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December 22, 2006
Christmas is coming. It is only 3 days away. The looming anticipation of the coming festivities will soon explode in a torrent of excitement and frenzied gift-giving. Everybody loves Christmas, well, most people at least. Christmas is a time always filled with joy. A joy first felt many years ago during the birth of Christ, which even a whole host of angels could not contain. A joy now much diluted. A joy the people of this world will never experience when Christmas is not about Him. And to many, it no longer is. It's all about the gifts, the pretty lights and decorations, santa claus and merry making. The joy and love garnered from this season will diminish once Christmas passes and they get back to their everyday lives. It this Christmas for you?
Many have asked this question before. "What is the secret to happiness?" Well, it's no big secret really, but I'll tell you the answer anyway. Happiness/joy is internal. It grows from inside you and is not greatly affected by your environment, circumstance or the people around you. How do you get joy like that? The answer is very simple. Jesus.
When you get down to it all and you strip away all the lights, the decorations, the shopping, the music, all the noise then you'll find why there is even a time like this, why there is this celebration in the first place.
You'll find Jesus.
He is the only thing that really matters.
Jesus humbled Himself
He went from commanding angels
to sleeping in the straw.
From holding stars
to clutching Mary's finger.
The palm that held the universe
took the nail of a soldier.
Why?
Because that's what love does.
-Max Lucado
14:26
