Christ’s
Birth Says It All
“For God so
loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).
Have we settled down from the hustle and bustle of
Christmas shopping, card giving, cookie baking, children’s school programs,
busy stores, family gatherings, and everything in-between, now that Christmas
is over?
Or is it over?
No, not really.
Now we can enjoy the 12 Days of Christmas, December 26
to January 6, and hopefully our lives have slowed down a bit as we reflect on
Christ’s birth to the Epiphany, celebrated on January 6 as the day when the
manifestation of Christ’s glory was realized.
Sometimes people struggle with a letdown, even
depression, after Christmas. Energy levels change and anxiety ramps up with how
to pay the charge card. Post-holiday blues of emptiness frequently follow the
intense rush of Christmas. But the 12 Days of Christmas, often overlooked, can
provide a much-needed calmness and an even richer reflection of the reason for
the season. No hustle and bustle involved, no big plans to make, just a
wondrous down-time of thanksgiving of God’s promise to deliver His Son in the
form of a baby for our salvation.
Speaking of promises, as we enter into a new calendar
year, we can be thankful we serve a God who is unequivocally faithful with ALL
of His promises. Whether we find ourselves on top of the mountain or in the
deepest valley in 2024, we have God’s promise of infinite love and an endless
supply of grace.
His promises are not reliant upon our age,
socio-economic status, race, education, what kind of car we drive or our jobs.
God blankets all of us, His children, with exceedingly great and precious
promises (2Peter 1:4 NKJV) to demonstrate His power and sustain our faith. All
we have to do is embrace His promises by believing and trusting.
Make no mistake, we don’t have to worry that God might
change His mind or alter His promises. He is not a flippant God and His word is
rock solid. In fact, the apostle Paul tells us that God’s promises are for
real: “For all the promises of God in Him are yes” (2Corinthians 1:30 NKJV).
And that little baby in the manger? His birth says it
all. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and
only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have
eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).
By
Becky Van Vleet
Becky Van Vleet is a retired teacher and principal and award-winning multi-genre author. She has been published in Guideposts, The Country Register, and Christian Devotions Ministry. Her children’s picture books are the recipients of the 2020 Excellence in Editing award as well as the Purple Dragonfly award in 2020 and 2021. She and her husband make their home close to Colorado Springs where she enjoys gardening, hiking, oil painting, power walking, and spending time with her family, especially reading books to her grandchildren.
Becky is the author of Unintended Hero, a true
story about her father’s battles, experiences, and adventures in WWII aboard
the USS Denver. She is passionate about sharing the values from the
Greatest Generation and enjoys speaking to high school classes about
patriotism.
A member of ACFW and Allauthor, Becky has
devoted her website to creating and preserving family memories and sharing
family stories for the next generations through her monthly blogs.
You can find her at: https://beckyvanvleet.com.
She would love to hear from you, especially if you have a family story to share!
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