Emmanuel - God with Us

  “And this is Love; not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son, as a living sacrifice for our sins.   1 John 4:10

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17

Reread the verses and let them really soak in.  You don’t want to miss it!

God’s Love is something we cannot completely understand.  It is immeasurable and selfless.  Because of this love for you and for me, God sent Jesus. 

We needed to be rescued, to be shown the way out of darkness. So God sent his own Son.  He knew the only way we could truly be free from darkness was for Jesus to come and take away the sin of the world.  This is the gospel, which means, “good news,” and that is the understatement of the century.  The news is so good - so outrageously wonderful, that the world finds it difficult to believe.  A cure has been discovered for the common sin.  This gift of love pays the price for the evil and ugliness we each have in us.  God chose to send Jesus.  As we celebrate Christmas, the birth of Christ, remember his birth truly was the beginning of his utmost sacrifice and love for mankind.  “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  John 1:29

For you and your family, what will 2021 look like?  Start with Christmas.  Spend time together in His Word. Reflect on who this baby Jesus really was and what this really means to the world; Emmanuel, God with us!  Be sure to view all the gifts you receive as reminders of the ultimate Gift from God - the Christ-child.  

Have a blessed and wonderful Christmas,
Jodie

To you God gives his most precious gift, his only son Jesus, so that you may live with him forever.

Christmas Morning Celebration - Jesus Has Come!

Today we are celebrating the gift of Jesus, the promised savior sent for us.  At the perfect time, and in the perfect way, and because God loves us, He sent His Son Jesus to be born into the world.  God the Creator became “God with us” (Matthew 1:21-23). Jesus was born as a baby.  He lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again.  Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be called children of God.  This is the best gift ever! 

The following are some ideas for you and your family to be used on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.  Each home is unique, so pick and choose what will best for you.  The main thing is to be sure to stop to celebrate the true meaning of this season. 

1. Play Christmas Carols/songs throughout the morning (sing along!)
2. STOP- (pause to begin your Christmas with Christ in the center).
3. Light a candle (to remember how Jesus came to be the light of the world)
4. For families with young children, sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus.
5. Read the Christmas Story found in Luke 2:11-32. Recite John 3:16.

Families with young children:  Tell the Christmas Story to your Children.  (Use a children’s version of the Bible, or a Christmas Story Book with pictures.) 

6. Questions to Focus on:

• Why do we celebrate Christmas? (because of Jesus)
• Who is Jesus? (God’s Son)
• Why did He come to this earth? (to rescue us from sin- to provide a way back to God)

7. Discussion:  Who could we encourage today with the Love of Christ?  Who do we know that needs to hear about Jesus and the “good news?”
8. Prayer: Thank Jesus for coming to be the Light of the world.  Praise Him for coming to be the greatest gift for everyone who trusts in Him as Savior. 

*As you open up gifts, be sure to view all the gifts you receive as reminders of the ultimate Gift from God-the Christ-child. 

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”