Whether you were ready for Christmas or not, it came. Many people ask throughout the week before Christmas if we are "ready." That's a heavy word. What does it mean to be ready? Whether we are ready or not, Christmas came and went just like it does every year. Christmas isn't about the busyness of getting ready. It is about the gift that God has given us through Jesus Christ. He gave us a gift that we actually can carry around with us all the time. For Christians, Christmas is every day because we have the Holy Spirit, God with us, Emmanuel's Helper to guide us. Christmas came and went, but that is just another day on the calendar. 

Celebrate the glory of Christmas every day in your heart because Jesus is with us always. God's gift, Emmanuel, is with us. It's the gift that keeps on giving through salvation, eternal life, peace, hope, love, joy, self-control, kindness, and gentleness. The list could go on. How did you celebrate Advent and Christmas this year? Did you make the time or were you so busy that it just didn't happen the way you had hoped? We were pretty busy here and did what we could but tried to make every day count and point to Jesus. We are not perfect, but we try. Let me know how you celebrated Jesus this year.