I hope everyone here is already enjoying a good holiday season.
If not, then I pray that things in your heart and life will turn around
for
you, so that you can see the glory of God in the face of Jesus. Once that
happens, everything else will begin to fall into place.
In our "modern" and "sophisticated" times, we hear all sorts of things
from
TV and magazines. Often from people who will accept any kind of story or
explanation at all, so long as it isn't the truth about God or Jesus
Christ.
But there's a ring to the truth that keeps grabbing human hearts -- and
changing lives. That truth remains with us after many centuries of bitter
attacks. And for anyone who wants to know the Lord, His power is just as
great today, to accept, to forgive, and to save you and transform your
life
into something truly good.
God's miracles in our world did not begin with the virgin birth of Jesus
Christ, and they did not end with His resurrection from the dead, some 33
(or so) years later. The might and power of God is right here today.
People all over the world are discovering it every single day, as they
place
their hope and faith in Jesus Christ -- the very Christ we celebrate every
Christmas season.
Below, I've posted the true Christmas story, as it is given to us in the
Holy Bible. I hope it will help you to get a sense of how God can be at
work, even when everything seems to be going wrong. Times were tough for
Mary and Joseph, just as they are for many of us today. But God still
used
them to make way for the entrance of Jesus Christ into this world. The
crowds around them knew nothing of what was going on -- just as the world
fails to get the message today. But God's grace still worked great
things.
Here's the true story of the night when Jesus was born:
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world
should be registered. This was the first registration and it was taken
while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
All the people went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went
from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called
Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.
He
went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was promise-bound in marriage,
and who was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And
she
gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in rags, and laid him in a
manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
In that same region there were shepherds who remained in the fields,
keeping
watch over their flock by night. Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood
before
them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were
terrified.
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see -- I am bringing
you
good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the
city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. And this will be a
sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in rags and lying in a
manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly
beings, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and
on
earth peace among those whom he favors!"
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to
one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken
place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and
found Mary and Joseph -- and there was the child lying in the manger.
When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this
child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
As for the shepherds, they returned to their fields, glorifying and
praising
God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as it had been told
them.
-----------------------------------
Taken from the Gospel According to Luke 2:1-20.
I encourage everyone to read this at home in your own Bible, and to also
read more of the Christmas story in Matthew's Gospel, from 1:18-2:23. You
may then wish to start your New Year reading about the works and teachings
of Jesus in all four of the Gospels (the first 4 books of the New
Testament
****tion of the Holy Bible.
Be sure to share the story in the Bible with the little ones in your
household.
God bless you, and may this Christmas prove to be the best one you've ever
had.
Jim
www.goodwordusa.org
www.jimsdesk.com
www.gospelgifs.com
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