Regardless of your perceived status in life, your ethnicity, your political leanings, your intellectual and educational accomplishments, your business acumen, your popularity or lack thereof – CHRIST WAS BORN, LIVED, DIED, AND ROSE AGAIN FOR YOU!  You may or may not believe that and that is your choice but it is the declaration of the Bible and I’ve experienced it in my heart so I not only believe it true I treasure my experience that validates it for me. 

Today is a day that many millions have set aside to celebrate the Birth of Jesus.  He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death, and has risen and ascended to the right hand of the Father making intercession for each of us.  He has promised to prepare a place for us in which we will spend eternity with Him and that He would return for us.  Those are the most comforting words and thoughts. 

This Christmas, unlike other years, due to the chaos and COVID restrictions as well as health issues we are not gathering as a family.  My wife and I will gather today with her brother and daughter.  We will exchange gifts, enjoy a time of laughing and loving each other.  It will be a time of reflection as to what this day is all about.  There will food and sweets.  Sadly, due to our grandson Cohan’s diagnosis with Leukemia and other medical and travel issues, we will not gather with our other children and grandchildren.  That is sad but we rejoice in what the day means and that our family serves the LORD.

Our nation is in turmoil and hate seems to have the upper hand over love, but in our heart of hearts, we know that LOVE will prevail.  The Love of God is more powerful than all the hate of the devil.  We will gather and reflect on God’s Gift to Humanity and His Grace.  We will rejoice in His blessings even as my wife battles Stage-Four Breast Cancer.  We will pray for His Kingdom to Come and His Will to be done on Earth as it is in heaven.  We will Celebrate Jesus!

Additionally, we will not forget that many are not so blessed and who will be alone on this special day.  I know what it is to be separated from family on Christmas during a time of war and although I had people around me that I would have and did trust with my life, they were like family but they could not replace my own flesh and blood family.  Now that I am in the Family of God my family has expanded dramatically and I have brothers and sisters all over the world with which I share the joy of this day.

So, attempting to be brief I simply say Merry Christmas!  It is my prayer that this day will be a joyous reminder of the Greatest Gift ever given when God gave us His Son so that we could become sons and daughters of God.  It is with a joyous heart I say, “Thank you LORD for your unspeakable and incomparable gift of Salvation!”  Thank you to my friends for your expressions of love and caring.  Thank you to my own immediate and extended natural family for the years of joy you have brought to my life and for all the times you have been there when at times you were totally unaware how treasured your expression of love is and was!

God bless you and may you have a Merry Christmas and a Joyous and Happy New Year!  May the year 2021 be a year of incredible victory in your life and family!

May you walk in the fullness of the Blessings and Covenants of God!