Simply Christmas. What is simple about Christmas you might ask. With all of the rush to get the perfect gift or the gift you forgot or the food that needs to be prepared, when have you stopped to remember why you celebrate Christmas? We all have our reasons for feeling overwhelmed, aside from the obvious, but it seems like this time of year is just a little more full of challenges. Perhaps an illness, challenges with a spouse or a child, work problems, a broken heart, extra responsibilities you may carry – there is a full list I could write here – add your own to make it complete. As I have studied the book of James with a dear friend, a few verses keep coming to mind – “consider it all joy, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” I know I need endurance right now, but consider it ALL joy? ALL. Which brings me back to simply Christmas. Through all you are encountering right now, lay it down at His feet for a night. Catch your breath and before you enter His house, let it all go and remember Christmas isn’t about the rush. It is simple. It is beautiful. It is love. Such great love. Come sit with us as a family. Sit and listen to the Christmas story being read by a dear man in our church family. Sing with us and simply celebrate the Christ child who was born. Who grew. Who gave His life for you and me.