Category: Simple Christmas

The Joy of Christmas

12/11/2018

The Christmas season is a reminder that Jesus is our ultimate treasure and satisfaction. Unfortunately, sometimes we let our brokenness distract us from fully realizing the complete joy that is found in Him. Jesus proclaimed that one of the purposes of His coming was that we might have joy and that our “joy would be made full” (John 15:11). It
is apparent then, that our ability to have joy is directly connected to what Jesus did. When the angels announced Jesus’ birth, they declared: “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10).

God’s Favor on Mary

12/4/2018

The first two chapters of Luke include four songs or poems. Each of these announcements are spoken by a different person. Mary, the mother of Jesus, in a joyful statement proclaims what’s come to be known as The Magnificat (“my soul magnifies the Lord”). Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, who is mentioned in the second half of Luke chapter 1, is the mute priest whose tongue is loosed to speak The Benedictus (“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel”). The angels in Luke Chapter 2 lit up the night sky outside Bethlehem and proclaimed The Gloria to some very frightened shepherds (“Glory to God in the highest”). And, finally, old, devout Simeon, waiting patiently for the Lord, takes the Christ child in his arms and speaks the words of the Nunc Dimittis (“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace”).

The Joy of Christmas

God’s Favor on Mary

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