Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

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.

Reflection:

That's what it's all about!  Amid all the
gifts, the wrapping paper, the boxes.
Amid all the pain that so many are
suffering with.  Amid death, destruction,
genocide, drug addiction, physical
abuse, sexual abuse.  Amid the
beauty of creation, amid the love
and compassion we share with
each other.  Amid All of this, THERE
IS ONE GIFT, a gift that will last
forever.  There is no refund and no
return.  This gift will be with you the
rest of your life, as matter of fact,
this gift will extend your life for an
eternity. 
THAT'S RIGHT THIS GIFT IS A
BABY!! THE SAVIOR WHICH IS
CHRIST THE LORD. 
TAKE THIS GIFT OR LEAVE THIS
GIFT IT IS UP TO YOU!!!!

Prayer:

Thank you God that You so loved
the world, that You gave Your only
begotten Son, that whosoever believes 
in Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.

Thank you God that You sent not Your
Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through Him might be saved.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
GOD HAS BLESSED US ONE AND ALL.

by
Ron Walters

"I love to tell the story. For those
who know it best seem hungering
and thirsting to hear it like the rest."

It was little ol' Bethlehem, but it was
big enough. The omnipresent God
had no problems fitting in. It was
quite a contrast trading the throne
room of heaven for a stable, angels
for cattle, hallelujahs for a lullaby.
Bethlehem had its share of visitors,
but never one like this. The prophets
had given the pieces of the puzzle,
but at first glance they didn't seem
to fit. The Alpha and Omega was
born. The Ancient of Days had the
skin of a newborn. The same voice
which spoke the creation into being
had the familiar ring of baby-talk.
A child was born of a virgin.

It was a typical Bethlehem night,
dinner was a memory, chores were
all done, parents were tucking in
their sleepy kids. The stars were out,
but nothing else. The weary town
had said "Good Night". It was a
night like any other, yet it was a
night the world will never forget.

It was a first. Never before had
The Eternal become so tiny, the
Almighty become so helpless.
He had out-muscled Pharaoh's
army, now he was held in Mary's
arms. The eyes that see the
beginning to the end, could hardly
open. The God who never slumbers
was now fast asleep. Everything was
perfect.

Angels were dispatched to spread
the word. First stop--a group of
shepherds. It was Good News! It
was Great Joy! It was just one
sentence, only one verse, 19 small
words, "For unto you is born this
day in the city of David a Savior,
which is Christ the Lord." The
announcement needed no
explanation, only directions.
"You'll find the babe lying in
a manger." Finally the wait was
over. The Messiah had come.
Nothing else mattered, not the
late hour, not the restless sheep--
nothing. This was a birthday party
they couldn't miss. The announcement
became an invitation. This God-child
was accessible to lowly shepherds.
Fear was replaced by excitement,
doubts with hope.

One can only imagine the thoughts
of those shepherds as they found the
baby-king. There was no entourage,
no royal ceremony, no lights, music,
feasting. There was no need for those
things. They would have been out of
place. Nothing added could have
enhanced the wonder of God becoming
flesh. Some appearances don't need an
opening act.

There they were. Quiet, perhaps.
Motionless, no doubt. Wondering
"What now?" They must have thought
about Israel's future, or even the dreaded
Romans. Someone probably asked to
hold the baby. One confused shepherd
probably wished he had paid attention
in Sabbath School. Another may have
remembered the prophets words "For
unto us a child is born, unto us a son i
s given; and the government will be upon
His shoulders; and His name shall be
called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty
God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince
of Peace".

Did they see the irony? They had been
watching Bethlehem's sheep, yet now
they were beholding the Lamb of God.
For years they had supplied animals for
the annual sacrifice. But at this moment
God had supplied the eternal sacrifice for
the sins of the world. Their business was
in jeopardy but their salvation was secure.

They were all eye-witnesses. Every detail
was studied. Every word was memorized.
For years they must have told and retold
the accounts. Consequently the story has
been told to every generation.

Now it's our turn to tell and retell the story.
The story that never grows old.

"And when in scenes of glory I sing the new,
new song, 'twill be the old, old story that I
have loved so long".


Blessings,

by
Ron Walters

The incarnation; it defies description.
The eternal God became mortal man.
The potter became clay. The Maker
of all took residence in a manger of
hay. Nothing could be more diametrically
diverse. No wonder the angels long
to look into the situation.

To those of us who've heard the
story all our lives, it seems so normal.
But, to those who've never heard, it
must sound absurd. Such was the
world Jesus was born into. They had
never read the Christmas story, or seen
it portrayed by children each year in church.
To them, it was the simple reality that
this child was different. His birth, His
development, His mission were all very
strange.

Everyone knows where children come
from. But, on very rare occasions God
has chosen to mix things up. Adam, for
example, came into being without a man
or a woman. Eve, on the other hand, came
from man and no woman. On one occasion,
God chose a couple too old to have kids
to bring young Isaac into the world. But,
never had a woman given birth without the
aid of a man. God had saved the best for last.
"A virgin shall be with child and bear a Son,
and she will call His name Immanuel."

Of all people, you and I are most fortunate.
We've been given the privilege to tell this
Christmas story again this year. I hope
you're as excited as I am!


Blessings,