Christmastime

This was written by my co-worker, Kelli Ryan, and is just way too good not to share!

One Christmas several, several years ago we (me and Roger) were headed back to Birmingham from Atlanta. We had gone over for a Christmas party Roger's office was having, and on the way home and quite out of the blue Roger asked me what I wanted for Christmas. Now this was about a week before Christmas which surprised me because that was early for him to be asking. Oh, I’m not being too critical because he is really good at the gift thing...he’s just a last-minute shopper most of the time. Anyway, in wanting to help him out with his creative/use-your-imagination side, I said .... "Oh...I don’t know" and then added, "Really though....don’t get me anything!" Yeah, right! Now, just who would fall for that one?! Well, I’ll tell you I married no dummy and being the smart guy that he is he said, "Well how about a dog", and without any, and I do mean any, hesitation, I said "NO!".... "...unequivocally NO! We have no fence around the backyard, and I will have NO house dog!". But I sensed I probably was speaking a little more loudly and a little more harshly than I meant to so I added "...no pets right now...we’ll get one some day....you know, later on...maybe after we put up a fence." But, as far as I was concerned, that was it....END OF DISCUSSION! We got back to Birmingham, picked up the kids, and me and Abbey went shopping and left Roger and David at home. ....but could we get anything done? No!, because after an hour or so, Roger started and kept calling me on my cell phone, and he kept on and on asking when we’d be home. Well, the first time or two I was thinking "Oh, how sweet...he misses us!" but by the third or fourth time I was just thinking "What is his problem?!" I mean this is not like him....he is NOT a "phone" person nor does he usually have to know or keep up with the when’s and wherefore’s of our "travels". I mean, at the time we were a two-car/meet-you-when-we-get there family for the most part. Anyway, while I was getting agitated, Abbey was getting suspicious. The last time Roger called to see if we were "on our way" Abbey grabbed the phone and finally and boldly said, "Dad, do you have an animal there?" (...PAUSE!...).....it never crossed my mind. I mean, wasn’t it the End of Discussion! up there earlier?! So I grabbed the phone from Abbey and said "Roger Ryan, if there is a puppy or a kitten or any kind of animal at my house (... it became MY house at that point) get rid of it before I get home. Don’t want an animal! ...and I certainly don’t want to see it because if I do I will get attached to it, and I don’t want to get attached to it! Take it back!" END OF DISCUSSION! ....I think I said "bye" before hanging up???!!! But just guess what?! That little puppy almost wiggled right out of his very skin when he came running up to me when I opened that door.... like he’d known me all of his (young!) life!...and he’s loved me the very most ever since. ...the feeling is mutual! Needless to say, I got "attached", very attached, to my dog Fred! That dog has brought me such joy and delight over the years! That "present" is the very best GIFT Roger has ever given me! (... smart man, huh?!!) (...P.S. That dog is much more of a house dog than he ever thought about being a yard dog. But you figured that out already, right?!!!)

As "gifts" go, though, there is one even greater that I received at the tender young age of 8. It was the free gift of salvation through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We celebrate His holy birth this time of year every year, and I want to share this "gift" and celebrate this "gift" with you now.

Acrostic:

G - GOD’S ONLY BEGOTTEN SON ... John 3:16-17 - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through Him." That’s our man Jesus....God’s "only begotten Son". Through Him we have the very gospel of salvation - 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."

I - IMAGINE ... we can only! I mean, what a unique birth it was! Take a look at it from these "accounts" -

Mary, God’s "favored one" (Luke 1:28). See Luke 1:26-38 - but specifically let’s look at Verses 34-35 - "And Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you , and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.’ " Wow! How would we have responded? Mary humbly accepted - Verse 38: "And Mary said, ‘Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.’ ..."

Joseph, the "husband-to-be". See Matthew 1:18-25, but again let’s specifically look at some verses. Verses 20-21 - "But when he (Joseph just found out) had considered this, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.’ " ...and just what a gentlemen that man Joseph was too (...after some "heavenly" encouragement, huh?!)! Verses 24-25..."And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took her as his wife, and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus."

The Shepherds - See Luke 2:1-20. Well, we know about them. They were just out in the field minding their own business when "lo and behold" (...literally!) "...an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them , and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people (...that's us!); for today in the City of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying (...those angels were a busy bunch lately!), ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased.’ " (Verses 9-14). They went, and just guess what they found?!!!.....a sweet, precious little Baby Boy. (John 1:14 - "And the Word [Jesus Christ] became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.")

...and, even though they came later, around the time Jesus was about 2 years old, let’s include the Wise Men in this cast of characters- see Matthew 2:1-23, but specifically for now Verses 1-2: "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king (another "cast member" ... the villain), behold, Magi (a/k/a "The Wise Men") from the East arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.’ " Well, well, they have been on a "treasure hunt"...well, actually it was a "hunt" to bring "treasures" to that sweet Baby Boy whom they had already accepted as "King" without even seeing Him. (Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.").

....and it was all a part of prophecy! Take a little "trip" through the Bible (given to me by my pastor) and see for yourself....Start at Genesis 3:15 then go to Genesis 12:1-3 and then to Isaiah 7:14 and on to Matthew 1:20-23 and next to Luke 1:34-35 and finally to 1 Timothy 1:15! Wow! It was foretold!

F - FATHER ... No one gets to God the Father except through His Son. John 14:6 - "Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." This is how we get to God...through His "only begotten Son"!

T - TITLES ... and there are many which belong to Jesus, among which are: Isaiah 7:14 - "Immanuel" - see also Matthew 1:23 - "Immanuel which translated means ‘God with us’ ", and Isaiah 9:6 - "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace". ...and in the end..."Therefore also God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:9-11. What’s in a name? Everything!...1 Timothy 6:15-16 - "...He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords; who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen." ..."I and the Father are one." - John 10:30...that’s Jesus speaking.

A GIFT!....that’s what Jesus Christ is to us!

Someone E-Mailed me a "share-it-with-everyone" INVITATION to a Party (author unknown), and I want to share it with you. "There’s a party going on" just like the song says, and we are invited!.......

You are cordially invited to ...

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!!!

Guest of Honor: JESUS CHRIST

Date: Every day. (Traditionally, December 25, but He's always around, so the date is flexible.)

Time: Whenever you're ready. (Please don't be late, though, or you'll miss out on all the fun!)

Place: In your heart.... He'll meet you there. (You'll hear Him knock.)

Attire: Come as you are... grubbies are okay. (He'll be washing our clothes anyway. He said something about new white robes and crowns for everyone who stays till the last.)

Tickets: Admission is FREE. He's already paid for everyone. (He says you wouldn't have been able to afford it anyway...it cost Him everything He had. But, you do need to accept the ticket!!)
Refreshments: New wine, bread, and a far-out drink He calls "Living Water," followed by a supper that promises to be out of this world!

Entertainment: Joy, Peace, Truth, Light, Life, Love, Real Happiness, Communion with God, Forgiveness, Miracles, Healing, Power, Eternity in Paradise, Contentment, and much more!

R.S.V.P. Very Important! He must know ahead so He can reserve a spot for you at the table. Also, He's keeping a list of His friends for future reference. He calls it the "Lamb's Book of Life."

The thing is - at this Party, we get the GIFT! The GIFT of Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. So y’all come! He paid the price - it’s totally FREE! Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." It’s the GIFT that "keeps on giving"!

...and since it is a Birthday Party, I think a song would be in order, and the children from my church once sang the most wonderful "birthday" celebration song......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jesus!
I’m so glad it’s Christmas.
All the tinsel and lights and the presents are nice
But the real GIFT is You!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jesus!
I’m so glad it’s Christmas.
All the carols and bells make the Holiday swell
And it’s all about You!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jesus!
JESUS, I LOVE YOU!

He is the "Reason for the Season"! .... "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" - 2 Corinthians 9:15.

... and this Christmas as you are wrapping your gifts and opening presents just remember that it isn't about the presents, it's about HIS PRESENCE! Amen? Amen and Amen!!

Merry CHRISTmas to you and all of yours!
Kelli

(For other Bible studies and resources, please visit www.doctrinalstudies.com - and me, there at "Kelli's Korner".)