Merry Christmas!!

"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." -  Matthew 1:21

This time of year is full of memories, traditions, fun and family!  All the hustle and bustle of shopping, trying to find that one gift that will make pure joy for that special someone.  We guys spend countless hours thinking about what to buy, and once we figure it out we make our game plan.  Sit down, and minutes later the package is coming right to our doorstep!  Then it's off to the garage again to rotate the tires because our wives drive all over the universe to find that perfect gift!  It is fun trying to find something that you know creates joy and happiness.  We want to give good gifts to those we love!  We want the gift to be meaningful, precious and joyful!  We want to show love through our gifts!

This is a picture of the great love that God has for you and for us!  This whole season is wrapped around a gift that was given over 2000 years ago!  "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6  You see, God loves you so much!  He wants to give you good gifts because He wants you to be full of Joy...unending Joy!  God created us perfect and we had a perfect relationship with Him!  But we sinned and ruined our relationship with God, but even though we stopped pursuing God, He still pursued us!  He thought of a perfect gift that would fix the relationship that you and I destroyed!  He thought of a gift that will never disappoint or lose its joy, unlike the gifts we give that may give joy for the moment but always disappoint.  He thought of a gift that is so meaningful and precious that it will change your life!  He gave us the gift of His son, JESUS!!!  At first glance, we wonder what good is a baby?  But it is this baby that would fix the relationship between us and God!  Jesus, lived a life without sin, the life we fail to live every day!  He died a brutal death on the cross, a death that you and I deserve!  But the grave could not keep him!  He conquered Satan, sin and death and rose victorious!  This baby that came, this gift of life, bridged the gap that our sin created and Jesus willingly takes your sin and my sin to the cross and as a gift he places on us His sinless robe, so that when we meet God on our last day and stand there to be judged, Jesus will come and say, "Dad I died for this one!  He sinned, but he has My robe of righteousness because he believed in me"!  And, those that believe in Jesus, the Great gift, will be saved!  

God loves us!  He loves us so much that He gave us His son so that we can have a relationship with Him.  We give gifts because God is a gift giver!  We love because God loves us!  If you are living a life today that feels empty or like something is missing, or you are giving gifts to find joy, please look to Jesus!  It is only through Him that Joy will be unending!  

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." - Romans 5:13

Merry Christmas,

The Meeuwse's