Christmas has started!  Merry Christmas!

For over 1,500 years, the church has celebrated Advent beginning four Sundays before Christmas Day and ending at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve (technically, that would be Christmas Day, of course).

After that, Christians down through the centuries have celebrated Christmas for twelve days.  We now join the cloud of witnesses of those who have gone before as we celebrate the Gift of Jesus.

Christmas doesn’t END today, it BEGINS.

Merry Christmas!

Whether you intend to celebrate Christmas for twelve days or you’ll start putting it away after today, let me encourage you to keep the spirit of this day in your heart.  In Hebrews 1:1-4 we read…

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

Hebrews 1:1-4
New International Version

We only have “Silent Night” and “Away in a Manger” because of the cross and empty tomb.  Our Savior has been born; we are delivered.  We are telling the beginning of Jesus’ earthly story, not the end.  Praise the Lord!

The message of Christmas is one of hope, peace, joy and love.

  • It is a hope that only God can give through Jesus.
  • It is a peace that only comes from the reconciliation between God and humanity by Jesus.
  • It is a joy springing from the Author of all good things offered by Jesus.
  • And it is a love in God the Father giving the world His Son Jesus.

There have been many babies to become kings but only one King became a baby.

“One King”
Words and Music by David Phelps
© 2007 Wordspring Music
Used by Permission

From my family to yours: Merry Christmas!

Joel, Patty, Dani, and Jonah Dorman