Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas!

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."  St. Luke, Chapter 2, verses 10-11.

This is the message of hope that Christians gather around this time of year.  It is sometimes a difficult promise to remember in the face of all the evil in this world.  From our everyday struggles to wrongs committed in our communities and the greater world, and especially when we learn of horrific acts against children and those trying to protect them.  But that is exactly why we need this reminder every year!  "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."  St. John, Chapter 3, verse 16.  

And no matter what darkness tries to shake our faith in God, we must remember that God is ever faithful to us.  If he loves us so much that he was willing to send a sacrifice for us, we can only imagine how utterly sad he is when our lives are touched by grief.  But this we know, for St John tells us in Chapter 1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not...He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  He came unto his own, and his own received him not. " 

However, it doesn't end there...
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth."

Will you receive him this Christmas, even when it seems the world is going crazy?
In Pastor Tom's sermon on Sunday, he said that when he and his wife were expecting their first child he was told, "You're life will never be the same!"  I remember being told that too, and being determined that I was not going to let a baby change my life.  Well, she did and so did the other two that eventually came along.  My life was radically and forever changed by these tiny beings!  But, they are each a blessing and have changed my life in such positive and loving ways - ways I could not even imagine before!

So it is with the Christ Child!  This little baby has come into the world to change it - radically & forever!  Will you graciously accept this baby into your life, and allow him to change it for you?  It won't be easy and it won't always be 'smooth sailing', but it will be worth it!

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." St. Luke, Chapter 2, verses 13-14.  

I pray that you will be blessed this Christmas season and that you will be a blessings to others!

Merry Christmas,
Shelly


Note: Re: Live is on a break and will resume Jan 11th, at 9:15 with a new book, It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know by Rachel Olsen.  Please read and do the questions for Chapters 1 & 2 for the 11th. 
Even if you cannot attend our live meetings, I encourage you to read this book, it is AMAZING!  And I'll be blogging about it so, you won't miss a thing!

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