For Such a Time As This

I get it. For the first time, I get it.

He cares for ME.

HE cares for me.

He knew, that for me to get it, He would have to come down as a baby. A poor, innocent child.

The King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel...

A baby. God with us.

And during this Advent season, this time of preparation, it is good to remember that this sweet little Child whom we celebrate, was born to die. To save us all. I don't say this to be a "downer" during a season of celebration. Rather, it is important to remember "the reason for the season".

Tonight at our Candlelight Christmas Celebration (we rent space in a school and are only able to use it on the weekends), one of the Pastors shared a story...

It was a few days before Christmas and a young mother decided to brave the mall and wrap up her Christmas shopping with her two young children. There were people everywhere, and the children seemed insistent on misbehaving.

Finally, the harried young mother was done with her shopping. The children were asleep in their double stroller, naughtiness had completely exhausted them. Shopping bags were hung all around the stroller, and the mother carefully wheeled the whole mass into the elevator.

The elevator crowds parted like the Red Sea. When she was finally positioned in the elevator, she breathed a sigh of relief, and to no one in particular, muttered aloud, "Whoever thought up this Christmas thing should be arrested and strung up!"

A moment passed, and then a quiet voice in the back of the elevator said, "Ma'am, I think that's been taken care of."

May we never forget the true "reason for the season".