What it's all about

One of our traditions in the M family is that my Dad would read the Christmas story from Luke's gospel on Christmas morning before we would open our presents. I just came from the first Christmas Eve service I can remember where my Dad wasn't there, because he was in too much pain to sit that long. (He had spinal fusion surgery in April.)

It's been a hard year. But praise God, He cares about Dad, about you, about me. The first glimpses of that in human form came in the form of a helpless baby. Here it is, what this season is all about...

1 At that time Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 When this first census took place, Quirinius was the governor of Syria. 3 Everyone, then, went to register himself, each to his own hometown.4 Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, the birthplace of King David. Joseph went there because he was a descendant of David. 5 He went to register with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him. She was pregnant, 6 and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby. 7 She gave birth to her first son, wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger—there was no room for them to stay in the inn.The Shepherds and the Angels8 There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. 9  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them. They were terribly afraid, 10 but the angel said to them, “Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. 11 This very day in David's town your Savior was born—Christ the Lord! 12 And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”13 Suddenly a great army of heaven's angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God:14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!”15 When the angels went away from them back into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and saw the baby lying in the manger. 17 When the shepherds saw him, they told them what the angel had said about the child. 18 All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said. 19 Mary remembered all these things and thought deeply about them. 20 The shepherds went back, singing praises to God for all they had heard and seen; it had been just as the angel had told them.--Luke 2:1-20 | GNT

Merry CHRISTmas!

His Name is Called...

EMMANU-EL.

God with us.

Matthew 1:23,KJV: "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

Of all of Jesus' wonderful names, I think this one is my favorite, and the one that brings the most comfort, especially as a single woman who is often lonely, even when I'm not alone.  To think of all Jesus left in Heaven to come here to earth and live as a man - and then die the horrible death He did - just for you and for me, is amazing.  He came, to be with us.  So the lonely need be lonely no more. 

Wherever this finds you, this weekend before Christmas, stop for a second and praise the Lord that He came to be WITH US.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Traditions

I'm linking up today with Kelly's Korner about Christmas traditions.

Growing up, we lived in Ohio far away from both sets of grandparents - Mom's parents were in NY state and Dad's in TX.  So it was generally just the 5 of us for Christmas.  We went to church on Christmas Eve and then afterwards were allowed to open one gift, and it was usually the gift from my Dad's mother and stepfather (not sure why, it just was).

Christmas morning, before any presents were opened, my Dad would read the Christmas story from the Bible, in Luke.

Then one by one, we would open gifts one at a time, so we could see what everyone got - so Dad would open one, then Mom would open one, then I would, then brother #1 would, then brother #2 would, then back to Dad again, etc. until we were finished with all the presents.  I prefer this method over everyone tearing into everything and no one knowing what each other got and seeing the expression on each other's face when Mom opened your present, etc.

Then, we kids would lay out our presents on the sofa on display so Dad could take pictures of what we got to send to grandparents and for the record in our photo albums.  We were blessed that we always had great Christmases - nothing lavish - my Mom didn't work outside the home until my youngest brother went to school, and when she did 100% of it went to college savings - but we got (what I now understand to be) generous presents each year.

Throughout Christmas Day, we would play Handel's Messiah on the record player (yes, I'm that old!)  That's some of my favorite music ever.  We talked to our grandparents on the phone - which, because it was expensive to talk long distance - was a special thing.  We had Christmas dinner - usually ham, Mom's broccoli/green bean casserole, crescent rolls, some kind of jello salad, then pecan and some other kind of pie.  There were probably mashed potatoes but since I don't care for those I don't remember!

From the time I was 12 years old throughout my junior year of high school, Christmas morning also involved delivering the ginormous newspapers first.  My parents were so "generous" to give me a paper route for my 12th birthday.  To their credit, they did a LOT of the work and that money went to pay for college.  The papers were so huge Christmas morning because they had all the day-after-Christmas sale ads in them.

Unfortunately with us now geographically spread out in 3 states and by thousands of miles, my two brothers and their families, Mom and Dad and I haven't been together for Christmas since the last one at the homestead in Lima, OH in 2005.  Maybe some day it will work out.  Mom & Dad have stockings for everyone just in case - including an extra for my spouse-to-be in case the Lord brings one, just so it will match with all the others! :)

So for the past 6 Christmases and this one too, it will be Mom and Dad and I in Houston at their house.  Thanks to the wonderful technology of FaceTime, hopefully we will see my brothers and their families and be able to talk to them sometime that day.  Later in the afternoon, my Dad's side of the family - his sister and her children and their children - will get together for dinner and we will enjoy being part of that.  Since 2001 when I moved down here to TX I have enjoyed being part of a large extended family Christmas dinner.

But if you had to ask me my favorite traditions, I would say listening to Dad read from Luke and listening to Handel's Messiah play in the background.  Because if we lose sight of what Christmas is all about, all the traditions in the world are just worthless.

Merry Christmas!

...A Child is Born!

Every Christmas morning since I can remember, my Dad has read THE Christmas story from Luke 2...always it was in this version, so that's what I'll share with you...Merry CHRISTmas to you and yours! We have so very many things to praise our Infant Savior King for!

Luke 2

¹And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

²(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

⁶And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

¹⁵And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

¹⁶And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

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

¹⁸And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

For Unto Us...

Isaiah 9

⁶For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

⁷There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

As songwriters and poets have testified over time, there’s something very special about a White Christmas. For us Christians, there are such eternal analogies within this beautiful wonder. Sitting inside the warmth of my parent’s house in northwestern Ohio one Christmas morning, I looked with amazement on the many inches of pure white snow. I couldn’t help praising our mighty God for the cleansing power of His saving blood over the blackness of my sin. May we never forget the miracle of salvation that began on earth with a tiny baby whose birth we celebrate during the Christmas season. May we be often reminded of this life-changing truth each time we delight in the pleasure of clean white snow!

“O Loving and kind God, have mercy. Have pity upon me and take away the awful stain of my transgressions. Oh, wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be pure again…sprinkle me with the cleansing blood and I shall be clean again. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.” Ps. 51:1-2, 7 TLB

A Christmas Snow

The clean beauty of the snow
Silently covers all the earth

Much like my Lord did show

His love, which gives to me my worth

For as sparkling and pure

As untouched snow

Is the state of my heart,

Because to Calvary He did go

Unspeakable beauty,

Unfathomable grace

Unthinkable mercy

You died in my place.

This gorgeous reminder

Of your cleansing salvation

This snowy wonderland’s

Such a magnificent creation

Thanks, Lord, for the pleasure

Of a world so crystal white

But so much greater is the cleansing

That made my heart aright

This white Christmas gift

Outside and within

Praise floods my heart

Where can I begin?

May I ever praise you

For the cleansing of my soul

As I gaze at the beauty

Of this freshly fallen snow!

Because He Came

While all these things are wonderful parts of the Christmas season, there is so much more to this holiday! You see, if Jesus hadn’t come, we would have no Easter—no cross—and therefore no salvation! So while we’re celebrating the wonder of this season, let’s remember that the Greatest Gift ever is Jesus, and He desires to have first place in our hearts. He came so that we would be His—let’s live like we are and tell everyone we know how our lives are different all because He came!

“’And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’ So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’.”

Because He Came

Because He came that holy night

We can now know His awesome power and might

Though helpless as a baby on that night long ago

Our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus never succumbs to His foes.

Because He came we have the greatest gift

Emmanuel, God with us—gives our spirits a lift

For this tiny baby grew up to be the Man

Who died to provide salvation to every woman, child and man.

Because He came we can have such hope

No matter how painful life may get, we can always cope

For in His grace and His mercy His love He imparts

We need only be willing and open our hearts.

Because He came there’s life after this

If I didn’t say this, I’d be so remiss:

What have YOU done with God’s greatest gift?

Have you openly received and partaken of it?

Or have you sealed up your heart as tight as a drum

Placing the Gift on the shelf so it’s touched by no one?

Oh surrender now to receive His grace

The forgiveness you need is found in His face

God’s greatest gift, Jesus, can be yours now—forever

No matter what you do, His love you can’t sever!

Because He came, the world’s never been the same

Nor our hearts, for His gift eternal changes have made

So now we can say “Merry Christmas” all because He came!