Merry Christmas

This year Christmas crept up on my blind side, and before I knew it, Christmas was here, and all the preparations that usually go into getting ready for Christmas didn't quite happen, like sending out Christmas cards!  

But you know... this has been one of the most relaxed, and enjoyable Christmas'es that we have ever had.  We were able to celebrate here at the house with just the four of us on Christmas morning, and the gifts were simple and not extravagant.  We have realized the pleasure of just being together, and celebrating the birth of the Lord to be the most important aspect of this time of year. We read the story of the birth of Jesus this morning, before sharing gifts with our family, so that we all could remember the most special gift that was given 2000+ years ago, and to help us not get so caught up in the festivities of the season that we forget the very ONE who should be at the center of it all. 

I hope you and your family had a wonderful and blessed day of celebrating the birth of our God and Saviour the Lord Jesus.  I hope HIS presence is very real in your heart and in your home during this time of remembering the greatest gift given to mankind.  

This is one of the passages we read today, and I would like to share it here again.  

Luke 2:8-20

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

 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. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

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. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

May the Lord bless you and your family richly on this Christmas day!