0 Bewertungen0% fanden dieses Dokument nützlich (0 Abstimmungen)
12 Ansichten25 Seiten
"The Christmas Story is so clear that there is little need of learned interpretation," says john Isaacs. "None will derive more benefit from it than they whose hearts hold still," says mlk. Isaacs' Christmas Preparation includes driving up to the mountains to chop down a tree.
"The Christmas Story is so clear that there is little need of learned interpretation," says john Isaacs. "None will derive more benefit from it than they whose hearts hold still," says mlk. Isaacs' Christmas Preparation includes driving up to the mountains to chop down a tree.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Verfügbare Formate
Als PDF, TXT herunterladen oder online auf Scribd lesen
"The Christmas Story is so clear that there is little need of learned interpretation," says john Isaacs. "None will derive more benefit from it than they whose hearts hold still," says mlk. Isaacs' Christmas Preparation includes driving up to the mountains to chop down a tree.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Verfügbare Formate
Als PDF, TXT herunterladen oder online auf Scribd lesen
December 9, 2007 Hebrews 10:5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. “The Christmas Story is so clear that there is little need of learned interpretation. It is only necessary to ponder it well, to contemplate it, and to take it completely into your heart. None will derive more benefit from it than they whose hearts hold still and who divest themselves of material considerations and concentrate diligently on it. This lesson is just like (the reflection of) the sun: in a quiet and still pond it can be seen clearly and warms the water powerfully, but in a rushing current it cannot be seen as well nor can it warm up the water as much. So if you wish to be illumined and warmed here, to see God's mercy and wondrous deeds, so that your heart is filled with fire and light and becomes reverent and joyous, then go to where you may be still and impress the picture of Christmas deep into your heart.” - Martin Luther Isaacs’ Christmas Preparation • Driving up to the mountains to chop down a Christmas tree. • Pulling all the boxes of decorations and lights down from the rafters in the garage. • Stringing the lights on the tree. Isaacs’ Christmas Preparation • Decorating the tree and our house. • Lunch with Nardis at Red Lobster. • The soup pot-luck party. • Going to Christmas parties. White Elephant gifts. Isaacs’ Christmas Preparation • Shopping for gifts for our family and friends. • Wrapping presents, packing them, and getting them mailed in time. • Addressing and mailing Christmas cards. Isaacs’ Christmas Preparation • Delivering Honey Baked Christmas Hams to a few faithful servants. • Gathering the family around the fireplace on Christmas Eve. • Wrapping gifts and placing them under the tree. Hebrews 10:5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. First Christmas Preparation • He had to create a universe, a specific galaxy, our planet, a garden, and finally man. • Establish a nation in the earth. • All the patriarchs -- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph First Christmas Preparation • All the deliverers and judges -- Moses and Joshua • All the heroes -- Gideon and Sampson • All the kings -- David and Solomon • All the prophets -- Elijah and Isaiah First Christmas Preparation • He had to prepare for the birth of Mary and Joseph and make sure their families would arrange a marriage. • He had to send an angel to Mary and convince her to be the mother to the Son of God. First Christmas Preparation • He had to make sure that Joseph would not break off the engagement after discovering Mary was pregnant. • He had to arrange for a Census to be taken throughout all of Judea so the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. First Christmas Preparation • He had to make sure all the hotels were full and have Joseph go to the one that had the perfect little stable. • He had to get a host of angels out to the shepherds in the fields so they could herald the new born King. First Christmas Preparation • He had to arrange for a new star to be set into the heavens. • He had to get Three Wisemen to know an important event was about to take place and get them on a journey following this new star that suddenly appeared in the sky. First Christmas Jesus had to make the leap from His place in the Godhead. At that moment, He turned to His Father and said. “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.” First Christmas All the way down, He was reducing Himself. Until, He could fit into a single cell that began to grow in a young girl’s womb. First Christmas “So this is He. Immanuel. So this is God’s gift. A Savior. He shall save His people from their sins. “Worthy is the Lamb.” I whispered, as I knelt before my God. My heart was full. I turned to Mary as she cradled her child and I spoke. It didn’t matter that she couldn’t hear me. The stars could. All of nature could. And most First Christmas of all, my King could. Do you know who you hold, Mary? You secure the Author of grace. He who is ageless is now moments old. He who is limitless is now suckling your milk. He who strides upon the stars, now has legs too weak to walk; the hands which held First Christmas the oceans are now an infant’s fist. To Him who has never asked a question, you will teach the name of the wind. The Source of language will learn words from you. He who has never stumbled, you will carry. He who has never hungered, you will feed. The King of creation is in your arms. First Christmas “What manner of love is this?” Michael whispered, and again we were covered with silence. A blanket of awe. Finally, Michael again opened his mouth, this time to sing. He began quietly, pausing between the words. “Glory, glory, glory to God in the highest.” First Christmas One by one we joined. “Glory, glory, glory to God in the highest.” Gradually the chorus grew louder and faster. “Glory, glory to God in the highest. Glory, glory to God in the highest. Glory, glory to God in the highest.” Our praise rose into the realms of the First Christmas universe. In the most distant galaxy the dust on the oldest star danced with our praise. In the depths of the ocean, the water rippled with adoration. The tiniest microbe turned, the mightiest constellation spun, all of nature joined with us as we worshiped Immanuel, the God who had become flesh. - Max Lucado, “The Cosmic Christmas” His Preparation For You
And now, we turn to God this
morning and say, “sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but You have prepared something for me.”