How we in North America have made Christmas into our own image: a view of prosperity; joy, peace, love, not a care in the world. Is this the truth?

We all know it is not. Let’s get real; there are people all over North America hurting, sick, in pain, hungry homeless, broken, outcast, hopeless, and just trying to

stay alive. It is closer than you think: in your neighbourhood, your community. Just open your eyes to the truth. The truth is the first Christmas was not much different.

If Jesus was born today, what would the comparison be? Well let’s look:

Jesus would be born to an unwed teenage mother in a dirty garage and placed in an empty dog box. Several homeless people would be the only ones to find out and offer congratulations to the wandering, lonely parents.

Add to that a death threat over the child, causing him to become a refugee in another country, and oh yes, the only religious people to welcome him were foreigners and outsiders, astrologers at that!

That is a hard truth, but wait; there is ‘good news’. Jesus is able to identify with us all.

No matter how shameful our sin, h o w debilitating our sickness, or how much we have been rejected, Jesus is approachable. He is God’s gift to us; a gift to heal us, the rejected, hurting, broken and outcast. He understands because He has

been through it all.

By his wounds we are h e a l e d . Jesus was despised a n d rejected by men, a man of sorrows a n d familiar with suff e r i n g , Isaiah 53:2. His identification with our wounded human condition was evident in that first Christmas. Jesus not only became human but, He joined us on the very lowest rung of existence. He understood our hurt and pain. He will never leave you or forsake you if you accept God’s gift.

Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving.

His presence is God’s present to us.

Jesus is the gift which saves, heals, and gives life.

Abiding Place Ministries wishes you and your family a merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.