christmas

yesterday evening was perfectly lovely.
a few of my housemates and i baked and decorated gingerbread men for most of the afternoon. once that sugar fest commenced, we took the convertible to starbucks for red cups and then proceeded home the longest route possible so we could enjoy the lights on the houses.
as i sat in church this morning, my pastor read the lyrics of its the most wonderful time of the year. i excitedly anticipated his sermon to celebrate the christmas season with all of its flashy cheer.
that however was not the case.
he instead reversed the glamor of the season with the sobering truth of reality.
he told us of tragic news from around the world: 30,000 troops to be deployed to afghanistan, tiger woods scandal, deaths in the church family, un-employment rate at its lowest and so on.

i grew frustrated.
how dare he ruin this happy season for me? i love my red cups, mall decorations and gift giving.
but it was not my pastor's intention to belittle the season. but rather to point to the purpose for which we celebrate it.

in isaiah 7, immanuel, God with us, is first mentioned as God the father promises to fulfill his purpose with israel through the presence of his son.
this name, immanuel, is the confirmation that God's purposes are immutable.

how often i leave Jesus as the baby in bethlehem without recognizing him as conquering savior.
i celebrate this christmas season thankful for the birth of a baby without realizing why God sent him.
immanuel. God with us.

as we left service our pastor posed this question to us:
how would your life change if you were completely convinced that God Himself was with you?
i didnt know.
but my hope is that i can begin to form a lifestyle that can one day answer it.