The Christmas Tree?

The Christmas tree, the beautiful, bright, life giving, tree. What would Christmas be without it? Yesterday was Christmas, but this year Christmas was very special and different for me. It is because, I am realizing this year, just how much we over do Christmas, and in the midst we loose the exact meaning of it. We have a celebratory season full of love, giving and people, only to climax it with a day of opening gifts, that only bring momentary happiness. A day where we expect for certain gifts under a tree, we put pretty packages under a tree every year...but maybe it's not all about that.
Refocus:
Jesus the mild, righteous, flawless God man came to dwell as flesh among us, and He is oftentimes overlooked. We wait in line to take pictures with Santa Clause, but do we wait in line to see Jesus? We've forgotten, and oh how frail we are, and how easily we forget, the priceless gift. He came as a servant, and planted himself into the dirt of humanity to grow into the tree of life from which we can all live, and not die. Isaiah 53:1 "He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." He came, so we might learn, grow, and thrive by Him. To eat of His fruit, to rest under His shade, to cling to Him for safety. He is the tree of life. The seed of God planted in Mary became the small baby that was placed in a humble cave thousands of years ago, to live and grow as the savior to our souls. He is the tree of life, not like the tree in the Garden of Eden, which gave the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:9 "The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground- trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." From that tree, humanity fell, and was separated from God, and now Jesus stands as the tree of redemption. He came as a baby, to lie in a tree; a manger. Then, His life ended on a tree; the cross. But the beauty is that, he rose again conquering death, to be the tree of life, from which we can now life.

  I am reminded this Christmas especially, that I need saving. I need a savior as rich as the morning light to brighten my eyes with his mercy, and I need a savior who reminds me that I'm not perfect, but He is. I need saving because I know that on my own, I can't do it. Life without Jesus, is meaningless.

So may I live my life, under the safety and scandalous grace of Jesus. The one who still is, with us and who will never leave. His leafy branches are stretched out to all who seek shelter under him, the true Christmas tree.

 

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"Laugh harder, longer and more often..."

     Last Semester I took a class on Heaven and Hell, which really got me thinking about both in a way I never really did before. The idea of heaven really changed in my mind, and recently I've been finding that heaven is not simply after we die, but it can be here, now.

   I believe that because God has given us life here, and we can live in ways which bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. I hosted a Christmas party at my house this week, with many old friends and there was a moment where everyone was laughing about something funny someone had said, and the laughter was so real, and so beautiful. It was at that exact moment, I stopped and thought, this is what heaven will be like. Laughter about something so funny, and everyone enjoying God, and enjoying the goodness He's given us. 

        It was later that night we imitated each other's laughs, just for fun. It's amazing how different they all were, and how we all knew each other's laughs so distinctly. Laughing reminds us to not take ourselves and our work so seriously. It calms us down. In my opinion it keeps us sane too. Laughing is important because without it we would be sad, depressed people. Laughter is joy, and joy is the happiness resting inside regardless of whatever may be happening outside. Laughter is hope that life really is beautiful, and everything really is OK. Life goes on no matter what hard times may come. And true laughter shared with someone else, helps us to stop and enjoy life in the moment. 

This Christmas laugh. And, "Laugh harder, longer and more often than anyone else in existence"

Joy to the World! The Lord has come! He has saved us! Joy. Joy. Joy. What else shall our response be?