As the frenzy of the Christmas season approaches once again, I believe God is calling His own to a quietness of soul and a time of dwelling on the awe and wonder of our dear Savior's birth. Not only do we need to guard our heart from the spirit of the world but we need as never before to train our eyes to see Jesus if we are to walk without fear in these days of growing evil. To do this we must have revelation knowledge of the greatness of our God which comes only through relationship God's ultimate desire for us.

A few weeks ago, I had a glimpse of God I had never seen before. I pray it will stir your heart as it did mine. While communing with Him on my bed, I sensed the Holy Spirit whisper "Cora, I miss you." Although the mood was tender and loving, I began apologizing for not being with Him more. But immediately, an incident replayed in my mind which became like a parable from the Lord to open my understanding. Mentally I relived a recent time I'd had with Jenny. We'd been lying on the bed listening to tapes of her singing as a baby. During our laughter at her cute baby attempts, I was flooded with sweet memories. In my reverie, without even thinking, I remarked "I miss Tonny," the name she used to call herself. It became obvious Jenny was taken aback and hurt as she asked "Don't you like Jenny as much as Tonny?" My sentimental moment had been totally misinterpreted by my daughter! For I love the responsible young woman she is becoming and delight in the maturing of her talents. I would never want her to remain dependent and babyish but that time of her life, in its proper place, was precious to me.

As this scene made its impact, I began to feel a very special presence of the Lord. It was that of the Father and I was now aware that He was not rebuking me but sharing an intimate remembrance with me! A totally unexpected type of emotion passed between us. I don't think I will ever forget it.

Sometimes we look back on the messiness of our first steps with God in disgust. We feel foolish by our childish attempts to please Him and by our stumbling. But that is not at all how He remembers us. I think that the book of Hosea expresses this aspect of God's nature so poignantly. Listen to His remembrances: "O Israel, how well I remember those first delightful days when I led you through the wilderness! How refreshing was your love!" (Hosea 9:10) "When Israel was a child, I loved him and brought him out of Egypt... I trained him from infancy, I taught him to walk, I held him in my arms." (Hosea 11:1, 3) Unfortunately, God's remembrance in this book brought sadness, not joy, for as the people grew, they forgot God and the Lord experienced the anguish many do when they see their children go astray. Hear His cry as He continues in verse three, "but he doesn't know or even care that it was I who raised him," and His anguish in verse eight, "O how can I give you up, my Ephraim. How can I let you go. My heart cries out within me; how I long to help you."

I had never really thought of God having memories and heartaches in such a sentimental way much as any human parent would do. And it made me want His remembrances of me to be joyous, not disappointing. But I know that apart from His Holy Spirit I too will bring Him pain. Thank God He came to earth to provide complete redemption for us who are so prone to go astray. And thank God for the Spirit Who is the only power to enable us to really know Him, commune with Him and abide in Him. Ask Him right now to fill you anew. For He promises
to cure us from all idolatry and faithlessness and refresh us with the dew from heaven. (Hos. 14:4,5) Think of what it cost Him to send his Son as you see the relationship described in Proverbs 8:30: "I was always at His side like a little child. I was His constant delight laughing and playing in His presence." But God so loved us that He sent Him here as a little baby dependent on His own creation to nurture and nourish Him. Can you imagine the void that filled heaven? But it was all so we could become sons of God His delight! Let us rejoice in this and give ourselves completely to Him.

We hope this reflection helps you see the Father's Heart that made Christmas possible in a new and vital way. We love you and thank God so much for you and pray this will be a most blessed time between you and our Lord. Now in closing let us turn together to Him. "Oh, Lord, we thank you for Christmas. We praise You and ask You to wash us and give us a love for You that is all consuming. May Your heart be blessed not just in remembering our baby years but seeing us become all you desire us to be. May we not cause you pain but give joy to you at this Christmas time and always. In Jesus' Name we ask it for Your sake and for Your glory. Amen."