Christmas Letter

*Below is the Christmas letter that I wrote this year, for those who are interested in reading it.*

Christmas 2014

Dear family, friends, neighbors, and strangers,

I hope that this letter finds you well. It is difficult to believe that I just have one semester of college left and then I graduate in May! I have been living with and caring for an elderly lady with Parkinson’s Disease this semester, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it! In fact, I am thinking about becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA) upon graduation. (I hope to, sooner or later, actually get around to using my degree in Biblical and Theological Studies, but it might have to wait for a few years while I work to pay off student loans.)

            Anyways, I didn’t want to write this Christmas letter to tell you so much about me as about one of the major things that I have learned during my time at John Brown. Over the years at JBU, I have come to realize that many people hold to the view that there can be certain levels of Christians. Usually the ones who are more devout in their walks with Jesus are termed “Jesus freaks” or they are called “more spiritual.” Yet, there is no difference or degree in terms of Christians. One is either a Christian or not. One either chooses to follow Jesus with his or her life or does not. This common misconception greatly disturbs me, mostly because many people believe that they are going to heaven when they die, and they are not.

            Too many times, I think that Christianity is painted as the answer to all of life’s problems: “Oh, just say this prayer and then your life will be good and happy.” That’s never what Jesus promised. In John 16:33, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Then, there is also 2 Timothy 3:12, which says, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” The answer to all of life’s problems is not found in saying a prayer and then going off to live life as one pleases. True joy and peace are found in an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ in which one submits himself or herself to Jesus’ will. Self no longer lives, but, as Paul said in Galatians 2:21, “Christ lives.” This is in accord with what Jesus said in Matthew 16:24-25, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” Sounds paradoxical, doesn’t it? Yet, it’s true. I have experienced it in my own life.

            Perhaps you are reading this and you have never heard of Jesus before. If that’s the case, I would encourage you to seek Him and find out more about what I have said in this letter. Get a copy of the Bible and start reading it, starting with the “books” of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, which will tell you a lot about Jesus and His life.  

            Perhaps you are reading this, and you know a little bit about Christianity and Jesus, but it is new to you that God wants to have a personal relationship with you. If that’s the case, my encouragement to you is the same as to the person who has never heard of Jesus before. Read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, but do not read them with the intent of acquiring head knowledge; instead, read them with the intent of getting to know Jesus.

            Or perhaps you are reading this and you know that the Holy Spirit is speaking to you. You know that you have been living life the way that you want to instead of submitting to Jesus. If that’s the case, then I urge you to stop resisting the Spirit and to submit to Jesus.

            Or maybe you are reading this, and you are experiencing the joy and peace that come from an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ and from submitting to Him. If that is the case, then continue to follow Him.

            If you wish to share how this letter has impacted you, then please feel free to leave a comment below.

Love,

Leah