We should sing 'Joy to the World'

We bring greetings to you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The angels appeared to the shepherds saying, ?Glory to God in the Highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men,? as they announced the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Today as we enter into this Christmas season, we sing or should sing, ?Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her king; let every heart prepare Him room. Repeat the sounding joy!? This should be the joy and peace and the wonders of God?s love as we celebrate Christmas this year. Christmas is more than just a holiday but the day itself and the leading up to it is a celebration and a reflection of God?s love for mankind. A time when God would bring His only begotten Son into the world to grow up from a Babe in the manger to be a man, walk this earth as you and I do and then go to the Cross to pay the penalty for man?s sin. Then on the third day, just as God had foretold, He would rise from the dead, to live forever, and to those who would come to Him by faith, He will come back again one of these days to receive and take with Him to Heaven where we will live with Him forever!

What does Christmas mean to you? We have Christmas parties, which are fine when done with the right perspective, family gatherings, which I look forward to, Christmas plays, the lights and Christmas decoration, but what does it really mean to you? In the Bible in the Gospel of John, it starts out saying, ?In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.? Verse 14, ?And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.? He also said, ?He came to His own and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name.? This is the real meaning of Christmas and it is reason to celebrate! Sin is the reason for Christmas because Christ came into this world to die in our place for the sins that we have committed. The Bible says that ?the wages of sin is death? (eternal separation from God, eternal hell with the devil and his angels), and that ?all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.? The Bible also says, ?But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.?

This is the real meaning of Christmas. I know that before I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I had heard the Christmas story, but it never really became real to me until I asked Him to come into my heart. Since that time the joy and hope that we have in Him, makes for a real celebration of Christmas and the Joy that it brings to the world. May you know Him and have a wonderful and blessed Christmas!

Also we would like to remind you of the Christmas dinner that we have on Christmas Day. We would like to invite you to come join us on Christmas Day as we celebrate this special day. It?s our gift to you.