The Birth of Messiah

It is the season for which the Christian rejoices in and understands the significance of the story of Jesus and His birth. While many around us lose their focus in a blizzard of grafitti and commercialism, we rejoice and recount the old story again! Without this birth, we have no reason to exist. Read once again the story as the Gospel of Luke tells it.

Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.


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[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

If you have never met this Christ, then I hope and pray you will come to know Him. His life, death and resurrection provides for you a means of salvation. You need only to ask Him to forgive you of your sins, receive Him into your heart as Lord and Savior and He will save you!

Again, a scripture that explains the way to salvation so simply:

Romans 10:8-11 (NIV)
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”


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[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

Milbre and I just returned from a three week vacation in Texas and Louisiana. Because Air-fares are so expensive, we decided to drive this year and take our two dogs, Bentley and Vickers with us. Driving in the high-country in Winter can be interesting to say the least. Hey! This is a great country! The fun and excitement of driving is wonderful.

One of the pleasant by-products of this trip was the price of gasoline. Every fill up was under $2.00 per gallon. The lowest was $1.43 per gallon in Evanston, Wyoming! Go figure!

One of the anomalies I noticed on this trip was the proliferation of Windmill farms used for energy. Across many States were these huge windmills--hundreds of them turning in the wind, producing electricity. I read one article in Texas that companies were sending out individuals to ranchers and farmers across the country, buying up rights to their land for windmill use. It reminds me of the gold rush days or the early days in the discovery of oil, when similar actions were taken. There is some myth as to how much these windmills will provide. I listened to an energy panel on TV today that discussed these issues. Stephen Moore said that to produce enough electricity to light up Manhattan, it would take a land area the size of the entire State of Connecticut.

The wide expanse of Texas, the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming, all speak to the beauty of this land called "America". I am glad to be an American! God bless this great country and bring us close to Him.

Hear what the Scripture challenges us to do:

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.


[1]
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

Lord, send an Awakening to America once more!