To those who are feeling scared of what happens after Christmas and where to go from there:

Something about the Christmas season is the atmosphere that comes along with it: the lights, songs, family, friends, trees, and all the good "Christmas-y" stuff. There is a sense of endless hope as we gather in our churches for Christmas Eve services. The candlelight we hold signals the light of Jesus in the midst of our darkness. Jesus is talked about and studied more so as we enter into December. There are crosses and nativity scenes in every store we go in. We celebrate His birth as we have our Christmas parties and gatherings. The hard things come as well, and they are more in our face as ever. The absence of people who are not around anymore and no longer with us, become more evident as we gather around our tables. Some may not have family around or may feel a million miles apart from their family. The spirit of Christmas fades a bit as we end December. Even those of us who are all decked out this weekend, all have to face that come Monday.. Christmas is over. The shimmering lights come down. The trees take their final stand for the year. The presents are unwrapped. The Santas and Frostys are taken to the attic. Family heads home. Our lives start up again as we go back to work, school, and our daily lives. The holiday music changes to Top 40 again. The routine sets in. How do we keep the spirit of Christmas alive?

The other day I had one of those "awe" Jesus moments. I remembered that Jesus is the same. That He doesn't waver. That He turns the bad to good and the lost to found. He never takes a day off or decides He is over it. I realized that as my life sometimes feels like it is completely spiraling out of control that Jesus is my Redeemer and my Shepard. I love that Jesus was spoken of as being "Emmanuel"… God with us. A God who sees our tears and holds our broken hearts close to His love, power, and grace. Jesus who was born to ordinary people in the lowest of places for you and for me. The story of how Jesus was born in a small, insignificant town where there wasn't anymore room. A tired, traveled Mary and Joseph who struggled. Shepherds and Wise Men who worshipped the coming Savior. This story is Hope. Hope is Jesus. Hope in Jesus is the spirit of Christmas. That is how we keep the spirit as we end this 2016 and begin 2017 these next few weeks. We dig into that hope. We push into the Word and embrace Jesus like these men did. They knew He was to be glorified. If we lived everyday of our lives in remembrance of this truth, we would live in hope and grace of our Jesus. You are cared about. You are loved. You are rescued. When Christmas is over, Jesus is not.