Merry Christmas!

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Comet Lovejoy seen from space: source
His creation is truly awe-inspiring, isn't it? The angels, also called the stars, sang with joy at His birth. How bright that star must have been to lead the Wise men to the Christ-child. How bright that glory must have been to the shepherds keeping watch by night. His coming was heralded by signs in the stars and the brightest glory ever. His Second Coming will be the same.

His creation is His and we are His people. Each one of us believers is holy and sanctified. Love each other well and truly, giving thanks for each one. Even Paul who was so vexed by the Corinthians, gave thanks for each of them, "I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus" (1 Cor 1:4.) We give thanks for each other and love one another because He first loved us. How can we do less for each other? He came to bring us peace with Him, reconciled. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:14). First that peace comes between a man and God, and then we display that peace toward each other, in love that Christ gives us.

Merry Christmas one and all. I hope your holiday is blessed with love and peace, most importantly, peace with Jesus through repentance and salvation, and then peace in knowing your eternal salvation is secure. What a present Jesus is to all of humanity, and what graceful present He gives each person who partakes of His mercy: the right to be called sons of God and brothers of Jesus. (Hebrews 2:10-11)

Love, Elizabeth Prata

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 15, 2014 at 1:07 PM

    Do you not know that Christmas, the annual celebration comes directly from paganism? Why would any God fearing person practice such things? Christmas, Easter, Valentines Day, Haloween, and nearly every tradition observed by so called Christians came directly from paganism. God hates paganism. Please, do your research, you will see I'm right. I would not want to be taking part in anything even remotely related to paganism when the trumpet sounds, I'm sure I would still be here after the true church rises.

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    Replies
    1. Elizabeth PrataFebruary 15, 2014 at 4:09 PM

      Anonymous, I agree that some aspects of the annual Christmas celebration come from pagan rites. I would not agree that it "directly" comes from paganism. Easter is a Christian holiday in which we celebrate the Lord's resurrection, but some don't like its ancient association with Oestre the goddess of fertility so they call it Resurrection Sunday.

      Whether you are here or not after the rapture does not depend on whether you exchanged gifts at Christmas or called Easter Easter or Resurrection Sunday or gave a valentine to someone you love. It has to do with whether you're saved or not.

      This is a matter of Christan liberty- whether you're presenting a stumbling block to a weaker brother or are abusing the grace we receive from Jesus. Some Christians in good conscience celebrate Christmas, others do but minimally and without gift giving or Santa, still others go whole hog. Here are several good articles on origins of holidays and whether Christians should participate or not

      "Do some Christmas traditions have pagan origins?"
      http://www.gotquestions.org/Christmas-traditions.html

      What is the origin of Christmas?
      Should we give gifts at Christmas?
      How should Christians respond to the "War on Christmas"?
      Was Jesus born on December 25?
      Should Christians celebrate Christmas?

      Links to the above, here: http://www.gotquestions.org/Christmas-traditions.html#ixzz2tQXerj3c

      What is the origin of Valentine’s Day, and should Christians celebrate it?
      http://www.gotquestions.org/Valentines-Day.html

      Several different essays about the origin of Easter, here
      http://www.gotquestions.org/easter-origins.html

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