We just want to We just want to wish you an old fashionedwish you an old fashioned

Merry Christmas!Merry Christmas!

““But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be littlethough thou be little among the thousands of among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruleris to be ruler in Israel; in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlastingeverlasting.” -- Micah 5:2 .” -- Micah 5:2

Some may say, ‘How can you, in this evil time of war & repression, Some may say, ‘How can you, in this evil time of war & repression, still commemorate the peaceful birth of baby Jesus as in days of yore still commemorate the peaceful birth of baby Jesus as in days of yore

when the spirit of the epoch was much gentler & milder?’when the spirit of the epoch was much gentler & milder?’

““And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar AugustusCaesar Augustus, , that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And governor of Syria. And all went to be taxedall went to be taxed, every one , every one into his own cityinto his own city” – Luke 2:4” – Luke 2:4

Why not? Many things can still be learned from the Christmas story!Why not? Many things can still be learned from the Christmas story!

For For oneone thing, Jesus’ era wasn’t all that peaceful! The spirit thing, Jesus’ era wasn’t all that peaceful! The spirit of that epoch was as repressive as today! Yet inspite of cruel of that epoch was as repressive as today! Yet inspite of cruel

government & persecution of the poor, God sent His Son!government & persecution of the poor, God sent His Son!

““And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage

of David:) of David:) To be taxedTo be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being with Mary his espoused wife, being great with childgreat with child.” –Luke .” –Luke 2:5 2:5

If we …inspite of all bad news… still have faith & let our If we …inspite of all bad news… still have faith & let our hearts care for mothers, fathers, innocent babies, simple hearts care for mothers, fathers, innocent babies, simple

things and hope for a better world, with God things and hope for a better world, with God ALLALL things will things will stillstill be possible be possible todaytoday!!

““And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in

swaddling clothesswaddling clothes, and laid him , and laid him in a mangerin a manger; because ; because there was no room for them in there was no room for them in the innthe inn.” Luke 2:6-7.” Luke 2:6-7

So take courage! Inspite of suffering & difficulties So take courage! Inspite of suffering & difficulties God God willwill & always & always hashas taken care of His own. taken care of His own.

““For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The

mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” -- Isaiah 9:6 mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” -- Isaiah 9:6

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said to

them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.”

His angels are always there, in control of every situation, permitting only what God allows!

Many took and still take issue with little baby Jesus.

His “mistake” was to be born ‘the Son of God’ straight from

the Father of Lights by intervention of angels … yet

through an insignificant family from a a simple village

in a despised province!On top of it, He was born

from a ‘questionable’ virgin, laid in an animal feeder in a

stinking stable … instead of in a glorious worldly palace!

Such a Messiah does not fit the ambitions of proud men

and powerful rulers!

““For unto you is born this day in the city of For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And And thisthis shall be shall be a signa sign unto you; unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling in swaddling

clothesclothes, lying in , lying in a mangera manger.”.”

But God & His angels But God & His angels don’t seem to care much don’t seem to care much for the proud & mighty for the proud & mighty

rulers, prefering rather to rulers, prefering rather to manifest themselves to manifest themselves to meek simple shepherds meek simple shepherds

abiding in the fields abiding in the fields watching their sheep!watching their sheep!

““And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

  It looks like His angels have more success to get meek, It looks like His angels have more success to get meek, simple people to do His bidding, than lofty rulers…simple people to do His bidding, than lofty rulers…

“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing

which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”- Luke 2:15-16

God just God just lovesloves to use simple, little people to proclaim to use simple, little people to proclaim His message! He far prefers the broken, humble hearts!His message! He far prefers the broken, humble hearts!

““And they came And they came with hastewith haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a , and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the sayingthey made known abroad the saying which was which was told themtold them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things

which were told them by the shepherds.” -- Luke 2:17-18which were told them by the shepherds.” -- Luke 2:17-18

 

““But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the And the shepherdsshepherds returned, returned, glorifying and praising Godglorifying and praising God for all the things for all the things that that they had heard and seenthey had heard and seen, as it was , as it was told unto themtold unto them..” -- Luke 2:19-20..” -- Luke 2:19-20

Do you feel little, broken, Do you feel little, broken, humble? Then cheer up! humble? Then cheer up! God can use you too, and God can use you too, and wants to wants to speakspeak to to youyou too, too,

to to alsoalso proclaim His proclaim His words!words!

““For thus saith the high and lofty For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, One that inhabiteth eternity,

whose name is Holy; whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the and humble spirit, to revive the

spirit of the humble, and to revive spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. the heart of the contrite ones.

Isaiah 57:15 Isaiah 57:15

  And thus we wish And thus we wish youyou a amild, gentle, wise, simplemild, gentle, wise, simpleMERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!CHRISTMAS!

He stands at your heart’s He stands at your heart’s door. Let Him in today! door. Let Him in today! Just say: ‘Dear Jesus, Just say: ‘Dear Jesus, please come into my please come into my heart and give me your heart and give me your free gift of eternal life, free gift of eternal life, amen. Thank you. amen. Thank you.

FEEL FREE TO PASS ON TO OTHERSFEEL FREE TO PASS ON TO OTHERSFor more powerpoints visit: www.98.to/powerpoints/For more powerpoints visit: www.98.to/powerpoints/

““The sacrifices of The sacrifices of God are a broken God are a broken spirit: a broken and spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not God, thou wilt not despise.” despise.” Psalm 51:17Psalm 51:17