Jesus - the Center of Christmas!

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

ADVENT SONG

Verse 1:
Light the Advent Candle one
Now the waiting has begun
We have started on our way
Time to think of Christmas Day

Chorus:
Candle, candle, burning bright
Shining in the cold winter night
Candle, candle, burning bright
Fill our hearts with Christmas Light

Verse 2:
Light the Advent Candle two
Think of humble shepherds who
Filled with wonder at the sight
Of the child on Christmas night

Verse 3:
Light the Advent Candle three
Think of heavenly harmony
Angels singing "Peace on Earth"
At the Blessed Saviour's birth

Verse 4:
Light the Advent Candle four
Think of joy forever more
Christchild in a stable born
Gift of love that Chrismas morn
Hello my beloved!

Merry Christmas! I hope you are having a Christ centered Christmas. To think, Jesus came that we may be included in the family of God - how Awesome is that! I don't want to clutter this post with words, but simply include this song - "From my heart to the heaven, Jesus be the center, it's all about you, yes it's all about you."

Christmas Joy!

Luke 1:39-56

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

 

Greetings, my Beloved!

Christmas is right around the corner, and I am beaming with excitement. You must think I was a child, as excited as I am about Christmas, but I have every right to be, this is the celebration of the birth of my savior! This advent week is all about the Joy of Christmas, and there is so much joy in this season.

ADVENT SONG

Verse 1:
Light the Advent Candle one
Now the waiting has begun
We have started on our way
Time to think of Christmas Day

Chorus:
Candle, candle, burning bright
Shining in the cold winter night
Candle, candle, burning bright
Fill our hearts with Christmas Light

Verse 2: Light the Advent Candle two
Think of humble shepherds who
Filled with wonder at the sight
Of the child on Christmas night

Verse 3:
Light the Advent Candle three
Think of heavenly harmony
Angels singing "Peace on Earth"

At the Blessed Saviour's birth

 

This advent week is all about the Joy of Christmas, and there is so much joy in this season. When I think about joy this Christmas season, I can't help but think about Mary's visit with Elizabeth. Can you imagine, being visited by the woman that God found favorable enough to carry and raise His only son. Think about that for a second. Even Elizabeth found the significance of it all. It's awesome to see that already, Elizabeth knew that Mary was carrying the Son of God in her womb - "But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy." And because she and the baby she was carrying recognized it, the baby leapt for joy within her womb, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. How awesome is that! The next sentence always encourages me, when my faith is lacking - it is the trust part of your relationship with God, knowing, believing that His promises are true, and that they will come through. We have been fighting the infertility battle for almost 6 years now. It has been a tough, uphill battle, but we believe that God's promises are true. We believe that God has promised us a child, and we pray every night for this promise to be fulfilled. Know that Mary never doubted God, is such an encouragement to me, and brings such joy to my heart. And if that isn't something to rejoice about, check out Mary's song. This woman knows God. She recognizes the joy in the pregnancy, but realizes it is nothing she did, it was about God. God chose her to carry His son, because he found favor in her. How awesome is that! God can choose each of us to perform His mighty works! We just have to have faith, and believe that His promises never fail. Doesn’t that bring you joy, unspeakable joy!

Silence

I felt sick to my stomach most of the day yesterday. Perhaps it was something I ate, or perhaps it was the massacre of innocent children. My eyes were filled with tears, as I'm sure every mother's eyes were. It was so hard to do anything, as my heart ached for the families who lost loved ones, on an unforgettable day. I am not one to be a mere spectator, and being over a thousand miles away, what could I do but pray? I prayed, and cried, and prayed some more, until this poem inspired from Inner whispers of my heart. In honor of those whose lives were lost on December 14, 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT, please take a moment of Silence, and perhaps these words may bring an ounce of comfort.

Silence

Silence filled the world today,
Innocent lives lost, as we pray,
Laughter ceased, and time stood still.
Was this blood filled massacre real?

Darkness covered the earth today,

Smiles faded, as terror displayed.
Flames burning of future world changers,
Suddenly quenched by a violent stranger.

Blood filled the school’s halls today,

Seeping past the state’s highway.
A gunman’s violent rampage,
Left small children in the grave.

Silence comes in simple prayers,

To the Lord, the peace maker.
Little ones in a better place,
No more pain or suffering they’ll face.

Comfort comes in the form of a song,

Drying tears from all night long.
Simple words from a Child’s poem,
Welcome the flames to their new home.

“Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee stay,
Close by me forever, and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children, in thy tender care,
And take us to Heaven to live with thee there.”

Preparing for CHRISTmas

Matthew 2:1-12

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
 

Greetings, my Beloved,

I trust you are having a wonderful week. Aren't you enjoying this nice crisp, cool weather? I think winter, may just be approaching. I have been enthralled in my personal devotion time with the Lord - researching the ins and outs of the Old Testament. I find the Bible quite fascinating, don't you? And to think, that it was God inspired - the Word of God, continually living. It is amazing to think, at the beginning of time, God's plan was already at work. Any questions I have today - in our time, I can find it in the Bible. Anyways, we are on week 2 of our Advent Candle, the candle of preparation.

Verse 1:
Light the Advent Candle one
Now the waiting has begun
We have started on our way
Time to think of Christmas Day

Chorus:
Candle, candle, burning bright
Shining in the cold winter night
Candle, candle, burning bright
Fill our hearts with Christmas Light

Verse 2:
Light the Advent Candle two
Think of humble shepherds who
Filled with wonder at the sight
Of the child on Christmas night

 With the candle of preparation, it made me think of the Magi, and their gifts to Jesus. What do you think they signify? I've heard many a sermon on this very topic, and very different views on it. I'm not sure we really know exactly the significance of it, but the only source, I truly trust, is the word of God. Let's look at each of the gifts:

Gold

Now one of the common threads in all of the different perspectives of the significance of the gifts is the reason behind the gift of gold. Gold is one of the substances that has retained its value throughout the centuries. So, why gold? Good question. I believe the magi gave gold to show they truly believed Jesus was King. What better gift to give a King, than gold? And after all, Jesus is the King of all kings! (Revelation 1:5)

Frankincense

What I find fascinating are the gifts of Frankincense and Myrrh, mainly because these aren't objects of my everyday use. Apparently, they were pretty significant in the Bible. Frankincense was used in the holy incense in Exodus - the incense that could not be used for anything else, but to burn for God. (Exodus 30:34-38). In Revelations, our prayers are described as incense (Revelations 5:8; Revelations 8:3-5). Could maybe, the frankincense be a gift signifying that Jesus is God?

Myrrh

Did you know that Myrrh was used in the anointing oil for Priests? (Exodus 30:23). Also, it was used in Esther, as she was prepared to meet the king. She had six months of treatments with myrrh - talk about preparation! (Esther 2:12). According to the Gospel of Mark, they offered Jesus myrrh to drink during his crucifixion, but he refused (Mark 15:23). Then in John, upon Jesus' death, they used myrrh with his burial cloths. (John 19:39). Don't you find it fascinating that myrrh was present for his birth and his death? So why did the magi choose the gift of myrrh? It could be, to signify the priesthood of Jesus, as the priests were anointed with oil containing myrrh. Or maybe, just maybe, could it signify the death of Christ.

In Doug Stringer's book, Born to Die, he brought up a very good point regarding the gifts of the magi: "Even at His birth, Jesus was recognized and honored as royalty! And from His very birth, Jesus was presented with items to prepare Him for His death." As we celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Savior, in all of the festivities, the joys that new life brings us every day, let us not forget the sobering reason for the birth of Christ - He was born to die. His death is not one to take lightly, for it is with His death that we might live. Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice that we can be forgiven of our sins, and have the hope of everlasting life. Yet how often do we go throughout our day, not even giving Christ a portion of it, when He deserves all of it. I know I'm guilty. Jesus was being prepared for His death at His birth; likewise, at our new birth through Jesus, we are to die that we may be free from the sin in our lives. Romans 6:6-7 tells us, For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. So, what is our preparation? That we may continue to be made pure, holy, and blameless until the day of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23, May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is our preparation; we are to continually prepare ourselves to the coming of the Lord. What better way to remember this than the season in which we honor the birth of our savior. So, while we rejoice, let us be watchful and ready for the return of our Savior! Let us prepare for Christ during this CHRISTmas season!

 

The Hope of Christmas

Luke 2:8-15 

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Hello my Beloved,

I hope you are having a blessed week. I am busy trying to prepare for Christmas. I came down with a sinus infection, which interfered with my holiday preparations, perhaps it was just the Lord telling me to slow down and rest, nonetheless, I am feeling much better, and heading full force with my Christmas preparations. I have always loved Christmas time, the lights, the decorations, the music. It all is so delightful. When I was a child, we always had an advent candle wreath to count down to Christmas Day. I grew up in the Methodist Church, and this was a big thing in our church as well. We would sing this song:

Light the Advent Candle one
Now the waiting has begun
We have started on our way
Time to think of Christmas Day

Candle, candle, burning bright
Shining in the cold winter night
Candle, candle, burning bright
Fill our hearts with Christmas Light

Since I no longer have an advent candle wreath, the tradition has faded, but it doesn't mean that it needs to stop. I thought I would include it in my weekly devotions. What a great way to focus our attention on the true meaning of Christmas, Christ. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the lights, the decorations, the music, and the parties, but there is so much more to Christmas. The first candle represents Hope. If you think about it, Christ was sent into the world for salvation, our Hope. If you think about the time when he came, the Israelites were in the need for a savior. They were under the Roman empire, Cesar was ruling, and Herod was the local ruler over the Israelites. It was an oppressive time, and they anxiously awaited the promised savior. Who would have thought that this savior would come in the form of a babe. I love what the angels told the shepherds, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  The shepherds were anxious to meet the messiah. They understood the times, and the need for a savior. Our world is not much different. There are so many that are lost and hurting, even Christians are in need and hurting, we are all in need of a savior, the Hope of Jesus' return. Jesus will return, we need to hold on to the Hope of His return. For once He returns, we will no longer have any suffering or pain. We, as believers, can hold on to His promise:

Revelation 21: 3-4

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 

This promise is only for God's children. Let us give this hope to a lost and dying world, a world full of pain, suffering, and hurt. The best part about this promise, is that God will dwell right there with us. How awesome is that! I love being in the Lord's presence, when it is so intense, you can feel it. Just think to be in that kind of presence, even stronger, daily. Seek to be in the Lord's presence, for in His presence, you don't feel the pain, only sweet peace.

Until next time, rest in His sweet, peaceful presence!

Christina