A Christmas to Remember

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets of old, that we should be saved...." Luke 1:68-71

Christmas is a brilliant and glorious reminder that God always keeps His promises. That He pours out blessings for our obedience as we see in the life of Mary...and even in the most overwhelming times He tells us "Do not fear" as He spoke to Mary through the angel Gabriel. Christmas is a story of God sending His Son into the world as the 'Light of the World' to bring light into our hearts...and among all the gift giving this season brings that same truth holds true when we think of what gift Jesus wants for Christmas….our hearts. "What does Jesus wants for Christmas?" we would ask our children and grandchildren each Christmas Eve....and sharing with them the greatest gift we could ever be given...our salvation in Him.

Part of the wonder of Christmas is building memories each year and keeping traditions and these are so important to the children as they grow and then we have a double blessing as we experience these things with yet another generation. Seeing these traditions being passed on to another generation of our children's children is such a privilege. To share what the Lord has done and why He came, to the next generations, is a gift that is multiplied and goes on into eternity. Each year we have our big 'to do lists' as we continue in keeping with the many memories...we set out to accomplish the Hallmark Christmas...and yet we walk in the realities of life...when a child gets sick, the tree falls down, the budget is shorter than we expected, we remember that gifts still need to be sent out of town along with the cards that we keep forgetting...but through it all it seems to all get done and each memory looking back grows sweeter with time and so many of the simplest things we do together as families create the best memories!

I love this time of year and as I remember and continue to walk forward with the Lord. I am reminded of the importance to have a Mary-Christmas. To sit at Jesus' feet as Mary did...and choose that better part that cannot be taken from me. To find time to slow down in my heart as there is so much shaking going on in our world, around us daily and then within our hearts. God desires us 'to be still and know'. To make time each new day, when we have moments of exhaustion, moments when we are overwhelmed...to carve out time on this Christmas Eve and tomorrow on Christmas Day 'to be still and know that He is God'....to celebrated and honor him as He is being celebrated and honored in every nation and throughout the world. "Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world." Psalm 46:10

December 24, 2016 was truly a 'Christmas to Remember'. It was the name of our church's Christmas play with all the children and it our last Christmas together before Randy became sick in September of 2017. This Christmas in 2016 was a special as Randy played Papa in our church play, sitting in a chair and reading from Luke 1 which he also did every Christmas Eve in our home with our children and grandchildren. This Christmas our family would remember as we still have the programs and ornaments that year along with the many pictures of him reading. We then would come home and he would wait (every Christmas Eve) for them all to get there Christmas pajamas on...running back down the stairs...sitting by him so he could read from Luke 1 the story of Jesus' birth...and have child then each have a part in the nativity scene...and concluding in Christmas songs. Part of this tradition was the reenactment and devotion on what Jesus wants for Christmas...and we would remind the children...He wants your heart.

Children are so excited and full of joy as they can hardly wait to receive their presents and give their gifts to others...and we would end the evening with each giving one gift. We would always take them out to shop and wrap and place their gifts for others under our tree...again, the sweetest of times as many of these gifts came form the Dollar Tree. How excited they would be to grab their basket and take their list and remember others...and the things they would think of giving are still cherished...you can only imagine!

To wake up and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and celebrate Him first, to open the stockings, then eat breakfast and come together under the tree for the gifts became a tradition as still today. Opening each gift, one at a time, and spending this day together as a time to remember Jesus' birth, who we are as a family, a day where we all experience how traditions and memories matter...as we build our lives and strengthen our families and praise God for all He has done in the sacrifice He made from the crib to the cross. It is because of Him that we remember. That we build memories that He gives us...as He establishes new things in our homes and in our families in Him. How we grow these times and cherish them all....as we desire to raise another generation for Christ.

No matter our traditions, they each our special and each our own. Remembering them are important...as time goes by quickly...and we see with each passing year they are used to build up the lives of another generation in Christ. The greatest gift we are given in 'an unspeakable gift', a precious gift as we are given the very first 'Christmas to Remember' over 2000 years ago. I am thinking of the lowly shepherd's in a field and the angels message to them and all the world, "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord"...."Unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given". As my heart feels great joy and gladness in this precious gift given, how I long for others that they may share in the joy of this salvation as well beginning with each of our children and grandchildren and then in the world around me. . That Jesus would visit them this Christmas as the Father pours out His spirit and many would seek Him this Christmas. He is the gift...the One who guarantees that His redeemed may sit in the heavenly places...the One who is the Giver of all things...whose Gift in Him that we are given is promised to go on throughout all Eternity.

As I ponder this all, how "the Lord of glory came in a stable, an Infant of days and yet Father of Eternity" …I praise Him for the deepness of His love for me and all mankind. What He has done and who He is "Is the Greatest Gift" that we could ever receive and all the gifts we are given this Christmas cannot compare, and yet each are blessings from above and when Bethlehem is opened up in your heart and you are part of His family everything else becomes celebrated with such thankfulness because you become so aware of how all things are from Him...and He came to redeem the world...because when you first have Him you have all...salvation, joy, peace, and every one of His unfailing promises.

The Old Testament ends in Malachi...a period then of 400 years...as many waited for the coming of the Messiah while there was much gloom upon the earth. The story does not end there, in that book that had no gospel no promise of hope or salvation there still was a remnant who still believed and hoped for the coming of Messiah. We have been given the Promised One and we have been given the Gospels and as we read about the prophecies that all came to pass written in the Old Testament and we can read of the coming of God's only Son and the good tidings of great joy He has brought to His people. That in Him is the News of Salvation...the end of all sorrow and pain...because Jesus was born to save, the manger of Bethlehem cradled our King!

I pray for each of you this Christmas…as you enjoy this time with family and cherish every moment and continue to build many traditions while remembering many that each year has brought. That you would be reminded to sit still and know that He is God, Immanuel with us, and that the story did not end in Malachi but that we have such a promise of hope and salvation!

He wants our hearts this Christmas...as you remember Him this Christmas 'what think ye of Christ Jesus your Savior'? "What think ye of Christ?" Matthew 22:42. Are you persuaded that He came into the world to save His people from their sins...that by His blood and righteousness is your hope and salvation? I pray that the Holy Spirit has shown you Him and has led you to see that salvation lies in Him alone. As you remember, do you believe?

May this Christmas we receive all that He desires to give us...as we give Him more of our hearts. Let us be glad and rejoice because He has come. Let us remember....the words of the angel that God speaks forth to us still today, "I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to YOU; He IS Messiah, the Lord" Luke 2:10-11 Let us remember to share this Good News with others.

Merry Christmas and may ay the Lord bless you with His peace in the Shalom God has given in the gift of the giving of His Son.

Michelle A. Guerra