Merry Christmas!

It's only two days away. All the waiting and anticipation will soon be over. Gifts will be exchanged, hugs given, children will be delighted and adults will share in the joy. As you celebrate Christmas this year, I pray that you will find the peace, joy and salvation that God offers us through Jesus' birth, death and resurrection.

Don't let the little mishaps and big responsibilities rob you of the joy of the day. Remember that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. No matter what happens on Christmas day -- whether dinner gets burnt, it snows two feet or you show up wearing the same Christmas sweatshirt as your mom -- focus on the true reason for the season.

Enjoy your children's delight and wonder in the season. Take a moment to sit beneath the glow of your Christmas tree and thank God for sending His son. Don't miss the moment in your hurry to get everything done. Savor the day, and experience the joy.

I want to leave you this week with the account of Jesus' birth found in Luke 2. Sometime on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, be sure to read it with your family as part of your celebration. And, most of all, have a Merry Christmas!

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.


So 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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When 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.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.