Christmas in Your Heart

You know what it's like to have a song stuck in your head?  Sure you do!  Well, I have a song that's been playing over and over in my mind all morning, but in a good way!  I know, I was surprised that such a thing was possible, but it is!

So about this song - well technically, it's just a line of the chorus, but anyway... When I stop to think about it, after Monday's entry, it's really not a wonder that this song would be special to me today.  I've gone around it enough, so what are the lyrics?  (Have you been dreading that I might truly get to this?)  Actually, the title is part of it:

This Christmas, make it Christmas in your heart.

It's not from a very popular song, at least not anymore, but I heard it a lot when I was younger.  It has such a sweet, simple melody that complements the simple message of the song.  The oh-so-sweet message of the song.  The full lyrics (you can also hear the complete song here, song 3):

Christmas in Your Heart
Ron & Shelly Hamilton

Jesus came to earth and laid aside His princely crown.
Came to His creation, then a room could not be found.
At this special time of year, the call is heard anew.
Will you hear His pleading voice? Let Christ be born in you.

Christmas in your heart, make it Christmas in your heart.
Open wide the door, and let Jesus in your heart.
As the Saviour knocks today, will you coldly turn away?
This Christmas, make it Christmas in your heart.

You may sing the carols that exalt the Baby's name,
But when Jesus calls to you the answer's still the same.
There's no room for Jesus, He is crowded out again.
Will you open wide your heart and let the Saviour in?

Christmas in your heart, make it Christmas in your heart.
Open wide the door, and let Jesus in your heart.
As the Saviour knocks today, will you coldly turn away?
This Christmas, make it Christmas in your heart.
Make it Christmas in your heart!

We celebrate Christmas every year, but is it Christmas where it truly matters?  Is it Christmas in your heart?  That is the heart that we love with, the heart that we sorrow with, the heart that ache with... not the organ we call the heart.

Jesus Christ came to earth for one reason: to offer salvation to a sinful world.  He offers it to all; He offers it to you.  If you have received Him, it really can be Christmas in your heart because you know the true joy of Christmastime.  In fact, every day of the year can be Christmas for you because He is in you.  If you haven't will you make this year the first year you can celebrate the true meaning of Christmas in your life, in your heart?

As we commemorate the birth of Christ today,
It is my prayer that the light of His Word will shine in your hearts,

And the glory of His presence will be very real to you.
...
And may you never forget the Christ in Christmas.
...

A Wonderfully Forgiven Birthday

Many of you know some of my favorite programs on my favorite radio station, there's even a few links on the side to help you locate them on the web.  I was thrilled when I heard that WCTS would be airing a new, in-house Bible study.  (It's hard to believe that it's been almost 2 years since they started broadcasting!)  What a joy it was to hear today's study in I John.  Today Rebecca, Sarah, & Crystal delve back into verses 9-12 of chapter 5.

"If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

This delights my soul so much because of a decision I made 20 years ago yesterday, a decision that I would like to tell you about....

Having been born at Christmastime, and with a name that means "Christmas child," it's natural to be thinking about birthdays and presents during the Christmas season.  My parents did a rather good job at not letting my birthday get swallowed up in the midst of all the festivities, too, which couldn't have been easy.  I also had the privilege of growing up in a Christian family and in a church dedicated to preaching God's Word as it ought to.  Of course, this means that from the time I was just a little tot, I knew that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, God's very own Son, on this earth.  I learned early on that He came for one reason, and that was to save His creation from their sins, and that it was available to anyone who would come to Him

So, with my birthday being just one night's sleep away, I'm sure I was thinking of Christmas and birthdays and presents as we were getting ready for church one evening so many years ago.  My train of thought might have even been that I receive presents on my birthday and His birthday, that He deserves so much more... and what could I give Him?  I don't really recall that, but I know I went up to my mom and said that I wanted "to give Jesus a birthday present.  I want to give Him my heart."

All preparations ceased at that point, and in my mom's presence, I asked Jesus Christ to come into my heart and save me from my sins and told Him I loved Him.

... And I still do.  He's done so much for me, and I want the world to know what He can do for them, too.  He showed His love for us those many, many years ago for us when He left heaven's glory and came down to this sin-cursed, imperfect world.  Then He lived a perfect life for us, never once falling to the temptations His human body felt, which is so important because an imperfection can't redeem imperfection.  He went on to show those around Him who He was by the things He said and the miracles He did, never ceasing when people believed not.  Instead, when their unbelief caused them to falsely accuse Him and sentence Him to the capital punishment of the day, He willingly went to the cross for us because our redemption required His blood to be spilled.  The greatest agony He went through was when God the Father had to turn His back upon God His Son because the sin of the world was upon His shoulders.  He died, but three days later He conquered death and hell with His resurrection.  Now, He's seated at the right hand of God, making intercession for those who call upon His name.  Because of His life, because of His death, because of His risen life, we can be saved from sin, from eternal death, from hell if we will humble ourselves, admit we can't do anything to redeem ourselves, and call upon Him.  I have done that, and I'll never regret it.

It thrills my soul to think of all that He has done for me.  As much as it actually hurts to think of all He went through, I'm so thankful He came.  I'm also thankful that this is something I can reflect upon during this special time of year.  And maybe, or rather more than likely, this is why one of my favorite childhood Christmas songs was and still is Happy Birthday, Jesus.

How about you?  Have you also trusted Him to be your Saviour?  If not, why not?  There's no better time than the present, and it's a very special time of year indeed.