Merry Christmas

Well, in spite of the fact that I was done shopping and wrapped on "Black Friday" as previously reported, there was still a lot of last minute craziness to contend with before the day was done. The girls had a lot of wrapping to do still, we attended the 6:00 service at our church, we opened the traditional Christmas Eve present (pajamas), we played a game of Scrabble and we watched the annual airing of "Its A Wonderful Life". Again. That movie is 63 years old.

So here it is 1:09 Christmas morning and I am just getting around to getting to bed. And I'm not terribly tired which means I will be tomorrow morning. But I have to pause and write what is on my heart right now.

I am not an "evangelical". I have many friends who practice other religions or faiths. Some of my friends believe in an universal god, or god as an energy. Some don't believe in god at all. But I am a Christian and I believe in God as a creator of all things and that Jesus is the Messiah and Savior. And if that offends anyone today, well so be it.

But here is what is on my heart. Untold instances where my faith has been rewarded in evidences of answered prayer. A promise of forgiveness and love and peace. And what gets so confused by so many because of so few is the fact that Jesus did not come to condemn but to save. Which means he has mercy and love for everyone. No matter who, no matter what. You can't earn his love by good deeds. You can't so something so wrong as to be outside of his grace. He simply loves us. Period. Whether we like it or not. This means he loves Christians AND EVERYONE ELSE. Jews, Gentiles, Muslim, Buddhists, gays and straights, criminals and saints, the mega rich and the starving poor, and even the most horrible of us. And all that is required is that we accept him - of our own free will. Not because someone brainwashed us. Not because someone scared us with fire and brimstone. Not because we were "born Christian". Because we needed him and wanted him. And if we seek him with our hearts we WILL find him and we will have the peace he promises in this life and the next. And we come as we are. And what happens after that is up to you and him because it is a unique relationship. And no one can tell you otherwise. But the truth will set you free. Jesus said that he was the way, the truth and the life. And this is what I believe. This is what I know.

So I give great thanks this morning for a miracle that happened two thousand years ago. It has sustained me this year and for many before. And while I sincerely wish you a Happy Kwanzaa and a Happy Hanukkah too, today I wish everyone a Happy Christmas. Because it is Christmas.

And God bless us everone.