Jesusluvsall's Blog

My home church used to have a program to celebrate Christmas called Once Upon a Village. We decorated our multipurpose room to resemble Bethlehem complete with animals at the time Jesus was born and had a Living Nativity.

It was a blessing for me to go through the village more than one evening with my international friends. In 2013, I spent one evening with friends from Belgium, Germany, Japan, and Vietnam. We went through the village and also spent time at the Living Nativity.

Each time I went through the village with friends from various countries, Belgium, Bosnia, China, Congo, Germany, Japan, Peru, and Vietnam, I thought of what Jesus said in John 3:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

God’s love is for all people, all cultures, all ethnic groups. God does not discriminate in who he loves. He loves all people equally. He sees us all as people who are in peril without him because of our sin. That is why he sent Jesus.

My experiences with other cultures at Christmas time is not limited to inviting people to celebrations at my church. My friend Brigitte from Belgium hosted us for a dinner at Christmas time three years in a row. I have joined in Christmas services or programs in Romania and also in Hispanic and Vietnamese churches in my home city.

Each year I try to share God’s love with someone from another country at Christmas time whether it is visiting refugees from Burma to give them Christmas candy, having dinner with refugees from Iraq, or having a small Christmas party with my friends from my weekend groups at church. Last year it was going to a program by the Children’s ministry at church with families from China.

So when we sing Joy to the World at Christmas time, the Lord has blessed me with a unique perspective on how true it is that the birth of Jesus truly is Joy for the whole world.

I am praying about how the Lord wants me to spend Christmas this year. How will you share Christ’s love at Christmas?

Thank you for reading. God Bless.