Christmas is upon us and I look forward to this season. The Nativity scene, the trees and lights, getting together with family and neighbors and meeting new ones. My husband John and I have been married for 45 years, are blessed with seven kids, and soon, grandkids. While growing up, my home life was completely unstable. My mother was married five times and my father was married six times. So from a young age, I felt very insecure, lonely and fearful no matter the season. One day, when I was 12 years old, I noticed in my older sister, Linda, a real change in her life; I saw a joy and peace within her that I had never seen in her before. I asked her what happened and she shared with me the simple Gospel: How Jesus came to earth, and that He died a brutal death on a cross, and paid the price for all our sins, and that anyone who believed in Him, will have life everlasting. Linda shared with me how she prayed and asked Jesus to forgive all her sins, and to come into her heart, that she wanted to follow Him forever. When I heard the story of a loving Father giving up His only Son for me, I bowed my head and asked Jesus to come into my life and for Him to take over. And He did! My sister gave me a Bible, and I began to read it, the Holy Spirit was inside of me now and helped me to understand His Word. Honestly, if you read the Gospels you will fall in love with Jesus. You see His heart poured out for all of humanity! I began to go to church and my life began to thrive. I felt the peace and the love of God in amazing ways. Sadly for many, Christmas brings many feelings of regret, heartache over broken relationships, struggles at work, and many feel so alone. But did you know that Jesus is familiar with being rejected, wounded, betrayed, and misunderstood, even by those who walked with Him for over three years, whom He called His friends? The Bible says in Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who was tempted in every way that we are, yet without sin.� This verse declares that although Jesus was God in the flesh, born of a woman, and when He walked on this earth, He faced every temptation you and I have ever had, yet without sin! So when you are feeling weak, depressed, or fearful you can go to Him; He loves and understands you and will help you. Do you know that Jesus designed you with a purpose, and has gifted you to accomplish all that He has for you to do? Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which He prepared before the foundation of the earth.� There is not another person on this earth with your attributes and abilities. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “I know the plans I have for you, plans for good and not for evil to give you a future and a hope.� I hope this Christmas you will experience our Father’s greatest gift of all: The peace of God that surpasses all understanding and the joy that comes from knowing that all your sins are forgiven. You will now have the power to love and forgive others, who have wounded you. All it takes is a sincere prayer for your life to totally turn around. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.� The next time you see a Nativity where the angels are singing, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth Peace and Goodwill toward men,� remember that Child was born for you.