The Spirit of Christmas 7 of 7

The Spirit of Christmas Revealed

                I used to be ignorant of God’s love for me. I celebrated Christmas with songs, lights, a tree, and a nativity. Gifts were given and received as a token of the season and December 26^th was just another day. One year I found that this babe in a manger gave his life, taking the judgment I deserved upon himself, so that I might be set free from the penalty of my sins. This tender child grew to be a man who lived a sinless life and taught those who followed him to love deeply and sacrificially. Before his death he told his disciples, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”  My life changed when I read this. I realized that the very Bible I was reading was an expression of love for me. God desires to make himself known to us so that we might turn to him in faith and live.

The Spirit of Christmas 6 of 7

For nothing will be impossible with God

From before the ancient days before time and space,

in eternal past you beheld your Father’s face.

Infinity was your garment, your glory filled its place

with holiness, purity, the life, the light that darkness cannot trace.

Creator of all in righteousness all was made

from nothing you formed what God your Father bade.

Your ministering spirits rejoiced while in your power stayed

though a darkening appeared when some from your dominion strayed.

Man fails, the image of your glory shamefully marredPublish Post

moved by a slanderous blasphemer a hateful murderous bard.

A heart made for communion now empty and scarred

enslaved, darkened, dead, cold, and hard.

But you foreknew this wretched fallen state

moved by pure love to change man’s hopeless tortured fate.

Child born of woman who did not know her mate

to free those bound in dismal darkness hewn by heinous hate.

Infinity traded for a lowly human birth

a precious promised redeemer of priceless worth.

From darkness and hatred, light, love, and mirth

Saving those believing who humble themselves on earth.

by Javier Caballero

The Spirit of Christmas 5 of 7

If you are not firm in FAITH, you will not be firm at all.

                Two armies surrounded the city. The king surveyed the situation. His heart sank. He didn’t have the resources to sustain or protect the people. It would only be a matter of time before they met starvation or the edge of a sword. There are moments in our lives that seem just as hopeless. Formidable circumstances present themselves and we find our resources inadequate to meet the need of the hour. How do we respond to these situations? Very often we do whatever we can just to get by. Sometimes we are tempted to do things we would otherwise think inappropriate. People depend on themselves to provide solutions to their problems. What happens when we can’t find a natural solution to the difficulties in life?