Scripture tells us that shepherds in the hills nearby Bethlehem were among the first to receive the good news that a Savior had been born. Luke 2:13 tells us, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying; Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.  One can only imagine the conversation between the shepherds and Mary & Joseph.

Joseph ; “How did you know about the birth of our son?”

Shepherds: “Angels we have heard on high.”

Have a blessed day.

Have you ever stared into the darkness and proclaimed, “Oh what a glorious night”? An evening that began like most any other night became the most glorious night of all! A Savior was born. Prophesy was fulfilled. Sin was defeated and access to God was available to all who sought Him. Have a blessed day.

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As the gifts begin to appear under the tree, excitement begins to build. Which gifts were chosen with care especially for me to bring joy to my heart. The greatest gift of all is the gift of eternal life, chosen by God and presented through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of His Son. God has chosen the hearts of men to be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit until Christ returns to gather His bride, the church, and spend eternity with us. When we fall in love with the Savior we give our hearts to Him and trust Christ with every aspect of our lives. In turn, He gives us a peace that passes all understanding and promises to be with us every minute of every day. We are not promised a life free of trials, burdens, heartaches or pain, but we are guaranteed the final victory over death and the grave. We are promised eternity in the presence of God spent in a place where there will indeed be no more sorrow, no more tears and no more suffering. It all began in a manger in Bethlehem with a Holy Child that Chose the Hearts of Men.

The Grandson 2003

Pictured in the image above is our daughter, my father, our son-in-law and our four grandchildren. The grandson is less than three months old here. He is now 16 and over 6 feet tall.

One of the critical decisions surrounding a newborn is choosing a name. Many families follow the tradition of naming the child after other family members. I am named after my father and grandparents. My first name is the same as my dad and paternal grandfather while my middle name is the last name of my maternal grandparents. Mary and Joseph did not choose the name of Jesus. Christ was the Son of God and God chose His name. And His Name Shall Be…

Have you ever read a story, seen a news article, or witnessed an event and wonder what  you would do in the same situation? Would you react differently that the person or people in the story? What about Christmas. If you were in the area surrounding Bethlehem on the first Christmas eve and the news that a Savior had been born, how would you react? Would you rush to the site and worship the newborn King or would you simply observe the reaction of others, or do nothing? Every day we have the opportunity to invite the King of kings into our life and give Him control of our future. He promises to give us the best future possible, victory over death and eternity spent in a place prepared just for us praising and worshiping Him.

Aww…Mondays

Home Alone

This is what happens when Lucy and I are left without adult supervision. My wife had to be gone for the day, so I broke out the camera and tripod, set everything up and took a few Christmas photos of Lucy and me. You can see that Lucy is thrilled about the whole situation.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Angels played an important role in Scripture and they continue to be a part of the life of believers today. An angel told Zacharias and Elizabeth that they would be the parents of John the Baptist. An angel announced to Mary the coming birth of Christ and told Joseph that Mary’s child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Angels announced to shepherds that a Savior had been born and and offered their praise. Angels we have heard on high. May the joy of Christmas visit your home and heart this season.

Human beings find great joy in new born life. Whether it’s a puppy, a calf, or a new member of the family, there is just something special about a newborn. In order for us to spend eternity in a special place, prepared just for us, Christ said that we must be reborn. That gift of eternal life was made possible by His birth. Some days it is overwhelming to know that the Savior of this world came to this world as a newborn babe. The Creator of the universe humbled Himself and came into this world to pay the price for our sinful behavior in order that we might enjoy eternal fellowship with the God of all creation. Have a blessed Christmas season.

The second chapter of Luke tells us that Christ was born in a stable because there were no rooms available in town. The book of Revelation says that Christ stands at the door of our hearts and knocks. Salvation will come if we invite Him in. The question is, have we made room for the Savior.

 

I started doing this Christmas Marathon ten years ago because I wanted to do something to focus on the true meaning of the season. Our society has become laser focused on the season, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday, college and pro football and time spent with family. Time spent with family is priceless but it is not the reason we celebrate Christmas. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the souls of mankind. Some days we find ourselves asking, “Where are you Christmas?”

For a follower of Christ, who has experienced the forgiveness of sin and salvation through faith in Christ their spiritual eyes have been opened and they have seen God’s salvation in the person of Jesus Christ. Glory to God in the Highest.

I love stained glass. Where ever we travel, if there is stained glass, I try to get access to photograph it. There is just something special about the colors when the sunlight is shining through the glass and telling the story of the birth of Christ to everyone within the  building.

“So it was, that while they were athere, the days were completed ffor her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:6-7