Amen, Dawn1! Trusting Jesus for peace at work (Phil 4:6-7), financial breakthroughs (Phil 4:19), & relationship restoration (Mal 4:6). Believing for Phaerfard's healing & family support (Matt 7:7). In Jesus' name! 
**Prayer Update!** 
Let's lift up **
3 Reasons Why Christmas is the Best Holiday
In this blog post, I want to talk about the meaning of Jesus’ birth, the moment when God came into a world full of deep sorrow that really needed a savior. He is the source of great joy that we celebrate. To make Christmas the best holiday, you have to put Jesus at the center and to adore Him above all.
Why is Christmas Important
You may be wondering why is Christmas the best when this season can be extra hard for you. The table might look different because of the loss of loved ones. Maybe you don’t know how your story will turn into a happy ending. You may feel worthless. You may question why God would send His Son into this cruel and dark world?
During the Christmas season, we reflect on the coming of Immanuel – the arrival of Jesus. God sent His son so that one day He would grow up and become the most crucial part of history. It is the culmination of God’s pursuit of a sinful, broken people.
That is why Christmas is the best holiday. It is the one that gives me all the feels because it is one of love, truth, joy, healing, restoration, and hope.
3 Reasons Why Christmas is the Best Holiday
This time of year is an opportunity to refresh our perspective that God has a grander plan that is already at work. It is a celebration of the historical event where God entered into our world to display His righteousness so that all might be reconciled to Him. The best part is that we are included in His redemption plan. The days leading up to Christmas remind us to fix our eyes on a far greater story rather than our own cultural holiday traditions.
Christmas Reveals The Plan Of God
As we reflect on God’s faithfulness in keeping his promises in the past. God fulfilled His ultimate promise by sending His One and Only Son into the world. Christ the Messiah, the fulfiller of all the promises of God. In God’s mercy, He has saved us from our sins.
Matthew 1:18 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that.)
Matthew 1:19 Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced. MSG Bible.
Think about it, Jesus born of the Virgin Mary. Can you imagine the flood of thoughts going through her mind? Then hearing that her relative Elizabeth, 70 or 80 years old, was pregnant after not being able to conceive for her whole life. And she is not the only one that God has turned from barren to giving birth…remember Abraham and Sara from the Old Testament. Through these unique stories, God was demonstrating his plan, making the impossible possible so that no one could claim credit but Him.
But after he considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21.
When Mary returned to her home, there were definitely whispers behind her back (and to her face) because she was pregnant out of wedlock. Joseph didn’t know what to do since they were engaged and had never been together. An Angel of the Lord was sent to Joseph to assure him of God’s plan. A child that is at the center of God’s great redemption plan for the world.
Christmas Shows That God Will Restore All Things
God finds us in the most unlikely places sometimes. Immanuel does not mean God is near us or close by. It means God is with us. Jesus was born into this world in a manger, the lowliest of places. He was tempted like us, experienced the same human limitations as us, yet he is simultaneously the desire of all nations. By God’s amazing grace, He saved a wretch like you and me. We were once lost but in Jesus, we are found.
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and will give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated “God with us.” Matthew 1:22-23.
And just as Jesus came humbly in a manger behind an inn, one day he would be unceremoniously hung on a cross alongside criminals and buried in a tomb. There is no redemption without the death of Jesus. He is for us and came into the world to pay the price of our sin and restore all things. He took our burdens upon himself so that we might have an intimate relationship with the Father.
Christmas Brings Us Jesus
Christmas is the best holiday because it is the birth of Jesus. Yes, my family totally makes a cake and sings happy birthday Jesus!
Often during the Christmas season, we are looking for ways to truly satisfy ourselves. As children, we thought it was the bike or puppy that we just had to have for Christmas because it would make us happy. But the amusement and joy didn’t last long. We are always left wanting more.
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11.
Without Christ, we will endlessly strive but never find satisfaction. God offers us himself in the person of Christ. Jesus exceeds our expectations, provides for our needs, and satisfies our desires. Jesus is the joy of every longing heart and the fulfillment of our hope. He is our Savior and our Deliverer. Because God sent Jesus for us, He has opened up our eyes to see our new identity in Him.
Prayer for Christmas Season
Jesus is the point of Christmas. He is the greatest Christmas gift of all. This isn’t something that should be overlooked. He was born so that we would reap the benefits of knowing Him and delighting in Him So come let us rejoice and adore him. This kind of joy and peace that will last all year long.
“Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us a reason to celebrate the Christmas season. Even if we are weary, may we remember that Jesus is the greatest gift all. Help us to focus on the love and light that you gave us through the birth of Jesus Christ. May we be filled with wonder and awe of this miracle. May the peace that surpasses all understanding be upon us this Christmas season. Thank you for the simple but life changing act of your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
In this blog post, I want to talk about the meaning of Jesus’ birth, the moment when God came into a world full of deep sorrow that really needed a savior. He is the source of great joy that we celebrate. To make Christmas the best holiday, you have to put Jesus at the center and to adore Him above all.
Why is Christmas Important
You may be wondering why is Christmas the best when this season can be extra hard for you. The table might look different because of the loss of loved ones. Maybe you don’t know how your story will turn into a happy ending. You may feel worthless. You may question why God would send His Son into this cruel and dark world?
During the Christmas season, we reflect on the coming of Immanuel – the arrival of Jesus. God sent His son so that one day He would grow up and become the most crucial part of history. It is the culmination of God’s pursuit of a sinful, broken people.
That is why Christmas is the best holiday. It is the one that gives me all the feels because it is one of love, truth, joy, healing, restoration, and hope.
3 Reasons Why Christmas is the Best Holiday
This time of year is an opportunity to refresh our perspective that God has a grander plan that is already at work. It is a celebration of the historical event where God entered into our world to display His righteousness so that all might be reconciled to Him. The best part is that we are included in His redemption plan. The days leading up to Christmas remind us to fix our eyes on a far greater story rather than our own cultural holiday traditions.
Christmas Reveals The Plan Of God
As we reflect on God’s faithfulness in keeping his promises in the past. God fulfilled His ultimate promise by sending His One and Only Son into the world. Christ the Messiah, the fulfiller of all the promises of God. In God’s mercy, He has saved us from our sins.
Matthew 1:18 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that.)
Matthew 1:19 Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced. MSG Bible.
Think about it, Jesus born of the Virgin Mary. Can you imagine the flood of thoughts going through her mind? Then hearing that her relative Elizabeth, 70 or 80 years old, was pregnant after not being able to conceive for her whole life. And she is not the only one that God has turned from barren to giving birth…remember Abraham and Sara from the Old Testament. Through these unique stories, God was demonstrating his plan, making the impossible possible so that no one could claim credit but Him.
But after he considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21.
When Mary returned to her home, there were definitely whispers behind her back (and to her face) because she was pregnant out of wedlock. Joseph didn’t know what to do since they were engaged and had never been together. An Angel of the Lord was sent to Joseph to assure him of God’s plan. A child that is at the center of God’s great redemption plan for the world.
Christmas Shows That God Will Restore All Things
God finds us in the most unlikely places sometimes. Immanuel does not mean God is near us or close by. It means God is with us. Jesus was born into this world in a manger, the lowliest of places. He was tempted like us, experienced the same human limitations as us, yet he is simultaneously the desire of all nations. By God’s amazing grace, He saved a wretch like you and me. We were once lost but in Jesus, we are found.
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and will give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated “God with us.” Matthew 1:22-23.
And just as Jesus came humbly in a manger behind an inn, one day he would be unceremoniously hung on a cross alongside criminals and buried in a tomb. There is no redemption without the death of Jesus. He is for us and came into the world to pay the price of our sin and restore all things. He took our burdens upon himself so that we might have an intimate relationship with the Father.
Christmas Brings Us Jesus
Christmas is the best holiday because it is the birth of Jesus. Yes, my family totally makes a cake and sings happy birthday Jesus!
Often during the Christmas season, we are looking for ways to truly satisfy ourselves. As children, we thought it was the bike or puppy that we just had to have for Christmas because it would make us happy. But the amusement and joy didn’t last long. We are always left wanting more.
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11.
Without Christ, we will endlessly strive but never find satisfaction. God offers us himself in the person of Christ. Jesus exceeds our expectations, provides for our needs, and satisfies our desires. Jesus is the joy of every longing heart and the fulfillment of our hope. He is our Savior and our Deliverer. Because God sent Jesus for us, He has opened up our eyes to see our new identity in Him.
Prayer for Christmas Season
Jesus is the point of Christmas. He is the greatest Christmas gift of all. This isn’t something that should be overlooked. He was born so that we would reap the benefits of knowing Him and delighting in Him So come let us rejoice and adore him. This kind of joy and peace that will last all year long.
“Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us a reason to celebrate the Christmas season. Even if we are weary, may we remember that Jesus is the greatest gift all. Help us to focus on the love and light that you gave us through the birth of Jesus Christ. May we be filled with wonder and awe of this miracle. May the peace that surpasses all understanding be upon us this Christmas season. Thank you for the simple but life changing act of your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
