The Christmas List

                                    

                Give a gift of laughter,

                give a gift of song,

                 Give a gift of sympathy

                        to last a whole life long,

                    Give a cheerful message,

                 give a helping hand.

                  Tell your sorry neighbor

                 that you understand,

                  Wash the supper dishes,

                    help to dust the room;

              Give a smile to leaven

                         someone's hour of gloom!

              Give a gift of sharing,

                   sweeten dreary days

                For the lost and lonely,

                         give youself  ALWAYS!!

                                           By Cathedral Press, Inc.

GOD'S SON the reason for the season:

                                         

                                           

                                          

                                          

                                           On the very first Christmas, Jesus was a tiny baby

                                          wrapped in rags and lying in a cow stall. 

                                          But from the beginning,

                                         He was Lord of life and King of all creation.

                                         Jesus' birth is reason to rejoice.  But so is His death,

                                         for when He rose again He conquered sin and its grip on

                                         our lives.  If we believe, we are free.

                                         Jesus is in heaven, seated at God's right hand.  He's

                                         with every believer on earth, too, through the

                                         of the Holy Spirit.  And He promised to be with

                                         with us always.

  Jesus birth is reason to rejoice.  In the story Turea kept Christmas.  Her journey took her back to the babe of Bethlehem to stand alone with Jesus.  Will we stand alone with Christ?  He was rejected of men before He was ever born.  Joseph saw Mary was with child and wanted to divorce her.  He didn't want to be associated with a baby not his own.  Mary came to Bethlehem and there was no room for Him to be born in.  No room for Jesus.  He came as a grown man.  God's special Son,  and they rejected Him.  He went to Gethsemane and prayed alone.  The disciples slept.  He stood being judged alone.  God forsook Him on the cross.  The question He still ask today.  Will, you take up your cross and stand alone with me?  Will, we really keep Christmas?

Go to u-tube Turea kept Christmas .

The Shepherds Are Coming

The angels appeared to the shepherds.  Why the Shepherds?  The Shepherds were faithful to fulfill their jobs, no matter what the conditions were.  When the Shepherd called his sheep by name, if one was missing, he hedged in the other sheep, and left to find the lost sheep.  He went out through the snow, rain, cold, and heat.  The shepherd had walked, watched, and protected the sheep all day.  Now, worn out from the stress of the day, he goes out into the night to find his sheep.  He will lay down his life if necessary to help his sheep.  No wonder God appeared to these faithful shepherds to tell them His Son was to be born.
                          
                               O HOLY NIGHT

These were shepherds that sold their sheep to the people      

that would  bring their sacrifice to the Temple.

  When they found the babe, they went everywhere telling

The good news, the Messiah is born.  Every time they sold their sheep, the

Shepherds would retell the story.  The Priest, Scribes, and Pharisees were

steeped in their tradition.  Their focus would be on keeping the law and getting the

Ceremonies correct.  The Shepherds were interesting in people knowing the King of Kings.

Which people are we like, the Scribes, Pharisees, or the lowly shepherds?

Luke 2:  There were shepherds in the fields watching over their flocks by night.  The angel of the Lord showed up in the Heavens above them, doing marvelous things.  The shepherds were so afraid.  The angel said to them fear not for behold I give you tidings of great joy.  This joy was to all the people. This day is born in Bethlehem a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.  Immediately the shepherds left their sheep, and went to worship.  The wolves, lions, bears, and thieves were out there, but they trusted their Savior to take care of them.  He is able to protect us too. (Scripture paraphrased)