Happy Birthday, Jesus

Thank You Dear Heavenly Father for sending your Son, Jesus, because of your great love for the world. On this Christmas Day, as we celebrate with the giving and receiving of gifts surrounded by family and friends, may we celebrate first the birth of Your Son, the greatest gift that has ever been or ever will be given.

Happy Birthday, Jesus.

Jesus, I love you.

Christmas Blessings to you and yours,

The Gift

I know I need to post the meaning of a few more of our Christmas decorations, and I will try to do that in the next day or two. I'm not making any promises, though. It may not be until after Christmas (gasp!), but it's still the Christmas season until January 6th, right?

Anyway, I only have a quick minute and wanted to share this with you. Today has been a really rough day for me; well, at least it started out that way. I have been under the weather with a cold, and it has been getting worse the last few days instead of getting better. I slept in a bit this morning and didn't get to have my quiet time with the Lord before the hustle and bustle of the day began. Not a good way to begin.

I tried to take about 30 minutes for myself to read and study my devotion after my husband had left for work but between the sound of the Wii, and the phone ringing, it didn't go so well. This is why I try to have my quiet time in the morning before everyone else wakes up.

I just couldn't shake the horrible gloominess I was feeling today. So down in the dumps was I that I found myself constantly on the verge of tears and irritable to boot. My daughter was so thrilled about wrapping presents (no, I'm not done), and all I wanted to do was lay down on the sofa and take a nap!

My mother-in-law came by and took my daughter, and as I sat down to eat a sandwich for lunch, I sat there praying and asking God to help me get out of my funk. I told Him I knew that I had much to be joyful about, not the least of which was the "reason for the season," His Son, and that I didn't like feeling this way. Could He please help me? He answered, and this is what He gave me.

The Gift

He came to earth
A helpless babe
Wrapped in cloths
In a manger lay.

Born of a virgin
Child so dear
Shepherds were told
The Savior is here.

Wise men came
With gifts from afar
Following in darkness
Bethlehem’s star.

A child had been born
God’s only Son
The promised Messiah
He was the One.

The lowing of cattle
A mother’s soft sigh
Come let us worship him
God Most High.

Rejected by His own
Accepted by some
Many could not believe
He was God’s Son.

Two thousand plus years
The story lives on
Believers still praise Him
In word and in song.

A lowly Carpenter
Born to save us all
From sin that began
With Adam’s fall.

His gift is salvation
Offered for free
The gift is for you
The gift is for me.

Remember the Babe
As your presents you give
He had to die
So that we could live.

As I finished the poem and reread it, tears formed in my eyes, and I fell on my knees in worship. God had restored to me the joy of my salvation, and I couldn't help but fall down in thankfulness for the Gift of His Son.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to save me.

May you worship Him today as well.

Christmas Blessings,

A Heartfelt Plea

I received an email today from a trusted friend regarding an article that had been run about a young boy here in North Carolina who has been suffering from neuroblastoma, an incurable form of cancer often occurring in young children, since 2005. The doctors have said there is nothing else they can do for him.

He told his father his request for Christmas is that people would send him cards.

Now I realize that we all have probably received emails about sick children before. However, I went to the website of the newspaper that ran the article, and I believe this to be legitimate. You can read the article for yourself here. One commenter on the site actually suggested this may be a spoof, and the editor of the online paper came back and stated that sadly it was in fact true.

The little boy's name is Damien Hammonds. His address is 409 Burns Road, Lumberton, NC 28358. I took this information straight from the online article.

Would you please consider sending a card along with your prayers to this young boy? We are the body of Christ, and as such, this is one way to be His hands and feet to those in need of His touch.

Thank you, and

Christmas Blessings,

Gloria In Excelsis Deo

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:13-14; NIV)

Yesterday in my daily devotion, the above verses were part of the scripture passage for the day. It was about when the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds to tell them of the birth of the Christ child. He had told them where to find the baby Jesus and how they would recognize Him when the heavenly host appeared with the angel "praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'"

I was reading the study notes on this passage, particularly verse 14, and discovered the phrase "Glory to God in the highest" is of Latin and Greek origin. It has been translated from "Gloria in Excelsis Deo." Do you recognize this? Sing with me. "Glor-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-ia, in excelsis Deo." Or, if you want to start at the beginning...

Angels We Have Heard on High

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

Refrain

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Refrain

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Refrain

See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.

Refrain
(credit for lyrics goes to dltk-holidays.com)

I think at some point I knew where the words came from and the meaning of them. However, if that was the case, I had forgotten, so this was a pleasant surprise to me. I always love discovering little treasures like this. I think it is one of the ways God reaches out and touches us and reminds us that He is involved in everything.

The next time I'm trying to make my way through the long "Gloria" without taking a breath :-), I will know as I finish the phrase that I am actually singing as the angels did, "Glory to God in the highest." Can I get an Amen?

Christmas Blessings,

Mystery

I will post a few more decoration meanings next week just in time for Christmas, but for today, I want to share a song with you that expresses the wonderment I feel sometimes about God's divine plan for mankind.

I am posting a video as well as the lyrics. The video, quite honestly, is a little hard to watch, but then there was nothing easy about how my Savior sacrificed Himself for me.



Mystery
A child was born on Christmas Day
Born to save the world
But long before the world began
He knew His death was sure
The pain and strife secured

Mystery, how He came
To be a man
But greater still
How His death was in His plan
God predestined that His Son would die
And He still created man
Oh, what love is this
That His death was in His hands

The Christmas trees
They glow so bright
With presents all around
But Christmas brought
A tree of life
With blood that sacrificed
The greatest gift in life

chorus

I am just a man and
Can’t begin to comprehend
When You look into this traitor’s eyes
What do You see that justifies the Lamb
(emphasis mine)

God predestined that His
Son would die
And He still created man
Oh, what love is this
That His death was in His plan
Mystery, mystery
(Lyrics copied from lyricstime.com)

As we celebrate Christmas, may we not forget the sole purpose for Jesus coming to this world. He came to die for me, and He came to die for you. I am a sinner in need of saving, as are we all. I can not save myself. God is a holy God, and He can not look upon me in my sinful state. He demanded a sacrifice, and Jesus was that once and for all sacrifice that would forever negate the need for another sacrifice to be made.

Jesus was God's gift to us. His salvation is free. It is ours for the asking. I have asked for it, and I have received it, and I grow more grateful and in love with Him every day. What love, indeed!

Do you know Him? Have you received His free gift of salvation? Of all the gifts you could receive this Christmas, there is none greater than this. If you have already received this gift, then spend time thanking Him during this Christmas season for what He has given you.

If you have yet to receive this most precious Gift, you need only ask. To learn how, click on the Ready? button in my right sidebar.

Feeling rich beyond compare,

The Meaning of the Christmas Wreath and Poinsettia

Today I thought we would explore the meaning behind a couple more traditional Christmas decorations.

The Christmas Wreath

(Credit for this image goes to www.4giftgiving.com.)

The circular shape represents eternity with no beginning and no end. The evergreen color, as with the Christmas tree, signifies eternal life.

Christmas wreaths are typically made from pine or holly branches. In the case of holly branches, the leaves have thorns representative of the thorns in the crown placed on Jesus' head before his crucifixion. The red holly berries remind us of the blood He shed when He paid the ultimate sacrifice and died for our sins. (Information gathered from holidayinsights.com.)

The Christmas Poinsettia

(Credit for this image goes to www.giftlebanon.com.)

The poinsettia is native to Mexico and is named for Dr. Joel Poinsett, who was the US Minister to Mexico in 1825. It is believed that he was the first to bring the plant to America in 1828. Apparently, the Mexicans in the 18th century believed the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem and that is how it became associated with the Christmas season. The actual flower of the plant is small and yellow. It is surrounded by bright red leaves often mistaken for petals.

Mexican legend also tells the story of a little girl who wept on her way to church on Christmas Eve because she had no gift to bring. As she knelt on the ground to pray, she saw the red beauty of the plant and took it to the Christ child as her gift. (Thank you to Rev. Eric Stroshine and wilstar.com for this information.)

I haven't yet gotten myself a poinsettia this year. I think I need to go in search of one tomorrow.

Christmas Blessings,

The Meaning of the Christmas Tree

Today in my 90-day devotional study by Beth Moore, Jesus, 90 days with The One and Only, Beth asked this question:

"What would you say to those who think this holiday is somewhat sacrilegious, that mingling something so sacred with something so increasingly secular cheapens our worship?"

To which I answered this:

"I would encourage them to do what I have done just this year, actually. I have studied many of the different decorations and traditions we see at Christmas. They may not be observed for religious reasons, but they appear to have Christian roots. We carry the real meaning of Christmas in our hearts. As we see the various aspects that seem to make it secular, we can carry in our hearts their true meaning as well."

In that same vein, I thought it might be fun to spend a few days exploring the meaning behind some of the decorations we see at Christmas. I did this last week with my children's choir, and we all really enjoyed it. It was truly enlightening and gave some of the traditions we observe new meaning for me.

Let's start with the Christmas tree.




(Credit for this photo goes to http://www.darien.org)

According to David Bruce at hollywoodjesus.com, it was the Christian reformer, Martin Luther, who began the tradition of the Christmas tree. Another site, Allthingschristmas.com, verifies this. According to All Things Christmas, Martin Luther is held to have been the first to adorn a tree with lights. The story goes that "while coming home one December evening, the beauty of the stars shining through the branches of a fir inspired him to recreate the effect by placing candles on the branches of a small fir tree inside his home."

Other facts I found concern the triangular shape of the tree, which is said to represent the Trinity, with the tip of the tree (triangle) pointing heavenward to God.

Its evergreen color represents eternal life.

One of my favorite aspects of the Christmas tree is this; its needles grow upward like hands raised in praise to our God.

While it is hard to say for certain whether or not these facts are true, I am choosing to believe that they are. It brings me great joy to think that the seemingly secular traditions I observe actually coincide with the real reason I celebrate Christmas.

May you see your tree this year in a whole new light.

Christmas Blessings,

The Tenderness of God

I finished the 90-day devotional by Beth Moore on King David last week. I admit I was sad to see it end. However, I have moved on to another of her 90-day devotionals called Jesus, The One and Only, based on her Bible study by the same name. Her latest book in this series is based on John, but I just knew I had to do Jesus next. After all, He truly IS the One and Only. (Just so you know, I would have done the Jesus devotional first, but when I was looking for a devotional book in Walmart, David was what they had. :->)

I finished Day 4 today, but Day 3 is what I actually want to talk about in this post. As usual, God totally knows what He is doing. How else would it be that I would start this book during the Christmas season, and the beginning starts with Mary being told she is going to bear the Savior of the world?

Beth pointed out something in yesterday's post that I thought was really cool; it was something I had never considered before.

26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." 29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." 34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[c] the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God." 38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Notice verse 36. Beth pointed out that even in the midst of being given news that would forever change mankind, God also knew the ramifications for the young girl whom He had chosen to be the mother of His Only Son. She was already betrothed to Joseph. In those days, a betrothal was the same as if the couple were already married. A divorce would have to take place for the betrothal to be broken. By law, Joseph could have had her stoned.

God loved Mary so much, in the middle of the greatest news ever given, He had Gabriel tell her of the pregnancy of her cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist way beyond her childbearing years. Gabriel was not only confirming for her that nothing is impossible with God, which he told her, but God gave her someone in whom she could confide, someone to talk to about this momentous thing that had been told her.

How like our God! He loves us so much! He sees to every detail. My heart is so full knowing that just as He did for Mary, He also does for me. How can I not love Him?

Sweet Blessings,

I'm Still Here

I'm sorry I have been out of commission for the past week. What a whirlwind! I will be back, hopefully, in a day or two posting again. Thanks for hanging in with me.

Blessings,

The Story of the Candy Cane

A candy cane is a very special Christmas candy.
Why, you ask?
Take a candy cane and turn it over in your hand. What letter does it look like?
"J" is for Jesus, who was born on Christmas day.
Now, turn it over. What does it remind you of?
That's right, a shepherd's staff. The shepherds in the fields watching over their flocks by night were the first to find out about the birth of Jesus.
But then, what are the stripes for?

The prophet Isaiah said, "By His stripes we are healed." Before He died, Jesus was whipped. He bled terribly. The red reminds us of His suffering and His blood.

But then, the candy is white as well: When we give our lives to Jesus, His blood washes away our sins, making us white and pure as snow.

And so, we see that the candy cane tells a wonderful story: It tells of the miracle of the birth of Jesus, the misery of His death, and the mercy of His love.

Now that is quite a story.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

Christmas Blessings,


Adapted from the book The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Wallberg.

Congratulations to the Winners

Congratulations to Tammy, Bekah, and Laurel Wreath on winning the One-Year NLT Chronological Bible! I was so excited and touched by your responses that I decided to give away three! My husband serves as my handy-dandy number picker, and he chose 12, 21, and 4 as the three numbers.

Thank you to all who participated. I wish I were able to give one to all of you, but for those who didn't win, I do hope and pray that God will make a way for you each to have one and that you will consider joining with Wendy as we read through the Bible in one year! What an exciting journey! I can't wait to get started!

Blessings,

Be Still Sunday

I don't know if today actually qualifies as "being still," but we will definitely be doing all we can to shine the light of Jesus in our little part of the world.

My daughter's choir, along with the other children's choirs at our church, will be performing their Christmas musical tonight.

May they be a light to a lost world.

Sweet Blessings, and may you find rest in Him today,

Scripture Saturday

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)

Blessings,

Cool Christmas Giveaway

***THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW ENDED. AFTER THE WINNER HAS BEEN REACHED, I WILL ANNOUNCE HIM OR HER IN A SEPARATE POST.***

UPDATED to change giveaway end date from December 12th to December 7th. I realized I have something going on every day next weekend and that might not work out so well. :-)

Well, it's that time of year. Lysa TerKeurst is again doing the Cool Christmas Giveaway, and I am signing on to participate. If you would like to sponsor a giveaway, go to Lysa's site at the link posted above for more information. Or, if you haven't already visited her site and are interested in the chance to win great prizes just in time for Christmas, well then, click away. Now on to my giveaway.

When I read earlier in the week that Lysa was going to do this and that lots of people had already posted about some of the great giveaways they were going to do, I admit I got a little panicked. I was feeling somewhat stymied about what I should offer. I started thinking about it...and thought...and thought. And, finally it hit me.

I was sitting at my computer looking around our study when my eyes landed on my brand spanking new New Living Translation Chronological Bible that I ordered special to participate in Wendy Pope's reading through the Bible in a year that begins on January 1, 2009. You can read more about that here.

As I sat there staring at the Bible, I wondered if maybe there were those out there who wanted to participate but didn't feel they could afford the cost of the Bible. Maybe you aren't one of those people. Maybe you already have your Bible and are anxiously anticipating the thrill of participating in this journey next year. Do you know someone who needs to come along for the ride?

If you win the Bible, please keep it for yourself as my gift to you, or, if you feel led to do so, pass it on with an invitation to join us as we read through the Bible in a year.

Whether it's you or someone you know, I pray that this Bible will find its way into the hands of the person who needs it. A picture of the Bible can be seen below. It is a hardback version.

I will run the giveaway through Sunday, December 7th, at 12:00pm EST. All you need do to enter is leave a comment. Please include your email or blog address so that I can contact you if you are the winner. If I have not heard from the winner by Monday, December 8th, I will select a new winner.

Thank you for participating, and Merry Christmas!

Blessings,

Just Had to Share...

I received this in my email today, and it touched me so deeply. It was too wonderful not to share.

Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you, anyone who doesn't have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God." Luke 18:16-17 (NLT)

This beautiful story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa.

One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities.

Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). 'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed.

As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.'

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.

During prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children.

'Please, God' she prayed, 'Send us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.'

While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'

As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say 'Amen?' I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the veranda was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes.

I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.

From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.

Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.

Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!' Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked, 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?'

'Of course,' I replied. That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon.'

'Before they call, I will answer.' (Isaiah 65:24)

Sweet Blessings,

I AM Royalty

This morning my daughter was watching the Disney TV show, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. In case you haven't seen this show, I'll briefly give a description. It is about two twin boys, Zack and Cody, who live in a hotel in Boston called The Tipton. It's a very posh, upscale hotel in which their mom has gotten a job singing in the lounge of the hotel. In exchange for working there, she and the boys get to live in one of the rooms of the hotel. Needless to say, they are full of mischief and are constantly causing trouble, particularly for the maitre'd, Mr. Moseby...And, that's pretty much it.

This morning's episode was from when the boys and their mom first got to the hotel. Mr. Moseby confronts their mother with a bill of charges for all kinds of services the boys have been charging to their room ranging from room service to movies to even having their underwear drycleaned. Their mom said to them, "We may be living in a palace, but we are not royalty."

For some reason, I was really struck by that statement, and it really stayed with me during the course of the day. As I thought more about it, I realized that my situation was just the opposite.

I do not live in a palace, but I AM royalty. Why? Because I am a daughter of the King. Psalm 24:10: "Who is He, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty--He is the King of glory." And Ephesians 1:5 says, "he predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ in accordance with His pleasure and will--" The last two words of verse 4 preceding that verse are "in love."

In love. I'm so glad He loves me! Aren't you? I am not wealthy by the world's standards, but I have so much more than can be measured by material possessions. I have the love of my Father, who sent His Son, Jesus, to die on a cross so that I would not have to. I have been adopted into His family through His Son, and I AM royalty!

Oh how I love Jesus!

Sing it with me!

Oh how I love Jesus,
Oh how I love Jesus,
Oh how I love Jesus,
Because He first loved me.

Amen and Amen!

Sweet Blessing My Friends,

The Light of the World

Yesterday after school, I sat and watched as my daughter did something I thought a little strange. She had torn off a piece of a paper towel and went and laid it across the Baby Jesus in the creche that adorns our sofa table.

At first, I was about to be all choked up with motherly tenderness because I thought she was placing a blanket over Jesus. However, before I could get too far into these sentiments, she informed me that she was doing this because a friend of hers at school had said that she puts a paper towel over Jesus until Christmas Day at which time she then removes it because it is the day of His birth. So, my daughter had decided to do likewise.

I thought about this for a moment and then said to my daughter, "Well, honey, you know we are celebrating Jesus' birth, that is true, but He has already been born, just as you have. We don't place a paper towel over you all year, and then on your birthday say, 'Look, Rachel is here.' It is an annual celebration of the day you were already born just as Christmas is a celebration of when Jesus was born." I then suggested that maybe we could use the paper towel as a blanket for Baby Jesus instead. She seemed fine with that, and He now lies in our creche draped in Viva.

Now, lest you think I'm a total spoil sport here, I did have a reason for saying this to her. I started thinking about the implications of covering Him up. Jesus is alive! He was born, He lived here on the earth, He was crucified, and praise His Holy Name, He arose on the third day. He now reigns on high with His and our Heavenly Father.

But Jesus is also still here on Earth. He lives in the hearts of those who have asked Him to do so. He said in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world." Luke 8:16 says, "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light." (NIV)

We are to let our light shine, not cover it up. I didn't want a paper towel over the Baby Jesus in my creche. I didn't want Him covered up.

It is my fervent prayer that during this Christmas season and always that I will not hide His light in my life to those around me who are lost. Oh how I pray they will come out of the darkness and share in His glorious light.

May your light shine as well.

Sweet Blessings,