Today is Christmas Eve and it’s a sort of milestone for me. Five years ago, my life was a lot different than it is today. I did not believe in God back then and Christmas was a holiday about baking, shopping, presents, the hassle and the rush to get it all done. After all the work was done then it was about family and Santa Claus. We always had great fun but the story of Jesus was like a fairy tale to me.
But not anymore…
As a sit here this morning of Christmas Eve, in front of me is our family’s Christmas tree all lit up with beautiful lights. The space underneath it is still filled with presents but things are much different now. The Christmas season is still a time of baking, shopping and family but now it is complete, because the true meaning of Christmas is now part of our celebration. What used to be about a man in a red suit and a beard is now about a baby that God sent. A baby who was sent to earth to save the world. A baby named Jesus who was the the gift of salvation that God gave to us. He was the most perfect Christmas gift that was ever given.
A little while ago I was reading in my Bible the story of Jesus and thinking about how it was back then. Back then, they didn’t have sparkly tinsel, dozens of baked cookies or Christmas trees. They didn’t have shoppers running wildly from place to place trying to get that last minute perfect gift and fighting over sale items.
What they did have was a young woman named Mary and her soon to be husband Joseph, traveling through the streets on a cold night looking for a place to stay. Mary was a virgin and she was about to give birth to a special baby but because of the decree that a census be taken the town was full and they were turned away. So in a stable they would stay, and in a manger her baby was born, Jesus, God’s gift to the world.
As I look at my Christmas tree this morning I see the gifts all wrapped and sitting beautifully under the light of the tree, waiting to be given to those that I love. I think of that baby who was born so many years ago, how he was laying in a manger under the light of the stars a most precious and perfect gift of love. He was the gift of salvation, given to all of us, He was the most perfect Christmas gift ever given.
The gift of Jesus keeps on giving for eternity.
It doesn’t need sparkly ribbons or bows, all it needs is a heart that will receive it.
Like all those years ago all He is looking for is place to stay, nothing fancy is needed at all, just a place that is open…
A heart.
All those years ago God’s gift lay in a manger, but today his gift lies within our hearts.
Jesus
God’s greatest gift was given to you and to me.
This Christmas when you’re opening your gifts please don’t forget that the most beautiful and perfect gift was born all those years ago and is yours to unwrap today, and every day. Jesus is the reason for the Christmas celebration today, so don’t forget to invite him to the party.
Dear Readers,
I want to wish each of you all a Merry Christmas full of many blessings of peace, hope and love. Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New year,
God bless you, Terri
If you still have some last minute people to buy gifts for why not give a gift to someone who will not get a Christmas gift this year? Here is a link to Compassion international’s gift catalog 
When you purchase a gift from the catalog you can purchase that gift in someone’s name and print a card to give them letting them know you purchased it. What a wonderful way to bless someone else by sharing the love of Jesus this Christmas!
A Story By Me 
Merry Christmas, my sister in Christ.
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Merry Christmas to you!
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Beautiful message Terri so full of Love and Christmas warmth, can we ever stop wishing others much Love, Joy, and Peace for Christmas and that God’s abundant blessings overflow for them in the New year. This I pray for you and your husband and family now and always dear Terri.
Christian Love Always from us both – Anne.
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Thank you and No we can never ever stop wishing others, love, joy and peace for Christmas. What I would love is for everyone to feel the love of Jesus so that they can experience everything that he has to give. Merry Christmas to you and your family Anne!
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I loved reading your testimony of a changed heart and changed ways of celebrating Christmas … what beautiful and encouraging words. I’m so glad I took them time to read this Christmas eve.
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Thank you so much for your kind words and I wish you and your family a very merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!
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Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and yours!
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Beautifully expressed, Terri. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
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Thank you and Merry Christmas to you Juanita!
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Merry Christmas, T ! 🙂
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Merry Christmas to you!
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It’s is funny that you posted this type of message, as I walked through the mall before Christmas after I went to my optimology appt. I seen all the shoppers just rushing around the mall knocking me on the ground which is quite eqasy with arthritis in the spin now, however the way they moved it was like they just rushed passed me for the deals for Christmas presents, most people have forgotten the real meaning of Christmas. Granted I do KNow the real Meaning of Christmas I buy My kids Presents but I don’t buy my wife and she don’t buy me either How ever it is a joy to see the little ones open their presents but when you have a teen who just begs for everthing he see and it is a want and not a need that it pretty pathetic. Once they know the true meaning of Christmas, they need to realize that presents aren’t supposed to be their top priority. My wife and I haven’t bought each other a gift in many years, I have cooked Christmas dinners as far back as I can remember whcih would be atleast 15+years then as always I would go to bed and maybe eat later that night because at that time I didn’t know about the back issues I have know 4 of them as a matter of fact, However it is fun to see my family to eat and the number one rule for all people whether family or friends invited or drop-ins if you walk away from the table hungry it’s your fault, if the food is gone and you’re still hungry raid the fridge and cupboard, ask and you shall receive. Hope you all had a Merry Christmas Happy New Year and Good NIGHT 4-3/4 hrs of sleep isn’t enough for an epileptic with a person with a heart running at 33%.
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I know what you mean when you say the shoppers rushing around knocking you to the ground, I have arthritis in my knees pretty bad and sometimes get off balance and I am slow, I have to really pay attention while Christmas shopping because people wold run right over me and about knock me down. I wonder about that like where did all the peace on earth good will to man stuff go to during Christmas, its more like rush rush rush knock down man….
It sounds as if you all have a wonderful family time during Christmas, I also loved watching my kids and grand kids open their gifts, the true joy is in the giving. but most of all the true meaning of Christmas, Jesus the best gift of all 🙂 We did have a very Merry Christmas and I hope you did too, Thank you so much for stopping by my blog.
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If you don;t mind T, I’ll take one of these blessing that you are handing out, in the name of the Lord of course, and I’ll send you two more.
all the best in 2015
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You can take all you want, thanks so much for your sweet comment and thanks for sending me two blessings back! I hope you had a great Christmas and that the coming year is full of many more blessings
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“All those years ago God’s gift lay in a manger, but today his gift lies within our hearts.
Jesus
God’s greatest gift was given to you and to me.”
AMEN! This is the true message of Christmas. Thanks for sharing.
(By the way… beautiful tree.)
Lord bless.
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Thank YOU! 🙂
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