'Tis The Season.

This year, more than any other year, the importance of Christmas -- what it really means to me -- has been resonating in my soul.  Since I was a tot, Christmas has always been the celebration of the birth of Jesus.  Thank you Mom and Dad.  And it is always such a happy time, as it should be.  There is thanksgiving to be had, no doubt.  But the older I get, the more I realize how much weight there is in all of this...in Christmas.

It is so much more than His birth --

God Almighty sent His son to this Earth, which He created, to live a perfect and sinless life, to perform miracles, to save my soul -- so He could die.  The whole point of His existence was to be terminated.  It was He, being completely surrendered to the will of the Father, who gladly paid for my freedom in God so that I may live eternally with Him.  Gladly...

I am the most hell-deserving sinner, yet, I have a God who is forgiveness and unconditional love .  I cannot even begin to wrap my mind around this, making it all the more beautiful.  And Christmas is just that, celebrating the awesome wonder of my God, giving thanks for His life and death...that I may live. 

Jesus paid it all;

All to Him I owe.

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow. 

It is the most wonderful time of the year. 

 "For unto us a child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government shall be upon His shoulders.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

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And on a completely separate, but very special note --

This morning I had the privilege to witness my best friend, Rebecca, be baptized for the first time as a fully-devoted follower of Christ.  It was beautiful.  And I cannot say it enough, how proud I am of her...so proud.  The Lord has blessed me with this life-long friendship.  Amen.  We continue to grow in our faith together as daughters of Christ, encouraging and challenging each other to be fully sold out for Him.

Congratulations, Rebecca.  I am so proud.  You are a beautiful example of Christ living in and through you -- giving Him all the glory.  Thank you for letting me be a part of your life.  I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for you.  He will do great things.

"Oh don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Christ were baptized into His death?  We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

Romans 6:3-4