The Christmas Cross

It was late as we drove home last Saturday evening, Chase and I tired from a full day spent with our sweet friends who live out of town. We were nearly to our street, when we both spotted it. I mean how could we possibly miss it? High up in what must be the neighborhoods tallest tree, were white christmas lights strung to perfection in the shape of a cross.

I can't seem to let go of that simple, yet profound image.

 A Christmas Cross. 

A paradox of sorts, representing Christ's birth and death, but going beyond that, believing that He overcame the cross, glorifying the Father and creating a rebirth of life within those who choose to receive it. Life, death, death defeated, life everlasting. 

One simple image, yet beyond the depth of understanding.

Isn't the Christmas cross the very crux of how we live? Isn't this not only what the season of Advent is all about, but also what our very lives are to proclaim? Shouldn't we always be living with anticipation of what is to come? I don't mean the anticipation of later on today, or tomorrow or even next year, I mean the longing and excitement for eternity. 

 Christmas is a celebration, a remembering, a thanksgiving of Jesus, who came to us as a baby. A gift that can NOT be compared to anything else. A baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger; who was and is and will continue to be the greatest sacrifice of all time, who laid down His life on a cross, but then overcame the grave! Through His death on the cross, He provided the means for new life, a gift to all mankind! The greatest gift of all!

Would you do me a favor and re read the previous paragraph at least once more? As believers it is all too easy to speed read over the truths, but this post would be useless if it weren't for the very truths that lay in the sentences above. Read it slowly and let it sink deep into your core, you won't regret it, I'm certain. 

 This truly is a wonderful time of year! I'm grateful for extra time to spend with family and the opportunity to make new memories. But while the bustling world around me continues to scurry in a hurry; I'm here, asking my sweet Savior to reorient my focus moment by moment. This year I have been no less busy in terms of commitments, projects, and relationship building, but I am trying to take moments like this to refocus and remember who my heart is truly celebrating this season. Every season. Join me?

When I intentionally slow down in my heart, it is amazing to see the joy that comes out of it.

Jesus.

 There is power in that name!

"So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."
(Philippians 2:10) ESV

Would you join with me today, and bow before our Savior and surrender your moments to Him? So that we might live with the Christmas cross in visible sight. Life is a gift and true everlasting life is the real deal. We are living for so much more than our wish lists and agendas. We are living for the One true King who came to us as a baby.

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." (Isaiah 60:1-3) ESV