The days of matchless wonder are upon us. We are reminded that a baby was born in an obscure village to an ordinary mother. The Savior of the world has come.

Heaven's grandeur has invaded earth's mundane with a miraculous gift.

The divine has left the enormity of eternity and has entered the limiting boundaries of time.

The joy of His presence has come to trump depression, to defeat discouragement and to conquer gloom for every day of every decade of every century.

Peace now rules over confusion and discord. The Savior has a name; He is known as "the Prince of Peace."

Light has obliterated darkness, and nothing will ever be the same for humanity in all epochs to come. Where once darkness had authority, now light rules and reigns. Where once shadows marred the view of abundant life, unclouded horizons are now ablaze with possibility.

My friends, it is Christmas. Let the rejoicing begin. Let the perpetual and triumphant song of the Season find a resting place in your weary heart. 

Hope has come, and your world has been refreshed, renewed and restored. Hope is not wishing upon a star or fictional fantasy. Hope is simply choosing to believe, with renewed fervor and with joyous vigor, that God's promises are true. God is a good Father, and you are not forgotten. Your name has been written on the Savior's hands. 

Something so extraordinary has been born in us that demons tremble, darkness runs and hides and the angels stand to their feet with a joyous roar of encouragement. Temporary setbacks are a false alarm. He has been born in you, and you have been born again. 

You can be at rest; you can embrace peace. Hope and peace are the personal endowment heaven has given to you.

And if peace and hope are not enough to fan the flame of your Christmas zeal, let me remind you about the joy that has come. The name of the Savior is "Emmanuel," which means "God is with us."

"You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Ps. 16:11).

Joy has accompanied the Creator of the universe to planet Earth on His vivid and vital journey. And He never leaves home without joy. He brought joy not to keep it selfishly to Himself but to generously give it away. Jesus lavishly and liberally shares the atmosphere of His presence, which is described with one word, and that word is joy.

"But the angel said to them, 'Listen! Do not fear. For I bring you good news of great joy, which will be to all people'" (Luke 2:10).

Peace. Hope. Joy. What marvelous gifts He brings.

As we ponder the meaning of Christmas, let us not forget that love was born in that crude manger nearly 2,000 years ago. Love like the world had never known. Love incarnate. Love visible. Love powerful. Love triumphant. 

All babies come wrapped in their own personal blanket of love. For the Babe named Jesus, His blanket of love was not even for Himself but for you. He has come to share His blanket of comfort with you. His covering of unearned love was always meant to be shared with a world in pain. He shares His most resplendent endowment with you: love.

If you are questioning God's love for you today, remember Christmas. Think about the darling of heaven who was sent so that you and I could experience the love of heaven. Think about the preposterous reality that Jesus left the streets of gold, the adoration of the angels and the presence of the Father just because of love for you. 

Christmas, at its heart, is all about love.

He has been born for us. He has been born in us. We have been born again.

Merry Christmas, my friends. Merry, joyful Christmas!

Carol McLeod is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. She has written five books, including No More Ordinary, Holy Estrogen!, The Rooms of a Woman's Heart and Defiant Joy! Her most recent book, Refined: Finding Joy in the Midst of the Fire, was released last August. Her teaching DVD, The Rooms of a Woman's Heart, won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award for excellence in religious programming. You can also listen to Carol's "A Jolt of Joy" program daily on the Charisma Podcast Network. Connect with Carol or inquire about her speaking to your group at justjoyministries.com.

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