Jesus, welcome to our World...

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You've been promised, we've been waiting
Welcome Holy Child
Welcome Holy Child

Hope that you don't mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long awaited Holy Stranger
Make yourself at home
Please make yourself at home

Bring your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven's silence
Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our world

"Welcome to our World" by Michael W. Smith

How often is it that we stop to think of the whole picture of the Christmas story? I like to let my imagination wander through the story, waiting with the the shepherds on the hill-side to see their reaction to the angels, peeping through the kitchen window as Gabriel tells Mary she is carrying the Christ-child, following behind the young couple as they walk the weary miles to Bethleham...and then on from there. To the stable, to the temple when Jesus is twelve, to the many many incidents where He spoke to the multitudes of people and performed miracles...to Calvary. And to victory. To His ascent into Heaven, and to the hope He has given us.
It's a triumphant tale that never can grow old if we pull it out of the dusty pages of antiquated Bible-picture-books and see it as it is: A story that has not ended. A story we are living. A story that is full of adventure and intrigue, emotion, war, famine, peril, and then sweet victory at the end.
That's the Christmas story I like to think about, and then retract my imagination as quickly as I let it run away and focus in on the stable. On Mary, holding her sweet baby in her arms for the first time. Of the angels singing for pure joy and exultation on the Bethlehem hillside. It's just such a beautiful, timeless truth, and it gives me chills every time I think on it in this fashion.
I can't understand it. I can't understand God's perfect love for me, that He'd send His one and only son, Jesus, to live a life here on earth, become my sin, die for me (personally!)....just because He loves me. And then He rose again, more triumphant and powerful and splendidly beautiful then before...and He calls me to Him.

 "Come, my child. I love you. I want you. I gave my life for you. Not because I had to, but because I wanted to. Come to me, love."

This is what I'm celebrating this Christmas. Thank you, sweet Jesus! ~Rachel