Information Friday - Christmas Edition

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There is a lot going on to talk about. Zelenskyy speaking to our congress, the Senate passing the omnibus bill, election fraud being shown in court in Arizona, Twitter Files being released that show that the FBI paid Twitter over 3 million dollars, and had a direct communications line with them, as did the Biden campaign. The election of 2020 was stolen, not from DJT, but from the majority of Americans who truly did vote for DJT.

However, with all the evil behaviors openly being acted on, and truly dark things, the thing I hope you see is that if there is true evil (and there is) there is also true goodness. Love, Mercy, Grace, Peace.

It's all found in the person of Jesus Christ. God the son come to earth to redeem mankind. To live among his creation as one of them, and to truly know what it was like to be human. To show that if we know the Father, our lives can be full of joy, regardless of our circumstances. 

John 1: 1-14 -

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life,^a and the life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11He came to his own,^b and his own people^c did not receive him. 12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son^d from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

At Christmas time it becomes a bit more acceptable to speak of Him, to sing songs about his coming.

Luke 2:1-21 -

1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration when^a Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,^b who was with child. 6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.^c

The Shepherds and the Angels

8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”^d

15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

21And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

God had promised a redeemer back in the garden when Eve and Adam gave in to temptation and sinned. He promised that one would come who would crush the head of the serpent. Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise. He fulfilled all the prophecies given regarding the messiah. However, the people had ideas of what the messiah would be like, and Jesus didn't fit those ideas.

They liked that he healed people. They liked that he called out the religious leaders. But they had expected a leader who would kick Rome out of Israel. Jesus was teaching about the kingdom of God which would one day be over all the earth, and that even the earth would be made new. It was not about overthrowing Rome.

Christmas for Christians is not about santa, which is based on St. Nicholas. It's not about the tree (though I love Christmas trees). It's not about anything but Jesus. We celebrate his coming. 

The reason I have peace in the midst of this chaotic world, is that I believe in Jesus. I have the Holy Spirit living in me, guiding me, teaching me, bringing peace to my soul.

Jesus is the most important information I could bring you. I don't force my beliefs on you. I'm simply sharing what I know to be true. And just like everything else I share on Fridays, I encourage you to seek the truth. Do the research for yourselves. 

This video is by the producers of The Chosen series, and is called The Shepherd. 

 

I wish you all peace, joy, love, grace, and mercy. I hope you all know Jesus. He is the light of the world.

Merriest of Christmases to you and your loved ones!