Open THE Gift

  

It is the holiday season, but for many it is anything but" joyful or happyy"; lost jobs , sickness, turmoil, unrest and for many, a lasting loneliness.

 For those  this season is not a merry one, but one of pain. 

  I remember in those days past ,how that deep hole of hopelessness felt. I was there, many times.

I was young, and betrayed, by different circumstancs and even choices I had made that I thought would be good for me. My days were sad and I felt that I was all alone in my pain. 

 I did survive,

 but barely.

 I had actually thought of suicide. But I remembered my children, and my love for them kept me from leaving them with that legacy.

  I found faith in Jesus Christ when I was so utterly lost...

Or should I say, 

He found me. 

It had to be a God thing because nothing in me was thinking that He was going to be the Answer to my needs. 

  Now, looking back, I can see how He actually orchestrated many things to bring me to a place of  surrender in my life. 

I did that, and found peace, direction and LOVE, that no one or no "thing" could have given me. 

 Jesus had a tremendous impact on my life.  I grew in faith and hope and yes, even TRUST.  I didn't know the future that was coming, but He did.

    In November of 1986, my husband of 14 years had a massive heart attack and died instantly. He was  thirty nine years old. I had been a Christ follower for 7 years. I had no idea that this would happen. We had 5 children. It was a huge blow to all of us. 

  I  believed what the Bible said when I read that God knows the beginning and the end of all things, and even the number of our days. He knew my husband would pass from this world when he did,...it was no surprise to Him.

  In many ways I think God prepared me for that time. I was shaken and stunned, but not alone in my grief. I went through  all the stages, that people talk about, but not alone. 

God did many miraculous things when I became a widow, but most of all He became my Rock, my Stay and my Comforter. The Word of God was my Counsellor, and it saw me through so much.

 Scripture says  that all of Gods Word is  God breathed. Inspired by God, and Alive. That is a fact.  I know it is true.

 It changed my heart and my outlook about many, many things.  It gave me hope and stability and strength to carry on.

  I found that even though I became a believer in Jesus, my life would still have things happen that were hard to face.  Its not true that once you trust the Lord, that it will all be easy from there on out.

 Life is hard, more often than not. But life is a gift, even on the hard days. We live in a fallen world. There are a lot of things in our world that are beyond our control. But we are not alone. God is with us.

In and through the issues of life, we have a God that is our Anchor. He did not promise us all candy and roses, but He promised He would be with us, and give us grace and strength for the days of our lives, good and bad.

 His word tells us " In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33

 It also tells us in  Gods Word,  that Jesus says:

"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life"  

He shows us the Way, speaks the Truth and gives us a Life that is full of hope and strength and grace to successfully face  all the days that come to us.

I have regretted many things in my life in the past, but I have never regretted trusting Jesus as my Savior.  I do not even know if I would be alive if it were not for Him. He has seen me through so much in these years. I do not know where I would be or what I would be. I am so thankful for Him.

 So Christmas is a time to reflect and even be thankful for  many things, gifts that do not necessarily belong under the tree;

The gifts of

Memories- that we have of times past when we could all be together for Christmas and for us who are older, of our children Christmases and even our own  childhood Christmases

Music- that holiday music that cheers us or even the Worship music that focuses on the Awesomeness of Gods plan in bringing us a Savior

Hope- that these hard times will not last forever and God will see us through

Love- of our families, friends and the ultimate love of God for us

Faith- In Someone other than ourselves, Who knows us best and Still loves us MOST

If we choose to think on these things, we can have joy in this Christmas Season.

Jesus was promised

 He came to us, 

He will always be here for us.

As the Angel said:" Don't be afraid! I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior, yes, the Messiah, the Lord has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped suggly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger."

Praise God for his  Wonderful GIFT