Facing Christmas

Let's face it - some people dread the thought of facing Christmas. They hate to shop, dread the "relatives", even get depressed this time of year. Ebenezer Scrooge before his epiphany had nothing on the attitude some people have toward Christmas.

Even for believers, focusing on Jesus instead of the stores, weather forecasts, and meal plans can be a challenge. Sometimes all we can think about is retreating!

That's why this quote from yesterday's "Our Daily Bread" devotional is so relevant:

"Christmas is not a retreat from reality but an advance into it alongside the Prince of Peace."

Christmas is a reminder that Jesus didn't stay out of the fray, He descended directly into it. And when we become Christ followers, He doesn't immediately call us to heaven or to a higher plane of living where we no longer have to deal with the nitty gritty of life. Instead, He provides His presence in the very stuff that we want to escape from.

Because in the long run, Jesus isn't about escape. He's about victory.

John 16:33 "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."