"Love incarnate, love divine. Star and angels gave the sign. Bow to babe on bended knee. The Savior of humanity. Unto us a Child is born. He shall reign forevermore. Noel, Noel. Come and see what God has done. Noel, Noel. The story of amazing love! The light of the world, given for us. Noel." (Lyrics from the song, Noel, by Chris Tomlin ft. Lauren Daigle)
Christmas is nearly upon us. Our to-do lists grow by leaps and bounds. Trim the tree. Decorate the house. Buy Christmas gifts for everyone under the sun. Bake. Mail Christmas cards. Oh, dear, forgot a gift, run back to store. Take children to see Santa. Go nuts trying to fulfill their Christmas lists! Plan Christmas meal. Wrap gifts. Clean house! Stress out to the max! Find time to breathe, maybe. Be thankful when Christmas is over and done with. Pay Christmas bills!
Sound familiar?
My favorite Christmas decorations are our two manger scenes, which Bob made. Our grandson loved to lay under our Christmas tree when he was little, where I placed a stable, and move the pieces around. Always giving special care to baby Jesus. At his tender age this was Christmas. It was all about baby Jesus. We were celebrating Jesus' birthday - even though He received no gifts. But the birth of Jesus is only the beginning of the story of amazing love!
"Son of God and Son of man. There before the world began. Born to suffer, born to save. Born to raise us from the grave. Christ the everlasting Lord. He shall reign forevermore. Noel, Noel. Come and see what God has done. Noel, Noel. The story of amazing love! The light of the world, given for us. Noel."
On that night so very long ago the 2nd person of the Trinity came to earth as a tiny newborn. Son of God and Son of man - there before the world began. While Jesus was born in a humble stable surrounded by animals over 2000 years ago, the love story began before time itself, and will continue into eternity.
Before the heavens and the earth; before the sun, moon, or stars; before animals; before mankind...there was the Word. And the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Before creation itself, The Plan was in place. God created everything, and it was good. Unfortunately, in a shorter time than we could imagine, that all changed. Sin entered not only Adam and Eve, but as a result, the entire earth was cursed. Sin and evil ran rampant, to the point God had to step in with the flood. God made a covenant with Noah and his family, through the rainbow, that He would never again destroy the entire earth through a flood.
As the earth repopulated, sin continued. Sacrifices were made...many, many, sacrifices; yet sin continued. All the sacrifices and shed blood could not cover the magnitude of sin in people's hearts; could not wash people clean. With each new sin, another sacrifice. Mankind was lost with no hope of salvation.
The time had come. The time for the Ultimate Sacrifice to come into the world. On a not-so-silent-night, in a smelly stable, surrounded by animals, Mary gave birth to a son. Mary gave birth to God's Son, to the 2nd part of the Trinity. Anywhere along the line God could have thrown his hands up in frustration and given up on mankind entirely. Yet, knowing all our failures before time began: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit had a plan. They had THE PLAN. The Plan to not only save us from sin in this world, but the Ultimate Plan for our eternal lives. An incredibly amazing story of absolute love for all of eternity. "Son of God and Son of man. There before the world began. Born to suffer, born to save. Born to raise us from the grave. Christ the everlasting Lord. He shall reign forevermore."
Jesus entered the world as a tiny baby; grew to a man who suffered the same trials and temptations as each and every one of us yet did not sin; suffered an agonizing death on the cross, shedding his sacrificial blood for our sins; rose again, and ascended into heaven as His disciples watched.
But the story isn't finished. Oh no, my dear friends; the story has just begun. Soon and very soon we will be with our Lord, the King. We will see Him in all His Glory. We, and all believers who have gone before us, will no longer be shackled within the confines of our earthly bodies. We will be adorned within brand-new, glorified bodies for all of eternity. I honestly can't wipe the smile from my face.
As we go about the hustle and bustle of this Christmas Season, let us not forget, and remember always, this absolutely amazing story of Unconditional, Eternal Love. Let us take time from our busy schedules to marvel at what God has done. Let us give our eternal thanks for THE PLAN. And let us wait with anticipation, with unbridled elation, not only for Christmas Day, but for That Great and Glorious Day!
"Noel, Noel. Come and see what God has done. Noel, Noel. The story of amazing love! The light of the world, given for us. Noel, Noel."
Please take a moment to enjoy the music video below: Noel, by Chris Tomlin, ft. Lauren Daigle.
Blessings to you,
Sandy
Christmas is nearly upon us. Our to-do lists grow by leaps and bounds. Trim the tree. Decorate the house. Buy Christmas gifts for everyone under the sun. Bake. Mail Christmas cards. Oh, dear, forgot a gift, run back to store. Take children to see Santa. Go nuts trying to fulfill their Christmas lists! Plan Christmas meal. Wrap gifts. Clean house! Stress out to the max! Find time to breathe, maybe. Be thankful when Christmas is over and done with. Pay Christmas bills!
Sound familiar?
My favorite Christmas decorations are our two manger scenes, which Bob made. Our grandson loved to lay under our Christmas tree when he was little, where I placed a stable, and move the pieces around. Always giving special care to baby Jesus. At his tender age this was Christmas. It was all about baby Jesus. We were celebrating Jesus' birthday - even though He received no gifts. But the birth of Jesus is only the beginning of the story of amazing love!
"Son of God and Son of man. There before the world began. Born to suffer, born to save. Born to raise us from the grave. Christ the everlasting Lord. He shall reign forevermore. Noel, Noel. Come and see what God has done. Noel, Noel. The story of amazing love! The light of the world, given for us. Noel."
On that night so very long ago the 2nd person of the Trinity came to earth as a tiny newborn. Son of God and Son of man - there before the world began. While Jesus was born in a humble stable surrounded by animals over 2000 years ago, the love story began before time itself, and will continue into eternity.
Before the heavens and the earth; before the sun, moon, or stars; before animals; before mankind...there was the Word. And the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Before creation itself, The Plan was in place. God created everything, and it was good. Unfortunately, in a shorter time than we could imagine, that all changed. Sin entered not only Adam and Eve, but as a result, the entire earth was cursed. Sin and evil ran rampant, to the point God had to step in with the flood. God made a covenant with Noah and his family, through the rainbow, that He would never again destroy the entire earth through a flood.
As the earth repopulated, sin continued. Sacrifices were made...many, many, sacrifices; yet sin continued. All the sacrifices and shed blood could not cover the magnitude of sin in people's hearts; could not wash people clean. With each new sin, another sacrifice. Mankind was lost with no hope of salvation.
The time had come. The time for the Ultimate Sacrifice to come into the world. On a not-so-silent-night, in a smelly stable, surrounded by animals, Mary gave birth to a son. Mary gave birth to God's Son, to the 2nd part of the Trinity. Anywhere along the line God could have thrown his hands up in frustration and given up on mankind entirely. Yet, knowing all our failures before time began: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit had a plan. They had THE PLAN. The Plan to not only save us from sin in this world, but the Ultimate Plan for our eternal lives. An incredibly amazing story of absolute love for all of eternity. "Son of God and Son of man. There before the world began. Born to suffer, born to save. Born to raise us from the grave. Christ the everlasting Lord. He shall reign forevermore."
Jesus entered the world as a tiny baby; grew to a man who suffered the same trials and temptations as each and every one of us yet did not sin; suffered an agonizing death on the cross, shedding his sacrificial blood for our sins; rose again, and ascended into heaven as His disciples watched.
But the story isn't finished. Oh no, my dear friends; the story has just begun. Soon and very soon we will be with our Lord, the King. We will see Him in all His Glory. We, and all believers who have gone before us, will no longer be shackled within the confines of our earthly bodies. We will be adorned within brand-new, glorified bodies for all of eternity. I honestly can't wipe the smile from my face.
As we go about the hustle and bustle of this Christmas Season, let us not forget, and remember always, this absolutely amazing story of Unconditional, Eternal Love. Let us take time from our busy schedules to marvel at what God has done. Let us give our eternal thanks for THE PLAN. And let us wait with anticipation, with unbridled elation, not only for Christmas Day, but for That Great and Glorious Day!
"Noel, Noel. Come and see what God has done. Noel, Noel. The story of amazing love! The light of the world, given for us. Noel, Noel."
Please take a moment to enjoy the music video below: Noel, by Chris Tomlin, ft. Lauren Daigle.
Blessings to you,
Sandy
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