I love this time of year and all it represents. I'm not talking about the presents (all though it's nice to give gifts especially because God gave us the perfect gift so we can have life everlasting), it's not about the Christmas tree in all its beauty. No, I'm talking about the true meaning of Christmas, the really reason to why we celebrate this day. The birth of christ.

Let's think about the Christmas scene for a moment in a quick few seconds flash back. So an angel of God paid a visit to mary, told her she was his chosen woman to give birth to the son of God. How does anyone process that information. Then the angel tells Joseph it's ok to marry mary. They have to go to Jerusalem to register, mary gives birth to the promised messiah. To which the amazing physical testimony of God's love for mankind begins.
What a beautiful testimony it is.

So why do we remember the birth or christ, why do we celebrate our own birthdays and the birthdays of those we hold dear to our hearts. Many different people will have many different answers to this questions. But who is to say who is wrong and who is right. When God put the idea to talk about the birth of christ I was excited, i had no idea what I would go into but I trusted all would unravel in due time. It wasnt till I watched a film with my husband call the shack. Which to many people; they don't like the film for a variety of reasons. But when I watch it I don't see what they see, God shows me beauty in that film. And while watching It, It was like a light bulb went off. All I saw and felt within my spirit was "go back to basics" take a little baby, every baby doesn't have it all together, he/she doesn't complicate life. Each baby is totally dependant on the parent(s) looking after them. Their basic need is milk, nappy change, sleep and most important love. And the basic need of a Christ follower. Is to love and trust God, and to love your neighbour as yourself. In loving God you do the will of God. Just like a baby through the love of their parent/guardians they bloom and develop the basic skill they need to get from one milestone to another. So it is in our walk with God. He helps us bloom. Is it always easy no, can a baby start walking without first stumbling no. They have a few tumbles down before mastering the art of walking. So it is with our walk with God, we will come across stumbling blocks, because the enemy every day is fighting for us to get far away from God's love so we don't learn our milestones in our walk with God. Whatever they may be in God's plan for you.

Galatians 5:17
The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

I don't know about you, but I adore babies. Their chubby cheeks, and I just want to hold them and give then a warm embrace and never let go. I believe that is how God looks at us. With pure joy and adoration for us. He makes no mistakes, he is truly fond of everyone on this planet. He doesn't always agree with what we do, but he's never shy of helping and guiding us, if we should accept his help. Just like a baby, we don't just sit back and allow him or her to self destruct. No, we do our best to set an examples and guide them to which way we should go. So it is with God. Will it happen over night, no. Like I tell my girls practise makes perfect. God of course can do everything at once, but how would we know what grace is and mercy. Think of a time God showed you grace. Did It happen over night, or did it happen over a process. One moment for me was when God pushed my husbands body back over the banister instead of allowing him to fall to his death. I walked away not only blown away by what I saw but thankful that God saved his life. It wasnt till five years later did it click in my mind that it was my life that he saved that day too. His  grace over me far out shone my actions. Because if God hadn't of had grace for me, I would of lost time in my life to a jail cell and most importantly my husband and my children would never have been born. I am forever thankful to God for going with what's on my heart rather then the wrong decision I made that day. His grace is enough.

So little baby Jesus, regardless to the exact date he was born. Serves as a little reminder, to not over complicate life. There is no, "you won't make it to heaven if you haven't accomplished the 10,000 things on a to do list". Or any other complication people put in the way in their or our lives. I know many of times I've thought something and got myself in a frantic mess. I remember God stopping me and just saying why are you complicating it, go back to the basics.

There is nothing in your life God can't handle. He's seen it all and sees the whole picture. So nothing will surprise him. He's just waiting for your acceptance to his invite into your life. Jesus was God's love gift to us. So when you are giving a gift remember the greatest gift God gave us came as a baby.

Let's pray.
Father Christmas is a beautiful time of the year for most. Father I want to lift those reading this to you, as this time of year approaches. May your perfect peace and outstanding joy fill their hearts. Where ever they are at, whatever situations come across their paths. May the birth of your son serve as as precious reminder that you are fond of them and that walking with you doing have to be a complicated religious strategy. As marvellous at it would have been for the Shepard to witness the heavenly hosts, may my brothers and sisters in christ experience you and your precious love in a whole new level. In Jesus name.