Some Christmases left a bookmark on my memory. A song in our 1996 church cantata nudged the recent breast cancer diagnosis aside. Overcome with emotion, I couldn’t sing the words, “He Was Seeking for Me; …though I knew Him not, yet He loved me and was seeking for me.”
 
In 1985 we videotaped our first Christmas and every Christmas morning through 1995. That’s when we noticed Chris smelled every present he opened. That was also the Christmas Laura lined all her Cabbage Patch dolls across the couch and passed out homemade presents. When she left the room to get another present, Chris hung one of her precious kids on the ceiling fan. She had an anxiety attack.
 
On the last video we see Gale’s brother Danny (RIP), the clown of the family, accidentally turning over the tree.
 
In the early 1980s Penny started a Christmas Eve tradition of an elegant table spread with treats and a punch bowl.
 
The greatest present I ever received was Jesus Christ.

The three kids (3, 4, and 6) running, screaming, and laughing through the house tonight reminded me of my three and their five cousins at the same ages. Their Grandpa Davis had to call them down. Christmas was loud but fun.
 
The children wanted to open presents as we ate our Honey Baked Ham meal, but it was on the table and getting cold so they had to wait. I wanted to open presents too.
 
It’s nice to get together with family at Christmas. Though Laura and Penny’s families couldn’t be here, we enjoyed Chris’ family. Dustin and Mandy, we are always happy when you share your Christmas with us. I love how little Hannah whispers that she wants to play my piano or play with the dollhouse Laura’s grandfather made her some thirty years ago.
 
I love the excitement Silas displays as he opens a present. Their cousin, 3-year old Levi, came with them. He was just as excited. My daughter-in-law Tanya is so appreciative. The homemade pies she brought were delicious. It’s been many a year since I let the dishes set, but it was worth it.

Swaddling clothes were strips of cloth wrapped around the baby’s arms and legs, an oriental custom. It’s been said that this was done in case the baby died on a long journey, the body would be wrapped for burial. It’s also been said that the swaddling strips kept the baby’s arms and leg straight. In this culture, it was considered abuse not to wrap the baby in this manner. The Shepherds identified the Lord Jesus by his swaddling clothes.
 
A more accurate name for the manger was a feeding trough. God’s chosen people expected their Messiah to be born in royalty, not in a barn. They rejected him.
 
Jesus was born meek and lowly. Though He was King of kings and Lord of lords, only He qualified to come to earth as God in the flesh. Only He could offer His life as a sacrificial lamb for our sins. Why? Because He is perfect and He was doing the Father’s will..
 
I’m so glad.

TODAY’S MESSAGE
When you see the manger scene, do you realize that God came down to earth so that he could hang on a tree, or is he just displayed as a babe in a manger? Do we leave him there? There’s more to the story than what we read on Christmas cards. The baby is God.
 
How far are we from God this Christmas? Think about it. What happened in that Bethlehem manger? God came to earth. He was God when he was in the womb of the mother Mary. He was God growing up. He was God as He hung on the cross for our sins. We need to remember that.
 
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
 
My concern about having peace is with each and every one of you here today. That babe in swaddling clothes is the answer. Do you have peace?