“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21

Christmas is right around the corner, and it’s easy to get caught up in the messiness of the season and forget to focus on the real meaning of Christmas: when the Divine became Humankind. Christ’s birth was messy—in a messy time, in a messy place. Jesus could have been born a royal birth as befitting a king, but that wasn’t God’s plan. Jesus came to take way the sins of the world, so what better place to start than in a cold and dirty manger. God’s willingness to enter our world with all its darkness and sin is a reminder to us that God meets us right where we are. It’s not about cleaning up our act to be presentable to God, Jesus said just the opposite. Jesus is our light in the middle of our darkness, and it is there that we find hope!

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17

How gloriously wonderful and redeeming is that! So no matter how you are feeling this time of year, one thing never changes—God loves you. Stay focused on Jesus this Christmas. Celebrate Recovery at Crossroads has a special Christmas evening planned for you this Friday. And if you are looking for a church to attend Christmas services check out Crossroads Church; an early Christmas service is happening this Thursday (12/20 at 6:30pm) and three services next Monday, Christmas Eve (2, 3:30 & 5pm). Dana Cramer // Celebrate Recovery at Crossroads