by Alexis Rosendo
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
It is Christmas morning and I hope you are surrounded by loved ones, good food, great memories and a lingering sense of peace and calm.
This Christmas, and every single day, let us remember the themes underlying the Christmas holiday and anchoring the Christian faith.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16, NKJV
- LOVE: “For God so loved the world…” YOU ARE LOVED. YOU WERE LOVED. YOU WILL BE LOVED. Perfectly, completely, unconditionally, no matter what, irrespective of who you are and what you have done or will do, by a perfect and Holy God who created the entire world (you included) with a specific purpose in mind.
- GIFTS: “…that He gave His only begotten son…” God’s love creates generosity. He, as a father, gave the most beautiful and precious gift He could ever give, His one and only son. He gave a gift out of love to you and for you. It is unthinkable of a father to give up their only child and God’s love for you is so great that He did it and would do it again, just for you, because of what it would mean for you.
- REDEMPTION: “…that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” The gift that God gave out of love was to save you, me and all of creation and to give us life that is free, full, healthy, and whole. God’s gift to the world He loves is the life of JESUS. Jesus is the savior of our sin that separated us from God, and the one who gave up His life to pay a price for the human race so that our sin could be forgiven and we could be reconnected back with our God and creator.
YOU ARE LOVED.
GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU IS SHOWN IN GENEROSITY.
GOD’S GREAT GIFT TO YOU IS REDEMPTION, SO YOU CAN BE FREE AND WHOLE WITH HIM.
At any time, when you are ready, you can accept this wonderful gift and live in the freedom and connection it brings.
Merry Christmas! Onward and Upward!
Alexis Rosendo, M.A., M.A., LAPC 