“For unto us a Child is born”

… “For unto us a Child is born”!

Tonight, many homes are filled with joy and laughter as we celebrate, open gifts, and eat some good, waistline-stretching food.  Others will wait until the morning to open gifts and feast at night.  But, if you are a believer and whether you are home alone, home with friends, or home with family, this is the time when your faith should shine, it should shine as bright as that star that light up the sky bringing good news to all of mankind over 2000 years ago.  Our faith should shine so brightly that it draws others to Christ, just like the star that night, which lit up the sky, leading the way to the blessed child, Immanuel, God with us.

True faith cannot be extinguished by circumstances, though it may flicker.  But faith is proofed in adversity.  Disappointments of dreams and expectations were common themes this year as the practice of “bracing yourself” became too familiar and unyielding as time seemed to move slow and fast all at once and days melted into weeks and then months. But faith breathes hope and new life as we are reminded of our greatest hope, ETERNITY, and reminded that “we are pressed on every side, and are not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken and struck down but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:9 NJKV).

And so, 2020 has taught us that the intangible things are what really matter faith, love, peace, and time. As you open your gifts tonight or tomorrow, think about the true meaning of the season, we celebrate He who gave us the ultimate gift, He is the Lover of our souls, the Prince of Peace, the Wonderful Counselor, and our Mighty God.

-Vanessa Rios