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And I know He will give you courage and strength. I know He will keep His promises as you enter the new land. All you have to do is surrender, obey, and trust that He’s with you. And then watch as He triumphs in your life.

Friends, if the world is going to change, it begins with us. Someone has to set the example of how to love one another, even those who don’t seem deserving of our love.We must love one another as God first loved us, for He loved us when WE were not worthy of His love.

The angel told Mary that this is the season you don't have to convince anybody about your dream - if they don't believe it, just tell them, "Wait a little while… ‘Cause it's God's dream for me, so it will come to pass!" The only one you need to believe in your dream, besides you, is God! And He's the one who gave it to you!

So, what if rather than making sharing the Good News about Jesus a task to be accomplished, it simply becomes an authentic expression of who we are, and a recognition of what Jesus has done for us?

Calm your heart. Clear your mind. Ponder the wonder of the Nativity. The reality is that we never outgrow our thirst to understand the mystery and wonder of knowing Jesus more. As we experience His love in a deeper way, we have to ask ourselves the question: Do I carry the joy of the Gospel into all areas of my life? What do I have to offer at the manger that Jesus is asking me to bring?

The point is, for Simeon, comfort and peace was when everything went according to God's word, and so the application for us is that we are to daily be comforted with His promises as we wait.

Christmas isn’t just for the kids. It isn’t just for those who went to church the other 51 weekends of the year. It’s for everyone. That’s the love of Christ, that’s Christmas. It’s for you, at your worst. It’s for me, at my most broken.

Like the Greek language, the Hebrew language (the original language of the Old Testament) has several words for love. One of my favorites, however, is “Ahava,” which literally means “I give.” God loves us so much that “He gave” His Only Son. In return, He asks that we share that love with others, that we “give.” What does that look like in real life?

He doesn't want our best… He wants our worst! That's why He came. The angel said that Jesus came to rescue us from our sins. Wow! This could just be the single greatest White Elephant gift exchange in the history of the world!

As Christ-followers, we are called to love God and to share His love (Agape love) with all those around us. We are to love selflessly, unconditionally, putting the needs of others before ourselves. This is the love God showed us when He sent His Only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.