He Came Down

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. I love the decorations; the tree with lights, the Christmas carols, the presents under the tree, "Miracle on 34th Street". This year though, it is a

different Christmas.

At the Johnson house, there is no tree,  no decorations. Instead of presents under the tree,

there are boxes being packed and stored, suitcases being prepared. And it is the same at work.

I am attending Christmas parties and programs. But it is different. I was starting to get a little

depressed! All "my" traditions are being stripped away. But when I started to remember "the reason for the season" I could not stay that way for long. And you know, it is not even the traditional Christmas scriptures that the Lord brought to me to get me refocused.

He took me back to my core scripture of Philippians 2. The Lord has taught me so much about myself

and Him from this chapter. "Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

He came down to earth in the flesh. He chose to give up all the glory of heaven for me! And Roger, and Matt and Julie and my next door neighbor and the lady at the checkout counter in Bed Bath and Beyond! He came down for those involved in organized crime, those in  the street gangs, those in Liberia, Southeast Asia, Pakistan, India, Nicaragua, England, Brazil, Haiti, Sudan, Australia. "For God so loved the world, He gave". I thank You my precious Lord for the most awesome gift I could ever imagine!

I pray I will never take this precious salvation gift for granted. That Christ will always be the center of my heart and yours.

 Merry Christmas to you all.