Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmastime the Jesus Way

Christmas Eve

From my journal...

December 24, 2008

Wednesday

Christmas Eve

It is 9:00 a.m. and my grandparents will soon be arriving. There is a feeling of love and celebration in the air. I pray that it lasts throughout the week. There will be much cooking, feasting, laughing and loving, as more family will be arriving on the morrow. I will cherish this time with family, for no one knows what another day will bring forth. All time spent with those I love is precious. May Christ bless these days with His sweet presence, and may His name be glorified.

Come and Worship

In just two short days it will be Christmas. The multitudes are thronging the stores, doing their last minute shopping, spending massive amounts of money. Families are loading up their vehicles and heading out to see loved ones and friends all across the country. The smell of Christmas resides in every kitchen. Some parts of the world will be blessed with a blanket of snow to enjoy. Trees are decorated, music of the season is ringing out from stores, homes, and churches. Families are gathering. Gifts are being exchanged. Children's faces are aglow with wonder and excitement. It truly is a wonderful time of the year.

For me, this season is a celebration of much more than family, friends, gifts, feasting, decorations, and snow. It's a celebration of a true event in history, an event which should stagger the imagination of all of mankind; an event that changed the world. It's the celebration of "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory..." (John 1:14). The Son of God came to earth in human flesh, as a baby, born of a virgin Jewish girl. He was given the name Jesus for a very specific reason. His name means Savior. This is why He came--to save His people from their sins and from themselves. Though we do not know the exact date of Christ's birth, December 25 is the day we have set aside to marvel at the wonder of the Incarnation. But I pray that my heart would rejoice every day at this great mystery, and not just at Christmastime. For Jesus Christ is my hope and peace, and without Him my life means nothing. So, I will celebrate. I will marvel. I will gather with family. And I will worship the Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Joy to the World

Last night, we hosted a Christmas caroling party at our home. Several families from our church came, and we went to 5 or 6 houses in our neighborhood and sang Christmas carols from some little music books that my mom had ordered. It was so thrilling to me to be standing there, singing the praises of Christ in four-part harmony with about 35 others! There was one lady who, after we finished singing, burst into tears. She told us that she had been out of work for several months and was struggling to make ends meet. She was so appreciative of us coming out and singing to her. I hope she listened closely to the words we sang, words of life and hope in Jesus Christ. We prayed with her on her front porch and invited her to go to church with us. I pray that she will.

After caroling, we came back to our house and ate some finger foods and Christmas treats, and talked and laughed with one another. I always have a wonderful time when I get together with these precious friends. I'm so thankful for them, and for the precious gift of music, with which I am free to sing praises to Christ. There truly is joy in the world....all because the Lord Jesus Christ has come.

Of Pain and Providence

It was a beautiful and striking reply, given by one in affliction, who, when asked how it was that he bore it so well, replied, "It lightens the stroke, I find, to draw near to Him who handles the rod." --Tyron Edwards

Resignation and faith behold God in the smallest hair that falls; and the happiest life is that of him who has bound together all the affairs of life, great and small, and entrusted them to God. --J.W. Alexander

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Trimming the family tree...


Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

My Best Life...Then

Revelation 21:3-5

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them, and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

(Emphasis added)

The Greatest of These Is Love

From my journal....


December 5, 2008
Friday

Read 1 Corinthians 13 this morning and am feeling somewhat overwhelmed. I can never love this way apart from the Spirit of God. Spent time praying for the Spirit of Christ to help me love others the way He loves me. Praise Jesus Christ, whose perfect love for me drives me to love my family, church, and the world. I pray that my life would not become "a sounding brass or clanging cymbal", but that the love of Jesus would flow from my heart.

Burning Holiness

Christians today appear to know Christ only after the flesh. They try to achieve communion with Him by divesting Him of His burning holiness and unapproachable majesty, the very attributes He veiled while on earth but assumed in fullness of glory upon His ascension to the Father's right hand. The Christ of popular Christianity has a weak smile and a halo. He has become Someone-Up-There who likes people, at least some people, and these are grateful but not too impressed. If they need Him, He also needs them......the blessed news is that the God who needs no one has in sovereign condescension stooped to work by and in and through His obedient children.

--The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer

I fear being one of those Christians of whom Tozer wrote. I don't want to think of Christ as having a weak smile and a halo. I never want to forget that Jesus Christ is none other than God the Son, who is holy, holy, holy.

Lord Jesus, may I continually be awed at Your majesty and holiness. And may this drive me to worship You, for You are infinitely worthy. Amen.