Category: Christmas

He Gave

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photo credit: JLS Photography – Alaska <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/50830796@N04/39252158801″>Merry Christmas!</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a&gt; <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/”>(license)</a&gt;

 

Many children write letters to Santa; it’s a very busy time at the post office.

When I was young, one of the Syracuse, New York television stations had Santa segments. He read letters from the boys and girls in the Central NY area. They asked Santa for gifts from their wish lists.

The Heavenly Father is the giver of gifts. I don’t wish; I pray.

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow (James 1:17 NASB).”

God gave the perfect gift.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16 NASB).”

The LORD gave the gift of life.

He gave us His Son.

He gave Jesus.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me (John 14:6 NASB).”

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White as Snow

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Dreaming of a white Christmas?

Your life can be transformed; you can be white as snow every Christmas.

“Come now, and let us reason together,’
Says the Lord,
Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool (Isaiah 1:18 NASB).”

Dressed in garments white as snow…

“He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels (Revelation 3:5 NASB).”

Children make angels in the snow. The Father makes hardened sinners as white as snow.

 

Silent, Holy Night

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photo credit: Riccardo Palazzani – Italy <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/45503185@N06/23421017403″>Nativity 2015</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/”>(license)</a> 

 

Luke 2:1-19 (KJV)

2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

A Christmas Without Batteries

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What’s a Christmas without batteries?

Hmm, that’s an interesting concept. Let’s mull that over for a minute or two. So many of our gizmos need batteries inserted before we can operate them. Pity the parents who forget to buy batteries before children and teens open their gifts.

What about poor Dad? He will be unable to hear the whir of battery operated tools if they are not included.

There’s still time to buy extra batteries; you won’t want to miss a minute of the battery operated action.  The thrifty use rechargeable batteries. As a Christian, I depend on a far greater power than disposable batteries.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8 HCSB).”

Like rechargeable batteries, we receive God’s power through repeated fillings.

“… be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18b HCSB).”

While batteries power gizmos, the Holy Spirit empowers Emmanuel followers!

They Named Him… Jesus

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In Bible times, names held significant meanings.

Samuel: ‘Heard by God’* (1 Samuel 1:20)

Jabez:  ‘He will cause pain’* difficult childbirth (1 Chronicles 4:9-10)

Benjamin: ‘Son of my sorrow’* as mother died following delivery (Genesis 35:18)

Simon Peter: Cephas ‘A Stone’* (John 1:42)

The angel directed Mary and Joseph to name the holy child Jesus, meaning ‘salvation.’*

“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21 NKJV).”

To know Jesus (by grace, through faith) is to experience His salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Jesus…  “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12 NKJV).”

{* definitions from NKJV Bible notations}

Ho-Ho-Ho!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwzYQopdHD0

Ho-Ho-Ho!

No, not Santa…

Sing praises to the Savior!

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25 KJV).”

 

 

 

Shalom!

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Shalom!

 

{Image: crosscards.com}

 

Christmas… There is a keen sense of peace and tranquility.

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this (Isaiah 9:2-7 KJV).”