season to pass without meditating on the Reason we celebrate.

I really really love this time of year. I love everything about it. The time with family, giving to others, traditions, the story of the real Saint Nicholas, Christmas music, breaking bread (and meat and potatoes and sweet goodies) with others, the beauty that the decorated tree brings to my home... And all these things, as wonderful as they are, pale in comparison to the True Reason for this joyous season. Unfortunately, it is easy for all of us to get caught up in the peripherals, and lack focus on the fact that we are celebrating the birth of our King.

The Nativity Story isn't just a nice story or a historical account of an important birth. It is a story that would radically change lives forever. Before the night in Bethlehem, generations upon generations of Jews had been waiting for the promised King and Messiah, though they had not the picture of Jesus in their minds, (born in a manger, a servant to all, meek and lowly). Little did they know, that this coming King would step down from His throne to walk with them on earth, or that in His plan of redemption, He, the greatest, would become the least. How many kings would do this?

The best part of the story is that He did that for you and me- and all who'd believe. If you are reading this, I personally encourage you to take a few moments in the hustle and bustle of Christmas time to listen to the words of this first playlist song and meditate on what Christ did for you. And in this season of gift-giving, to marvel at the gift that Yeshua is to all mankind- our King and Savior.

Merry Christmas!