“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the Lord returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:7–10
I received the following story from Dr. Randy Kohl recently and thought these words were really special and timely and better than anything I could write today. The title is “WHO STARTED CHRISTMAS?”
This morning I heard a story on the radio of a woman who was out
Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at
row after row of toys and everything else imaginable. And after hours of
hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many
shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids.
She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season time
of the year. Overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every
housewarming, taste all the holiday food and treats, getting that
perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, making sure
we don't forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure
we respond to everyone who sent us a card.
Finally, the elevator doors opened and there was already a crowd in the parking garage. She pushed her way into the shuttle bus and dragged her two kids in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors were closed, she couldn't take it anymore and stated, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot." From the back of the bus everyone heard a quiet calm voice respond, "Don't worry we already crucified him." For the rest of the trip to their car, it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.
Don't forget this year to keep the One who started this whole Christmas
thing in your every thought, deed, purchase, and word. If we all did it,
just think of how different this whole world would be. Author Unknown
O God the Father, I praise You for the gift of Your Son, who was born in the poverty and lowliness of Bethlehem, so that I might enjoy the riches of Your grace and the exaltation of sonship with You.
O God the Son, I adore You for humbling Yourself to be my Savior, for bearing my sins in Your own body and for rendering to my Father in Heaven a perfect satisfaction for my sins.
O God the Holy Spirit, I glorify You for having made my heart a home for the Savior of this fallen world and for bringing the peace of forgiveness to my soul through faith in Him who is the Prince of Peace.
O God the blessed Trinity, on this Holy day, give me a humble and contrite heart that I may joyfully claim the Babe of Bethlehem as my Lord and God. Remove from me the tattered robes of my own righteousness and adorn me with the spotless garment of Christ’s righteousness.
May I use every gift received this day from loving friends and family to remind me of the gift of a Savior so that my tongue can sing “Glory to God in the highest!” Holy Spirit, help me to cradle the Christ Child in my heart and give me the grace and strength to love and adore Him all the days of my life. In His most Holy name I pray. Amen.