"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ 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, and on earth peace to men 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.'" Luke 2:10-15
Today in church we watched a clip from "Charlie Brown Christmas." It was the part where Charlie Brown and Lioness bring the scrawny Christmas tree into the auditorium. They all wanted to know why he had picked such a wimpy tree. He then asked, "Doesn't anyone know the real reason for Christmas?" Lioness then proceeds to quote this scripture. Everyone knows he carries around his baby blue blanket. Notice the symbolism. When Lioness says, "Do not be afraid," he drops the blanket. He drops his security.
God hears our prayers. He sent His only son to this earth. What is the true meaning of Christmas? This blue blanket represents security. FEAR NOT, Jesus has you. He secures the world. A savior was born in the town of David. So, why was a pathetic tree picked? It's the simplicity of the tree. It all comes down to the simpleness of John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son." The simplicity is still there even though people are walking away from churches. Jesus died on the cross for you. The simplicity of His birth, His life, His love.
DO NOT BE AFRAID, GOD BRINGS YOU JOY!
I just recently finished "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. I had no idea what this novel was going to be about going into it; all I knew was that our 10th grade English class study it. Right off the bat I noticed that our narrator was not your average Joe. The narrator is death. When I realized this I said to myself, "Oh this is going to be good." The novel is all about the Holocaust and it is shown from a German point of view. Leisel Meminger's mother gives her away to a foster German family. On the trip to this new family, Leisel's brother dies. So right from the start death is there. I'm not going to give you a synopsis of it, because I think you should read it for yourself. Just know that a German family hides a Jew in their basement for a while, and death is around every corner. That last line of the novel really got me though..."I am haunted by humans."
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