Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s Christmas Eve, and my Heart is more focused on the Greatest Gift than anything else in this world. If not for the birth of my Savior, He never would have died for me…and without that sacrifice, there would be no Hope at all. There are no words to describe my love for Him and no way to express my Gratitude for the Greatest Gift of all. When it comes to my Reason for Living, sometimes I’m left speechless. This morning, as I sat before the Throne of the Living God, I thanked Him for it ALL – His birth, His death, the Reason for my Hope, the Purpose of my Life, and for Eternity that is possible ONLY because of the Greatest Gift and the Greatest Price that was paid for you and me. Isn’t that the way you see Jesus, too?

It’s hard for me to comprehend how people can still deny that Jesus Christ is Lord, especially when His Life…from birth to resurrection… was predicted hundreds of years before it ever came to be. It’s almost as if the earth knew a Savior would be born, but mankind STILL can’t fully comprehend it. It’s not easy to accept that the Son of God could be born to a virgin, but with God all things are possible, and that’s what happened as surely as I breathe. It’s hard to imagine that God could “become flesh” and that He could “dwell among us” so that He could Teach the world about Love and Redemption and everything else in between…but that’s what happened as surely as I breathe. It’s not easy to wrap your head around the fact that a total “stranger” would be willing to Pay the price for every wrong we ever even thought about doing long before we were ever born to do it…but that’s what happened as surely as I breathe. It’s almost impossible to imagine how a dead person can come to Life and be transfigured for others to see what’s possible after death for those who Believe…but that’s what happened as surely as I breathe. Leave it to Jesus to go above and beyond! He even had a fish fry with His friends to drive home the Truth about what is in store for those who Believe. Had that “little baby lying in a manger” never been born to the virgin, none of these things would have been possible. It all began with the Birth of our Savior, and without Him, we’d have no Hope at all.

It’s so sad to think that there are still lots and lots of people who don’t believe that a Redeemer was ever born and then died for them…and it’s even sadder to consider their Destiny because they don’t. Some people convince themselves that when the body dies, it’s all over for them because they don’t understand what’s Possible for those who Believe. Some people think it’s ridiculous to believe that a baby could ever be born to a virgin or that a woman could give birth to the Son of God, but that’s because their heart is closed to the Truth. Plenty of people share the story of Christ when Easter rolls around, but it’s Christmas that marks the day of a Promised Future…the birth of a Savior…a Redeemer to dwell among us to share the Truth…our ONLY Hope. I wonder how many people take the time in the middle of a “hectic” Christmas schedule (and endless celebrations) to share the Gospel with the lost world? Had He never been born, He couldn’t have died for you and for me. That’s an all-year-long, no matter what’s going on kind of Message, and sharing it is what we’re ALL commanded to do…every day…including…especially…at Christmas.

I’m excited to see most of my family tomorrow, and I’ll miss the ones who can’t be with us this year. We’ll “eat, drink, and be merry,” that’s for sure…and we’ve got some gifts to share to express our love for one another. But more than anything else we’ll be celebrating the Greatest Gift the world has ever known, and the Message of the Gift won’t get dimmed for the festivities…EVER. He’s the Reason for our existence. He’s the Head of our family. He’s the Source of our Joy. He’s our ONLY Hope…our Savior…our Redeemer…the reason we Live. And THAT’S what Christmas is all about, amen?

Merry Christmas, world!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the One I Celebrate all year long from inside a warm house with an even warmer cup of coffee. I’m more tired than usual this time of year, but not because I’m caught up in the shopping and wrapping. I’m more tired than usual because I’m busy focusing on the greatest gifts of all – TIME and simple gifts made with my hands. There’s nothing better than going the extra mile for people you love. So, I’d much rather focus on TIME with my loved ones than any gift money could buy. Every piece of this holiday season is about Love at the farm. You won’t find anybody in this family squealing over a luxurious gift or a big price tag, although they’ve received plenty of those throughout the years. But you can be sure they’ll feel blessed to be spending time together as a family, and they’ll be sincerely grateful for all the gifts…especially those made with my heart and hands. What a sweet reminder to me this morning, straight from the Throne of my God, that the most precious gift is Love, and how we express it makes all the difference in the world.

In many ways, this time of year resembles a contest to me…who has the best lights in the neighborhood or the best presents under the tree? Who has the best Christmas party with the finest food and wine, and who sends out the most cards? It’s funny and sad all at the same time when you think about it – most people celebrate Christmas…even the ones that want nothing at all to do with Jesus Christ any other time of the year, and they don’t mind telling you that they’re offended by the mention of His Name. The glitz and glamour, the lights and gifts are just too good to refuse, so the ones who don’t Believe and all the ones who do ALL set out to make it a Christmas to remember, and before you know it, you can’t tell the Believers from the non-believers throughout the “holiday” season at all. Believers are happy to say “Merry Christmas” as if we just “won the right” to speak His Name…but beyond the words, does it really look and feel like the Celebration of the Birth of the Greatest Gift the world has ever known, OR do we slip in a little Jesus in the midst of the festivities?

It’s a good thing Jesus has the capacity to Love greater than any man, that’s for sure. Leave it to Him to keep Loving and Forgiving while His People blend the Message of the Birth of the Greatest Gift the world has ever known with Hollywood-style glitz and glamour. How sad to see His People teaching their children to give credit to a fictitious man who checks their character before showering them with gifts…as if the Message of the Birth of a Savior is not enough fun for the family. How pathetic to see images of that big guy in the sky mixed in with THE Big Guy in the sky as if sharing a Birthday with a fictitious character and giving him credit for the gifts would be pleasing to the Lord. Jesus wants us to be joyful! I’m confident that He had plenty of fun with His friends and family, too! After all, His first miracle was performed at a wedding feast where he turned the water into wine.

The Bible says that there is ” nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful.” Having a great celebration is NOT the problem…and neither are the gifts. It’s the mixing together of the message of Hope…our Savior…our Redeemer…in with all those things that take the focus off of Him and onto the world…NOW that’s a problem. We don’t stand out to the lost world by saying “Merry Christmas” – we stand out to the lost world by making SURE that the world knows Who we Celebrate…and nothing else.

I’m excited about celebrating Christmas with my family in just a few days, and we’ll definitely have lots of fun! The farmhouse is decorated for the Occasion but you won’t find Santa hats or any other sign of him in the middle of our celebration of the Birth of the King of Kings. There will be plenty of gifts from the heart and a feast fit for our King….after all, it IS His birthday! We’ll laugh…and laugh, that’s for sure. But my tribe will NEVER lose sight of Who we celebrate, and we’ll be giving Thanks to Him for every gift…especially the BIGGEST Gift that He was born to give…the gift of Love, and Hope, Redemption, and Forgiveness so that we can have Eternal Life with Him. Now THAT’S something to celebrate, Amen?

MERRY CHRISTMAS, WORLD.

“The greatest of these is love.”