From: Beverly French [frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us]
Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2003 6:51 AM
To: Heritage
Subject: Greetings on this Sunday Before Christmas

Christmas: A Glorious Day of Celebration!

Christmas: the day set aside to celebrate the Perfect Gift of God, the Savior!  What love has been shown to us by God who is Love Himself! How blessed we are that God made our hearts ready to receive this glorious gift of life in Christ Jesus, Our Savior and Lord. This Gift given to the world, "...that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life."  John 3:16

"...When the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." Galatians 4:4-5

Christ was born into humanity, a helpless babe, that He might identify wholly with man; to live the perfect sinless life in this imperfect sinful world for the purpose of redeeming fallen man. "Therefore, He has to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aide of those who are tempted."  Hebrews 2:17-18

Tragically, there are those who hear the words and celebrate the symbols of Christmas, but walk away leaving the Babe in the crib.  As in the parable of the sower, are they like the ones who receive the word with joy, but have no root and in a time of testing they fall away?  Or like the ones who hear, but as they go on their way the word is choked out by life's worries, riches and pleasures and they do not mature?

Let us pray that the hearts of those we know and love may be made ready to receive Christ.  "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all." 1 Timothy 2:5-6  Our prayer, for these loved ones to come into a living relationship with Christ, is the perfect gift above all others that we might give.

With grateful and thankful hearts let us celebrate the birth of our "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." Christ alone is the reason for our celebration and He alone is worthy of all  honor and praise.  Amen