A Christmas Gift

Once upon on a starry night, a babe was born in Bethlehem, and the snowflakes in the sky sparkled as they fell...

Reality check.  There was probably NO snow when Jesus was born in that stable thousands of years ago, and although I highly doubt it was as hot as it is here in Mozambique, I realized this year that the sand and summer scene here might be a little closer to the real story.

Growing up in Minnesota, I naturally associate Christmas with snow. My friends who grew up in Africa associate Christmas with pools and lots of sun, but wherever you grew up, most likely, you have a picture of what Christmas is, and it is so easy for all the festivity, colors, and fun of Christmas to overshadow the deeper message that Christmas carries...

This Christmas, as I’m dripping sweat (literally), I’m pondering the meaning of Christmas again. While the climate of Christmas is different for me this year, the meaning of Christmas has stayed the same:  God gave us the gift of Jesus, and with that, He gave us the gift of Life!  FULL and ETERNAL Life!

******Random Fun thought... In Spanish, ''Más'' or "Mais" in Portuguese, means more... So if you were to translate Christmas with a creative mind, you might interpret it "'Christ More'', or ''More of Christ"...

Christmas Candy for the Mind...

Have you ever sat and pondered the implications of what God gave to us?  The implications of never having to worry about tomorrow? The implications of being free carrying our burdens alone? The implications of a Full life? The implications of a love that covers over a multitude of sins? The implications of ALL your sins being cast as far as the east is from the west? The implications of grace? The implications of true forgiveness?  The implications of REAL and INTIMATE relationship with the maker of heaven and earth?  This, and MORE, is exactly what God gave us that day.  The day Jesus was born.    Now THAT is something sweet to chew on....