Christmas

I received a gift the other night that really drove home to me the essence of Christmas. Did you ever get through this time of year and look back at it and realize that you missed something? It happens to me every year. The problem isn't the time of year though, it's me. It's my expectations. What are your expectations for Christmas? Are they a Wii, PS3, new coat, gift card to your favorite store in the mall? Are your expectations wrapped up in relational issues, how he or she should treat you or any of the other millions of relational things in this world like simply wanting a hug?

I have been continually challenged by Stac to get away from the materialistic side of Christmas. It caused me to do a great deal of thinking about how I will choose to spend my Christmas.

I ask you again, what are your expectations? My view on Christmas was forever changed this past week. My expectations were changed as well...

Our youth ministry team had a secret Santa gift exchange in which we had to make the gift ourselves. I didn't know this, but Stac's wife, Kim, had me. I didn't know what to expect... When I opened what she gave me it almost made me cry. I had to keep my tough guy image (Which is hilarious because I am probably the most "emo" person I know) so I held it back... till I got to my car! I unwrapped a gift that unveiled the beat of my heart. I set my eyes on a picture frame that had pictures of me with all my students at different times during the past year.

That is what Christmas is all about... you know why? Kim took the time to find out and understand what made my heart tick and she gave me the one thing (aside from Jesus) that makes my life worth living, my students! Think about it, that's what God did for us in sending Jesus. He searched and understood our deepest heart need. He knew what would make our hearts tick and He gave it to us. Jesus was His Christmas gift to the world! Did we deserve it? No, not any more than I deserved the gift that Kim gave me. I love this parallel! You know, if I wanted to, I could have chosen not to accept this gift from Kim just like I can chose not to accept the gift of Jesus that God has given me. The only problem with that would be, that the joy I get from looking at that picture would be non-existent just as the joy of Jesus would be non-existent in my life in this case. I mean, it brings me true joy to look at this picture! It fills me to the core, just like Jesus does. The only difference is that the joy of the picture only lasts momentarily until I look at it again when the joy of Jesus is steady and constant.

Looking back, I have had a few opportunities to give like that. One time was recently... to a friend, for her birthday. Do you know how much joy it brings to give a gift like that or to realize the impact that your gift had on someone? I can't even begin to describe it. I often hear that God was sad when He gave us Jesus. They say He was sad for various reasons but I'm not so sure about that. I mean come on, angels have a block party when one person accepts Christ! I have to think that God was beaming with pride as He gave us His son, even unto death! He knew that His sacrifice would meet the heart need of billions and trillions of people, probably even more. If I know the indescribable, intense joy it brings me to give a simple gift that has no lasting eternal value yet captures a person's heart whom I love, than I have to believe that God felt and feels that joy a million times over.

I want to challenge you this Christmas to try to capture at least one person's heart. It doesn't have to take money. It takes loving someone enough to find out what makes their heart tick and also finding a way to give them that in a simple way. Capture someone's heart this year just as our Father has captured ours with His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen! Merry Christmas!