Thought of the Day - 16

“One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph 

wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. 

The innkeeper was not hostile; he was not opposed to them, 

but his inn was crowded; his hands were full; 

his mind was preoccupied. 

This is the answer that millions are giving today. 

Like a Bethlehem innkeeper, they cannot find room for Christ.

 All the accommodations in their hearts are 

already taken up by other crowding interests. 

Their response is not atheism. It is not defiance. 

It is preoccupation and the feeling of being able to get on 

reasonably well without Christianity.” 

- Billy Graham

Thought of the Day - 15

The three wise men came to give Jesus gifts. First, gold, which was often reserved for royalty. The Magi had seen the star and they recognized the signal of the star in the sky that an important birth had occurred. The gift represented the fact that Jesus was royal.  Second, frankincense, it was a highly valued commodity and somewhat rare. The Jewish people had a common use for frankincense that was directly connected to the worship of God. The smoke rising from the altar of incense represented the prayers of the people rising to God in heaven. The Magi presenting this gift to Jesus represents the fact that He was indeed divine. Third, myrrh, was extremely valuable and had a number of uses. The most common use was a perfume. The major use of myrrh was for burials. Myrrh was placed on the cloths used to wrap bodies for burial to help prevent the smell of decay following death. The Magi presented this gift to Jesus as a representation that He would one day die. The gift almost seems to convey the fact that Jesus was born to die.  We also need to recognize that they brought a fourth gift that is often forgotten by many. After they laid their treasures down before Mary and Joseph, they worshipped Jesus. These wise men also came to proclaim that they believed Jesus to be the King of kings. The greatest gift that we can offer to Jesus this Christmas is our praise and worship. 

(Used with permission by Pastor David DeWitt)

Away in the Manger... - Day 14

What was the first Christmas carol?  Not, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" or "The First Noel" or "Away in the Manger."

No, not, any ones that we normally sing.  

It was a Heavenly chorus of, 

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”  

How interesting that those should be the first words said about the Lord Jesus in praise. 

We see that God was pointing out that peace was the mission of sending Jesus and that though Him favor rests on the inhabitants of the earth.  A way was made in the manger to bring peace between man and God! It doesn't get much greater than that!

Thought of the Day - 12

Let the just rejoice,

for their justifier is born.

Let the sick and infirm rejoice,

For their saviour is born.

Let the captives rejoice,

For their Redeemer is born.

Let slaves rejoice,

for their Master is born.

Let free men rejoice,

For their Liberator is born.

Let All Christians rejoice,

For Jesus Christ is born.

- St. Augustine of Hippo 

(AD 354-440)

Thought of the Day - 11

“It is here, in the thing that happened at the first Christmas, 

that the most profoundunfathomable depths of the Christian revelation lie. 

God became man;... 

the Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, 

unable to do more than lie and stare and wriggle and make noises, 

needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child... 

The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets.

Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the incarnation.” 

- J. I. Packer

Thought of the Day - 8

“The very purpose of Christ's coming 

into the world was that He might

 offer up His life as a sacrifice for the sins of men.  

He came to die.

  This is the heart of Christmas.” 

-Billy Graham

Thought of the Day - 5

“The Christ-child lay on Mary's lap, His hair was like a light.

(Oh weary, weary was the world, but here is all alright.)

Ah, dearest Jesus, Holy Child, make thee bed, soft, undefiled

Within my heart, that it may be, a quiet chamber, kept for Thee.

My heart for very joy does leap, my lips no more can silence keep,

I must sing with joyful tongue, that sweetest ancient cradle song.”

-G. K. Chesterton

Thought of the Day - 2

"Jesus Christ became Incarnate for one purpose, to make a way back to God that man might stand before Him as he was created to do, the friend and lover of God Himself.”  

- Oswald Chambers