'Tis the Season

It has been such a long time since I have blogged! Just thought I would write a quick one, before the craziness of Christmas Season sets in..oh wait, it already has!!! =) Life has been crazy lately, ups and downs, but it has been eventful and exciting. Sometimes you have to remember it is okay to slow down and breathe for a minute, which is much needed, so you can remember why this season even exists at all.

If you really sit down to think about the Christmas Story, THE One and Only CHRISTMAS STORY, it is fascinating and miraculous. First, there is a virgin who is named Mary, who loves this guy Joseph. So you can imagine in our days, a woman being a virgin....
noun
1. a person who has never had sexual intercourse.
2. an unmarried girl or woman.
3. the virgin Mary, mother of Christ
Adj

4.being a virgin: a virgin martyr.

5.of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a virgin: virgin modesty.

6. pure; unsullied; undefiled: virgin snow.

7. first: the senator's virgin speech.

8. without admixture, alloy, or modification: virgin gold.

Sadly, comes rare and few and far between, and even if a woman truely is a virgin, many people would not or could not even believe that. Second, this virgin Mary ends up becoming with child with the Lord's baby!!!! Seriously, can you imagine if this was on the news a virgin girl getting pregnant, by the Holy Spirit himself???!!?!? Yeah right, every person would be dying to get their hands on the "real story" and they would be slandering that woman and insulting her....that would be rough. I mean, I couldn't imagine how the guy, Joseph, felt either! Your girlfriend, who you love so very much, who you thought and believed to be a virgin, is telling you she is with child, and it is the Lord's child??  And thirdly, after going through all of that, having to travel to Bethleham on a donkey, a pregnant woman on a donkey....YIKES! Then, to top it all off, going through labor, pure, straight out, no meds, no special doctors labor IN A BARN!??!?!?!? WHAT!? That may be considered child or woman abuse now-a-days! I don't know anything about labor pains, but I can tell you I have heard many many stories, which just by those I know I would not want to go through that.

If you really sit down and think about the Christmas Story, and why we even have Christmas, it. is. Amazing. Indescribable. I don't see how people could know this story, and not believe in Jesus. Thanks to Him, we can live!

People go through this holiday, and many times will say "oh, if we can just get through the holidays", or "I am ready for this all to be over." It is as if this season is a burdon. Don't say that! If this season is a burdon, you are not seeing it for what it needs to be.

..Do not be afraid. I bring to you good news of great joy that will be for all the poeple. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11

Savior:

1. a person who saves, rescues, or delivers.

Nothing negative is in that verse, or in the entire story told of Jesus. Even though many worldly people were not on Mary and Joseph's side, God was. They stayed true to God, and trusted that He would take care of them along the way, and Jesus was what they got from obeying! How Amazing!! We do not need to try to "get through" the Christmas season, but embrace and rejoice for the very day we have been blessed with, and thank the Lord for sending his Son to us. Imagine the possibilities of what blessings we could recieve, if we just chose to obey and follow God's word to it's greatest potential.

I just hope everyone does not get caught up in the presents and the hustle and craziness of the Christmas Season, but instead, embraces and enjoys their times spent with families and friends. But after the holiday, don't let it stop. We should always be living this way. God loves us so much, he sacrificed his one and only son, and he wants us to fully surrender our life to Him.

For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:7-8

I hope you all have a Merry Merry Christmas and all remember the meaning of the day and season. And remember to be thankful for your families and friends that you get to spend time with. There are many people that do not even get to celebrate with anyone or who have no families. Love your family while you have them :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!! Love you all!!!!