I originally wrote this 16 years ago as a part-time homeless young man on the streets of Phoenix. I also happened to be in the house of the family of my then-future wife.

Many things have changed since then, but not Jesus.

As I sit here typing this, “It’s a Wonderful Life” is playing in the background.

It reminds me of how thankful I am to my Lord and my Savior. Even though my life is not exactly in the most stable place right now. Yet, that is exactly one of the reasons I am so thankful.

Imagine this scene:

A young woman, just a teenager, finding herself pregnant in a society that would stone her for adultery within a society that is cruel and dangerous. And when she is about nine months pregnant, she is told she needs to walk over seventy miles. 
She should worry about her fiance leaving her. She should worry about the religious officials dragging her before a court and wanting to "dispose of her." She should be worried about her unborn child coming into a world that seems heartless and callous and deadly. She should ... worry. 

What does she do instead?

She trusts what God has told her. She holds on to a promise that everything will be okay… even if it does not seem to be going so well, at the moment.

Her fiancé does stay with her. Yet, there are strange people saying strange things to and about her child. Yet, she learns that her baby’s life is now threatened. She needs to take him to Egypt right away!

How does she react?

She treasures all these things in her heart.

She praises her God. She keeps a hold of His promises.

And what does she say on this day?

It is not “Merry Christmas!”
It is not “Peace and Joy to all!”
It is not even “Let us exchange gifts!”
It was probably something more like “Hello, my child. Welcome to the world. I love you, and I will be here for you.”

Do you know what is so amazing about that?

That is what our Father, our heavenly Daddy, says to each of us on the day we are born.

Even better, He says it the day we decide we need to follow Him.

Even better, He says it every single day.

When is Christmas?

It does not matter what day Jesus was really born on. God cares more for us because of His Son, and the change that He has created in us.

When is Christmas?

It is the day when we respond to His call. When we are reborn in Him. It is Christ born in us. Some call it the day you were saved. Some call it the start of eternal life. Some call it their re-birthday (yo).

But it is our own personal Christmas.

God with us.

Remember this Christmas two things:

God loves you. He loves you so much that He sent His only Son to this earth that we might be with Him forever, in constant fellowship.

Your time to remember Christ is year round, not just once a year. He is not the reason for the Season, but He is the reason for all seasons!

I say to you today if you are not a believer in Jesus as Savior, that He wants you with Him forever, that He has done literally everything to get you and make you His friend and child.

I say to you today if you call on the Name of our Lord, that He wants you with Him forever, and He has done literally everything to get you and make you His friend and child. And He is always holding you in His hand.

I say to all that God loves you. He always has. He always will.

Oh …

I love you, too! Have a great life with our Lord!

… and a Merry Christmas, too…