Christmas

Celebrating The Birth Of Christ

By Charles F. Stanley

3 Ways to Focus on the Meaning of Christmas

Although we usually associate Christmas with happy celebrations, it’s also an appropriate time for serious reflection about our eternal destiny. When people are strong and prosperous, they don’t give much thought to the day of their death because they can go where they choose and do what they want, but the day will come when we must each stand before God. The Bible clearly shows us the way to be ready for that day, and Christmas reminds us that the only person who can forgive our sins is Jesus Christ. He died in our place, and His resurrection proved that God accepted His sacrifice as full payment for our sins. Because He’s alive, we can know we are forgiven. Even when our bodies are placed in the grave, we will immediately be present with the Lord in heaven. This is our living hope that can never die.

Because Jesus came to earth, we can think about Christmas in an entirely new way. The trees remind us of the cross where He died, the gifts of the eternal life He offers us, and the lights of the Light of the World who now lives in our hearts.

Considering all that Christ has done for us, we should be filled with gratitude at Christmastime.

With all the distractions and traditions of Christmas, we need to be intentional about keeping Jesus the central focus. Here are a few suggestions that may help:

Open a Bible to the first chapter of Luke and place it beside the gifts under the tree as a reminder to read the story of Jesus’ birth on Christmas morning.

Take a few moments to recall how God saved you. Share your testimony; then thank and praise the Lord for who He is and what He’s done. Remember that everything you have is from Him, even your next breath.

Praise Christ for what He’s done for you all year long and most of all, thank Him for saving you—not because He had to, but because He chose you.

When we take time for serious reflection concerning life, death, and eternity, Christmas becomes more meaningful. So, don’t let the world distract you from the greatest reason we have for hope. Do something different this year: give Christ the preeminence—and celebrate a truly joyful season. © 2021 oChristian.com. All Rights Reserved >

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Heavenly Peace

By James Robison

Why were the tears suddenly filling my eyes until they began to stream down my cheeks? Just a few moments earlier, my hands were lifted to heaven in worshipful praise. I had noticed Betty’s hands also lifted, along with many others, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw my daughter Rhonda with hands lifted high, tears filling her eyes, as she, too, praised our Savior. But now my head was nearly in my lap, and I was weeping.

We had been invited to simply gather with friends for a Christmas fellowship, and some of our family—including four grandchildren— also attended. We were blessed by two gifted musicians, Tim Sheppard and Brent Lamb, who had been asked to lead Christmas songs, worship and praise. I was moved from previous times of exultation to complete brokenness over the simple phrase from Away in a Manger, “the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.” So, help me, I could see the precious, beautiful, most-special baby boy.

In recent months, it has been as though this old Baptist preacher keeps seeing visions. I guess it just fulfills the prophecy that “old men shall see visions.” The “old” part is true, but our kids and grandkids keep telling me not to say it—I’m not old, they say. But the fact is, I am seeing visions, and I’m not hallucinating. So, help me, I saw baby Jesus asleep on the hay, wrapped in rags. Somehow it just didn’t seem right for Him—the Messiah, the Promised One, the hope of all humanity—to be lying there in the straw. But I must tell you, He was altogether so amazingly beautiful, as the Christmas favorite Silent Night so clearly proclaims. There He was, sleeping “in heavenly peace.”

I am telling you, I could see Him, and there I, too, along with the shepherds and wise men, worshiped the Promised One—the One who came to pay for and offer peace on earth. Peace to me, you and all who will receive it. Oh, how I long to see people receive the peace that only God can give. It is within and can overflow, inspiring everyone He contacts. This peace can only prevail on earth when it resides in us. It can only come when we yield our lives to the Prince of Peace—to Jesus, the holy child, the perfect demonstration of life and truth, the lamb that was slain, the reigning Lord of all and King of Kings.

As I glanced around the room, I saw many mothers, fathers, grandparents and young people who had come to Jesus as I shared the gospel over the past 50 years. I saw in their countenance the heavenly peace in which Jesus surely slept. Some of them have recently lost loved ones. Others are battling cancer or other debilitating diseases. Some of them have had family members challenged by addictions or financial pressures. But through it all, there was Jesus, revealed so clearly. What a Savior! What a “friend we have in Jesus!”

Once again, that baby asleep on the hay reappeared in my mind’s eye, and I saw indescribable love, grace and forgiveness, “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” My mind was exploding with phrases from treasured Christmas carols, songs, hymns and Bible verses—all increasing my gratitude for the little baby lying in a manger but now living in my heart as the closest possible friend. He is the only one who knows me fully, understands me, and will never leave me nor forsake me.

Suddenly, I, too, felt the “peace that passes all understanding.” This peace is available to everyone through the One whose birth I pray you openly and joyfully celebrate this Christmas.> © 2021 Life Outreach International. All rights reserved.

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Turtledoves

By David Wilkerson

God has kept me through my struggles by showing me King David's secret hope. David, lamenting and complaining, wondered why God was angry with him. He called on God to “put out your hand and destroy the enemy" (see Psalm 74:11). It seemed to David that the enemies of God were taking control and, in his despair, he prayed, "O, deliver not the soul of the turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked" (Psalm 74:19).

Like David, we began to see ourselves as little turtledoves, surrounded by the snares and traps of the wicked. It encouraged me, in my most trying times, to see myself as his lovebird, resting on his promise to keep me out of the snares of the wicked. Like a turtledove, we long for the presence of our beloved Savior.

I picture Christ coming to me in the form of a dove—his Holy Spirit—revealing to me his constant love and continual care. How unspeakable that such a great and majestic God would condescend to relate to

At Dignity Memorial we offer pre-planning services for funeral and cemetery property and host Free Pre-Planning seminars at local restaurants.nts. Peace of mind Wishes are known Discounts available Protects your family emotionallyemotionally & financially my needs as a turtledove. Did he not descend on Christ at the baptismal waters as a dove?

Child of God, are you going through difficult times? Is there suffering in your home? Do you hurt? Are you confused at times because of the severity of it all? Remember, you are the Lord's little turtledove and he will never turn you over to the wicked one. He will deliver you from every snare of the enemy and show you how devoted he is to you in your hour of need. He is there beside you, at all times, as a dove, whispering, sharing his love with you.

Solomon, speaking of Christ, said, "His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, beautifully set" (Song of Solomon 5:12). And of the church, the Lord's beloved, it is written, "My dove, my undefiled one is but one..." (Song of Solomon 6:9). We are one in Christ— his dove—a turtledove.

The sparrow falls to the ground, but not the turtledove. He is kept in the hollow of his hand, safe and secure in his love. Best of all, the Lord will deliver us out of our troubles and prove his everlasting faithfulness to us. We shall come through it all rejoicing and in full rest and trust in his power and love. Copyright © 2021 by World Challenge, Inc., P.O. Box 260, Lindale, Texas 75771.> David Wilkerson

ADVICE

Continued from Page 33

there may be a word of hope, calling us to victorious living.

For the Bible, from first to last, is a book of cheer. It never tells us that it is our duty to be disheartened or to despair. Always it calls us to rise out of our fear and failure and begin again. Always it assures us that there is no reason for despair, that we need never give up, that out of the greatest seeming failure we may become more than conquerors through Christ who loves us. When this is the lesson we find in our daily passage, we should at once lift up our heart and begin to rejoice.

Or we may be in sorrow, passing through bereavement or enduring a great loss. Then the message the Scripture has for us is one of comfort. It is not enough to read the promises or assurances which we find, paying no heed to them, not permitting them to influence us. Rather we should take them as indeed God's words to us and should let the truths they tell us into our heart, to help us in our sorrow.

For example, when we read the Master's "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you," we should instantly accept the gift He offers, allowing His peace to take possession of us and to fill our heart.

If we read the Bible in this way, in our devotional closet, it will become the guide of our life, the lamp for our feet, and the light for our path.

A single verse in the morning, if there is time for no more than a verse, will make us stronger for all the day's duties and struggles!

Save the Nations Ministries>

Life Lessons

When we think about self-denial, most of us aren't too happy! It often implies going on a diet, restricting entertainment, or giving up dubious--and sometimes even Simple pleasures, like that extra piece of pie.

God has given us life to enjoy, so to deny ourselves basic needs is not God's will for our lives. But sometimes, self-denial has a cleansing purpose. For example, on Yom Kippur, Jewish people fast for 24 hours. That means no food or water, and praying to God to forgive sins committed during the past year. Now that's self-denial!

However, "self," as we all know, is often self-serving. Jesus urged His followers, "Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Mark 8:34)

It's hard to deny our appetites, but it's harder to fight our emotions and harmful desires, like jealousy, lust, and greediness. Hardest of all, I think, is the emotion of fear. We are hard-wired to fear evil, fire, danger, etc. But fear that replaces trust in God puts the devil in the charge of our feelings. Remember, never give the devil a ride--he always wants to drive!

Jesus must have experienced fear as a human being. He asked, in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, that He be spared what was to come, if it were His Father's will. (Mark 14:36) But He surrendered Himself to God's purpose.

Again and again, God tells us, "Fear not!" fhe disciples in a storm at sea feared for their lives, even with Jesus sleeping in the ship. He calmed the sea and asked, "Why are ye so fearful? How is that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:40) Luke 12:32 says, "Fear not, little flock" and Il Timothy 1:7 says, “for God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." To trust God with all in our lives is to fear not, for when we are in His will, we are able to overcome our fears, and that kind of selfdenial brings us freedom and life!