Billy Graham in his book, The Cradle, Cross and Crown, written to help us stay focused on what is important as we journey through the Christmas season, shares this story. May it encourage us this Christmas!

            On that first Christmas night the Bible tells us about the angel coming to those fearful shepherds and saying, “Fear not, I bring you good news.” What is the real meaning of that good news?

            During World War II, many a mother would take her son and try to keep the memory of the father who was away at war in the memory of that boy. And one mother I heard about took her son every day into the bedroom and showed him a large portrait of the father who was away. One day the little boy said to his mother, “Mom, wouldn’t it be great if Dad could just step out of the frame?”

That’s what happened that first Christmas.

            For centuries man has looked into the heavens longing for God to step out of the frame, and at Bethlehem that’s exactly what God did.  Incredible and unbelievable as it may appear  to a modern man, the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ was a visitor from Heaven itself. He was God Incarnate.

            And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” — Luke 2:8-12

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No Ordinary Sheep

Those were no ordinary sheep...no common flocks, huddled in sleep among the fields, the layered rocks, near Bethlehem That Night; but those selected for the Temple sacrifice: theirs to atone for sins they had not done. How right the angels should appear to them That Night. Those were no usual shepherds there, but outcast shepherds whose unusual care of special sheep made it impossible to keep Rabbinic law, which therefore banned them. How right the angels should appear to them That Night.

—Ruth Bell Graham’s Collected Poems (also from the Cradle, Cross and Crown)

This is from Max Lucado's book, "In the Manger." It is a great compliment to our Christmas Series, "How to have a Mary Christmas." May our response to Christmas be like that of Mary!

Let it be to me according to your word. - Luke 1:38

The virgin birth is much more than a Christmas story; it is a picture of how close Christ will come to you. The first stop on His itinerary was a womb. Where will God go to touch the world? Look deep within Mary for an answer. Better still, look deep within yourself. What He did with Mary, He offers to us! He issues a Mary-level invitation to all His children. “If you’ll let Me, I’ll move in!” All through Scripture we see this preposition in. Jesus lives in His children.

To His apostles, Christ declared, “I am in you” (John 14:20, emphasis mine).

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians was “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:17, emphasis mine).

“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27, emphasis mine).

Christ grew in Mary until He had to come out. Christ will grow in you until the same occurs. He will come out in your speech, in your actions, in your decisions. Every place you live will be a Bethlehem, and every day you live will be a Christmas. You, like Mary, will deliver Christ into the world. God in us!

You are a modern-day Mary. Even more so. He was a fetus in her, but He is a force in you. He will do what you cannot do. Imagine a million dollars being deposited into your checking account. To any observer you look the same, except for the goofy smile, but are you? Not at all! With God in you, you have a million resources that you did not have before.

Can’t stop drinking or worrying? Christ can. And He lives within you. Can’t forgive the jerk, forget the past, or forsake your bad habits? Christ can! And He lives in you. Paul knew this.

To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. - Colossians 1:29, emphasis mine

Like Mary, you and I are indwelt by Christ. Find that hard to believe? How much more did Mary? The line beneath her picture in the high school annual did not read, “Aspires to be the mother of God.” No one was more surprised by this miracle than she was.

And no one was more passive than she was. God did everything. Mary didn’t volunteer to help. She offered no assistance. She offered no resistance. She could have said, “Who am I to have God in my womb? I’m not enough.” Or, “I’ve got other plans. I don’t have time for God in my life.”

Instead, Mary said, Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word. - Luke 1:38

If she is our measure, God seems less interested in talent and more interested in trust.

Unlike her, we tend to assist God, assuming our part is as important as His. Or we resist, thinking we are too bad or too busy. Yet when we assist or resist, we miss God’s great grace. We miss out on the reason we were placed on earth —To be so full of Him that we could say with Paul,

It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. - Galatians 2:20

December is upon us... and the Christmas season is in full swing! Christmas day will be here before we know it! As you prepare for and reflect on Christmas this year here is something I received several years ago in an email. I share it with you as a reminder of what this season is really all about.

Jesus is better than Santa Claus

Santa lives at the North Pole...JESUS is everywhere!

Santa rides in a sleigh...JESUS rides on the wind and walks on water!

Santa comes but once a year...JESUS is an ever present help!

Santa fills your stockings with goodies...JESUS supplies all your needs!

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited...JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited!

You have to wait in line to see Santa...JESUS is as close as the mention of His name!

Santa lets you sit in his lap...JESUS lets you rest in His arms!

Santa doesn't know your name and has to check his list to check up on you...JESUS knows our name, our history and our future. He even knows how many hairs you have on your head!

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly...JESUS has a heart full of love!

All Santa can offer is Ho-Ho-Ho...JESUS offers health, help, hope and eternal life!

Santa says, "You better not cry"...JESUS says, "Cast all your cares on Me for I care for you!"

Santa may make you chuckle...JESUS gives you joy that is your strength!

While Santa puts gifts under your tree...JESUS became our gift and died on a tree...the Cross!

Keep Christ in Christmas as you journey through this Christmas season...HE IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!

"When the time had fully come, God sent HIs Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons..." Galatians 4:4

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16