Tis the Season?

I love this time of year.  I love seeing houses decorated as you drive down the streets.  I love seeing Christmas trees placed in front of windows.  I love seeing stores decorated and Christmas music playing.  It’s a great time to get together with friends and family for dinners, and parties.  I also love how, even if it’s brief, world is more accepting of Christ being born.  I guess people aren’t as threatened by baby Jesus. This season is a special time of year.  Children are excited, Hallmark movies are in full swing, and people are ready and waiting for “the big day".

However there is another side to this Christmas season.  As much as the excitement is heightened, so are a lot of other emotions. Chaos, fear, sorrow and even hate seems to be at an extreme.  People are busy running from here to there, getting presents, worrying if they have enough money to buy everything.  Dreading that meal with that family member who drives them crazy.  People are spending the first Christmas without that loved one and it’s really difficult.  This might be the first Christmas after the divorce and you are alone. You might even hate this time of year because of something that happened in the past.  As Christmas time can be a huge high, it can also be a huge low.

What if I told you that Christmas can be flipped for you?  Instead of Chaos we can have Peace.  Instead of Fear we can have Hope.  Instead of Sorrow we can have Joy and instead of Hate we can have Love.  When Jesus came to this earth, He came as the one who would bridge the gap back to God.  As one who would walk with us and show us how we can have life and life to the fullest. Did you know that there are over 300 prophecies surrounding Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection?  Did you know that Jesus fulfilled all of them?  This changes everything.

One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Oh Holy Night.” There is a line in that song that say, “A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new glorious morn.”

The world is looking for something to help them, to change them.  Jesus’ birth brings that hope.  Do you always know when it seems darkest at night?  Right before the sun comes up.  When the sun breaks the horizon it’s a new day, and you start to realize it’s going to be ok.  I don’t know what you are going through this Christmas season, but Jesus is still waiting for you and He can be your Peace, Hope, Joy and Love during this season.   

Pastor Tony Parsons