Christmas ~ An Exchange of Love

Christmas has always been a special holiday for me.  A celebration that is centered around an exchange of love.  Jesus was the first one who initiated with His sacrificial love and demonstrated to us all the true spirit of giving.  Then he filled us with his love and hope so that we could give it to others.  As I think about all I have seen and experienced in Africa, I could never be more thankful for Jesus and His gift.  With an endless list of people suffering and ministry needs, I'm challenged to forget that the gift He gave was large enough.  Add-ons were unnecessary.  There would be no need for any other offering because his one life offering encompassed everything any of us would ever need.  Whether it is hope to face tomorrow because your last living parent has died or courage to stay in school even when life is really difficult or provision for your family to survive, He is enough.  I think at some point in our lives most of us can begin to question, "Was it really enough to meet my need, my family's needs, my community's needs, my world's needs?"  The beautiful part of it all is that our lack of understanding does not diminish the power and effectiveness of Jesus' gift.  All we need is to believe in our hearts that Jesus is the answer for us and He will be!  The second beautiful part is that God chose to make us part of the gift.  He sent us into this world to bring light just like he sent his son.  Stars shining in a dark world, bringing light to those who desperately need it.  I am always amazed when I read John 14:12, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."  I want to follow Jesus' example and give myself as a Christmas gift to the world-making it a better place because I came.  There are many out there waiting for a gift that reaches their hearts not just their hands.    

I know sometimes with the fast pace of Christmas and the marketing campaigns it is easy to forget that Christmas is not about what happens outside of us, but inside of us.  That Christmas is about what happens in the heart..which means that we don't have to wait for December 25th, we can give the exchange of love all year round!  Let us seek to give a gift that lasts way beyond the Christmas season and winter-a gift that lasts for a lifetime...for eternity.