Thursday, December 25, 2008

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Today, we celebrate Christmas as the birthday of Jesus.

Christmas is a holiday that is celebrated in many ways by many different people with many different beliefs. Christians celebrate Christmas because we are filled with JOY at the gift we received 2,000 years ago when God sent His only Son to us. So many people have lost sight of the true meaning of Christmas and they believe that Christmas is all about Santa or all about TOYS!

Christmas means so much more than the gifts beneath your tree. God loved us so much, that even though we are all sinners, He designed a way to bridge the gap between us and Him. He sent us a Saviour in a little baby in a manger. It is not a fairy tale. The birth of Jesus is a true event in history and because of the Father's love for us, we now have hope of life everlasting.

The Birth of Jesus
Luke 2:1-20

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

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 engel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ 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 hosts appeared with the angel, praising God and saying. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men 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."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds had said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.


Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

1 comment:

Natalie said...

Jeff started a new tradition and read this scripture to us on christmas. I can't wait until Allison is old enough & looks forward to it.