[lead dropcap="yes"]It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year the song says. For many of us Christmas is just that - a joyous season of celebration and of goodwill and a time spent breaking bread with family and friends. It’s a season of gift giving and reflection. But for many of us Christmas seems to be a burden. It could be chaotic. Sometimes the fast pace of juggling our careers and our homes with travel and shopping and parties and finances coupled with the hindsight that this year may have not gone exactly to plan can leave us feeling broken down. [/lead]In Little Havana on Christmas Eve night, Vous Church reminded each other that Christmas is not a date but a state of mind. Regardless of our situation, let’s not wish the season away but let us slow down and live out the spirit of the holiday day in and day out.

In his message Hold On To Christmas, Pastor Rich Wilkerson, Jr. gives us three truths to ponder:

The Belief of a Mother

A mom believes in her child like no one else. Despite science telling us otherwise, Mary simply believed that even though she was a virgin she would deliver the messiah into the world. “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:34-35Many times God gives us the ‘what’ before he gives us the ‘how’. It is up to us to step out into faith and believe like a mother believes in her child.[cta heading="CHRISTMAS DAY ONLINE SERVICE" subtext="Join us online as Pastors Rich and DawnCheré Wilkerson share on the true meaning of Christmas." actiontext="Watch Now" link="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a5zGXMIWw1E"]

“Christmas is full of power, wonderment and encouragement but you have to stop and you have to pause in order to experience it.” - Rich Wilkerson, Jr.

The Grace of a Father

Upon realizing that Mary was pregnant, Joseph, knowing that they had not come together, could have had Mary stoned to death. Because Joseph was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But he was told in a dream by the Holy Spirit that she will give birth to a son and He will save people from their sins. Joseph decided to be a part of the story. He chose to be a man of grace. He would not dwell in unforgiveness or offense or bitterness. This season, who should we forgive? Let us move forward with a light heart, exempting those around us, letting go with the grace of a father.

The Birth of a Savior

If we are broken down, we cannot move. Christmas marks the birth of our savior. Born homeless, we understand that it is only through Him that we can find a home. Jesus came to rescue us. To teach us how to live. To reignite our lives. When we encounter the savior everything about our lives change. It’s less about behavior modification than it is heart transformation. Let us rejoice in this today and everyday - holding on to Christmas.

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