Eyes On One

 

As Christmas nears, I am reading e-mails, messages, cards and posts. There is a sea of situations as unique as each life I am reading about. 

Anticipations of weddings, babies and first Christmas’ together.

There are those celebrating Christmas with the feeling of an absence of loved ones that no longer are with them. 

Some are deep in need of answered prayers.  A baby gasps for breath in a hospital, another’s brother is air-lifted on a heart-lung machine to Mayo, a toddler just diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at her routine check-up and now is suddenly leaving their home of Russia to get treatment in Cologne, Germany.

We pray.

There are those in treatment over-coming addictions, mental health being sought, and financial struggles to pay bills. There are the lonely and there are those that are surrounded by friends. There is the anniversary of cancer beaten and the celebration of new jobs miraculously given.

Praises are lifted by another set of parents whose child has returned home with breath again after weeks of being ventilated in the hospital.  Joy is expressed by friends and family returning home after long absences and the thrill of anticipation of loved one’s first-time visits.

Then there is a photo of a gentleman that has followed my Christian writings.  He lives in Ethiopia and he is standing with other Christian friends of his just outside of a prison wall. They are looking down upon blood that was shed at the door.  The photo needed no words. 

Lives lived, lives lost, but the hope of Salvation has come.

In this mix; cookies are being baked, prayers are being sought, Bible verses shared, friends stand together, gratitude for what is and hope for what will be; the people I am reading have one thing in common.  They all have their eyes on Jesus. 

They look to Him. They are thankful to Him. They place their hope in Him and know that love, grace, strength, peace and eternal life comes from Him. 

Our days have waves of highs and lows, but He is constant.  He came to us in a world needing Him and He is worthy of our praise.  Leaving the comforts of a throne to place His head in a manger, to be crowned with thorns, we are not forsaken.  Becoming "with us is God," the meaning of Immanuel, He did not remain separated from us, but took the sin that  separated us upon Himself to join us in this place and to bring us into His. 

His Kingdom come.

We are loved. 

This is Christmas. 

We look to One and there we find peace.

Psalm 29:11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace

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

Isaiah 9:6 

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.