For God so loved the World...

Unlike millions of homes this Christmas, Santa did not come to our home with a bag of goodies. We did not set out milk and cookies or sprinkle reindeer food on the front lawn. No tracking Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve or looking for Rudolph's nose in the sky. All of these things are perfectly fine... but I can't get past the feeling that this is the only thing parents care about when it comes to telling their children about something so unbelievably special and encouraging them to believe in something. Not many parents emphasize the true meaning of Christmas. 

Jesus was not born on Christmas. He IS Christmas. 
He came not so that we could have a great tradition and story to tell, but to make a way for Man to be redeemed from his sins, and to be saved from eternity in Hell.

The birth of the Messiah was prophesied in the Bible hundreds of years before Jesus' birth. It was prophesied in Isaiah I believe that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. And again in Micah it was prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. And we know, that both of these things took place. The whole world changed on that night...but unfortunately not everyone has taken advantage of that sacred sacrifice that God made for us...and He made it because He loved us that much!

Simeon

There's a baby in a manger,
and you just won't believe.
The angels have been singing,
the shepherds came to see.
A star is brightly shining,
it has everyone amazed.
It shines down on a little boy.
lying in the hay.

Simeon can you believe this story,
Could this be deliverance for our souls.
Has El-Shaddi come down to dwell among us,
To keep his promise in your days of old.
Do you believe that He's the One,
You know, I heard they named Him Jesus, Simeon.

I recall that special promise, that you would never die.
Until you saw the true messiah, and beheld Him with your eyes.
My brother you've been faithful in the service of the Lord,
You know Simeon it could be the fulfillment of God's word

Simeon can you believe this story,
Could this be deliverance for our souls.
Has El-Shaddi come down to dwell among us,
To keep his promise in your days of old.
Do you believe that He's the One,
You know I heard they named Him Jesus, Simeon.

Can you believe his story, Simeon?

I believe He's the One...

The promise to Simeon that he would not die until he saw the Messiah is an incredible act of Grace toward Simeon. God knew he wanted to see the coming of the Messiah and God was faithful in fulfilling His promise. Isn't He always? Faithful and True.

It was so great to get to act out a small piece of history. I love to imagine the real Simeon and watch Him bless the King and smother Him in tears and kisses. God formed the hands and feet that would be nailed to a cross for the sins of the world. God gave up something I never could...

I'm starting a family tradition where we lay the Bible out next to the tree instead of milk and cookies. And we read the birth of the Savior instead of "T'was the night before Christmas" and we'll have a gift for Jesus every year. We will celebrate the joy of the promise of a mansion awaiting us and a King that is coming again for us! 


Santa is alright, and he's a sweet thing to teach children about giving...but nothing tops the gift of the Savior. I'll let my children enjoy the "spirit" of Santa and will not hinder any imaginations of a sweet place where elves make toys and sing songs and drink hot chocolate...but they will know first and foremost that Christmas was the beginning of a sacrifice and that Heaven is a real place unlike the North Pole. I want to teach them what this special time of year, really means!

Born to Die

Shepherds gaze in wonder
While angel voices sing
This night of nights has come
And brought the world the long-awaited King

The earth is filled with gladness
And yet the heavens weep
For heaven's eyes can see
He was born to die for me

Jesus
Baby Jesus
Is that a tear in your eye
Jesus
Baby Jesus
You must know you were born to die

It must have broken God's heart
For the future He could see
Yet He formed His hands and feet
Knowing one day they'd be nailed to a tree

So all the world could know it
A gift came from above
For God so loved the world
That He gave His only Son