From: Beverly French [frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us]
Sent: Saturday, December 25, 2004 12:45 PM
To: Heritage
Subject: Christmas Weekend 2004

He has come!

"For today in the city of David there has been born for you a savior, who is Christ the Lord."  Luke 2:11

These words have been proclaimed down through the centuries telling of the event that split history in two and forever changed the world!  Because Christ came to earth, mankind can know true love and true peace for He is the person of love and peace.  He is Immanuel, God with us.

Jesus, the Christ, is God incarnate; 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 had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in all things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people."  Hebrews 2:17

Christmas is the day that has been set aside to celebrate the birth of the life giving Gift of God given to the world,  "...That whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16

Tragically, Christ has been taken out of Christmas and the day has been made into a "holiday"  that merely celebrates warm and fuzzy feelings for multitudes of people. This year there seems to be an even greater effort to do away with anything relating to the true meaning of Christmas.  In this effort to banish the Christian symbols of Christmas, there has been great opportunities to defend, to bring forth the real meaning of Christmas.  The name of Jesus Christ has been spoken in the media more than I have heard before.  It may have been meant for evil, but "...God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28

So we sing that all may hear:
"Joy to the world the Lord is come.
 Let earth receive her King.
 Let every heart prepare Him room'
 And heaven and nature sing,
 And heaven and nature sing,
 And heaven and heaven and nature sing."

Therefore, we press on praising our glorious savior continually!  Let us live in such a way that He is expressed through these lives that are His. And may our prayers for those yet unsaved see fulfillment as we anchor our hope and trust in Christ Jesus, The Lord.  Amen.