Christmas, for Christians,  Christ’s birth, is one of the most significant happenings ever to occur in this world, it is on par with Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection. And it is a miracle! A miracle that keeps birthing more miracles is one that we don’t want to overlook!

Christmas, as a holiday celebration, can be mostly a family gathering that centers on gifts, food, decorations and carols, with a nod to Christ’s birth and a sprinkling of good wishes.

Keeping a healthy balance between those two sides of Christmas can be a challenge, but attending Advent services, reading the gospels pertaining to the birth of Jesus, they all help build an anticipation to what really is the most earth shattering reason for joy! 

I always have to add to it Christmas celebrations with my own birthday on Dec. 24, and this year a memorial service, a Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service and then there is New Year’s Eve ….and it becomes something one is just glad to have come through!

My Nativity Icon at Church with myself and a friend looking at it!

But when we stand back and review the big picture, nothing else, so far, can be compared to Jesus Christ’s presence as a human being on this earth, fully human while still being fully divine.

The concept that God could have a son, to some, is fully outrageous or just plain folly. The concept of God as a trinity being in the form of a person, is equally difficult to absorb. That Jesus Christ came through a virgin’s birth and the supposed King, was born amongst animals, just goes against all reason.

And yet, for two thousand years Christmas has been celebrated and it’s significance held high through many different cultures and nations.

God is still working powerfully around the world, even when our clarity of who Christ, the Holy Spirit and God the Father are, or correctly, is and how we relate to each Person of the Godhead.

Christine and I just returned from a Global Awakening Retreat, fortunately held close to our home. It was an opportunity to look into each of the Persons of the Trinity and their interconnected indwelling. There was some excellent teaching and times of refreshing with powerful worship.

I got a word from the Lord, which has resonated through me since it dropped into my mind during a long period of holy silence, at the end of a days’ worship. ‘Stop looking back, Michael. Look toward me, your Lord.’ As I consider the many different messages in that word; of discipline, intimacy, direction, authority and security. I thank God that He loves us.

Christine’s News

We had our daughter and her family- husband and two sweet little daughters visit for the week after Christmas. Lots of fun family times and getting to know each other and bond together as a family. Michael took them to see the flamingos at Sarasota Jungle Gardens, and their other grand dad took us all for a boat ride to midnight pass! So very much to be thankful for!

I have begun two icons of early Christian Martyrs, Felicitas and Perpetua. Also getting ready to bring two large paintings to the Define Art Gallery for a February exhibition. I’ve been asked to be secretary for the Women Contemporary Artists Group I am a part of, and I’m still learning the ropes on that one. But I’m as excited as I’ve ever been to continue exploring the type of paintings God has called me to do. This year you will no doubt see some of the new work and I will look forward to your feedback.

Until next month, stay warm, and close to God. You can’t go wrong that way!