Christmas Page
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isa 9:6
Jesus is The Reason For The Season
How did Christmas start
Since about 400 AD, Christians have celebrated the birth of Jesus. 'Christ' means 'Messiah' or 'Anointed One' - the title given to Jesus. In the West today, the real meaning of Christmas is often forgotten. It has become a non-religious holiday! More children believe in Father Christmas than in Jesus. Christmas Day is a time for eating and drinking too much and watching television.
But the real Christmas story is found in the Bible. It is told in the first and second chapters of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. These chapters tell how Jesus was born as a baby to Mary. This was no ordinary birth! Mary wasn’t married and she was a virgin!
An angel came to Mary and told her she would bear a special baby. Her fiance, Joseph, did not believe her at first. Then an angel told him in a dream that it was true! Probably no one else believed it. So when they had to travel from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem (near Jerusalem), to register their names with the ruling Roman government, they probably escaped many hard words from other people.
When they arrived in Bethlehem they found out that there was no room for them to stay at the hotel. There was only space in the stable - the animal house for travellers' donkeys and horses.
Jesus was born that night, and as they had no bed for him, they used an animal feeding box filled with the dry grass. This must have been frightening for a young couple, far from their home and families. This seemed like a poor place for Jesus to start his life on earth. Or was it?
This was exactly as God had planned it! God planned this to show that Jesus came as a humble, poor person and not as a strong, rich king. The birth of Jesus was told many years before in the books of the prophets. Five hundred years before, the prophet Micah had said:
"But you Bethlehem, though you are small, out of you will come for me, one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." Micah 5:2
Isaiah also wrote about the birth of Jesus:
"A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, "Wonderful Counsellor," "Mighty God," "Eternal Father," "Prince of Peace." His royal power will continue to grow; his kingdom will always be at peace.... Isaiah 9:6 He will rule as King David's successor, basing his power on right and justice, from now until the end of time." Isaiah 11:5 Other prophets also told of the birth of Jesus, many, many years before He was born.
Since time began no other person has had such an effect on human lives as Jesus. He came back to life again, and millions say they know Him today as a friend and helper in their lives. Do you know personally who this Jesus is? Have yo had a personal encounter with Him? If you haven’t, why not invite Him into your life today and make this your best Christmas ever
The Spirit of Christmas
The spirit of Christmas is often found
In things that we can see
A street of gold and silver
A sparkling Christmas tree.
It’s found in quiet serenity
Of freshly fallen snow
In lights upon the river
A candles’ gentle glow.
It’s found in pretty presents
And treasures of delight
In stories told of Christmas’ past
On cold and wintry nights.
It’s found in Yuletide carolers
Who stand out in the street
And spread good cheer and tidings
To everyone they meet.
It’s found in bustling cities
As choirs get up to sing
In sleepy little villages
Where lonely church bells ring.
It’s found within a beggar’s heart
Who kindly takes the time
To help a cold and hungry child
By sharing his last dime.
It’s found within the prisons walls
And temples made of stone
It’s found within the orphanages
And in the nursing homes.
It’s found within the wise men
Who brought gifts from far away
And the eastern star that led them
To the stable where He lay.
It’s found within the Spirit
This gift from up above
It’s filled with pure salvation
And wrapped in His sweet love.
It’s even found in old St. Nick
As he kneels down to pray
To Jesus, Blessed Redeemer
Who was born on Christmas day.
Author/Written By: Marilyn Ferguson ©2002
Used with permission
How did gift giving start
Three wise men saw a star and followed it to the place where Jesus was born. To bring honour to the child, they brought rich gifts: gold, frankincense (a resin which burns with a beautiful smell), and myrrh (plant oil with a very strong sweet smell). These gifts tell us three key things about Jesus: Gold: a gift fit for a King Frankincense: burnt in worship of God Myrrh: a sign of mortal human-ness - it was used to bury the dead
Since then, people have been giving gifts at Christmas.
Who is Santa Clause
Santa Clause is based on a real person, St. Nicholas. Nicholas was a Christian leader from Myra (in modern-day Turkey) in the 4th century AD. He was very shy, and wanted to give money to poor people without them knowing about it. It is said that one day, he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney. It landed in the stocking which a girl had put to dry by the fire! This may explain the belief that Father Christmas comes down the chimney and places gifts in children's stockings.
Christmas Lights in Heaven
At Christmas time we trim our tree
With gifts and candy canes
And go for joyful sleigh rides
Down sparkling snow filled lanes.
We fill our homes with tinsel
Our hearts with Christmas cheer
We're all a little nicer
At this lovely time of year.
Stores are filled with shoppers
Streets are trimmed in green
Carolers on each corner
Tis' quite a lovely scene.
But we cannot know the beauty
The splendor or the love
Of Christmas time in heaven
With our Saviour up above.
The light that shines from Jesus
Stands out from all the rest
Of all the Christmas time displays
His is by far the best.
Like diamonds shining in the sun
You'll find His flaming light
Like a million candles burning
In the middle of the night.
The colors found in heaven
Have such a wondrous glow
And you'll find a world of beauty
Where the golden rivers flow.
There won't be gifts or mistletoe
Nor stately Christmas tree
But the throne of God will glisten
With the Blessed Trinity.
Author/Written By: Marilyn Ferguson ©2001
Used with permission
The Legend of the Poinsettia
In a small Mexican village, it was a custom to place gifts for the Christ Child in front of the church manger on Christmas Eve. One Christmas, a young boy, having nothing to give, knelt outside in the snow to pray. In the spot where he knelt, legend says, a beautiful plant with scarlet leaves miraculously grew, and the boy presented the poinsettia as his gift.
The Candy Cane
In Europe, they decorated their Christmas trees with white sugar candy sticks. A church official bent the ends to make it look like a shepherd's crook. They were passed out at the services to children to keep them content during the services. It wasn't until the 1900s that we put the stripes in the candy canes as we know them today.
The Christmas Tree
In the 11th century, people decorated trees with red apples to symbolize the tree of Paradise. In the 15th century, people put the trees in their houses on December 24th, which was believed to be the feast day of Adam and Eve. Prince Albert set a Christmas tree up in 1841 and was so popular everyone began putting up their own trees. They were decorated with homemade items such as candy and cookies and garlands.
Ten Commandments for a Joyful Christmas
1. Thou shalt not leave "Christ" out of Christmas, making it "Xmas." To some, "X" is an unknown.
2. Thou shalt prepare thy soul for Christmas. Spend not so much on gifts that thy soul is forgotten.
3. Thou shalt not let Santa Claus replace Christ, thus robbing the day of its spiritual reality.
4. Thou shalt not burden the shop girl, the mailman, and the merchant with complaints and demands.
5. Thou shalt give thyself with thy gift. This will increase its value a hundredfold, and he who receiveth it shall treasure it forever.
6. Thou shalt not value gifts received by their cost. Even the least expensive gift may signify love, and that is more priceless than silver and gold.
7. Thou shalt not neglect the needy. Share thy blessings with many who will go hungry and cold unless thou art generous.
8. Thou shalt not neglect thy church. Its services highlight the true meaning of the season.
9. Thou shalt be as a little child. Not until thou has become in spirit as a little one art thou ready to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
10. Thou shalt give thy heart to Christ. Let Him be at the top of thy Christmas list.
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Since Dec. 01st, 2003
Graphic by J’s Magic Christmas Graphics
Music playing is Joy To The World byIMC Midis
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