...first Christmas as a blended family... the perfect gift..

it's only two more sleeps until my daughters arrive at our new home.

it's going to be a totally new Christmas experience for them,  for my two brand new step daughters.. for all of us..
for the first time since the wedding the new blended family will get together.. Christmas.. my husband and I and our 5 daughters..

we have been reflecting and praying and talking and thinking about Christmas..
the night that the Christ was born.
God's son, born so many years ago, according to what had been foretold by the prophets.. it happened

willingly, He,

who, being in very nature God,

    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

 rather, he made himself nothing

    by taking the very nature of a servant,

    being made in human likeness.

the gift given to us by the Father in Heaven, who sent His only begotten son so we could be reconciled to Him .. His purpose was this:

 and being found in appearance as a man,

    he humbled himself

    by becoming obedient to death—

        even death on a cross!

the perfect sacrifice.. both man and God, without sin, dying our death, paying the price for our transgressions, making us right again with our Father.. all we have to do is believe..

righteousness restored, eternal joy and peace the free gift, no matter the circumstances, no matter the trials and tribulations.. 

Christmas reminds us of all this.. it's reason to celebrate for sure.. it's a good reason to give gifts to remember  the greatest gift of all..how wonderful to be able to get together with the ones we love to  communicate the love we have for one another..

so many years ago this was what the Father did.. He showed His love for us by giving His only Son so that we, by believing could become His children..

He is the King, the Ruler, the Messiah and the Shepherd.. only God could have planned it out like this.. justice, perfect power and truth combined with mercy and grace.. a compassionate, almighty God, achieving for us what we never could have done ourselves.. making a way, tearing down the veil and restoring that relationship that we all are longing for.. filling that God-shaped vacuum that only He can fill...

waiting expectantly to see how He in His perfect love for us will make this a very special and meaningful Christmas indeed..

so thankful for that amazing gift.. The baby born in a manger..