Merry Christmas! God Showed Up!

“He was here! He was here!” Kids all over the world are waking up their families with shrills and abounding excitement! The “jolly old soul” made it to their homes last night. They are sure he was here because the cookie plate only has crumbs on it. Most importantly, stockings that were hung by the chimney with care are now bulging with gifts on the floor and around the tree. I can visualize all the celebrations going on. I remember those Christmas mornings with my young children and grandchildren.

My excitement is no less exuberate in my heart as I am nestled in my sweet, little, “alone” and quiet spot by my fireplace this morning. I woke up with overwhelming joy and started singing “Joy to the world. The Lord has come!” And exclaiming “He showed up! He showed up!” What proof do I have? After all, there were no presents from Him under the tree. I know, because His PRESENCE is in my heart today. I feel Him. I sense Emmanuel – GOD WITH US. God is with ME!

Shortly, I’ll be heading over to my children’s home for Christmas breakfast and lunch while continuing our Christmas celebrations of family joy and laughter. Last night we worshipped Christ at my church's Christmas Eve service and prepared Him a room in our hearts for this beautiful Christmas Day. We will celebrate the greatest gift conceivable. Actually, inconceivable that He Who sat on heaven’s throne showed up here on Planet Earth – all because His Dad came up with a grand idea of taking heaven to earth by sending His Son to show us the way! Before His Mama's "Yes", He said "Yes" -- I'll go and SHOW UP for them! It ALL happened in a moment, a most remarkable moment. God became a man! Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious ONE in a human womb that brought Him to this side of heaven. How marvelous! How wonderful! EVERYTHING we would ever need or want, wrapped in one package.

It seems almost irreverent to think of the Son of God coming to earth. There’s something about keeping Him divine that keeps Him distant and predictable. BUT DON"T DO IT! For Heaven’s sake, DON'T! It was a Master Plan for Him to be human so that you and I have someone who gets us -- who gets our needs -- who understands our pains -- who SHOWS UP for us when we need Him most. Let Him be as human as He intended to be. Let His human example of loving the unlovely, forgiving in spite of rejection, understanding everything about us because He was one of us -- be our example to others, too. Let Him into the mire and muck of our world. That's how He showed up and that's how He "finished up". Only if we let Him in -- can He pull us out! Let Him be God with us for in letting Him be God with us -- we are never alone and never without a Savior. Let Him SHOW UP in you and your world today! Merry Christmas!