Christmas Gift

When I think about Christmas, I cannot do it without also thinking about Easter. The two, to me, are inseparable. The birth of Jesus Christ was a turning point for all of mankind. He was born so that He would die, and died so that I might live. You might say we are all born to die, but that isn't what I'm talking about. What Christ did was different. He was not born with the knowledge of eventual death as we all are, He was born knowing that His life's purpose was to die.

When Jesus was born, it marked the beginning of the end of Satan’s reign here on earth. The Word was made flesh and dwelled among us, the clock started ticking. I am in awe that the One who set all of creation into motion, who spoke everything into existence and calls each of the stars by name, came to earth as a baby. Why? The All-powerful, Almighty Son of the living God came from heaven to earth as the most wonderful gift, to be our Savior.

For me Christmas means more than a celebration of the birth of Christ, it stirs up feelings of joy and gratitude in me for the sacrifice He made when He chose to come down from His place on high. I can’t imagine any of us would give up all of the powers of the universe as He did. His love compelled Him. And my heart sings and fills to overflowing in my chest when I think of all God has done for me.

I feel unworthy of His sacrifice. I feel humbled when I think of how He regards me. I am forever undeserving and ever failing, but because of Christmas and Jesus Christ’s decision to become a Savior I am in His eyes deemed worthy.

May I never take for granted the day Jesus gave up everything He had to come to earth. May I never become so wrapped up in what Christmas has become that I fail to revere the symbol of Christ’s birth. Victory, freedom, triumph, power… The moment Jesus Christ stepped into this world, the universe was forever changed. And to Him I will be forever grateful.

Screwed UP!

Have you ever felt like you’ve screwed your life up so badly that all you want to do is dig a bottomless pit and then hurl yourself down into it? Have you ever felt so overcome by darkness, hopelessness and despair that you feel that all there is left for you to do is to curl up and die… How do you recover from such heartache?

In this life when we don’t make wise decisions, we oftentimes find ourselves amidst disaster. Foolishness inescapably leads to disaster. Like a snare, if we persist in our reckless behaviors, we will become weary and fall prey to the one who seeks to destroy us-the enemy. We will be damaged beyond repair: mind, body and soul. However, we have an amazing God who will only let us go so far before He steps in and pleas for us to come back into right standing.

How do we climb out of a pit that has become so despairing and all consuming? I hate to say it's simple, because when you're in the thick of it "simple" is the last word that would be chosen. Your situation seems impossible to overcome . But, the darkness and hopelessness is just an overwhelming illusion, climbing out truly is simple. Just go home and talk to God. Tell him how you feel and how sorry you are. Then, forgive yourself. Find worth in yourself through God's eyes and believe you are not beyond God’s grace and love. Allow Him to take you back.

Let God lift you up out of the pit. You cannot climb out in your own strength. Allow yourself to be lavished in love and forgiveness. Move past what has been holding you back and walk out on the sin that has held you hostage. God has given us the power to do these things, if we will look to him for help.

We all screw up... "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. It's what you do when you screw up that defines you. Get out of the pit.Turn to God. Repent and move forward.