I love Christmas and the wonder you see on your children’s faces, the joy the season brings, and the hope given to others in smiles and gifts.  However, as I get older I remember those that are not with me anymore at Christmas that have passed on.  That is when the full message of the hope of Christmas hits me.  Jesus came so that we might have life with Him forever.  Jesus spoke lovingly to Martha after her brother Lazarus had died.  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;  and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26  Galatians 4:4-5 adds yet another purpose to Christmas.   ^“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,  to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”  Not only did Christ come to save us but He came to bring us into relationship with God.  Because of Christ we are adopted into God’s family.  What a privileged position we have for eternity.  We can walk in relationship to God, being adopted as His child, and look forward to eternity with Him.  We who believe are blessed indeed.

Do you need some extra hope today?  It is not man made, cannot be bought or sold, it only comes from Jesus.  Grab hold of it today in faith.  End this Christmas season with hope and begin anew in the new year.  Jesus transforms lives- let Him in and He will work a miracle in your life.  He will be with you 24/7 and give you hope for now throughout eternity.

Living with Hope in Jesus,

Linda