Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’
Instruments in the Hands of God
The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back;4 the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs.5 Why was it, sea, that you fled? Why, Jordan, did you turn back?6 Why, mountains, did you leap like rams, you hills, like lambs?7 Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob. To most, these…
Read MoreChristmas Wish List
When I was a child, the song, “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth” was popular. While that was me one year in particular, I thought it was hilarious that two front teeth would be the entire list for Santa. My list always had a lot of…
Read MoreWhy a Baby?
The Israelites understood from prophesy that God intended to send them a Savior. But the only hint on how the Messiah would come is found in Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us).”…
Read MoreThe Importance of the Celebration
A number of Christ-followers, including myself, have looked at Christmas as the celebration of Jesus’ birthday. That view is supported in Western culture with the emphasis on manger scenes featuring a beautiful, helpless baby. Certainly the reminder of what Jesus did for mankind in leaving His glory in Heaven to…
Read MoreIf He’s Not the Reason, Then…
A number of years ago the phrase, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season,” became popular for Christmas cards, plaques, ornaments and the like. It has now been around long enough to become trite to some, and to receive only casual nods from others. Spiritual detractors of Christmas argue that…
Read MoreThe Holy Night of Birth
I grew up in the mountains of southwest Virginia where it was fairly common to have snow for Christmas. My most wonderful memories are not of falling snow, but taking “nature hikes” in the moonlight after a satisfying meal of leftovers. Whether the sky was clear and dark, or whether…
Read MoreThe Party of the Year
Some people like parties more than others, but almost everyone will make an effort to celebrate a birthday, largely because it is an opportunity to honor a person close to us. Although God did not command we celebrate birthdays like He commanded the ancient Israelites to celebrate specific festivals, I…
Read MoreThe Secret Holiness of Christmas
I’ve often wondered how it felt to be one of the shepherds that witnessed thousands of angels igniting the dark night sky in glorious, celebratory praise to our Savior being born. Those men had no pre-announcement or warning of any kind: the routine stillness of the evening punctuated by insect…
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