I had so wanted to write before Christmas but time got away as usual.  So I am writing in the "Tweener Time".  New Years is just a day away yet Chriustmas is long spent, atleast it seems to be long gone yet the wrapping and gifts are prolific throughout my house!  I thought I had everything squirrled away and dealt with however, a box belonging to some unopened treasure makes it's way into the house and plastic wrap and styrofoam seem to multiply larger than the item itself.  Let's not forget those twisties from the myriad of toys my sons were given.  Good grief!  Do they really think that every part of the toy needs to be secured to the point of not being able to be played with? 

Anway, I will not go on about the woes of the holiday explosion, after all that is not what the Holiday is about.  The gifts, toys, gadgets and gizmos that befall our homes are blessings.  They are a wonderful and exciting part of living in a culture and economy where we can afford the extras and enjoy them.  No, Christmas is not found in presents as the Grinch found out, it is found in the wonder of God's love.  Our salvation was secured that day for no one could stop what God planned to do. Our future fate sealed either to believe or to ignore what God promised would come to pass through the Word and through His prophets and host in the sky who proclaimed it was begun.  The plan of salvation started long before that night in Bethlehem, long before Mary met Gabriel.  It began in the beginning of creation when Adam sinned.  Perhaps even before the first star was made, God knew.  Christmas is a reminder that God sees all from beginning to end and has a  plan.  He's already aware of our sin, our shortcomings.  He knew and died anyway.  He knew our heartache and pains over other's sins and the fallout of those choices in our lives.  He knew that we would also be victims of sin and  injustice so He sent His Comforter, The Holy Spirit to uphold us when we can no longer find a way to breathe or wonder if we should. 

Yes, Christmas is all that and more.  When I think of Christmas I think of the past, the plan but in motion in the very first moments of time and space that we know of.  I also see the present, my life and it's unfolding and God's plan made just for me!  Praise Him!  I also see it for my children and anyone I meet.  It is real, it is now, it is waiting!!!  I also see my future and that of others.  How can we look at the manger and not see the cross?  How can we not see the Resurrection?  How can we not see the Soon and Coming King????  Yes, I look at Christmas and I see the future of the Rapture and the SEcond Coming, I also see souls not willing to bow before Him.  My heart breaks for the lost at Christmas and always but more so at Christmas and Easter as this is the time when it is so obvious, so open, so "Out There" practically screaming BELIEVE BELIEVE!!! yet they will not listen.  Oh silly, foolish souls! Don't wait another minute! Why waste such precious time?  I did for so many years and now He is here in my life, He is my best friend, He is my everything!  Oh how did I live before?  I didn't, I was dead.  The walking dead only I didn't know it.  Now, oh life abundant!  Prayers heard and answered, my heart of stone changed!  A gift of Mercy!

I do so hope that amidst your explosion of wrapping and gift chaos you too will see the precious gems given to you!  Salvation, family, children, home, food, love and holding this all together is Christ!  On Christmas my father almost died from a blockage in his heart.  We were blessed to have it taken care of on Christmas Eve and he was home with us the next day! What a gift!  I have had a Christmas time of loss though, and I can say that it was more painful than I care to remember.  In it though was Christ.  He held my hand and my heart and carried me through the pain.  He has left in its wake a deep compassion for hurting people.  He is the one who gives and takes away but yet, He always gives again.  He never leaves us empty.  He has given me more children in the place of the one taken home to Him but He gave me more than this, He gave me compassion, mercy and strength to now give to others.  I will see my child again and what wonders that precious soul now already sees! 

Life is full of happy times and awful times.  Some of us seem to get more of one type than others do.  I hope that if this finds you in any extreme of joy or sadness you will think on the Coming of Christ in all of it's forms and what that means for you.  1st Coming was to show us His enormous love for us, His authority over this world and His great compassion toward us in wanting us to know Him and to die for our sin.  He would not and could not leave us in our state of death and separation.  The second coming/Rapture is also to benefit us.  We, when we become His own, are not appointed unto wrath and so He will come for us before the terrible time of tribulation.  The actual Second Coming is when He will set up His Kingdom and put an end to suffering once and for all and send each soul to the place of their choosing.  Mind you, the choice is made in this life, not in the one to follow.  So, what does this mean to you?  I guess that depends on your point of belief.  If you don't believe, it is mere dribble, nothing that soothes your heart or pain or purpose.  If you are a believer, than you can be encouraged by remembering your destiny.  If you are seeking, than you have a choice to make.  You must choose which camp you will join.  The scoffer or the destined to Heaven?  If you don't know what it means to have a relationship with Jesus, I invite you to e-mail me and I'll help you get to know Him.  If you already know Him, then I hope this Holiday season between Christmas and Easter finds you blessed and growing in your walk with Him.  I hope that you too can see the reminderof why He came and did what he did and to reach out to those around you who can't.