I know the holidays are mixed with emotions for most of us. Multiple voices challenge even why and how we celebrate Christmas. Yes it was initially a pagan holiday celebrating the sun, but was revamped as a holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus by the Church in Rome. I know there wasn’t anything as Santa or Father Christmas before the 17th century. The “Christmas Spirit” of kindness and good cheer, helping others and providing for those who have little is something everyone can get on board with. And there is just something yummy about hot chocolate and gingerbread and peppermint and… yum!
But today I guess I wanted to send a simple reminder.
You are NOT living in an outdated story.
It is the very power of God for all who believe, those who can have a mustard seed of faith.
The message of Jesus speaks to the core of the cries of the human heart, in every generation, every nation, every ethnicity, educational, and economic level.
Love and acceptance. Not just the surface kind but the deep “I see you for who you are and love you even more” kind.
Purpose and passion. Not just the generic “you matter” but the actual truth that what you bring to the world is something no one else has, and it wouldn’t be the same without you.
Anger and frustration. Not just a rant on social media but the deeper longing, the mourning and lament for the things that are wrong and desperately need to be made right, and the reality that it takes people committed to justice to make a difference
You are living in a story that started reclaiming God’s reachability…..
Walk this season knowing He’s still there, still reaching out, still bigger than we can understand, more mysterious than we can explain, and more real than we can imagine.
I know most times this year those of us who follow Jesus are challenged by a pastor or a card or something to kneel at the manger. Its always a good reminder. But I’d also encourage you to bundle up in your warmest clothes, put on your hats and gloves and boots and scarves and go lay out in the snow and make a snow angel and be a kid and laugh at the goodness of (or in defiance) winter. Or lay on the ground and gaze at the stars and find wonder again… and invite others to join you in it.
The kingdom may have broken into our world in a new way when Jesus was born as a baby… but His kingdom has always been relevant in the past, and it still is today. Sometimes, it just takes new eyes to be reminded 🙂
Blessings!
Tama
Finding the Life 