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May Christ be in your Christmas / Intercessory Prayer Group

An angel appeared to Mary and said, “Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name of Jesus.”  Luke 1:30-31

Oh, let us dare to live in the joy and peace that come to those who believe in the birth of Jesus Christ!  Let us be 21st century wise men, and let our gift of love be one of labor—labor in organizing and promoting tolerance and good will.  Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with love in our hearts.

May we enter this Christmas Day with a hope that believes, a faith that creates, and a love that sees the image and likeness of God within each man.  Today let us realize that His light shines on every birth, that every cradle holds a child of God.  Today, let us remember that His voice still speaks to the listening heart.         

May Christ be in your Christmas.  May the joyous peace and the heavenly happiness of this glad season be yours, now and throughout the New Year.   (from Guidepost)

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Let us remember to keep Christ in Christmas, especially at a time when our country is in such a state of unrest.  All things may fade away, but we will still have Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Submitted by:  Intercessory Prayer Group

Just Another Baby / A. MacCormack

Just another baby would not have elicited painstakingly detailed predictions about his birth and life…and even his death…

Just another baby would not have brought the angel Gabriel to announce His conception to his mother…

Just another baby would not have made John the Baptist leap in his mother’s womb…

Just another baby would not have merited a birth announcement from the herald angel…

Just another baby would not have attracted shepherds from the fields…

Just another baby would not have initiated the long journey of wise men from the East…

Just another baby would not have sparked the ire of Herod…

Just another baby would not have been hurried away to Egypt…

Just another baby would not have grown into a 12-year old boy who spoke astounding wisdom in the temple courts…

Just another baby would not have become a man who gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the mute, freedom to the possessed, life to the dead, or forgiveness to the guilty…

Just another baby would not have been born as the Lamb of God who would willingly shed his blood for the forgiveness of our sins…

No, He wasn’t just another baby.  HE WAS, IS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE, JESUS CHRIST…..KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!   

(from In Touch)

Submitted by:  Anne MacCormack

Jesus - The Reason for the Season / G. Hooker

Well, here it is again—the “X-mas season.  I suppose I’ll have to go to church.  I kind of enjoy the music, but don’t get me wrong—once a year is enough.  I remember I went to a candlelight service once.  I didn’t know whether I’d be burned to death or suffocate from the heat—no more of that.  The music is all about Jesus—not the real stuff like “Jingle Bells Rock,” and Jesus seems to get in the way of my fun.  He doesn’t seem to want me to be me.  Aren’t I supposed to be jolly and joyous?  Is Jesus really the reason for the season?  If the Bible I have (which is old but like new) is really God’s inspired Word, then maybe I should see what He has to say about “X-mas.”          

600 years before Jesus was born, Isaiah says, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulders, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)  Some additional explanations of these titles of Jesus can be found in Psalm 73:24, II Corinthians 1:4, Revelation 5:11-14, Hebrews 1:3, Psalm 90:1-2, John 10:30, Isaiah 60:1, and Luke 2:11.  Jesus Christ is all the names of God.  He is God.  In the book of John, Jesus claims equality with God, claims to give eternal life, to have existed before His birth, that His teaching is authoritative, to be judge of all mankind.  Jesus is El Shaddi, the all sufficient one.  If we put our trust in Him, He provides all we need—not want—need.  True salvation is asking Christ into our hearts and lives—it’s not about religion (Acts 4:12, John 3:16).  If we ask Jesus for forgiveness, He doesn’t just “excuse” our sins; He removes them “as far as the East is from the West” (Psalm 103:12 and I John 1:9).

Consider how big our God is.  The universe He created is beyond our comprehension.  Yet a God this big numbers the hairs on our heads and knows when a sparrow falls.  He wrapped all His “bigness” and glory in human form and sent His Son as a baby, born in a humble manger to ultimately die for our sins.  There was no other way for us to receive God’s grace and forgiveness. 

Celebrate the birth—Jesus is the reason for the season “CHRISTMAS.”

Submitted by:  George Hooker

Trusting God with Our Lives / The Furys

…God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man  named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin’s name was Mary.  The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored!  The Lord is with you.”  Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”  Luke 1:26-33

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered, “May it be to me as you have said.”  Luke 1:38

Trusting God with Our Lives

The angel, Gabriel, visited Mary to give her the news that she would be the mother of the Son of God, to be named Jesus.  While this presented Mary and her fiancée, Joseph, with problems as to how to handle this situation in their cultural world, both trusted God for the outcome and God brought about His Greatest Gift to his people and the world.  Jesus would be our example, our teacher, our Savior.

And the recording of Mary’s and Joseph’s actions are also an example to us—their trust in the Lord and readiness to comply with the Lord’s will.  They had a lot on the line:  their personal reputations, credibility, possibly being thrown out of their religious community and even their families.  But their willingness to trust God enabled God to use them in a miraculous way, caring for and nurturing the young Jesus while God prepared him for a truly unique ministry and purpose.

God loves us.  His purposes are always good.  He is certainly trustworthy.  As we increase our trust in Him, what will He do with our lives?  Only God knows, and wouldn’t you like to discover His plan?

May the seeds of trust grow in all of us as we think about God’s gift to us during this Advent Season.

Submitted by:  Judy and Bill Fury

Three Gifts / J. Worthington

Gold, frankincense and myrrh were three gifts the wise men brought to the Christ Child.  The wisdom of these men lay in the stars, for they were astrologers.  Whatever the source of their wisdom, these same three gifts hold special meaning for us in our relationship to Christ today.

Gold for a king was given because it was precious to them and is precious to us even if it is not used in our daily life.  We call it money.  Throughout the Old Testament, we read that people did not use gold but cattle, goats, grain, and wine—the products they raised themselves which were precious to them.  They were admonished to bring the first fruits of their labor into God’s storehouse where it was used by the priests to do God’s work.  Our money in the form of a pledge or tithe which we bring into God’s house to do God’s work is from the work of our hands and represents the gold that the wise men brought to the Baby Jesus.

Frankincense for a priest was also given to the Baby Jesus.  It is used in the making of incense which was used by priests in the temple.  Leviticus tells us in detail the ordination of priests and the law for sacrifices to reestablish a broken relationship with God.  One of these is the peace offering which Leviticus 3:5 says is a “soothing aroma to the Lord.”  In the New Testament, Paul admonishes the Ephesians in 5:2 “to walk in love....an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”  Our love for each other, especially in the body of Christ, is our offering of frankincense.

Myrrh was used in preparing the body for burial.  After Jesus was taken down from the cross, Luke tells us in 23:55, 56 that women came to the tomb where His body was laid “and they returned to prepare spices and perfumes” which they would use to prepare the body of Jesus for burial.  Paul’s letter to the Romans is very clear in verses 6:3-11 that once we who have been baptized in Christ should have “buried our old nature.”  That “our old self has been crucified with Him”—therefore the myrrh which we offer to Christ is our whole body given over TO Him in order to live a new life WITH Him.

Submitted by: Jean Worthington

The Twelve Days of Christmas / S. Matthews

Although the Twelve Days of Christmas just sounds like a catchy song, it has religious symbols.

On the First Day of Christmas, True Love refers to GOD.

Second Day—2 Turtle Doves—THE OLD AND THE NEW TESTAMENT

Third Day—3 French Hens—FAITH, HOPE, CHARITY

Fourth Day—4 Calling Birds—THE GOSPELS, MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, JOHN

Fifth Day—5 Golden Rings—FIRST FIVE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT (which gives the history of man’s fall from grace)

Sixth Day—6 Geese A-Laying—SIX DAYS OF CREATION

Seventh Day—7 Swans A-Swimming—SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Fear of the Lord)   Isaiah 11:2

Eighth Day—8 Maids A-Milking—THE BEATITUDES (Matthew 5:1-10)

Ninth Day—9 Ladies Dancing—NINE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control)

Tenth Day—10 Lords A-Leaping—THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Eleventh Day—11 Pipers Piping—ELEVEN FAITHFUL APOSTLES

Twelfth Day—12 Drummers drumming—TWELVE POINTS OF DOCTRINE IN THE APOSTLES’ CREED.

Now I will not just think of The Twelve Days of Christmas as a silly song, but as an important reminder of its meaning.

Submitted by: Samantha Matthews

The Secret of Christmas / The Trevaskis

We all remember songs at Christmastime.  This year, we learned a new song by Jim Clancy.

The Secret of Christmas

May your days be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be bright

It’s not the glow you feel when snow appears
It’s not the Christmas card you’ve sent for years,
Not the joyful sound when sleigh bells ring,
Or the merry song children sing.
The little gift you send on Christmas day
Will not bring back the friend
You’ve turned away.
So, may I suggest, the Secret of Christmas
Is not the things you do at Christmas time,
But the Christmas things you do all year through.

May your day(s) be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be bright

Submitted by: Barbara and Walter Trevaskis

15 Ways to Invite Christ into Your Christmas Preparation and Celebration / C. Matthews

1. Purchase or make an Advent Calendar to count down the days to Christ’s birth.
2. Make an Advent wreath and enjoy simple scriptures and songs together as a family.  (Many books are available for help on leading simple ceremonies).  
3. Put out a nativity scene at home.  We put baby Jesus in a box and wrap him like a present.  He is the first gift that we open on Christmas morning.
4. Attend church often during this season.  Invite a family or some friends to a Cantata or other special service.
5. Wear your smile often.  Be extra patient and appreciative of the people who work at retail stores for many hours so that you can buy gifts and enjoy the sales.
6. Pray for each person as you write out your Christmas cards and also for each person as you receive their cards (we make this part of our dinner prayer each night).
7. Instead of giving hostess gifts at a Christmas gathering, make a charitable donation in the host’s name.  We like to use Heifer Project because of the novelty of giving a hive of bees or a flock of chicks.  If you know enough in advance, Heifer Project will send some cute gift cards explaining their program.
8. Hang a Christmas stocking for Jesus as a reminder that we need to fill his stocking with love this Advent season.  Periodically write some things that you are thankful for on small slips of paper and tuck them in the stocking.
9. Take a name off an angel tree at church, school or work and pray for the person as you select special gifts for them.
10. Go Christmas caroling for shut-ins or nursing home patients.
11. Donate to the food pantry and pray for those who will be receiving it.
12. Pray for each person as you wrap their gift.
13. Instead of giving gifts to your husband or wife, make an extra donation to church or other charity.
14. Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ birthday.  Act like he is really the guest of honor at his birthday party.  How would you greet him, what would you say to him and what you would give him if he were there in the flesh?
15. Make a gift for Jesus.  (You can even do this with your extended family and friends when they visit you for a Christmas celebration).  Pass out pens and paper for each person to write a short note about why they love Jesus so much or about something they did for someone because of what Christ has done for them.  The notes are put in a box and wrapped and put under the tree with a tag — For:  JESUS.

Be creative!  Traditions are fun!  Jesus doesn’t require us to do any of these things, but they remind us to keep our eyes and our hearts on Jesus.
 
Submitted by: Cherie Matthews

Hats

Scott makes hats.  If you would like him to make one for you, let us know.

Let Us Worship Him / R. A. Potts

I love to watch the Christmas light
Glistening on the tree,
Remembering why God sent His Son
To die for you and me.

Let’s forgo the endless shopping
And focus on His birth;
Jesus came to bring salvation
To a sinful, fallen earth

This Christmas, let us worship Him
And spend our time in prayer,
Offering God our thankfulness
For his protection and His care.

May God’s presence fill your heart with love
And cast out every fear
May you have a blessed Christmas
And a peaceful, safe New Year.

Submitted by: Ruth Alice Potts