Christmas Joy

Do you know anyone who has a difficult time coping during the holidays? Is December a stressful or difficult time for you? Have you ever heard others say, "I can't wait until Christmas is over"? Have you ever said this yourself?

Perhaps you love this time of year and try to make the best of it, but the attitudes of others bring you down; or maybe you strive for joy, but no matter how positive and festive you try to be, you end up stressed, disappointed, and have moments of anger, fatigue, frustration, or despair.

I know I've had those moments, and it always feels out-of-place. Decorating the tree, shopping for gifts, enjoying a family dinner, attending a Christmas event… All of these things should bring joy; but inevitably one or more brings something else, and the moment that's been planned so carefully is suddenly spoiled.

Holidays can also be a difficult time for some because things bigger than petty wishes haven't been fulfilled. Tragedy, loss, illness, or loneliness can bring on much greater feelings of despair and depression. But whether we're talking about small disappointments, stressful days, family issues, or life going horribly wrong—the story of Jesus coming to earth is all about hope. Rather than focusing on the difficulties, the pain, or the stress that Christmas may bring, our eyes must turn to the One who can help us rise above anything that is clouding our joy. This is the true spirit of Christmas.


If you take a good look at the birth of Jesus and the events leading up to it, you see it was not all warm and fuzzy with holiday lights and traditions. A young Jewish girl had a lot of explaining to do. The man she was engaged to nearly left her. We don't know how her family and friends reacted to the news of her pregnancy, but I'm sure it was a stressful, life-altering time for Mary.

Then there was the long ride to Bethlehem when she was due any day, going into labor and delivering her baby in a stable, and the only crib available was a feeding trough softened by prickly hay? It wasn't exactly a silent night, I imagine.

And yet we read in Luke 2:19, after the shepherds had come to see the baby, that Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Her first-born child may not have come the way she had expected or hoped, she may have felt alone, confused, and scared, but she knew this baby was the hope of Israel, her homeland, and He would bring her much hope as well…"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." (Luke 1:46-47)

Some people like to make a big fuss about removing the word Christmas from holiday greetings, business slogans, and town festivities. But a far greater loss is when those who claim to celebrate Christmas don't actually live by the love, hope, joy, and peace Jesus has for us. Jesus doesn't want me to simply acknowledge His birth; He wants His birth to transform me. He doesn't want me to say the word "Christmas" but not live in the reality of His presence. Christmas is love. Christmas is joy. Christmas is hope. Christmas is peace. This is what Jesus came to bring. Are we receiving these wonderful gifts and sharing them with others? Are we looking to Jesus to help us with any difficulties we are facing? Are we stressed-out, angry, weary, and frazzled, or are we living in the peace Jesus offers us when we simply come to Him?

One of my favorite sayings of Christmas is: Don't leave Jesus in the manger. A nativity scene or a children's play about the birth of Jesus is a good reminder that He came, but we must also remember why He came: A Savior has been born to you…(Luke 2:11) To us a child is born, to us a son is given…and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Do you need His guidance today, His strength, His rescue, His protection, His love, His tender care, His peace, His joy? This is why He came. I pray you will remember that this season and throughout the coming year. I wish you more of Jesus.



Photo Credit: "Gerard van Honthorst 001" by Gerard van Honthorst - The Yorck Project: 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei. DVD-ROM, 2002. ISBN 3936122202. Distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH.. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gerard_van_Honthorst_001.jpg#/media/File:Gerard_van_Honthorst_001.jpg

God's Kingdom

"The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news."

Christmas is just around the corner. Are you ready? Did you shop till you dropped on Black Friday, or do you still need to get started? Have you gotten a tree and untangled the lights, or do you have those tasks ahead of you?

I love Christmas. I love how December is different than any other month of the year. I love the decorations, the Christmas plays, the giving, and above all, the reason we celebrate. Christmas is a time we remember God sent His Son into the world. It's a time of hope and joy.

It's easy to get caught up in the shopping, decorating, and activity of the Christmas season and completely forget about Jesus. But it's also possible to remember the story of Jesus being born in a lowly stable, but to completely forget He didn't stay in the manger! Jesus grew up. He became a man and spent three years traveling around Israel to teach the message God had sent Him to share. The verse above, from Mark 1:15, was His primary message. "The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news."

Do you know what that means? What is the Kingdom of God? What is the Good News? The Kingdom of God has existed from the beginning of time. We are here because God created His Kingdom and created us to enjoy it. You can think of it like a country that is ruled by a king; but it's not limited by space, a certain time period, or for certain people. The Kingdom of God is a present reality for anyone who wants to engage with Him, and it lasts forever.

Some believe we are simply here on earth by chance, an accident of nature that serves no purpose. Others believe we are created beings and we're here for a reason, but those reasons may be vague or misunderstood. But the Kingdom of God is not complicated, it's clear and simple: God is the King and we are His children—His beloved children who are loved and valued.

The message of Christmas never changes, no matter how old you are. Do you treat the holiday as if it's only for children and forget about all the ways God wants to bless YOU? His gifts to us are eternal—ongoing year after year, no matter the season. But Christmas is a good time to be reminded of the love, peace, joy, guidance, and hope He gives.

When Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is near", He was obviously speaking to those who didn't see it that way. God didn't send His Son to preach something everyone already understood and believed. He came to change their thinking (this is the definition of the word repent).

"Repent and believe the good news," He said. So, what's the Good News? By default, good news is not bad. He didn't say, 'Repent or you're going to Hell; Repent or God will stop loving you. Repent or you're getting kicked out of the Kingdom.' That would be bad news. The good news was (and still is), "The Kingdom of God is near."

What, do you suppose, would have made them believe it was far away? When Jesus appeared on the scene, it was a chaotic time of political change and unrest in Israel. The Roman Empire had taken over, benefiting some but oppressing others. Poverty was widespread. Disease was rampant. Demon-possession was plaguing individual lives and communities. People had feelings of hopelessness, dread, and insignificance. (Sound familiar?) They were "poor in spirit". They had little hope for their present and the future.

But Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven." He wanted them to go from seeing themselves as doomed and destitute, to believing they were valued, forgiven, and loved.

"Don't worry; Trust God," He said. "Seek His Kingdom and all your needs will be met. Love others. Pray for your enemies. Forgive. Don't be angry. Do not fear."

He even recruited a band of disciples to help Him spread the word. "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." It was a message everyone needed to hear, and He only had three years to preach before He would be silenced by those who couldn't take any more of His absurd teaching that God loved everyone.

How did Jesus demonstrate this free love? He drove out demons, healed the sick, gave the blind sight and the lame new legs. He went everywhere, spreading the Good News to all. "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."  We often say Jesus came to die for our sins, and He did, but His sacrifice only proved the message He had been preaching until His throat was raw: You are loved. God does not hold your sin against you. He loves you. He values you. You belong to Him.

In Mark 2:5, we see this love and forgiveness demonstrated when Jesus says to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."  This man didn't make a decision that he wanted to be forgiven and come to Jesus to ask for that. He didn't pray the "sinner's prayer." He was just there, in need of God's touch. Others would have viewed him as sinful and unworthy because of his crippled condition, but he wasn't unworthy. He wasn't overlooked. And Jesus didn't just say so, He demonstrated it: "I tell you, get up, take your mat, and go home."  The One who had the power to heal the body also had the power to heal the soul. 

Do you need to believe the Kingdom of God is near? Does it feel far away? Are you living in fear, hate, defeat, despair, or hopelessness? Do you feel unloved or less than perfectly loved? If so, you need to change your thinking. Repent and believe the good news: The Kingdom of heaven is near. The Kingdom of God is for you! Dwell in His love and live in His grace. He is the King; You are His child; and you can trust Him.

Scripture taken from Mark 1:15; Matt. 5:2; Matt. 5-6 (various); Mark 1:17; Mark 1:38; Mark 2:5, 11

Photos by Karen Barefoot,  Fred Fokkelman, Anissa Thompson, Marinela Prodan, Dany Sabadini (Freeimages.com)