Christmas is here!

DAY 25: CELEBRATE!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!



Luke 2: 1 - 20 The Birth of Jesus Christ
2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom he is pleased!”

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.


MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU AND YOURS THIS CHRISTMAS AND MAY YOU ENTER INTO 2010 WITH HIM CLOSE TO YOUR HEART!

Day 24 of Advent - Jesus is the Everlasting Father

DAY 24: JESUS IS THE EVERLASTING FATHER

A good way to symbolize this on our Christmas tree would be to hang a picture of our earthly father on the tree. The thing about our earthly fathers is that no matter how hard they try, or no matter how much they love us...there is simply no comparison to how much WE OURSELVES ARE CHERISHED AND ADORED by our Heavenly Father!

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,

As I was getting ready to blog this morning I was thinking about how very good this Advent Season was for me. I know that I wasn't alone, I'm never alone when I am exploring The Word, but knowing that someone else that I know, if they were lonely at this Christmas season...could, if they wanted to, join me each day to celebrate, was a good feeling.

Traditions serve many purposes. They remind us of the reason for things, they provide a history, they provide continuity through our lives and they are far more concrete in our minds as we grow from childhood on into adulthood and beyond than any gift that we might get.

Tonight we will again read "The Night Before Christmas" and tomorrow, 'papa John will read the Christmas Story....which will be as exciting and moving as if it were the first time I heard it. In fact there are things that I have learned this month, doing Advent that will make it even better.

Thank you for joining me! Enjoy this Christmas Eve and remember to savour your traditions.

Day 23 of Advent - Jesus is the Lamb of God

DAY 23: JESUS IS THE LAMB OF GOD

Well, there are only two more days until Christmas. How exciting! Today the name of Jesus that I am exploring is that Jesus is the Lamb of God. I love how John the Baptist introduced us to our Savior at the start of his ministry!

John 1:29 Behold, the Lamb of God
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

and the Disciple John in his end of life Revelation:

Revelation 5:12
saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

Jesus is the everlasting payment of sin. From the time of the Exodus from Eqypt the Jewish People killed a passover lamb to remind themselves of how the angel of death had passed over them. Jesus came to be the perfect and final payment of our sins and to give us everlasting relationship with God....thru himself as our sacrifice.

So make ornaments with your kids out of cotton balls and add them to your tree. Reminding us that Jesus came and paid for our sin. He is the Lamb of God!

Day 22 of Advent - Jesus is the Judge

DAY 22: JESUS IS THE JUDGE

On this Day 22 of Advent we explore that Jesus is the Judge. I don't know about you, but the Christmas tree doesn't have a lot of evidence of this one on it! I don't have any gavel's on my tree, or pictures of court rooms, law offices or judges. Maybe this is because we aren't crazy about being judged.

When I read about Jesus life on this earth I notice that he was very gentle and kind, but firm with sinners. The people that Jesus really had a problem with were the self righteous, and proud.

2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Jesus is the Judge, but it is also interesting that we are told...

John 3:16 and 17
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

So although Jesus is the Judge, he has already provided a way for us to go free....we simply have to accept it, with all of our hearts.

Day of Advent 20 - Jesus is the Word

DAY 20: JESUS IS THE WORD

My Great neice Sophia drew this beautiful picture. In it she has included a lot of the names of Jesus that we have already talked about this Advent season. Lilly of the Valley, Bright and Morning Star, and if you look very closely in the very center you can see the picture of the Bible open to be read and explored. I love this picture! The Bible is called "The Word" and John 1:1 explains that "the Word became flesh in Jesus Christ.
John 1:1
The Word Became Flesh. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

When we went to church today the Service was not on Christmas....but on Godly communications and the pastor talked about how our words can direct us AND others in life. How our word have the ability to build up or tear down, to edify or demolish. He listed over 12 verses, none of which were the 2 that I had previously chosen for this Advent note. It kind of took me by surprise and gave a little more importance to this day of Advent.

Happy Advent Day 20!



2 Corinthians 3:2-3
You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Jesus is the Word and has written his words on our hearts...How is Jesus the Word of God? and Why does Paul call us living letters?

ADVENT DAY 19 - JESUS THE MESSIAH

DAY 19: JESUS IS THE SUFFERING MESSIAH

Jesus was called the Messiah. The Messiah was foretold to come to save the Jewish people from their persecution and trials and to bring about a time of unending peace. Messiah means "anointed one".

Matthew 20:28
even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Just the fact that Matthew talks about his purpose as being our Savior and giving his life as a ransom.... helps explain the red, white and green that are so much a part of Christmas decorations. Red - for the blood he shed; White - because he has cleansed us 'white as snow' and green (evergreen trees and branches) which show ongoing life....everlasting life! What do you think?

(Again, Jesus spoke the truth to one of "least of them"....a Samaratian women)

John 4:21-26
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

HOW AWESOME!

ADVENT DAY 18 - Jesus the Horn of Salvation

DAY 18: JESUS IS THE HORN OF SALVATION

Luke 1:68-69
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

Thanks to Sophia for the wonderful picture...and the verse says it all!