Last year we added a new member to our family. Lucy will be two years old on December 24. Puppies are special gifts from our creator. They are inquisitive. They are busy exploring their world and best of all, they are filled with unconditional love for everyone. God has unconditional love for all of His creation. It is that unconditional love that caused God to provide a way for us to enjoy an eternal relationship with Him by giving His Son as the only acceptable sacrifice for the sins of all of mankind. Scripture tells us that it is impossible for man to imagine or comprehend all that God has in store for those who believe in Christ and have called on the Savior for forgiveness. A journey that ended on a cross, began in a manger. Glory to God in the highest. Have a blessed week.

One Christmas tradition that we don’t see often these days is caroling.  A group of friends, church choir members, or other organization would get together and go from house to house serenading the occupants with Christmas hymns. One of the favorite songs of the season was “O Come All Ye Faithful”. The call is to celebrate the birth of a Savior and worship the God of all creation. It is truly the most wonderful time of the year. Have a blessed day.

As children we made a Christmas list. Mine was never complete until I had worn out the pages of the Sears and Montgomery Wards Christmas catalogs. Once our list was complete the anxious anticipation of the arrival of St. Nick began. On Christmas morning, after a sleepless Christmas Eve, I would venture into the living room to see what had be left under the tree for me. As we grow older our list gets shorter, but often more expensive. At some point our list fades and giving to our children and grand children become most important. In this day and age, many would truly like to see a change in the hearts of the people.  We would like to see people give each other love, kindness, respect, and peace. There is only one true source for all of those gifts and that source is a Savior. Before we can truly give these gifts we must receive the gift of forgiveness and love from the One who loved us first and loves us most. Those who have experienced these gifts will spend an eternity with the creator and one day they will be able to sing Hallelujah!

This time of year churches of all denominations put aside their differences, throw open their doors and invite the entire world to celebrate the birth of Christ. Honestly, God intended for it to be that way all of the time. Every time that Christ calls people to worship Him, the invitation is to “Whosoever”! God places no barriers on those who may call Christ, “Savior”. Religious background doesn’t matter. Financial, social, racial, gender status doesn’t matter. God made the requirement for entrance into a relationship with Him and eternal life quite simple. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Believing in Christ is more than head knowledge about who He is. It is trusting the Savior enough to be willing to repent of sinful behavior and seek forgiveness, believing that He will indeed forgive us and restore us. The angels were overcome with joy when Christ was born and God allowed them to spread the good news to wealthy “wise men” and well as poor shepherds, proving that He was a Savior to all. Have a blessed day.

As I read the various parts of the Christmas Story a number of questions come to mind. The answers to some are found elsewhere in Scripture and some of the answers don’t seem to be found in God’s Word. We know what Joseph did with regards to not severing the relationship with Mary but what thoughts and questions were going through his mind during that time when Mary was expecting her first child. After all, it wasn’t his child.  There are just some things that God has chosen not to reveal to us at this time. There will come a day when all of God’s children will take up their eternal residence with Him in heaven and He will have all of eternity to teach us all that we don’t currently know. Thank you Lord for revealing your Son to this heart. Have a blessed day.

Christ was born in a stable in Bethlehem. While the world slept, angels rejoiced that God’s promised Savior had arrived and the journey from the manger to the cross had begun. The angel of the Lord appeared to Mary and gave her the news that she would be the mother of the Savior. Mary was probably between 13-16 years old when God chose her. The life expectancy of people was only about 40-45 years of age. One can only wonder all of the things that went through her mind during the pregnancy. Even after the birth of Christ one can only ponder all that Mary knew about her son. Did she really understand what God had done through her? Mary, did you know? Have a blessed day.

I post this image nearly every year. It is a ceramic ornament that my wife made years ago…many years ago. He is one of my favorite ornaments, not because he is Santa Claus, but because of who made him and the work required to make this special decoration. There are those who believe that St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus, is the spirit of Christmas because he represents the spirit of giving that surrounds the season. It truth Christ is the spirit of Christmas because God is love and God gave us His Son so that we might possess the greatest gift of all, eternal life through Jesus Christ. Have a blessed day.

Considering all of the things that surround our Christmas celebrations today, it is impossible to imagine all that happened on the night that Christ was born. What was celebrated by the heavenly hosts on that night can be celebrated in our hearts and the gift that was given of all of mankind can still be shared with those who don’t know Him. Let the celebration begin in your heart. Have a blessed week

The grand kids have always been a source of joy to my wife and me. Each birth brought a new addition to the family and the promise of wonderful adventures ahead. Those promises have been fulfilled a multitude of times. On a night, in a stable in Bethlehem a new addition to the family was born and the promise of salvation for all was fulfilled. Christ was born and the angels rejoiced. Not all of the world was aware of the significance of his birth. Some probably just thought…there’s a new kid in town. Little did they know that He would be the sweetest gift ever given to mankind. Have a blessed day.

 

“…and you shall know that I, the Lord am your Savior and your Redeemer…” (Isaiah 60:16) To those who sincerely look for the answers, God makes it very clear that He is the Creator of all creation and that there is no salvation of the soul beyond the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ. At Christmas we celebrate and honor the birth of Christ. On Easter we celebrate the resurrection of Christ. These two events are inseparable in the life of the believer. John 3:16 tells us why God sent Christ to this world. God was motivated by love. He loved us so much that He would not allow sin to keep us from having a personal relationship and daily fellowship with Him. Christ tells us, in John 3:17 that His purpose in coming was not to condemn this world, but to save it. He is that hope that lives in us. The birth of Christ may seem to some like a strange way to to save the world, but it was a labor of love. Have a blessed day.