Volume 5: "Christmases Past"

I know that memory can be burdensome sometimes, but it can be a beautiful thing as well. In this spontaneous writing endeavor, I choose to focus on beautiful memories -- specifically, "What I Miss Most About Christmases Past".

So, what do I miss most about Christmases Past? I truly miss seeing our little children take part in a live Bethlehem nativity presentation in the yearly church Christmas pageant.

My memory has a lovely picture stored away of our little boy decked out like a shepherd, complete with a bathrobe, a cloth head-dress, and a stuffed sheep under his arm. Then, there's our little daughter. She's wearing a tinsel-decorated, white angel's outfit with a halo made of shiny-gold garland scotch-taped around her head.

Seeing our own children in a humble, live nativity made the birth of a Savior more personal for me. 

Yes, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son", however, knowing "God included my own family" in that amazing love, simply and profoundly takes my breath away. 

In this instance, memory is indeed a very beautiful thing to me. 

Grateful

"Do Not Sin Anymore..."

(1) After this, a Jewish festival took place, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (2) By the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there is a pool, called Bethesda in Hebrew, which has five colonnades. (3) Within these lay a multitude of the sick —- blind, lame, and paralyzed —- waiting for the moving of the water, (4) because an angel would go down into the pool from time to time and stir up the water. Then the first one who got in after the water was stirred up recovered from whatever ailment he had. (5) One man was there who had been sick for 38 years. (6) When Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had already been there a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to get well?" (7) "Sir," the sick man answered, "I don't have a man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I'm coming, someone goes down ahead of me." (8) "Get up," Jesus told him, "pick up your bedroll and walk!" (9) Instantly the man got well, picked up his bedroll, and started to walk. Now that day was the Sabbath, (10) so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "This is the Sabbath! It's illegal for you to pick up your bedroll." (11) He replied, "The man who made me well told me, 'Pick up your bedroll and walk.'" (12) "Who is this man who told you, 'Pick up your bedroll and walk?'" they asked. (13) But the man who was cured did not know who it was, because Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. (14) After this, Jesus found him in the temple complex and said to him, "See, you are well. Do not sin any more, so that something worse doesn't happen to you." (15) The man went and reported to the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
-- John 5:1-15 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful

The Angel of the Lord in Psalm 34:7

Psalm 34:7 (TLB) -- The Angel of the Lord guards and rescues all who reverence Him.

Lord, I pray that You would be our Guide. Go before us.
Lord, I pray that You would be our Gate. Surround us on all sides.
Lord, I pray that You would be our Guarantee. Reign in our souls.
Lord, I pray that you would be our Rear Guard. Have our backs.
In the name of the One Who promised: "Surely I am with you always." Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

The Lord's Angel in Luke 22:43

Luke 22:43 (NLT) -- Then an angel from Heaven appeared and strengthened Him (Jesus).

I've been wondering lately if the same angel that appeared in Gethsemane to comfort and strengthen our Lord Jesus in His darkest hour, is still dispatched from Heaven to be with us in our darkest hours?

Psalm 91:11a (NKJV) -- For He shall give His angels charge over you...

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful