Peace on Earth and Good News for Everyone

Christmas. I am amazed to find out, even in my own generation of how many people do not know the true meaning of Christmas. It is even more frightening because their children do not know about Christmas - and if there is no one to past this knowledge about Christ in Christmas to further generations I can't imagine what kind of world this place will become yet alone what will happen to everyone one of those precious souls.

When I hear children say Christmas is only about presents and Santa Claus and don't even know who Jesus Christ is - my soul aches - there is a problem.

Many may think I am crazy for saying such things but why celebrate Christmas at all if it has nothing to do with "Christ" in Christmas but Santa instead. Why celebrate Easter when it has nothing to do with the Resurrection of Christ but the Easter bunny and candy instead.

Yes the Easter bunny and Santa Claus are fun but people need to be educated about what both of these Christian Holidays "REALLY" mean.

Hopefully many (young and old) in the faith of Christianity will feel the urging of the the Holy Spirit and step forward and speak and share the true meaning of Christ with others. You could open your bible and read the Christmas story to your friends and family this Christmas Season... If your friends and family have a problem with it and ask you why you read them the Christmas story tell them, "Why not? It's Christmas."

Christmas is to be celebrated but if we don't celebrate the true meaning of Christmas then the true meaning of Christmas is just another man made "holiday". It has nothing to do with Christ but everything to do with the desires of humanity and when the desires of humanity come before God and Christ there is a problem. When people get crushed and stampeded and unborn babies get killed because the rush for material possessions - there is a problem. Where is the true message of Christmas in that? Human life is always suppose to mean more then material possessions and lustful desires.

The Christ in Christmas came to save lives not so people could be killed while shopping for their loved ones. There is a life saving message in the Christmas story - the story of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and why he came. He is the TRUE gift and meaning Christmas to EVERYONE. Selfish ambition drove those people to stamped those two people. Christ wasn't about selfish ambition or what "I" did or "I" could afford or "I" got. Christ was about giving his life for us. He was and still is about loving, teaching, healing and saving unselfishly and relentlessly.

Christ does not deem any unworthy but accepts anyone who wants to accept him. Remember the criminal who feared God and was on a cross beside Jesus? The one who said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom." And Jesus replied, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:40-43

We have all broken God's laws that lead to death but Jesus came so the law could be fulfilled and we could be saved and have a more fulfilling and purposeful life.

Real peace on earth and Good News to everyone is knowing and having a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is being filled with the Holy Spirit that Jesus sends to guide and counsel or comfort us.

Hopefully this Thanksgiving was a great start of being thankful for all that God does for you in your life and the "Christ" in Christmas will continue to remind you how much God loves us and he (Jesus) loves us.

The Birth of Jesus
Luke 2:5-15 "He took with him Mary, his fiancee, who was obviously pregnant by this time. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn."

"That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior- yes, the Messiah, the Lord- has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!"

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors."

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see, this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

How much Jesus loves us.
John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice; and there will be one flock with one shepherd. The Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may have it back again. No one can take my life from me. I lay down my life voluntarily. For I have the right to lay it down when I want to and also the power to take it again. For my Father has given me this command."

John 10:27 My sheep recognize my voice, I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. So no one can take them from me. The Father and I are one."

Jesus is the peace and Good News for everyone.

The accounts of Jesus birth are recorded in Matthew 1:18 and Luke 2. May they come fresh to you as you read them this Christmas.

A Message to Savor

A brother in Christ, sent me a music video this morning and I could not help but savor the message within it.

The message was about Christ taking our cross, our nails, our crown of thorns, our shame, our guilt, our tears, our fears and the list could go on and on but it was the Good News in a nut shell.

And if we really understood the message that Christ took our punishment for our sins we would understand not only God's love but the power of God's saving grace. Not only would we understand the power of God's saving grace but who intercedes for us and who gave us new life and eternal life through the Holy Spirit.

To understand what Christ has done for us in not a guilt ridden thing but should be a weight lifted off our shoulders. To understand what Christ has done is exactly what Christ says it should be, "For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give is light." Matthew 11:30

To understand what Christ has done is power to be set free and to do the will of the Father and Son.

The amazing part and even the sad thing is even though many of us know the message of the "Good News" we take it so much for granted like it's just a story in the bible but the bible nor should the "Good News" only be set on black, white and red print in our minds but be keys to freedom and further understanding.

Look at what Jesus says, " You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others have not. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them. That is why I tell these stories, because people see what I do, but they don't really see. They hear what I say, but they don't really hear, and they don't understand. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: 'You will hear my words but you will not understand; you will see what I do, but you will not perceive its meaning. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes- so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.' But blessed are your eyes because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I assure you, many prophets and godly people have longed to see and hear what you have seen and heard, but they could not." Matthew 13:11-17

Sometimes I just want to yell to all my lost friends and family, and people who think they know they got all together -like Mel Gibson's character in Braveheart. I want to wave a banner from a powerful horse and say as I ride in this brief life, "The Keys to FREEDOM are in CHRIST!!! The EVERLASTING message of life and eternal life are in the message of the cross and the Resurrection of Christ.

But it hard seeing them all lined up not sure what they are doing here, seeing them not sure where to stand or face or what to know to save their souls and live a fulfilling and purposeful life.
Some so hard hearted that they don't even want to hear about God because they have made up their mind about Him already.

They are like Kings and Queens of Rohan who can only see death and no victory. I urge them to ride on hoping they will see and will be convinced by all the mercy, grace and blessings God has given them before it is too late.



I have hope for them because I once was like them. I have hope for them because God is greater and more persistent then they or those who try to keep them there.