Tag Archives: Christmas gift

The Christmas gift of eternal love

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“For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ The Lord!” Luke 2:11

 

 

Our most urgent prayers have been answered, our waiting has been fulfilled. A Son has been born and He will rule forever as our mighty God, our wonderful counselor, our prince of peace. We hope you enjoy unwrapping the most precious gift of Christmas, the gift of Jesus who was given “unto you.”

 

Did you know that the most known bible verse is all about Christmas? “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

 

The Christmas story is the fulfillment of that promise, God sending us a Savior. It is the mark of His love for us. I hope you’ve responded to that love by accepting His gift and setting Him on the throne of your life.

 

We’ve made Christmas about giving presents. But the best Christmas gift is sharing the presence of God in your life. And we do this by letting our lives be marked by His unending love, especially at Christmas and always:

 

Love is patient. Don’t let the hustle and bustle of Christmas ruin your celebration. Practice patience. Don’t give in to judging others or get upset by trivial things. Let your love be patient.

 

Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Be happy for others and be happy with what you have. Whatever your lot in life, chances are many others would be glad to exchange their troubles for yours. Everyone is fighting a hard battle. Let your love be kind.

 

Love does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. An important lesson in life is learning “It is not all about me.” The best way of seeing others is through God’s eyes. Let your love known as a peacemaker who values others.

 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. The job of truth is to protect our trust and our hope. Truth pushes us to persevere to reach the prize. Let your love be truthful, honest, hopeful, and persevering, a beacon to others.

 

Love never fails. We fail but God’s love is enduring. Don’t give up when you goof up. Let His perfect love speak consistently through you.

 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Let God’s unending love be the best present you give to yourself and others this Christmas!

 

A very blessed Christmas to all our readers.

 

 

The Christmas gift of peace

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And he will be called “The Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6

 

I love Christmas Eve. I love it when work stops, the presents are wrapped, preparations are completed, and the hectic pace of the holiday part of Christmas slows down. And for a moment, there is peace.

 

Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright.

 

Jesus is the Prince of Peace. We know that He came to the world to bring us peace, a peace that transcends all understanding. He offers a peace that is different from what the world offers, a peace that overcomes our troubles. It’s the calm that remains in us even when the storm rages around us. It’s the confidence that our circumstances don’t define who we are. It isn’t the false peace of this world but a real peace that permeates our life and overflows onto others around us.

 

Jesus brings us peace so that we can bring peace to others. He calls us to be peacemakers in a world of warring relationships.

 

Sometimes Christmas gatherings are anything but peaceful. Too often they are marked by the busyness of preparations, the chaos of excitement or sadly, the bitterness of conflict. How can we be peacemakers in these and other situations?

 

Exhibit humility and gentleness. (Ephesians 4:2)

 

Put others first (Philippians 2:3-4). This sometimes means overlooking when others are inconsiderate to us.

 

Be patient and wise. (Proverbs 19:11) Strive to maintain relationships more than differences of opinion.

 

Avoid unnecessary quarrels. (Proverbs 17:14) Learn to appreciate others who think differently from you. It’s not your job to change everyone to think just like you. Our job is to shine a helping light, not to blind them with our insisting ways. It’s God’s job to change people.

 

Let love be your guide. (1 Peter 4:8) Love covers a multitude of sins.

 

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32).

 

Don’t let annoyances and conflicts ruin your Christmas. Receive the Christmas gift of peace that the Prince of Peace offers you and BE the gift of peace to others.

 

 

The everlasting Christmas gift of hope

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Everlasting Father

Everlasting. Eternal. Never changing. Forever the same.

 

Just as you and I like to take snapshots of our children when they are born, so the birth of baby Jesus is a snapshot in his life. But what is different about Jesus is that he has always existed. He was with God the Father when the worlds were created (and before). He lived on earth fully God and yet fully man. He lives forever, sitting at the right hand of His Heavenly Father, forever, for everlasting. This is the Jesus we worship at Christmas.

 

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8  God’s love endures forever.

 

The everlasting nature of Jesus conveys stability, confidence, trust. Life brings turmoil and trouble. It shakes us. We are tempted to worry and despair. But our foundation and our refuge and strength is everlasting. God doesn’t change. When something is everlasting we can depend on it, trust it. We don’t have any frame of reference for this on earth. I think of mountains as being everlasting, but even they are sometimes shaken and moved. Only the Everlasting Father is unchanging. In him we can safely and securely place our hope.

 

We may hope for safe travels to a reunion. We may hope for a nice time with family and friends. We may hope for a nice present. We may hope for peace on earth.  But the children of the one true everlasting God, those who trust in his son, have “the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.” (Titus 1:2) It is the Christmas gift of everlasting hope that is found at the feet of Jesus.

 

May Christmas fill you with such everlasting hope.

 

 

The Christmas gift of strength

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Mighty God

For unto us a child is born. To us a son is given. And the government will be upon His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful counselor,  mighty God, everlasting Father,  Prince of Peace.”  – Isaiah 9:6

 

The birth of Jesus is not only about the arrival of a baby. It is the fulfillment of his reign as “mighty God”. Jesus “is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3). He is our “mighty God”. What a mighty God we serve! Jeremiah 10:6 says, “No one is like you, LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.”

 

The strength of the Lord is OUR strength too.

 

We think we can be strong, but there come trials that test our resolve and find us wanting. We are not the captains of our own destiny. We don’t control the forces that surround us. We aren’t strong enough to bear the pressures that weigh on us. BUT… we do have strength available to us and it comes from God.

 

Psalm 46 proclaims “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”   The psalmist sings, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” (Psalm 28:7)

 

The truth of Christmas is that this fragile baby lying in a manger is the source of our strength. What a mighty God we serve! Unwrap the Christmas gift of his strength and discover the full power of Christmas alive in you.