As I listened to songs on the radio during this past Christmas season, there were many lyrics that really had me thinking and captured my heart and mind. In one song, the question was raised, “Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?” And now that Christmas has passed and we are entering into a new year, I wonder even more how many missed the truth of Christmas. When Jesus was born, all around him, the people didn’t know or care who Jesus was. They lived their lives as they saw fit. Not much has changed in our day now. The world then and a lot of the world now, seems clueless to the value of Jesus’ birth. When the focus has been on shopping, on gifts, on having or not having, on busyness, on family- on Santa-how can they know?
His love, joy, hope and peace, continues and is ours all year if we let Him in.
Even those of us that celebrate that “Jesus is the reason for the season”, the real meaning of Christmas- have missed the mark and allowed our focus to be cluttered. Many live life without hope, meaning and purpose and Jesus is right there in their midst. He is right in ours and we put others ahead of Him. Most Christmas celebrations are over and people think that as the decorations and events come to a close, that CHRISTmas is over. But God with us doesn’t leave us. CHRISTmas doesn’t end. His love, joy, hope and peace, continues and is ours all year if we let Him in. He doesn’t stay as a baby in the inn. He doesn’t stay as a baby in a story that only warms our hearts for a short time.
Another song says “All I want for Christmas is you.” And I just wanted to scream at the radio sing this to Jesus please! He came for us to know that if only we wanted Him as much as we needed Him, life would be so different! His presence matters more than the presents received this past season or any season. His presence doesn’t get damaged or run out. It doesn’t get boring or fade in value. His presence gives us so much as we go into a new day, a new month, a new year.
There is another line in a song that affected me which said “Last Christmas I gave you my heart and the very next day you gave it away.” As I move into January, I know that giving Jesus my heart over 40 years ago was the best thing I have ever done in my life. I can trust Jesus. He hasn’t and won’t ever- give it away. He is the one who although He doesn’t always save me from tears, is there to collect them and to heal my heart. He is the someone special that I can always trust.
As the year comes to a close and a new one begins, all in the same moment, I just want people to know that it truly was and is Christmas time- always. No matter what we are experiencing-Jesus is real. His presence doesn’t always change our situations but He changes our hearts and our perspectives if we allow Him. He changes our future with hope, joy, peace and love.
One of my favourite songs of the season is Mary Did You Know and these lyrics move me into the New Year:
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy Has come to make you new?
We do know. Let’s share this good news. Let’s make Christmas last into this New Year and allow Jesus to do what He came to do. The world needs to know! Happy and Blessed New Year!
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