Good Tidings of Great Joy

Celebrating God’s Gift

One figure stands above all others throughout history, not because He was able to conquer by great power to take what He wanted against men’s will. Contrary to human nature, Jesus conquers men’s hearts by great love through what He freely gave.

The Prophecy – Born to Die for Us

“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. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
(Luke 2:10-11 NKJV)

The Fulfillment

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
(John 3:16 NKJV)

The Future Hope Assured

” And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.”
(Rev 21:4-6 NKJV)

Sending Wishes for a Merry Christmas with All Our Love to Everyone !

The First Christmas Gift – God Came Down To Us

 

 

The First Christmas Gift – God Came Down To Us

Click on this link above to watch an amazing Christmas pageant by Kensington Church in Troy Michigan.

The humorous intro includes NFL ,(American), Pro Football Detroit Lions players Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson.

Following that is ,”The Christmas Song”, an original Jazz/Rock piece by the Kensington praise musicians that about blew me away.

Most or all of this stage performance was recorded live, so the video includes a 1 minute intercession after the initial song.

What follows is an amazing  theatrical story that illustrates how when God came to be with us , He brought life and light into our dark and dead world.

The Bible says that we didn’t understand who Christ,why He came, or what He was doing.

When the story begins, everything is in shades of black, white , and gray.

Interestingly, the color red is used, the color of blood, to symbolize how Christ gave His life in order to give us life.

Then everything bursts into vibrant color to symbolize new life through Christ.

The video is 86 minutes long but can be started or stopped at any point.

If you wonder what Christmas is all about, or if you feel like you have lost the joy for Christmas, this video will help you find your joy.

The pageant is filled with amazing original music and a simple yet profound message.

I recommend watching this regardless of your condition in life.

Whether alone or with family,..

this message is meant for each one of us no matter where we are in life.

God came down to us!

The first Christmas gift was to us!

He Will Be Called Mighty God , Everlasting Father

Isaiah 9:6 ” For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6 was written about 700 years before God came down in the personage of Jesus Christ.

The verse foretells the birth of a child whom Christianity celebrates at Christmas time every year. The child’s birth is hailed as the coming of a savior who would save mankind from the curse of sin and death.

Our sin nature had taken us far from God. He came to us. He became one of us. He lived like one of us. He suffered and died in our place. Then Christ rose from death to prove He is the author and creator of life and offers life to all who choose to receive Him as Lord and Savior. He will not force us, He made a way for us and beckons us to receive Him.

At Christmas time we celebrate the ultimate act of love and humility performed by God for us. May we all remember the gift of eternal life was bought with pain and suffering, shame and rejection, and Christ’s own blood that He gave to pay our debt. God personally paid the debt we owed Him. He did not send another to do His work for him.

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you are saved, through faith – and that not from yourselves , it is the gift of God – not by works , so that no one can boast.”

To receive God’s gift of Eternal Life you need only to ask God to save you and receive Him as your Savior and God.

We were created for fellowship with our Creator God. Our fulfillment is met only through a relationship with God through the personage of Jesus Christ our Savior.

He promises to live in you and to never leave you or forsake you. His Spirit living in the believer will grow our love for Him and for His desires in place of our own.

Remember, Christ is also part of this gift. He is our , “Wonderful Counselor”, and He is love. We are created for a relationship with Him, therefore He alone can fulfill mankind’s greatest desire.

He is love. And it is by His indwelling Spirit of love that we are changed.
So don’t worry about old habits. If you really mean it when you ask Him into your heart, He will live in you forever and will never leave you.

Related articles

• Revisiting the Trinity (christcenteredteaching.wordpress.com)