God is WITH us!

If you do not have the Christ of Christmas in your heart, you'll never find Him under a tree (or anywhere else for that matter).

The Lord's loving Presence once again this Christmas Eve has been so humbling, so sweet, and even more so amazing. He has very lovingly reminded me of some truths I want to share with you.

1) His plans for me far exceed my own plans 2) His love for me is deeper and reaches farther than I can even fathom 3) His grace in me will always be sufficient to meet my every need, enabling me to live surrendered to Him.

When I think about the miracle of Christmas -- His redemption plan before the world began -- God becoming man, leaving heaven so that we would have a chance to be reconciled to Him & redeemed from sin, death and hell!! I stand amazed at His great love, His everlasting peace, and the joy & favor of God that's so far beyond my comprehension.

Many times in my life, because we are born sinners and we live in a fallen, sinful world, I have either been a victim of other's evil plans or as an adult, thought I knew what was best and lived out a whole mess of different plans that did not line up with God's perfect will for me. But in and through it all, He has worked within me, brought me to a saving knowledge of Him and by His grace is conforming me into His Image.

Statistically speaking, based on my life's tragedies, traumas, and sinful choices, I should be either dead, severely addicted, in prison, or completely overcome with some type of mental illness. But God's love, shining brightly that first Christmas morning, secured a hope and a future for me that I would have never dreamed possible. My heart still spills over with so much emotion at the thought and wonder of it all. What a miracle -- that He would save a wretch like me!!

Every hurt, every rejection, every betrayal, every abuse, every disappointment, every loss, and every doubt, fear, insecurity and the sadness that accompanied them -- He had already redeemed.

Every stubborn prideful moment, every self-righteous ugly moment, every resistance to His love, mercy, and grace, He already knew... Yet He still chose to come that day to Bethlehem! Oh how I praise Him!

So many times, my life has been clouded with darkness and sin the depths of which I wish I'd never known or been exposed to. I will never understand a lot of things. Yet I am ever grateful that through it all, His grace was shining through. I'm even more grateful that He chose to reveal that grace to me and that by faith, I get to experience His daily sufficiency.

I will never regret a life surrendered to Him... Even though the death to myself, my selfish dreams and my sinful heart can be quite painful at times. The beauty He brings for the ashes in my life far outweighs the discomfort of dying to my will and knowing Him more!

Forgiveness -- truly the gift of Christmas! I have so much on my heart and mind this morning... but this thought resonates the deepest:

God's grace in me and toward me that beautiful Christmas morn, followed by Jesus' death and resurrection, His choice to forgive ALL my sin, to redeem EVERY ugly moment, and to secure a future for my soul -- that truth should enable me to live Christmas every day, no matter what comes my way!

When I think about the unimaginable depth of His forgiveness of my sins, How can I breathe another breath not choosing to forgive those who have hurt me?

When I think about all the nay-sayers, the negative nellys, the abusers and gossiping mean people, how can I not praise Him for giving me His gift of encouragement? Till my dying breath, may I choose to uplift others, giving His grace and allowing His love to shine through me no matter what!

I know this is a long post... But I couldn't keep these thoughts to myself... Oh, how I long for every person I know to know the Christ of Christmas, to trust Him with their heart, to surrender their life to Him by faith and to live for Him by His grace!

Immanuel -- God with us -- The Lord of lords, the King of kings, the great I AM, Living Redeemer and Friend, Everlasting Father, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, The Savior of the world...

This. Is. Christmas! :-)