Well, another Christmas has come and gone. What an absolutely marvelous Christmas we had this year. We had great times of happy mayhem - wrapping paper flying, noise levels at very high decibels, and laughing and eating around a beautiful table. The most precious of all my memories is the sheer pleasure and pure joy in a two-year-old's eyes. Nathan, jumping up a down with arms flailing, "Oooh, ooh, ooh". He truly could not contain himself.    
     You know toys these days are so tightly secured, it almost takes a chain saw to get them out of their packaging. It took me about fifteen minutes to get four little train cars out of the box and into the hands of an excited toddler. He would get one train car, take to a safe place and come back for the next one. He was sure to get the entire gift.
     Nathan reminded me of the way that we should be when recieving what God wants to give us every day. He saves us not only so we can get to heaven, but so we can live in freedom and forgiveness and joy in this life. He bestows grace upon us so we can repent and be righteous and then he gives us more grace so we can work more repentence and righteousness into our lives. That's what living the Christian life is all about. That is what sanctification is all about.  I want to recieve from God all that He has for me - not material blessings so much, but the ability to forgive, the grace to live in freedom, and the joy that comes through obedience.

Hoping

    The other day, Elizabeth and I were talking about Santa Clause. Now, I know that her mom and dad downplay Santa and are teaching their children that Santa is pretend. I asked Elizabeth if Santa was coming to her house. She said, with all the innocence and expectation that a three-year-old can have, "I hope." Her two little words were full of sweetness and anticipation.

     Hebrews 11 says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." I think we have hope placed in our DNA. We are made for something beyond this world. We were designed for a perfect place and we desire in our deepest parts to be in that perfect place. Unfortunately, I often spend my energy in trying to make my little world perfectly comfortable instead of looking to the one who will bring me into the fulfilling relationship that I truly desire in my heart of hearts. I need a hero, a rescuer, a knight in shining armour -- a Savior.
     Christmas is all about hope and anticipation. There is a line in a popular Christmas hymn which describes the time of Jesus' birth, "the dawn of redeeming love". In all of history, the day Jesus was born is at the center of importance in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. The birth of Jesus ushered in redemption. That's huge! That's what we're celebrating this time of year. In that redeeming love lies our hope.