Tis the Season

I love Christmas and all that comes with it! I love the christmas lights, the gift shopping, the baking, christmas cards, christmas parties, and even christmas carols. It is also easy however to get wrapped up in all of the festivities without acknowleging why it is that we celebrate. I have been reminded a couple of times myself this year. Two different times I was explaining the ornaments on my christmas tree and once I was asked to write a devotional. All of these things made me take a moment to reflect how different the first Christmas really was. I am excited to be with my family and friends this year, but Mary wasn't with hers. I'm excited about people greeting me with in get into town, but Joseph was turned away from all of the inns. I know that I will eat and eat until I cannot hold anymore and curl up in my bed. Jesus was born in a barn outdoors and placed in a feeding trough. For those that do not know the story it is found in the Bible in the book of Luke, chapter 2. For those that do, reread it again and Praise God that he loved mankind enough, (YOU) that he would go to such great lengths to make a way for us to spend not one day a year, but eternity with Him!