From: Beverly French [frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us]
Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2003 6:59 AM
To: Heritage
Subject: Joyous Greetings

December is here and the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season has begun.  It is a time when tensions build, frustrations abound and depression happens to many.  As children of the Most High let us keep our hearts and minds on the One whose birth we celebrate on December 25th.  He is Jesus, God incarnate!

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
 God was manifested in the flesh,
 Justified in the Spirit,
 Seen by angels,
 Preached among the Gentiles,
 Believed on in the world,
 Received up in glory."  1 Timothy 3:16

'God was manifested in the flesh'
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us..."  John 1 and 14

"For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God..."  1 Peter 1:20-21

"And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins..."  1 John 3:5 "...The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil."  1 John 3:8

'Justified in the Spirit'
"And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he (John the Baptist) saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'"  Matthew 3:16-17 (NOTE: Have you ever noticed that in this passage the Trinity is manifested?)

'Seen by angels'
"And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.  And the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."  Luke 2:9-11

"And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it." "But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here; for He is
risen, as He said..."  Matthew 28: 2 and 5-6   (Read Vs.1-6)

'Preached among Gentiles'
"But I say, have they not heard?  Yes indeed:
 'Their sound has gone out to all the earth,
 And their words to the ends of the world'"  Romans 10:18

"But now has been manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations..."  Romans 16:26

'Believed on in the world'
"So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls."  Acts 2:41 "And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe."  1 Thessalonians 2:13

'Received up in glory'
"So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God."  Mark 16:19 "Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight."  Acts 1:9

Here in this verse in 1 Timothy we have the great mystery of godliness. What a wonderful personal study this would make during this holiday season. It surely would keep one focused on the true reason for celebrating this season!  What joy is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior!  It is with 
grateful hearts that we say Thank You!