Celebrate Christmas as a Shepherd:
Drop everything, come as you are, repent, and
be transformed by Christ the King of kings!
Are you ready for Christmas? The world says you need lots of "stuff" to be ready. But we actually need to drop everything and seek the King of kings in order to be ready. (Not marketable, but mesmerizingly true!)
Be like the shepherds who dropped everything to see and worship our Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Did they have perfect Christmas clothes? No. Did they even smell good? Likely not. Did they have the perfect gifts for Christ? Nope. But they opened their hearts to the most enormous eternal gift ever: our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And they celebrated Christmas in the best way!
Today, are you accidently letting others set your priorities? Have you (or I) been distracted by the artificial Christmas lights when instead we need to focus on the Light of the world?
Or maybe Christmas hurts. I relate to that because of loved ones dying near Christmas. But let me share what has helped me: True Christmas is for the grieving. For the grieving, Christmas bursts forth hope in Christ because He didn't forsake us on a planet that forsook God. Christmas reminds us that Christ came for each of us and He is coming again. Christmas shows Christ coming for all of us who needed a Savior so desperately!
So, even when grief sinks deep, His love reaches there. His comfort comes. It's because Christ answers the core of every human desire. Immanuel: "God with us." Hallelujah!
The beauty of Christmas is Christ —pure & eternal. Oh, His love, His sacrifice...His joy! ❤️ Celebrate CHRISTmas with me as a shepherd this year. Come and abide in Him. Worship Him. Come as you are, receive Him, and He will transform you. Be present in the presence of the King.
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
"Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" (II Cor. 9:15).
"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory" (I Peter 1:8).
Shared with His love for you,
Stacie Ruth for www.PrayingPals.org
Do you know Jesus personally yet? Now is the time. Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven. Click here to learn more.
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