Merry Christmas, sweet friends! As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, may His joy and peace envelop you in His love.

Merry CHRISTmas, sweet friends!

Christmas isn’t about money or gifts. Christmas is personal. Christmas is love.

The Creator came to save creation. Boundless became bound. Glory became flesh. The embodiment of love wrapped in the soft, smooth skin of an infant. A wooden manger cradles The cradle of life. A feeding trough for The bread of heaven.

The Great Shepherd’s arrival announced to those who tended sheep to call to the lost sheep. Jesus Christ, the bread of heaven, born to feed a soul-starved, hungry, and dying world. Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us, born to bring joy midst chaos, suffering, and the pain of life. Jesus Christ, Savior, born to love, sacrifice, and save.

Jesus Christ, our hope, born to bring hope to the hopeless. Birthed to die to grant us living hope through His resurrection and through Him new life is birthed in us. Jesus Christ, The peace. Yet peace that came to bring a sword—the sword of the Spirit to slash through our earthly confines and release us to true freedom in Christ.

Jesus Christ, The Word, speaks the words that bring life. Jesus came to live in our hearts. Hearts that were broken and damaged. Hearts that are restored and renewed by His touch.

Christmas is a reminder that God loves you. Regardless of what exists in your past, present, or future, God is with you. You are never alone, you are guaranteed hope, and forever loved.

In God’s presence is the fullness of Joy. Therefore, when we receive Christ who is Immanuel—God with us—we not only receive Christ, but the fullness of God’s Joy. We have Joy that God loves us. Joy that Jesus Christ was born for us. Wonderful joy that IN Jesus Christ we are offered salvation. Amazing Joy that Jesus lives IN all those who will receive and believe IN Him.

Joy that we are given the Holy Spirit to reside IN us. IN Christ we have eternal hope. IN Christ we receive deliverance. IN Christ we are restored. IN Christ we are renewed. In Christ we live IN-JOY!

Jesus gave Himself and offers total connection, uninterrupted opportunities to be in His presence. We are the ones who hinder the flow. So busy doing and living and being, that we miss the baby in the manger. The one who brought humanity the gift of Himself so that we may live eternally through Him.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word. ~ Luke 2:8-17

For there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

He Who gifted life, gifts again with abundant, eternal life through the nail-scarred hands of Jesus.

Will you hurry to your Savior? Will you spread the word? As the star drew the magi to Bethlehem will our lives draw others to Christ?

O, what can I bring to The King? What can I give You my King? What do I have to offer to The One who created all?

Without Jesus I would have been lost forever. Without hope. Without redemption. Without love. Without The life that gave me life.

Words that I write and speak, life that I live, all are only a speck in the cosmos. I long to bring You—My King, My Creator, My life, My all—something that will make Your heart smile.

What can I bring The King?

The only thing that no one else can bring… Me.

What will you gift the King? Will you give The King, your ear, your focus, your heart, your dreams, your passions, your life, your all?

This Christmas will you gift The King, the only thing no one else can bring? You. 

From, We Were Meant for Paradise by Lisa Buffaloe

lisabuffaloe.com