Confession Time: I am the Grinch when it comes to Christmas. I have to admit – it is all just a little too much for me. The stores put Christmas out too early, Christmas décor goes up before Thanksgiving (What did Thanksgiving do to hurt anybody?!?), and putting decorations up just to take them down in 30 days is silly to me. And I did not even mention Christmas music – it is not the songs; it is radio stations that start playing Christmas music in November – it is not right!
Unlike the Grinch, however, I did not have a horrible Christmas experience as a child – I have great Christmas memories! Christmas is just too much …
Except for the whole birth of our Savior part – I cannot get enough of that. I cannot get enough of the idea that God loves me so much - despite all my failings, selfishness, pride, ego, sin, brokenness - that long before I was born, He decided that I was worth it. Worth His one and only Son stepping out of heaven and being born in a manger. Worth, we do not talk too much about this part .. Jesus being beaten and ridiculed, murdered on a cross, and dying for me. Worth Him defeating death and being resurrected. Worth being patient enough that I would come to Christ. Worth pursuing me when I was stubborn. Worth working on my heart until I finally reached the end of myself ... and turned it all over to Him.
That part I can not get enough of. That part still amazes me. That part is still miraculous to me.
And are you ready for the best part??? It was not just for me. It was for you, too. Yes, you. No, I do not know what you have done, but I do know it is not about that; it is about His perfect love for you. I pray that this Christmas would be more than gifts, ribbons, and parties. I hope that this Christmas is the Christmas that you come to realize that Christmas is so much more than any of that ... it is about the birth of your Savior.
If you want to watch a movie about the Grinch, watch Jim Carey’s version. It is the best!
If you want to watch a message about the Grinch and our Savior, watch this: Dec 17 Message
Have a truly blessed Christmas celebration with your family!
-Pastor Brian
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