He came to give...

          I recently heard the experience of a young mother and her two children during the tornados that ravaged parts of Kentucky in the USA. As the tornado approached her home, the young mother clutched her two children – four and two years old - on the bed. The windows exploded and the roof collapsed crushing her arms. They were thrown some two hundred feet while still on the mattress which she believes saved her children’s lives. Her children suffered no broken bones. She wonders to this day how they were able to survive flying on that mattress from one point to the next. For her, being alive after that ordeal is a miracle.
         Even as I listened to the account of this, I have to acknowledge God’s goodness in all of this. As she said, her neighbors next door to her died but she and her children survived – even after flying through the air on a mattress no less.  Only God can do the impossible thing that leaves the human mind baffled.
          Through her story I am reminded this Christmas season that Jesus came to give us the gift of life – eternal life. It makes no sense to this mother, but He chose to give her and her children life. The story I shared a few weeks ago about the woman who struggled with alcohol and drug abuse after facing abuse at the hands of her stepfather, God gave her the gift of a second chance and offered her a better life than the one she had. The story of Paralympic swimmer, Jessica Long, born without her lower legs, is the story of a God who is not deterred by our limitations but in fact uses them to prove that we can still accomplish anything through Him. He gave her the ability to swim, using those same shortened legs, helping her to win numerous medals and break records.       
          In short, there are a number of stories I have shared that are examples of the reason why Christ came to this earth in the form of flesh – to give us life, to give us a second chance, to give us hope, to give us peace, to give us joy, to give us love... He came to give...! And no matter what we go through in this life, when we put our eyes on Him, trusting Him to see us through every situation, He will GIVE us what we need to survive, to make it, even to prosper and thrive in the midst of every trial and testing. 
         Look at Jesus’ life here on earth. Everything He did was about giving to others. He didn’t do anything for Himself but He made other peoples’ lives better. He healed the sick, He cast out demons, He raised the dead. Everything He did was for the benefit of others...not Himself. 
         What gift or gifts has God given to you? Maybe He has given you peace in the midst of your storm, or love in the face of rejection, or even His grace and strength as you go through that situation that seems to have no end. Maybe He has given you hope in the face of a dead situation you have given up on. Whatever your gift looks like, it’s your gift from a God who loves you and wants the best for you.
         The thief on the cross next to Jesus comes to my mind. Jesus is about to die, this thief is about to die yet, when he acknowledged Jesus, Jesus did not turn His back on him but willingly offered him the gift of eternal life...even at the very last (Luke 23:39-43). It didn’t matter who, once a person turned to Him, Jesus did not reject that person simply because He came to this world to give...
          I thank God for who He is and for all He has done for me. He continues to pour into my life not because I deserve it, not because I am anyone special or better than anyone else, because I am not, but because of who He is! God has given me so many gifts – life, love, joy, peace, salvation, strength, grace. I am pretty sure He has given me so much more. So, in this Christmas season I can be thankful that He came because my life certainly would not have been the same if He had not! 
          Can you say the same? What is God’s gift or gifts to you? The negatives can rob us of the ability to see and appreciate what He has blessed us with. Don’t be blind to His goodness but use this season as an opportunity to be thankful for His gift to you.
          If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as Lord and Savior I encourage you to do so now. Jesus came to this earth and put on a body of flesh so that we can have life and life more abundantly. He wants us to be able to live our best life in spite of what comes our way. 

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