27 Nov A Winter Hope
Christmas has always been a special time of the year for me. I have always loved the feeling of joy in the air, the decorations, and of course the songs. Ever since I can remember, I have liked Christmas carols, but especially the ones about the birth of Christ our Savior. I didn’t know why, but something would catch my attention whenever I heard one of these songs; there was a different beauty in them than in the songs about snow and the Christmas season. Still, for most of my life, I never gave much thought to the birth of Jesus and what it really meant. It wasn’t until Christmas 2015 that something changed and the meaning of our Savior grabbed ahold of my heart.
From 2008 through 2015, I had been struggling with depression, obesity, and suicidal thoughts. It would be the same routine every year. I would be miserable from January through November, but something would change around December: my heart would fill with hope and a feeling that my life mattered. On Christmas of 2015, I was looking at myself in the mirror when I heard the voice of the Lord say, “You are not the person I created you to be. It’s time to get your life back!” Despite the choices I had made and the lies I was believing, He still wanted to save me. I was heading down a dangerous road of pain and death, but God saw me and changed my life that day. I was able to live again!
The Creator of heaven and earth humbled Himself and became human so that we could be saved from our own horrible decisions. He saw each one of us and said, “I love you so much and I’m willing to give up my own life so that you can live.” How beautiful! Now, when I celebrate the Christmas season, I can’t help thinking of His love for each one of us. Whenever I listen to those songs about the night Jesus was born, I can’t help thinking of how He saved my life.
David Newell (Leadership Team Member)
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