The Father's Gift

The best part of receiving a gift is the anticipation. The stash of presents I’m gawking at right now makes me giddy. What’s in mine?

Whatever it is, it won’t compare to the gift God gave the world that first Christmas. What a gift! He gave His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:16) so sinners like you and me might be saved from our sins.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The ministry of Heaven's gift was personal in nature---He loved us. He went to the cross with you and me on His mind.

I remember receiving Heaven's gift, It changed my life. I get excited thinking about all Jesus is and all He did in my life. The older I get, the sweeter He gets.

I wonder how God must feel when He sees how we treat His gracious, priceless and perfect gift. Maybe we need to thank Him and praise Him more. Maybe some need to receive Him---seek Him.

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Peace And Joy

We want Christmas white and bright.  We want the tree, the decorations, the lights and the presents.

We want everyone to be happy.  We want to be able to get and give plenty. We want peace and joy to abound.

We may or may not make our wants happen, but true “peace” and “Joy” are not guaranteed. In fact, they are only found in Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

Romans 5:1-2 ] Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

If you want real peace and joy, ask Jesus to come into your heart, to forgive your sins. Believe in Him. He loves you.

Are you depressed, sad or lonely? You can have peace and joy. Seek Jesus.

Santa And Jesus

Someone compared Santa Claus and the Lord Jesus in a piece called "Santa Versus Jesus."

• Santa lives at the North Pole---Jesus lives everywhere.
• Santa rides in a sleigh---Jesus rides on the wind and walks on the water.
• Santa comes once a year---Jesus is an ever present help.
• Santa comes down the chimney---Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks.
• Santa fills your stockings with goodies---Jesus supplies all your needs.
• You have to wait in line to see Santa---Jesus is as close as the mention of His name.
• Santa lets you sit in his lap---Jesus holds you in His hands.
• Santa has a belly like a bowl of jelly---Jesus has a heart of love.
• Santa''s little helpers makes new toys---Jesus makes new lives.
• Santa puts gifts under your tree---Jesus became our gift and died on a tree.

Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

O Holy Night

The night Jesus was born was an ordinary night from a human standpoint. Shepherds watched their sheep. People in villages and towns of Israel slept off the weariness of another day unaware that God was transacting eternal business in their very midst.  A Savior was born in Bethlehem.

This night was a Holy Night unlike any other in human history.

Many years ago in 1847 a composer by the name of Adolphe C. Adam wrote the words to a powerful Christmas carol called “O Holy Night”. The first verse goes like this:

• Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.
• Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
• A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
• Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices! Oh night divine,
• Oh night when Christ was born;  Oh night divine, Oh night, Oh night divine.

Imagine the awestruck shepherds witnessing a sky saturated with heavenly hosts praising their Creator.

Imagine the wonder of angels seeing their sinless, glorious Creator as a babe---the weakest of humans---entering time to lay down his life for fallen humanity.

What grace! What glory!

Miracle after miracle took place in the birth, life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ so that you and I might have a Savior.


John 3:16-17  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

From Bethlehem To Calvary

When you think about Christmas this year, try to keep things in perspective.

Believers exposed to the truth of God's Word need to remember that Christmas is about a special day---whenever it was--- when God sent His Son into the world to be the sacrifice for our sins.

The Hebrew Law commanded sacrificial lambs to be examined thoroughly and declared spotless before being offered for sins.

Without a virgin birth we don’t have a sinless, spotless Savior; and no hope of salvation.

But Jesus was the sinless Son of God and His mother was a virgin. Offered on a cross, suffering excruciating pain, He died to cleanse the sins of  mankind for all who believe on him. Three days later He arose victorious over the death and the grave and is alive today. In Jesus we have eternal life.

1 Peter 1:18-19  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

From Bethlehem to Calvary, Christmas is about you coming to know God.

Have you believed on Jesus, the Lamb of God? He can fix whateverr's wrong in your life. Seek Him.

God's Eternal Plan

A Roman Emperor a thousands miles away issues a decree and a poor carpenter and his pregnant wife travel ninety miles to Bethlehem to pay taxes.

Certain shepherds just happen to be tending their flocks on a hillside just outside the same town.

Angelic hosts just happen to show up at the right place, at the right time, with the right message.

These things didn’t just happen. They were the work of  a Sovereign God accomplishing His eternal plan for the salvation of mankind.

Christmas can be a boom or a bust, but you won’t care if you know Who is in control of your life.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

When you are in a faith relationship with Almighty God--- knowing He’s directing your path---you can rejoice in the face of whatever life throws at you even at Christmas.

Do you know Jesus? If not, seek Him.

Joseph, Raising The Son Of God

Mary is pregnant and Joseph is not the father. Like a slap in the face, the news comes during their betrothal. He makes a heartbreaking decision to divorce her quietly.

Matthew 1:20-21  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Understand it or not, the dream explains the baby. It's of the Holly Ghost. Joseph knows Scripture. Surely this is the fulfillment of the greatest promise God ever gave to man. This is the Messiah!

He thought about it some more. Mary will be his bride after all, and Jesus will come into the world as a helpless infant to live in his house, to learn his trade, to sit on his knee, and to grow up and die for the sins of mankind.

God had just transformed what he thought was his worst nightmare into what would become his greatest blessing---raising the Son of God.

Like Joseph, believers are sometimes blind to the fact that God is working behind the scenes. His plans are always best, even when they hurt, Rom. 8:28; 2 Cor. 4:15-17.

The Lord is looking for dedicated people today who will follow him in spite of the tragedies of life.