Merry Christmas... Well, not today but, it will be, and just as it is every year, it will come faster than you think. Let me just say this: The political and financial concerns of commercial Christmas has nothing to do with the actual celebration of the reason for Christmas. Jesus is the reason for the season. Let us not just say the words, let us truly believe, in the deepest part of each one of us, let us live this truth.
Isaiah 7: 13b-14 "...is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you also weary God? Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
( Is it a small thing for you to wearly men? We are concerned daily with how others see us, and the consequences of how they see us. It strikes me that what God says to Ahaz, king of Judah, we also should take to heart. If we are worried about what others think of us, concerned with defending our reputation, how much more should we be concerned with our reputation before God? )
Matthew 1: 23b "...Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."
(the difference in spelling has to do with the language differences - the old Testiment mostly written in Hebrew and the new mostly written in Greek)
Luke 2: 11 "For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2: 8-14 "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, 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 Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, laying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
And again I say to you, Merry Christmas and may the blessings of salvation be yours.
Did you know that the Sears Wishbook arrived in homes in the early days of September, and it was always welcomed. Gosh, it was fun! Those were the days when no one was complaining about how early the Christmas advertisements came. They even had a section for ordering Halloween costumes.
In September of 1971 I was near the due date for my second child, and looking at the Wishbook. When I finished I gave it to my 4 year old son to look at the toys. Later I asked him if he saw anything he liked. He said he had. He wanted a little sister. I didn't expectd that answer! So I asked, "did you find one in the book?" He said he had and did I want to see her. He said she has blond hair and she comes with a red wagon, but if the wagon doesn't come with her that's okey.
Imagine my surprise when in October I delivered a baby girl with blond hair! And yes, I ordered that red wagon from the Sears Wish Book.
Of course you're not ready! - No one is ready yet. We have all the signs, but we know that before Christmas arrives there will be
Thanksgiving!!
So we put off putting up the tree and decorating our homes. We put off planning our Christmas Dinner and our gift shopping.
Yet...
All year we know that Christmas is going to come, so we have it in our minds at all times. Why? Why is it always on our minds? Because we believe it will come.
Just as our Christmas season is a celebration of Christ's advent, so should our Thanksgiving be a time of gratitude for his provisions.
We use these events as a story board of how the signs of Christs Second Coming can be seen, so we can know that the Rapture of the Church is even closer, this is an easy way to remember:
Christmas - the 1st coming, Jesus is born.
Easter - Salvation by Jesus Blood, Jesus is our sacrifice.
Pentecost - 50 days after the resurrection, the birth of the Church.
Thanksgiving - the Rapture of the Church.
Christmas - the 2nd coming and all of Israel will be saved.
As you see the signs of the 2nd Coming, prepare yourself for the Rapture, because it comes first!
And you don't want to miss it.