Saturday, December 22, 2012

The True Joy of Christmas


I am sitting drinking my coffee and eating a red velvet crinkle cookie on this quiet Saturday morning. Tomorrow we leave for Florida so today will be filled with last minute errands, laundry, and packing. Tonight we are taking some friends to Hollidazle the annual Christmas parade in downtown Minneapolis. Christmas is a wonderful season but is often frenzied, rushed and stressful. What to bake, what to buy, parties to attend, decorating, etc, etc. Christmas has become so commercialized that the true meaning is easily forgotten. Christmas is the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is not about gifts and cookies, Santa and all of the running around. It is about the miracle of Son of God coming to Earth. If you do not know Jesus then it is difficult to understand why we celebrate this, but I encourage you to take a moment to open your heart to Him and discover the true joy and meaning of Christmas this year.

"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 

Suddenly a great company of 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."
Luke 2: 4-14, NIV

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