By: Dale Weckbacher
Tomorrow is Christmas.
It can be a time of great stress and fatigue with last minute packages
to buy and wrap, food to buy and prepare, and if you happen to be hosting
friends and family, a time of getting the house ready for guests. There is also unrest in our society with
riots, especially in Ferguson that have disrupted what should be a joyous
season for people. Many also remain out
of work or are relegated to having to work part-time.
I especially encourage everyone to remember the families of
the two police officers in New York that were brutally assassinated this past
Saturday just because they wear the uniform.
These families no doubt had plans for a joyous celebration with family
and friends tomorrow but now have to plan a funeral for their lost loved
one. I pray that they find peace that
can only come from the Prince of Peace in the middle of this tremendous loss.
It is the birth of the Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, and
Savior that is the true meaning for Christmas.
I want to take this opportunity to wish all of my readers a Merry
Christmas. I also urge you to take a
brief pause from the busyness of the season and read the account of the first
Christmas as written in the Gospel of Luke.
1 And it came to pass in those days
that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be
registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.
3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee,
out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called
Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered
with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they
were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought
forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a
manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 Now there were in the same
country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by
night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of
the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel
said to them,"Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of
great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in
the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the
sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 "Glory to God in the
highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward
men!"
15 So it was, when the angels had
gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another,
"Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass,
which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they came with haste and
found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had
seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this
Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told
them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in
her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all
the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
(Luke 2:1-20, NKJV)
Merry Christmas everyone and may
the peace that can only come from the Prince of Peace rein in your life.
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