CHRISTMAS IS FOR US KIDS

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Christmas is for children. That's what they always say.

So true. If you're 60 or 16, and you believe in Christmas, then you're a kid. So you can enjoy with the rest of Christ-believers that He indeed came that first Christmas day.  Welcome to His party!

Because how can you believe this story of someone coming from heaven to save you? How can you even buy into a tale that this Son of God became man, was conceived by a virgin and then willingly let Himself be crucified in exchange for your salvation? 

What kind of mind would even think this nonsense? Children! Or as Jesus says, those whose hearts are like kids'. 

So with child-like faith, are you and I foolish for believing in Jesus? Because that's what we adults say sometimes of kids—that they're foolish and they need to grow up. The rest of humanity too believes that Jesus' coming is a fairy tale. 

But this I know, and that's why with childlike faith, I've believed:

It just made sense one day—That God loved me. That He sent Jesus as the expression of His love. That I needed to accept Him as my Savior and Lord. Then, something within me changed. 

He promised that! 

He said (Ezekiel 36:26) that He will change our hearts of stone with hearts of flesh—sensitive to His heart and His instructions. 

He replaced my bitter and unforgiving heart with one now able to love others and experience His peace that's beyond all logic. I can now sleep at night without worry or fear—as He has promised. No amount of MBAs or PhD's—or money or fame or power—could grant you that. 

Where I used to stew with rage, anger, envy and malice, I do now experience love, compassion and kindness for others.

Do I get tempted when those around me are irritating, irresponsible and inconsiderate? Definitely! Hello, we're still on planet earth and subject to all temptations. You can believe too that satan (I won't even give him the benefit of being treated as as a proper noun.) and his mean spirits are continuously sowing fear, intrigue and destruction all around us.

But Jesus' mind in me enables me not to lose my poise, be sarcastic, or retaliate. I just know that! Pre-Jesus, I'd fight you with venom or at least wish, "Madapa ka sana!" "May araw ka rin!" when someone offends me.

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Because He promised: I can walk His walk, demonstrating His fruit (Gal 5:22-23)—which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. That's if we allow the Holy Spirit to control us. 

Note that the bible talks about this fruit in singular form—nine traits in one fruit. I checked a grapefruit recently and found nine individual parts. Just what Jesus intends for our character to manifest. A good fruit!

God has never been late or slow or changed His mind about any of His promises. All of these are given, not hidden, in the bible; that those with child-like faith may believe. 

Believers' changed lives should testify that we have not believed in a lie or a nonsense. Jesus came to save us and give us life abundant. 

Surely, we can't comprehend God with our intellect or our erudition. Be a child first. Then you can believe in Jesus. Christmas is about no one else but Him. 

Then you can mean it when you say, "Merry Christmas!" 

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