This Is Christmas

I hope today finds you surrounded by those you love.  Whether friends or family, I pray that His blessings surround you and you find time to appreciate His gift. Let God fill your heart and then let Him break it, let love flow.

Something I've learned this year, there is beauty in being broken and poured out. I've learned that at your rawest moment you can be a lighthouse in someone else's storm. I hope this Christmas brings with it warmth and love, and His peace will follow you through the new year to come.

Make time for Him this holiday. May each of us like the shepherds and wise men make the journey with open hearts and open hands.

This holiday isn't about giving gifts, the newest technology, it isn't the tree and lights, the meals. Not even about the time we spend with those we love. It's the birth of our Savior, a God who loved us so much that He sent His only son to die a horrible shameful, painful death. It's the beginning of a love story written across eternity.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the LORD.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:11-12 NIV

He came into this world, not as a mighty warrior, not as a  conquering king but a baby.

He came not with the cold hand of justice, but the tender hand of mercy.

He came to open the eyes of the blind, to unstop the ears of the deaf. He came that the lame would leap with joy. He came to heal broken hearts, broken homes and broken lives.

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Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.Water will gush forth in the wilderness Isaiah 35:3-6 NIV

He came to save the world- He came to save me, in the middle of my everyday shortcomings He came to rescue me. He came to write His love story for me across history. He came to meet me in all of my sinful dysfunctional mess and stretch out his hand in mercy to bridge a gap that I could never bridge.

This is what Christmas is about, God's costless, priceless, radical love for me and you. Love that no matter how badly I mess up will never diminish. The greatest gift has already been given.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NKJV

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A babe born in a manger. God entering the world, as a baby to die for me. A father sacrificing His son- all for me.

This. Is. Christmas.

From our Cottage to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas. May His perfect peace surround you. May we never forget the greatest gift ever given, was just that- given. Freely and undeservingly. So this Christmas don't forget to be present because that is the greatest gift you can give.  ~ Cheyenne

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™