Put Some Easter inside your Christmas

I can hardly believe I haven't posted since the day before Thanksgiving.  I have tried to visit some of your blogs, but hopefully this week I will be able to get to posting as well as commenting on your posts. If you find mistakes as you read, I am using voice activated software. While I try to catch mistakes before I post that doesn't always happen.  Yesterday I had one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. My mom, aunt, grandmother and I had the amazing privilege of seeing The Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes. To be honest, I had no expectation. We left early yesterday morning for Nashville. While we did have some complications with the wheelchair lift on our van, God intervened by using a young guy who worked at the hotel to help us find the emergency override switch, so that we would not miss this great event. He was a direct answer to all of our prayers. Though I don't know him by name I will forever be grateful for his willingness to go the extra mile.  Now on to what I just can't wait to tell you about the show itself.  Make no mistake whatever you read about here, will be a pitiful attempt to describe something wondrous!  I didn't realize all that was involved with the show. I have seen the Rockettes on TV during the snapshot of the Macy's Day Parade, but never in my most vivid imagination could I have imagined something so amazing!  The lights, prompts, music and cast were all breathtaking.  The glitz and glamour of the entire experience filled the air!  The precision and timing of the scenes were indescribable.  Even as I tell you the details in general, I know that it is one of those experiences words will fail to actually paint a tiny glimpse of the actual reality.  You see it was so much more than women in glamorous outfits working in unison to provide a feast for the eyes.  It was an illustration of the Majesty of the living God. Let me explain further, this was a gift that I would not of missed or the world.  There was a glorious live Nativity scene, and as the narrator told the story of the Christ Child, I was mesmerized.  I was awed by the visual, but more than that I was reminded that it isn't just a story that has touched humanity forever, though that is true for some. My heart and spirit were recaptured, not by a story that provides a warm sensation like that of a Hallmark card, or  simply a symbolic meaning, that offers a moral lesson  I experienced deeply personal worship hrough seeing this live Nativity Scene  for me, God coming in flesh as Jesus Christ, changed my entire destiny. It is more than the baby in the Manger. Many people around the world including prominent celebrities are comfortable with the idea of a baby bringing joy to the world. They're even content to have others make the baby in the manger the object of worship.  The only problem is that baby isn't just a baby. He is and always has been the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!  There is no one who compares with the Savior. He is deeply personal!  I don't mean this as a put down to celebrities in general, but I'm always fascinated by the fact that Hollywood is quick to give admiration by singing Christ centered Christmas carols however once the story progresses past that of the baby in the manger then suddenly the rest of the story is left out or not acknowledged at all. Oh how the world is missing out, failing to see the rest of the story. It is the story that makes many of our lives worth living. The story that isn't just a story, but is as real as the stars in the sky! I told you that this story, change my life and continues to change it today. This is because, there really is no beginning to it, and there is no end. Unless of course, you start at the beginning of the creation account, and proceed from there. God Chose a particular time in history to become man. He chose to limit himself, to allow himself to feel hunger, sadness, anger and joy.  Matthew chapter 1 tells us that Jesus is literally God with us.  It means that the living God sees me, and is willing to go with me in good times and in bad. It means that when life doesn't make sense, there is still hope for me and you, because the amazing thing about Christmas is that it doesn't end in a manger.  In fact, it doesn't end at all. The Bible says that God's kingdom and Christ his son will reign forever!  As beautiful, as the Radio City spectacular was, and believe me it was beautiful – it could never compare to the birth of Jesus Christ, and the lives that continue to be changed not only by God becoming flesh, but the continuation of the rest of the story. An earthly ministry followed by the most gruesome death in history, and a miraculous resurrection from the dead that would allow ordinary people to  have a relationship, with The Extraordinary, Almighty God!  So I ask you, is Christmas a big deal to you or has it lost its joy?  Will you join me in reclaiming the real Christmas joy?