"I Want A Different Christmas"-#5

                                                                Christ In Christmas

Christ, the only begotten Son of God, looked upon the sinful world
    and realized its need for
Help. In counsel with the Father it was agreed that He would give up His high and exalted place        and bring to sinful men
Redemption. He would go to earth in person and through
    the miracle of birth would become the
Incarnation of God in human flesh. He would be born of a virgin
    with God as His Father, and enter into the sinful world as its
Savior. His holiness, His sexemplary life, His sinlessness, His plan of redemption, His death, and        His resurrection would bring to earth the great
Transformation needed by all mankind. So He came, as decided
   in the councils of eternity, and through His coming He brought the
Melody of heaven to earth. A Babe in swaddlling clothes, divine,
   whose birth was announced by the singing of angels on high, was to bring
Assurance to all mankind that God cared enough to send His only begotten Son that all who believe    in Him might have
Salvation and eternal life. Only through personal acceptance of Him, God's great gift to man, can    there be real Christmas in the human heart.
                                                                                               -Copied

"I Want A Different Christmas"-#4

Devotional Readings

Along with rereading the different portions of Scripture that tell the never-grow-old accounts of the true story of Christmas, I enhanced my devotional times by reading 2 or 3 other books. These are two books that I was able to read last year:

The Miracle of Christmas by John MacArthur
Quiet Moments For The Season from RBC Ministries
 

I also searched online for other articles/devotionals that centered around Christmas, readings that focused on the spiritual, not the secular, which is, after all, the true picture of the Christmas story, a real story with true spiritual value for each one of us.

The Lord blessed me with lots of alone and unhurried time time together with Him. It may be that I will never again repeat such a Christmas so I am truly         thankful for my unique Christmas of 2013.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, 

which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:13)

I Want A Different Christmas-#3

"TO SEE CHRISTMAS"

Matthew 2:2

"...for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him."..."

Matthew 2:9

"...and, lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them, 

till it came and stood over where the young child was."

Matthew 2:10

"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy."

Matthew 2:11

"...they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshiped Him..."

Luke 1:29

"And when she saw him (Gabriel) she was troubled..."

Luke 2:15
"Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass..."

Luke 2:17
"And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying
which was told them concerning this child."

Luke 2:20
"And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God
for all the things that they had heard and seen..."

Luke 2:26
"And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death
before he had seen the Lord's Christ."

Luke 2:30
"For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation."

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:20)

"I Want A Different Christmas" #2

A Christmas without children is pretty quiet, lonely and, yes, sad. Not that one can't celebrate Christ's birth without them, it's just that they bring such sparkle, laughter and...JOY! But not everyone can have that opportunity and, certainly, not every year so last year was my first experience without them.
However, I do have a few photos to remember some wonderful Christmas pasts...

For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given...(Isaiah 9:6a)

Songs In The Night

One of the most beautiful and joyful sounds is that of the birds as they sing...while it is still dark, before the dawn. It is always ALWAYS a reminder to me that I can-and should-do that, too. I don't have to have everything positive, warm and sunshiney in my life to have a joyful heart, to praise the Lord, to give thanks to my Creator and Friend. I can do it in the dark, in the night, in the low times of my life.

Suddenly, night becomes day, dark becomes light, pain becomes joy when I lift my heart and soul to Him and give praise to Him. He loves me, He saved me, He provides for every need that I have. How can I help but praise Him?!


 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with my own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. (Psalm 77:6)