Christmas is almost here..... and it's usually one of my loneliest holidays.
Growing up, I always looked forward for Christmas because of the many gifts I was getting but when I became a teenager, those gifts stopped coming. We also no longer stay all night 'til midnight. Some Christmases, I awoke from the fireworks celebrating Christmas time had arrived. I would go out from my room, look out from our patio and just cry, "we don't have Christmas."
Slowly learning that Christmas was about Jesus' birth.... I longed to be in the fellowship of Christians so we could all celebrate our King's birth, but my friends have families to spend time with and celebrate Christmas, and receiving love and presents. Though knowing that Christmas was all about Jesus' birth, I still didn't know why would he come to earth to die on the cross to save us, just so we could have a relationship with God the Father.
I am still learning the answer to that question, yet I am thankful to have read this devotional by John Piper, and learning to celebrate the Advent before Christ's birth. I now wonder why "Christians" no longer celebrate and remember the Advent. The Advent prepares us to the grand celebration and thanksgiving of Jesus, God the Son's coming. I still rarely receive gifts, if none, at least just one gift is more than enough.... but if none at all, knowing Christ is greater than any gift I would receive.
Download here: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/books/good-news-of-great-joy
