Who Needs Santa

One of the children in line at the mall waiting to see Santa Claus said.."Who needs Santa Claus when you’ve got Grandparents!" It is impossible, in our family, for Grandma to go overboard when it comes to Christmas gifts for the grandkids. There’s only one problem at this point...she has only 363 days left to shop for next year. One of the great things about shopping for the really young ones is that most generally they are just as fascinated by the box as the present in it. Here is a video of our youngest granddaughter who is just enamored by a $5.00 battery operated Santa playing.."We Wish you a Merry Christmas" on a violin. This little device has turned out to be quite a "baby sitter" for Grandma.

The Incarnation

Lu 1:34-35 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Can it be anything less than absolute amazement when one ponders the fact that the second person of the Godhead took on human flesh and became man? One of us. The Apostle John put it forcefully but without hyperbole, "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth". (Jo 1:14 )

I mean, what illustration could one use to explain the fact that the Triune God sent forth His Son to become one of us? "...Unto us a Son is given..." as Isa 9:6 says...BUT it was not just any son. Something very special was taking place that night in a little town called Bethlehem. Not just a son was born, not just an ordinary child was born...but the Son of God was given..to whom?...UNTO US! Can you imagine it? Can we fathom for a moment the awesome wonder of that night when the fulness of time had come? It was President Nixon who said the greatest week in all of history was when man set foot upon the moon, and nothing has changed the world more than this. Nixon was wrong! Here we have the God of all creation...owner of all the stars and planets, the galaxies and the moons setting His foot upon His Earth... "...the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power.."He set foot upon His Earth...and John testifies.."we beheld His glory". Emmanuel, God with us! Who knew what was happening that night?

Just a few, as it turns out. Shepherds on the night shift. The spirit world rolled back the curtain between heaven and Earth and an angel of the Lord appeared along with the glory of the Lord..he announced the birth: "... behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." And SUDDENLY a multitude of the heavenly host was with the angel and they shouted: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Prior to all this the angel said to the shepherds..."fear not". Can you imagine being one of the shepherds that night? God...is showing forth, this night, His Peace, His "good will toward men". The great Reconciler, Savior, Redeemer, the One who takes away sin has entered into humanity....God with us..Emmanuel. This is what this Advent season is all about. "We hear the Christmas angels, The great glad tidings tell, O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel" This is worthy of Celebration! Merry Christmas!

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow

Praise Him, all creatures here below

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Chump Change

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Auto-crat

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But For Grace...

Riches Have Wings

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Lost in the Hustle and Bustle

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Oh, by the way--- "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Hat Tip: Krista