Reason for the Season

With December came relief from the pressure of blogging every day and also, December left me lost blogilogically..with nothing really left to say. And plumb out of creativity. December actually brought a lot of things, come to think. December brought my Texas friends, Rita and Sydney, for a weekend in the mountains and a weekend of laughter. December brought goodbyes and hugs and slumber parties with Bethany before she left for home & India. December brought the freezing cold, and the snow has not left the ground since its arrival. December is also bringing a trip home to Texas, seeing my collegiate best, Becca Feagin for the first time in a year, a high school reunion, Beef’s wedding (18 days and counting), and most importantly: Christmas!

Tis the season to be jolly, people! It is HERE. It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, and I am roasting chestnuts on an open fire tonight. And by open fire, I mean…in the oven. I hear jingle bells (because Kathleen at my office wears them on her shoes during this time of year) and I definitely love the White Christmas that Colorado has been so gracious to give me, even though it presents some Cold December Nights. We have been Rockin’ Around the Christmas tree and are planning to have a Happy Holiday. I hope you are too.

Did you guys see what I just did there? I scripted an entire paragraph with song titles of popular Christmas songs. Clever, eh? Alright, let’s soldier on people.

I love Christmas season. And I love that the reason is exists is because Jesus Christ was born. Hallelujah! Matt Chandler and the Village Church are doing an Advent campaign to “get underneath the meaning of Christmas” instead of getting caught up in all of the presents and shopping and stress and binge eating. Which is difficult assuming that we live consumer driven America. But I am going to join them in their feat.

God has been teaching me a lot of things lately and the most resounding theme goes under the title of: I CANNOT FIX MYSELF. What a crazy easy thing to believe in my head, but my heart is so very reluctant. I mean seriously. I honestly think that if I try hard enough, I will be able to fix myself. I can be better. I can stop this, or start that and STICK WITH IT. I can decide today that I want to be a certain thing, and succeed. I think I can take control and make myself into the person that I want to be. The sad truth is that I cannot. I absolutely and positively cannot. I am hopeless and sick and in need of a Savior.

We are all guilty of the same thing: rebellion against God. And whether it manifests itself in an obvious manner or whether we are living in pride or secret sin, the point remains. We are all guilty. There is not one who is good, by nature. We are by our nature objects of God’s wrath. We are actually incapable of righteousness. CUE: THE GOSPEL. (and the reason for the season)

The gospel, if anything, is a story about remarkably wicked people who cannot fix themselves, and how God—in his never ending love and mercy—answers to our problem. It’s the most marvelous story of all time, and the best news to those of us who are failing miserably at “being better.” I despise not being in control, but the beauty of the gospel is that I don’t have to be, because God is.

God is all about God being glorified, which translates into God being about our joy. His provision, care, and love for me is NOT because I am spectacular but because HE is spectacular. God is glorified by his coming to save sinners. Jesus came to save and heal what could not save or heal itself.

So for those of us who are tired of trying to be better, forgiveness is here. We can let go of our clenched fists over the control of our life because Jesus Christ was born. God has made a way. And that is something to celebrate, people. In the highest degree.