Because of Christmas!

A Cup of Tea with Carol
Written By Carol McLeod

The days of matchless wonder are upon us … we are reminded that a Baby was born in an obscure village to an ordinary mother.  The Savior of the world has come.

Heaven’s grandeur has invaded earth’s mundane with a miraculous gift.

The Divine has left the enormity of eternity and has entered the limiting boundaries of time.

The joy of His presence has come to trump depression, to defeat discouragement and to conquer gloom for every day of every decade of every century.

Peace now rules over confusion and discord.  The Savior has a Name … He is known as “The Prince of Peace”.

Light has obliterated darkness and nothing will ever be the same for humanity in all epochs to come! Where once darkness had authority … now Light rules and reigns!  Where once shadows marred the view of abundant life … now unclouded horizons are ablaze with possibility!

My friends … it is Christmas!  Let the rejoicing begin!  Let the perpetual and triumphant song of the Season find a resting place in your weary heart.  Please … please … please … do not allow the trappings to swallow up the treasure. What a lethal mistake that would be!

Do not allow the temporary to diminish the miraculous.  What an enormous error of gargantuan proportions that would be!

Do not allow your disappointment with life begin to create a murky fog that disguises the gift you have been given. What a sad legacy that will leave!

Hope has come and your world has been refreshed, renewed and restored.  Hope is not wishing upon a star nor is it fictional fantasy.  Hope is simply choosing to believe, with renewed fervor and with joyous vigor, that God’s promises are true.  God is a good Father and you are not forgotten.  Your name has been written on the Savior’s hands.  And while we are hoping … we are a people of grand celebration!

Do not allow human obstacles or the fiasco of other’s lack of enthusiasm to mar your potential for living a life of Christmas impact.  Something so extraordinary has been born in us that demons tremble … darkness runs and hides … and the angels stand to their feet with a joyous roar of encouragement. Temporary setbacks are a false alarm!  He has been born in you and you have been born again!

You can be at rest … you can embrace peace.  Everything is going to be just fine in spite of the stench of your life.  Hope and peace are the personal endowment that heaven has given to you.  That’s right … it has been given to YOU!

And if peace and hope are not enough to fan the flame of your Christmas zeal, let me remind you about the joy that has come!  The Name of the Savior is “Emmanuel” which means “God is with us”!

“In His presence is fullness of joy!” – Psalm 16:11

Because the presence of the Creator of the universe has been delivered to planet earth … joy has accompanied Him on this vivid journey!  He never leaves home without joy!  And He brought joy not to keep it selfishly to Himself but to generously give it away!  Jesus lavishly and liberally shares the atmosphere of His presence … which is described with one word … and that word is JOY!

“And behold, I bring you good news of great JOY which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Savior Who is Christ the Lord!” – Luke 2:10

Peace … hope … joy!  What marvelous gifts He brings!

And, as we ponder the meaning of Christmas, let us not forget that Love was born in that crude manger nearly 2,000 years ago.  Love like the world had never known … Love incarnate … Love visible … Love powerful … Love triumphant!

All babies come wrapped in their own personal blanket of love.  And, for the Babe named Jesus, His blanket of love was not even for Himself but it was for you. He has come to share His blanket with you. His covering of unearned love was always meant to be shared with a world in pain.  He shares His most resplendent endowment with you … Love.  You have been covered and comforted by His eternal and personal Love.

If you are questioning God’s love for you today, remember Christmas.  Think about the Darling of heaven who was sent so that you and I could experience the love of heaven.  Think about the preposterous reality that Jesus left the streets of gold, the adoration of the angels and the presence of the Father just because of love for you. 

He came because of love.

He died because of love.

You live because of love.

Christmas, at its heart, is all about love.

Christmas is about an eternal, unstoppable, unbelievable, miraculous, outrageous, zealous love that has taken aim at your cold heart.

Because of Christmas … we can sing joyously and we can give generously.

Because of Christmas … we can love the difficult and we can forgive the offender.

Because of Christmas … we can hope for the impossible and we can trust the good, good Father.

Because of Christmas … we can dance on top of pain and we can rejoice in spite of tears.

Because of Christmas … we are His.

He has been born for us.  He has been born in us. We have been born again.

Merry Christmas, my friends.  Merry, joyful Christmas!

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Carol McLeod
Carol says, “I am just a girl who is head over heels in love with Jesus ... passionately addicted to His Word ... and find all of the joy that I need in time spent in His presence." Carol is a Christmas-aholic, loves ACC basketball and the beach! Like all menopausal women, she is overly fond of chocolate and enjoys a good read. She doesn't like cleaning her house and is an expert in carry-out dinners. She hates to shop … loves to jog … and somehow finds time in her busy life to hang out with small children. She is the kind of woman that you could laugh with over lunch, cry with over disappointment and shout with over a victory! But … if you need her official bio … read on! Carol is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. She also hosts highly successful Just Joy! outreaches. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren! Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren!
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