This Word  is submitted by Teresa Seputis [ts@godspeak.net]

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                  What I Want For Christmas

Precious child, have you ever wondered what was going through My mind
just before I left Heaven to be born of a woman? Have you ever wondered 
what My Father's last words to Me were just before the moment of My 
birth? Do you fully understand why I came?

One reason I came was to be the perfect sacrifice to save you from you 
sin and bring you eternal life. But there is more to the story. I came 
because of My great love for you, but it was more than just love that 
caused Me to walk among you all those years, teaching you and revealing
the Father to you.

I also choose to come to earth because I desire a deep and intimate 
personal relationship with you. I didn't just want to save you, I 
also wanted us to become close friends and companions. That is right.
Your friendship is very precious to Me. It is something that I cannot 
have unless you choose to give it to Me. 

When I created you, I gave you a mind and a will. I gave you the 
ability to love and the ability to choose who you extend your 
friendship to. My desire is that you will choose to give it to Me; 
so we might Be close friends and walk in deep intimacy together. I am 
a God of relationship, and a close personal relationship with each of 
My own is so important to Me.

I have given Myself to you; I have paid the price. I have extended
an invitation to you. Now it is up to you whether or not you choose 
to accept it. Will you love Me as much as I have loved you? Will you 
choose to spend your time with Me and become My close friend? Will 
you give yourself to Me to accomplish My purposes? Will you do that 
in gratitude for how I gave Myself for you?

Dear one, I love you dearly and that is why I came on that first 
Christmas. 

Earlier I asked you if you knew what thought that was running through 
My mind just before I left Heaven to be born. Now I will tell you what 
it was: it was an eager anticipation for a deep and personal intimacy 
with you; for each of you who have believed in Me and been called by 
My name. 

Precious one, I am glad that you choose to obey Me, but I want your 
obedience to rise out of your great love for Me. I want to be close 
friends with you, and I want us to spend a lot of time together, 
enjoying each other's company. I want us to walk together in intimacy, 
that I might show you more and more of Myself. I want to reveal things 
of God to you that can only be shown to those who are friends of God. 

This year for Christmas, will you give Me the thing that I so greatly 
desire? I desired it on that first Christmas, when I came to give 
Myself to you, and I still want it now. I want us to walk in intimacy
together and I want us to be close friends.

I came to draw you close to Myself--now I am asking you to draw close 
to Me. Will you give Me that for Christmas this day?