The Story And Meaning Of Christmas

It Really Is The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Luke 1:35 "The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God."

Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."

Galatians 4:4-5 "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship."

Matthew 2:10 "When they saw the star, they were overjoyed."

Matthew 2:1-2 "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."

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."

Luke 2:17-20 "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 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."

John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

A Christmas Story

That Gives God The Glory

When I was a child

And Christmas time came

Every year held something new

No, Christmas season was

Ever the same.

I held unto those memories

Of the toys, gifts, and sounds

I always enjoyed it

When Christmas came round

I grew up in a church

So I knew the whole

Jesus Story

Mom would say every year

"Don't forget on this day,

To give God the Glory!"

Her relationship with God

Was mature, they were close

And I remember

When it came to Christmas

She always tried to get us as kids

To put Jesus First

But I was always more

Caught up in the season

Never really applying

The real Christmas

Meaning

As I grew older,

Christmas began to get boring

Santa was fake, and the

Songs were annoying.

I found myself

Falling asleep during

Christmas time stories

And all the while, forgetting

To give God the glory

But then one winter day came

And my mom got sick

She came down with the flu

And she died

It was the day before Christmas

That day, I just cried, and I cried

The next day on Christmas

I reheard the same old story

I got out of my seat,

Mad at God, in such a Fury

I was just 12 years old

I did not understand

Why he would take her from me

And so away, from that church

I just ran and I ran

I finally got so tired

I collapsed straight to my knees

and I cried out to Jesus

"Why would you take her from me?"

Then suddenly

In the wind I heard

A small whisper

and I heard it say to me

"Do Not be Afraid,

For I am now with her."

And I am sure that

I heard her voice

Full of joy say

"Do not forget,

to give God the glory.

Remember the gift

of Christ Jesus from the

Christmas time story."

A few moments after

as their voices faded away

Peace overwhelmed me,

So, I ran back to the church

and on the very same day

I gave Jesus my heart

and let him have his way

A few years down the road

I married my wife,

We now have three children

And I never think, twice

To tell them each year

Every Christmas Morning

The Story Of Jesus

My mother, always told me

For If God had never

Loved us so much

To send us his Son

I would never be able

To again see my mom

Christmas time is just around the corner, So of course, what better things to do, than tell your children, a real Christmas story? It can be a very hectic time of the year for us, as Christmas gets closer, we have so much to do, not enough time, Christmas lights we have to put up, and all those gifts we have to buy. For some of us, It is very easy for us to get caught up in the season, and forget all about Jesus, or the true Christmas meaning.

I was actually reading a Facebook post the other night, before bed, (I am in this group of christian wives and moms). Well you would be surprised at the many ways the women can argue and fuss about how a "Christian" should act or go about Christmas when it comes to children, church and family. It is crazy. I really wanted to post something myself, but something in my spirit stopped me. So I fell asleep that night, post on my mind, and it got me thinking...

Christmas time, truly is, a wonderful time of the year. No matter how you go about celebrating it, whether you decide to indulge your children in the idea of a imaginary Santa Claus, or you forget Santa all together, and put an elf or Shepard boy on the shelf instead...Either way you are still both celebrating something special, and that is the spirit of Christmas. When love for others is truly "In The Air."

God really established this time of the season, to show us how much he truly does love us, by sending us his son, Jesus to us. We know he did this so we could be saved and one day live eternally with him. The story every year of Jesus's birth is always the same, every year, but each and every year it is told over and over again, to let us all know how much we are loved and how much we should in return, Love one another.

We should as believers be cautious not to let how others may go about celebrating Christmas in their own home, bother us. Because that to me seems irrelevant, what is the harm in hanging beautiful lights? Or gathering around a tree and decorating it while spending time with your family? Fake Santa or Not, the kids have fun giving gifts and receiving them, smiling and laughing with their friend as they play in the snow. If you take time to notice, those children are joyful and full of happiness, they do not have a care in the world, and least of all are they even thinking about whether it's OK or not for one to celebrate this way or that. No, they are just happy and full of love.

When I think about God and Jesus and I hear the story of the Star of Bethlehem, the three wise men who faithfully follow it, and the brave, loving mother Mary who gives birth to a beautiful little child, who will one day save the world, out of sacrificial love for every single one of us. Before we are even alive yet, I may add.

It truly makes me smile inside. What an amazing amount of love God has for us.

As followers and believers, I urge you to remind yourself during this holiday season of that kind of love God has shown us, and take that love, and show it to another. Let go of the judgements, and let the small stuff go, the greatest way to be an example of Jesus is to be a light unto others, those who do not believe, and to those that do. We are all, great and small, young and old, heirs to Heaven, children of God, and brothers and sisters through Christ.

Why and How can this be? Because of this scripture below. I pray and hope you all have a merry Christmas and thank you for reading today.

1 Timothy 1:15-17 "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."

PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Holy Father God, who art in heaven,

I come to you today, thankful for the gift of Jesus, your son and the gift of him. It is a wonderful thing to be able to celebrate his birth and the joy that Christmas brings. You are a good, loving Father and I am so blessed to have your word to guide me. May we all show your love to others as we celebrate the holidays with our friends and family, and ll others we may encounter.

In Jesus Christs Name, Amen"