He Came To Me

I know that this is the time of year when all hearts and minds are thinking of the baby in the manger.  I love the phrase, "Jesus is the reason for the season", and I adore hearing my Daddy's rich, baritone voice reading the story from Luke, chapter two.  I love the joy and festive spirit of the season and, of course, my heart sings at the excitement on the faces of two wonderful little guys I call  "Gigi's Boys".  The food, the decorations, the children's plays, and the carols of Christmas are all parts of the season that I remember and treasure.  My precious Mother's homemade treats and my brothers' funny stories, along with the ones told by own children, make this time of year a holiday my entire family anticipates.
But, for me this year, Christmas holds a newer perspective.  My mind is not totally focused on the manger scene, the angel's song, or the gifts of the wise men.  I am singing the songs of the season but I am adding one this year that takes the birth of our precious Lord a little further.  You see, I am thinking of how He came to this earth, a tiny baby who seemed insignificant and unimportant.  I am thinking of how the baby became a man---a man who would be persecuted beyond belief, tortured for hours on a wooden frame, mocked and despised by those He loved, and whose death would bring redemption from a bondage called sin.  Yes, He came, but not just as a baby.  He came as a Redeemer.  He came to the world.  He came to me.
While traveling to my pastor's home yesterday for a social gathering with his wife and daughters, I began to sing a song I had not sung in years.  I prayed as I sang, thanking God for moving in some situations recently that had caused me some concern.  At one point I said these words, "I thank you, God, that you came to me.".  A flood of emotions swept over me as I heard His words in my spirit, "Yes, I came to you.  I came to you when you were fallen and lifted you up.  I came to you when you cried and  wiped away your tears.  I came to you when all hope was lost and showed you how to believe.  I came to you when no one else would come.   When all who heard your cry of despair refused to come, I came to you.  I will always come to you---always.".
I could not stop the praises from spilling forth.  He came to me.  I could not stop the joy.  He came to me.  "When I could not come to where He was, He came to me.".  The words of the song mingled with the praise of my heart---just to think, He came to me.  Read these beautiful words to the chorus of this song:
         
            "He came to me.  He came to me.
             When I could not come to where He was,
             He came to me.
             That's why He died on Calvary.
             When I could not come to where He was,
             He came to me."

It's true, He came to the world as a baby.  It's true, He gave His life for the sins of the world.  As a tiny baby, born on a day we call Christmas, He was heralded by angels and admired by shepherds from the fields.  He lay in fresh hay in a manger stall and a star told His location.  As a man, He gave His life in exchange for ours.  Oh, but as a Saviour, He excels.  As prince of peace, there is no competition.  As tender shepherd, He is the best.  When I need Him, He is my champion---my hero---my protector.
Of course I will celebrate Christmas with my family and friends this year.  I will make new memories and cherish the old ones.  But, I will not be thinking of Jesus as the manger babe.  I will be thinking of how He came, not to the world, but to me.  I will be thinking that, when  I could not come to where He was,  He came to me.

In Grace,
Marie