Hi, My name is Pastor Nick and I am a scrooge.

So, I have a bit of a confession to make. I am some what of a scrooge. I don’t like the Christmas Season. I should rephrase that, but I’m not going to. I don’t want to lie. I don’t like the Christmas movies that my kids have been watching since November 1st, I don’t like the Christmas songs that have been playing on the radio since November 11th, I don’t even like the Christmas commercials on CTV; the ones where companies wish their customers a merry holiday and a happy and prosperous new year. 

I do, however like all the Christmas lights and getting— and giving gifts— that part is ok— but the rest I could do without. 

I recognized that this could be a problem, so at the start of December, I asked the Lord to prepare my heart to experience Christmas in a new way. I asked the Lord for me to see Him more closely. I chose an Advent bible devotional plan on www.youversion.com, I found a Christmas themed book by one of my favourite authors, and I even allowed myself to watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. (Ok, that’s not religious one bit….)

I guess where I am going with this is that Christmas isn’t about the Hallmark movies. Christmas isn’t about the malls being so full of everyone tying to find that last minute gift for that person who really doesn’t need anything. Christmas is, all about Jesus. Always has always will be. 

There are a few verses in Matthew chapter 1 that i have been thinking about over and over these past few days… 

“ And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” (NLT)

A few quick comments on this verse

1. The reason we celebrate Christmas is because God is with us. He is our Immanuel— no longer do we have to dance around, make sacrifices or even wonder where God is. He is with us.
2. He has been given to us to forgive us our sins. Joseph and Mary were to name their son Jesus— which means the Lord Saves… He has come to save us from sin and shame and regret and destructive lifestyle choices. He has come to save us from us. 

This is what Christmas is all about, and because this is true, I have been asking for this God who is with us to open up my heart and do a new work in me. Something He promises to do. Something He will do in your life too if you would only ask. Read Isaiah 55:6-7. 

Sure  I will still gripe about the Christmas movies on TV or the Christmas songs on the radio; (even though they mostly proclaim the birth of Jesus) But I would like to be filled wth the Gift of God with us today, tomorrow and every day in 2018. 

Who knows, this might make me a little less scrooge-ie next year. But maybe not.