For Unto Us a Child Is Born...

<sup>Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year.  I love the snow.  The smell of cookies baking in the oven.  The excitement of my nieces and nephews as they anxiously await Santa's arrival.  But, there is one thing that I think we tend to forget about the holiday season.  The true reason we celebrate.  Jesus.  

We celebrate the birth of the Man who was born and raised for one purpose.  To die for us.  Yet, we glorified Santa in His place.  

Sure, I know exactly why we celebrate Christmas, and I'm more than thankful that God saw fit to send His Son to die for me, and that Jesus would bear my sins in such a cruel, horrible manner.  

But on Christmas day, what is my focus?  

There used to be a time in my life where I would sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, but after I grew up, I kind of lost focus on that.  

I know, technically, the day we celebrate isn't His exact birthday, but we're supposed to be acknowledging it on that day.  And what do we do?  We focus on the presents, Santa, making the perfect holiday meal, impressing our family, etc.  And I'm just as guilty.  I get lost in the fun.  It's easy to do.

As it is said, "JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!"  Remember that when you wake up on Christmas morning.  Sing a chorus of Happy Birthday, and thank Him for bearing your sins.  

Merry Christmas, all!  May God Bless you and keep you safe during the holidays!

Luke 24: 7-20</sup>    

⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
⁸ Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

¹⁵ So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷ Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. ¹⁸ And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.