NOT JUST A BABY

No matter what the world says--IT IS CHRISTMAS TIME--the most celebrated Christian holiday all around the world. It is OUR day and we should not back down from our celebration. We carry in our hearts the greatest TRUTH to all men everywhere--God's grace and mercy for all who will believe and receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord. The sinner has been forgiven and born again by the Holy Spirit.

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son and whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His son into the world to CONDEMN the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is NOT condemned, but whoever DOES NOT believe is condemned already, because He has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment. The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  But WHOEVER does what is true, comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God." (John 3:1-21)

When I was growing up, the Christmas pageant was the highlight our church's celebration. I always wanted to play Mary, but settled for being an angel.  One year my mother made me incredible angel's wings out of coat hangers and white crepe paper. I will never forget them.  They looked so real.  My father for years played the third wise man, singing the third verse of  'We Three Kings' as he came up the center aisle, to kneel before the baby Jesus.

 The pageant left such an impression on my mind, that when we had grandchildren, we started our own Christmas pageant tradition.  For fifteen years,the grand children would dress up and play their parts.  O course, the part of Mary would have to be shared. Often when there was a newborn that year, we had a REAL baby Jesus.  Pop-Pop read the Christmas story and the children acted it out.  I was the coach behind the scenes.  As each grandchild grew older, they would help me dress the younger ones and teach them their parts or lead in singing.  With thirteen grandchildren, you can see that we had plenty of actors. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY FAITHFUL READERS, YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. CHRISTMAS DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN REMEMBERING THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. CHRISTIANITY IS THE ONLY  FAITH WHERE GOD SO LOVED THE THE WORLD THAT HE CAME DOWN TO DIE FOR OUR SINS AND TO BRING US BACK TO HIMSELF. MAY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST ALWAYS BE THE GREATEST CHRISTMAS GIFT YOU WILL EVER RECEIVE.