Christmas \u2013 that golden time when the world halts its everyday routine for something special \u2013 is over.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Candle lit services and Christmas pageants are a memory.\u00a0 Gifts have been opened, bows tossed, stockings removed from the mantle, and carols sung.\u00a0 The smell of star shaped butter cookies has faded and gingerbread houses are crumbs.\u00a0 Those festive meals are now extra pounds, but worth every bite.\u00a0 New addresses on Christmas cards from old friends have been recorded.\u00a0 The last phone call to that distant loved one has ended.<\/p>\n
As we drink the last of the eggnog, the ornaments are stored and the tree comes down.\u00a0 Now there are bills to pay, clearance items to buy, and presents to return for what we really want.\u00a0 (I love gift receipts!)\u00a0 Soon our daily routine returns and we forget what all the celebrating was about.\u00a0 That\u2019s too bad because the birth of Christ is just the beginning, not an end.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Titus 3:4-7 tells us, \u201cBut after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
This child of promise, born in a stable\u2019s manger in Bethlehem is God come to live and dwell among us and in us.\u00a0 He came to serve, heal, comfort, and redeem.\u00a0 He is our Savior and friend.\u00a0\u00a0 He came to save us (Titus 3:5) and do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.\u00a0 Not because we are worthy, but because he loves us.\u00a0 And in this Christ child we have the inheritance of eternal life.<\/p>\n
This is indeed cause for great celebration!\u00a0 This good news cannot be confined to just one day on December 25th<\/sup>.\u00a0 The true Christmas is about Christ.\u00a0 It lasts all year long and is continuously filled with gifts of faith, hope, love, truth and peace \u2013 all wrapped in a ribbon of God\u2019s grace!\u00a0 We need to keep Christmas every day of the year!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Christmas \u2013 that golden time when the world halts its everyday routine for something special \u2013 is over.\u00a0 Candle lit services and Christmas pageants are a memory.\u00a0 Gifts have been opened, bows tossed, stockings removed from the mantle, and carols … Continue reading