Christmas Is Here!!

Are you ready for Christmas? It’s a funny question – Are you asking about the day itself, the presents, the food, the entertaining, the hectic schedule, or all of the above? The answers you receive from this question can go in SO many directions! Right now, I’m not feeling like I’m anywhere near ready for Christmas in regards to all of the above! With all of the hustle and bustle, I’m just trying to find that Christmas spirit this year.

I finally turned on the Christmas music while putting up decorations with my Mom this past weekend. Of course, I had to put together a Christmas playlist specifically for the decorating. While putting it together the morning of, I was looking for the feel-good Mariah Carey (you know she’s in there) kind of songs to get us motivated, but I had to include one of my favorite Christmas albums “Unto Us” by JJ Heller.

I always enjoy her whole album this time of year with a mix of classics and originals, but one song has just stuck with me – “Christmas Is Here” *. Here’s part of the song:

[Verse 2]
Join in the chorus, sing to the baby
Sleeping beneath the stars that He made
Light in the darkness, hope for the hopeless
His love will never fade away
Heaven came down to earth
To bind our wounds, and wipe away our tears

[Chorus 1]
Let us adore Him
Lift up your voices
Sing it out loud
Sing it out clear
Christmas is here

As I listened to the second verse, I had to think (which I’m not claiming any theological correctness here), as Christ laid beneath the stars that He made, did He just lay back and reflect on the beauty of His Creation? Have you ever laid beneath the stars, unhindered by city lights? Even just going up north with fewer city lights, it’s a beautiful sight – the different constellations and the light that it gives in the dark of night!

As I sit back tonight, I reflect on what Christ has shown me of Himself as a good Father, has done in and through me, and what areas He’s helped me grow in the past year. It’s been one for the books with all kinds of highs and lows. Through it all, He has been my Hope, my Healer, has loved me with a never-ending love, and has been the wiper of all of my tears (aka giant kleenex?). All of these things that He has done, I want to treasure and ponder in my heart. I don’t want these moments to pass, I don’t want to forget.

I pulled this idea from Mary’s response in verse 19 of Luke’s account of the first Christmas: ”And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.’ Luke 2:17-19

All those who heard might not have fully believed or known what was truly happening, but Mary did. The Shepherds declared what she already knew. She knew what the Lord was doing, and who her baby was – the Messiah. The One who was born to die for the sins of the world. The One who is the light in the darkness, hope for the hopeless, with never-ending love, to bind our wounds and wipe away our tears. The One with grace for days, and who saves all those who trust and believe in the name of Jesus Christ. I wonder if she pulled out this reminder from the lowly shepherds in the days/months/years ahead, that her son was truly the Son of God.

With all of this imagining and reflecting, I’m starting to feel the spirit of Christmas! I’m  remembering that Heaven came down to Earth, for me, for YOU! I think of the miracle that Christ’s birth was, all that He came to earth to do, and how He’s ever-present in my life.

Christmas Is Here – Christ Is Here!

* I’ve added the song to the playlist! Take a few moments to have a listen! 🙂