Christmas Week
This week I've had an up and down battle with focusing on the true meaning of Christmas. Jesus has to be the focus of Christmas ask my friend Kevin Wright. Without Jesus why bother? But as a waitor it makes it hard to focus on Jesus when you can barely afford Christmas presents. Now lets be honest it's tough to my mom or dad a nice Christmas gift, thanking them for all they have done for me, when people tip a $1.15 on a $68 check. And you know the $2.13 an hour just doesn't give me that empugh to put my best foot forward while Christmas shopping.
Sorry that was a bit of a tipping rant that i've been wanting to get out for a while. But I did get my report card this week. Now this was my hardest semester and I was probably underserving of the grades I got, but I did work very hard! I've never been known as a great student nor do I feel like i'm the smartest person at IWU infact being called a heritic by Dr. Bounds (many times in Theology I, II, and Christology) just shows I have some work to do on my theology as well. But this semester all A's and B's. This is exciting for me because I don't do this. It's been since high school since i've been able to do this. So thank you all for who prayed for me over the semester, just so you know it helped!!!
"And so this is Christmas..." a day away and the hope is building for little kids to see Santa or at least the effects of Santa coming to their house. Shot i'm looking forward to see what Santa is going to bring me. But for just a moment, if you can, take this moment and lets read the Christmas story together. and just reflect on what Jesus gave up so that we may have life. Without Christmas as Kevin said (you can still read it it's up above) why even bother? Praise God for Christmas! Read with me:
LUKE 2:4-20
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
The Shepherds and the Angels 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
posted by Micah Dormann @ 8:43 AM
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