Celebrating with you in deep joy and thanksgiving,
the unchanging smile of an eternal Friend in Christ Jesus!
“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” John 1:3-5
He is the light that pushes back darkness in the world, in others and in me.
Indeed, what greater joy to be set free from ourselves and to have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ!
On our mantle above the fireplace sits a manger scene that we’ve collected piece by piece for over 20 years.
Of course there’s Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the three wise men traveling from afar.
However, we liked the fact that each wise man reflected a different heart language and traveled from other nations.
In addition, each king sits upon a different animal: a camel, elephant or a horse.
Another initiative we’ve chosen to add into the manager collection is soldiers,
specially a soldier reading the evil order and direction from King Herod.
“…he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under …”
Matthew 2:16
So explains the addition of an angel with a sword,
ordinary people in their daily living by the Inn and shepherds in the country,
sheep, hens, ducks, a turkey and more angels all to remind us the full story of our Immanuel, Christ with us.
It was not a peaceful and quiet time during the birth of Jesus Christ;
within the community it was a time of suffering in anguish,
weeping and great mourning throughout homes and hearts.
Born into this world of futility, suffering, misplaced expectations, loss,
disappointments and celebrations for the birth of a baby.
Take deep comfort in remembering that our Lord Jesus understands,
as He was born into this world of suffering, struggles and loss.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but we have one who is tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin.” Hebrews 5:15
“Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” Hebrews 5:8
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“Live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work,
growing in the knowledge of God.”
Let’s give thanks to the Father,
who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:10-14
Celebrate in all joy~
Merry Christmas to you and yours!!