The Gift

One little baby, born more than 2,000 yrs ago, in a stable no less, in a small, poor country. No electricity, no tv (what?), no newspapers, not much of anything really. Just people trying to survive with hardship and the same wants and needs that we have. The mark of time is counted from the year of His birth (B.C and A.D.), almost every country on earth celebrates His birth with songs, gift giving, time off from work and school, unique customs and foods, and special decorations and a spirit of thinking of others. As a homebirth midwife for more than 30 yrs., I really appreciate the fact that His mom labored on a donkey on their way to Bethlehem. I can't imagine how hard that must have been....Then He was born in a stable, surrounded by animals and all that comes with them...I know that God made a little place for them, a circle of love where Jesus was born...Who would think that one little baby born in a stable would have such an impact on the world 2000 yrs later? Why is that? What difference does it make? Who was this baby? And what does all of that have to do with me and my life? Well, it's huge, all of it.

When He was born, there were shepherds looking after their sheep/goats, whatever, in the fields surrounding the town. All normal, right? All of a sudden, an angel appears to them and scares them half to death and tells them to not be afraid because he has brought them some good news.
The angel said," I'm here to announce to YOU a GREAT and JOYFUL event, that is meant for EVERYONE worldwide. A SAVIOR, who is Christ the Lord." Lk 2:8-11 Then the angel told them how to find the baby and they went to go see for themselves. So, His birth was to be a joyful celebration for all of us. It doesn't matter who you are or what you've done or not done, what you have or don't have, where you come from or where you're going. This is for all of us then and now. We didn't even know we needed a Savior, but God did and He loved us enough to give us one. John 3:16 He loves us on our good days, bad days, when we're mean to each other, even if we don't love Him, He still loves us. Nothing can make Him not love us. Romans 8:38 says that "neither death, nor life, not angels, nor principalities (demons), nor things present, nor things to come, not powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus." Well, that just about covers it, don't you think?

In John 1:1 it says that in the beginning was the Word and that the Word was God....then in verse 14 the Bible says that the Word (God) became flesh and dwelt among us. The Message says, "and the Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood." I love it! God did move into the neighborhood when He was born in human form as a baby in Bethlehem. What a neighborhood we are too! Fighting with each other, wanting what somebody else has, being selfish and self centered, stressed and crabby with each other. Don't you feel like saying sometimes, "Get me outa here!!" Well, God heard our cry and sent salvation..JESUS, the reason for the season! Jesus grew up and became a man, gave us examples of how to live and stretched out His arms and died willingly for all of our sins, past, present and future. He made a way for us to be able to be with God. To have relationship with Him. To hang out with Him like with a friend.

Christmas is a gift. A joyful celebration of this gift and God's love for everybody and His way of giving us a bridge to fellowship with Him. So it's a birthday party! Let's celebrate! What do you do at a birthday party? Sing happy birthday? Eat cake? Play games? Laugh, visit, eat a meal? Give gifts? Well, what are you going to give to Jesus, this year? He doesn't really need anything, right? Try to think of something....maybe this year, be available to those that need your help..or share what you have with others, or spend more quality time with those that love you...we can think of something to give Him, I know we can. After all, He gave us everything....