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 Wonder. Isaiah 9:6
Once again, December is here and millions of people around the world will celebrate Christmas. What does this mean to you? What is a live Nativity in your home? What is your favorite Christmas story? Why? Do you put a tree in your home with decorations, if so, why? Do you place a Nativity scene for all to see in your yard, if so, what story will it tell?
Does Santa come to your home, what will this mean to the Nativity Story? When you give gifts to others, what motivated you to do it this way?
We would like to hear your reasons on why you celebrate the nativity?
thedailylily.com 
This article is very thought provoking and pertinent to all the things we think about during the Christmas Season.
First of all, what the Nativity Scene means to me is the awesome, breathtaking story of the First Christmas as told in the Bible in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2.
The wonder of a tiny child lying on the hay, adorned and adored by angels, shepherds, and the friendly beasts captures the imagination and brings alive the words from off the Biblical pages. The marvelous reality of it, that it is completely true and complete truth. The “mystical allure” of the Christmas story has taken on new meaning and grows and develops in my being as I moved from childhood to adulthood and now, to a child of the Living God.
This year, I did put up a Nativity Scene, with the help of my friends, DJ & DEBI, the first and maybe the ONLY one in the neighborhood as Sara prompted us to boldly display the reason for the season and to honor the true meaning of Christmas.
And the reality of Christmas is THIS; Christ was born, lived, shed His precious blood, died on the cross and arose again. And now through God’s unspeakable Gift, Christ is born in our Hearts and THAT is the GREATEST CHRISTMAS STORY EVERY TOLD!
How do you like your new nativity in your yard? How does it make you feel when you drive up in the dark and see it all lit- up?
Thanks for putting your scene up and throwing your light forward for others to see. I will have to drive by and see it.
Sara, your Nativity as pictured above, in your yard is glory, glory! I love it and it illuminates the night with a holy light. The tree in the window, looks like the Huge Star that rested over the Nativity scene 2ooo years ago. It’s truly a delightful sight to the eyes and to the spirit.
The wind was jealous of my Jesus, Mary and Joseph and blew them over, this afternoon. So, tomorrow I will regroup and set them aright, again. Sort of like what Jesus does for us when we are blown off track. I love to come home to the light of the Family of Jesus brightening my neighborhood. What a wonderful show of reverence our Nativity Scenes display in our town. May Christ’s light shine abroad in this nation during this Christmas season and then, like the light of stars that travels for for trillions of miles and years through the atmosphere, may that light of Christ’s spectacular birth shine into men’s hearts throughout the centuries and escort them into eternity with Jesus Christ.
I had written that the wind knocked over my precious Nativity scene the other day and though the figures were not damaged, when I re-set the scene, Joseph would not “light up”. So I called our handy expert, one of the ‘ministry of helps’ persons in our group, DJ! She quickly analyzed the situation and announced that the fuse had fallen out of the conncetion to the cable when the wind attacked Joseph and it would have to be replaced so that Joseph would “light up” again.
So,in the meantime to remedy this , I placed the lighted Baby Jesus figure very, very close to Joseph and Mary, too. And the light from the BABE is helping to light up Joseph so that he can be detected in the Manger Scene. It’s sort of like what The Lord has done with us. If we place ourselves very, very close to Jesus, the Light of GOD’s Son will illumine us. In John 12:46, Jesus says,” I have come as a Light into the world that whoever believes in Me will believe in HIM WHO sent me.” And most appropriately and pertinent to this little story
is where Jesus says, “I Am the Light of the world. He who follows and stays close to me will not walk in darkness”.
So, let us be like Joseph in my Nativity scene. Let us place ourselves very, very close to Jesus so that His light, reflected from us, may so shine before men and lead them out of darkness into God’s marvelous light.
Putting up the indoor nativity has always been important for me because looking at those figures has helped keep me focused on what Christmas really is admist all the hustle I see around at this time of year. I have always worked in some form of retail and I see people caught up in preparations for a ‘Christmas’ that may be Christ-less to them. Like MG shared, Sara really inspired me this year to take the Light of the Nativity and the true meaning of Christmas outside so I bought a lit-up Nativity and placed it in my yard with the hope that it will shine as a Hope and reminder to passer-bys and my own family that this is Christmas. That: I John 4:9: “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”
Christimas what does this mean to me?…life..to me it means Life.
What is a live Nativity in your home?…to me it is the yarns , paints needles threads..box of handmade preemie baby things almost ready to be sent out…hands that are active..
What is your favorite Christmas story?…the gift of the Magi
Why?…it speaks of giving from a heart filled with Gods love.
Do you put a tree in your home with decorations, if so, why?..Yes…because the decorations placed on the tree each have a meaning and when some one asks or says this is beautiful or where did you get this …I share the testimony of being set free and delivered from agoraphobia(spelling)..and to me the tree stand for Jesus…(so many reasons for the Tree)..The Cross..
Do you place a Nativity scene for all to see in your yard, if so, what story will it tell?..Yes I put a Nativity scene it our yard..and it tells that a Child was born and this child was heavenly Emanuel and the angels on high even made it known that this child was from God(this is represented by the angel above our porch…and then Mary Joesph and Jesus together in a place with the donkey…..A king born with no royal anything just simple reality….He came to save us nothing but to save us…out in the cold no place but a stable…just all of heaven watching with His mother and Joesph..and the animals..
When you give gifts to others, what motivated you to do it this way?…When I give gifts to others I try to give gifts that will encourage them in what ever gifts and talents they are blessed with. Why do it this way?…when I was small my Dad saw in me talents and giftings that I at the time only thought of as fun and they were but in stead of giving me what I wanted like a brand new doll or a brand new padel car or bike, in his wisdom he chose to give what was needed not what I wanted (because everybody else had one) he gave what was needed and necessary… an artist drawing pad and pencils.. thats was what was needed and that was something that encouraged and built up the gifts and talents God gave…My Father was a smart Army man and he was wise having been educated in the army and having gone to colledge and traveled many places he had a sharp awareness of things and people…He knew the Lord and even though he had his faults and shortcomings as all do..His wisdom still shone through…and though He has since gone on to be with the Lord…I know that it is still very vital to continue to give in this way…”one plants and another waters that there be much fruit”…that is what motivates me to give in this way…that there be much fruit in each life for God…dj
DJ, your responses to Sara’s inquiries and your testimony touched my heart. God has a plan in everything that happens to us. And though we give lip service to it we really don’t understand it until we see the overwhelming results of what God knew about us and planned for us before the beginning of time. Your artistic paintings and needle work, crafts and general knowledge of how things work is a testimony to your father’s wisdom of which you so lovingly and gratefully spoke. We must all thank him, again, when we see him in Heaven for training up a Dorothy in the way that she should go and now that she is grown she shall not depart from it. PRAISE GOD!
I hope, pray and believe that all my gift giving is motivating by love. God gave His son in love. The wise men freely gave to the Son out of love and passion. Mary gave as a Mother out of love. And Joseph as a father, gave to Mary and the Son out of great love. I hope that as I prepare each gift with thought, prayer and action that it will in some small way show that I love as Jesus commanded us to do, walk in love.
I hope my heart is a cradle for love to protray to others and my action is a little light to shine on another’s path. In some way I want my life to be a part of The Nativity Story.
Why is that most everyone finds it easy to believe in Christmas and the birth of baby Jesus and not the Easter resurection Jesus? Don’t get me wrong I love Christmas and most eveything that goes with it. I just don’t understand how some can find it so easy to believe in the birth of our Savior and not the resurection?
I love Christmas…
I love Easter even more!!!
Jesus, thank you for all that you have done for me in my life! Thank you for coming to be born and made flesh, and thank you for your sacrifice you made for us all on Calvary!!!! Help us to believe not only in your birth but also in your resurection Lord. The day that made all of the difference!
I love you Jesus,
Brian
Do you believe in Easter?
While one may have a personal preference of these two Holy Days, Theologically, you can’t have one without the other. The importance of the Virgin Birth of Jesus is that he was born a sinless man and was God incarnate on earth. His sinless humanity, which he maintained throughout his time on the earth, made his death on Calvary an atoning work. His sinless life made the claim of death and the grave void over his life. His resurrection demonstrates his power over sin, death, hell and the grave. Another day, which a majority of Christianity celebrates, but not to the same degree as these two is Ascension Sunday. This day celebrates Jesus’ return to heaven where he sits at the right hand of the Father to make intercession for believers.
Christmas and Easter are dates on the calendar we use to celebrate events in the life of Jesus. The real deal is to celebrate either one of these days we must really accept all of the life of Jesus and celebrate all of it. And if we are intellectually and spiritually honest with our self we have to admit that as Christians we are proclaiming faith in a very unique person with a most unusual birth, life, death and continued existence.
Hi Brian
Maybe the “most everyone” from your comment means most everyone likes the great gifts that Santa brings better than the basket of eggs the easter bunny brings.
Christmas brought a gift to the world but Easter brought a gift to me. Easter brought an Eternal gift to me when I invited and allowed the GIFT to live in my heart and life. Christmas brought a potential gift to me. Although I agree with Gary one would not work without the other.
But, the gift and day we are all, hopefully, waiting and yearing for is not Santa, or the Easter Bunny. But best packaged in the apostle Paul’s words “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8
Rev. 22:12-13 summons up Christmas, Easter and Ascension Sunday for me. “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, The Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
Thank you Brain for asking “Do you believe in Easter?” Yes, I do and I am so glad that you believe also. Does that make us all family? Are you our brother and is Wendy our sister?
Sorry if I came across wrong. I was just speaking about people in general. I won’t post anymore.
Yes, Jesus is my Lord.
Brian
What do you mean by coming across wrong? I took your comments as an opportunity to say that we need to celebrate all of the life of Jesus and not just Christmas.
Hope you keep posting.
don’t you want to post anymore? Because you made me stop, think, pause, pray, study and respond. I enjoyed thinking on your comment. It made me think, how do I feel about Christmas and how do I feel about Easter? I love them both and tried to respond from my heart.
Brian, keep up the good work! Let us all rejocie and give praise and find ways to express God’s love to all.
Many blessings to you and your family,
I agree with Sara below…..Brian…keep posting…your blog is very thought provoking…to me thats good…dj
Brian, I love what you posted. I totally agree with you. How can one celebrate Christmas and not Easter. I love Christmas and Easter. I thank Jesus for what he has done for me. I do believe that many have lost focus of what Christmas is really about. We get so wrapped up in buying the perfect gift for each person on our list. This really makes me alittle sad. The perfect gift has already been given. When Jesus laid in the manger that was just the beginning. The perfect gift was when Jesus gave his life for the ultimate sacrifice . The most exciting thing about this gift is that it last for all eternity. To me the perfect gift has already been given to all. What else could any of us possible want or need. I do love Christmas and I do love Easter and do love the real meaning behind these awesome holidays. Brian, I do love you. I want to thank you for your awesome comments,thank you for all you do for your family and thank you for loving Jesus. What better gift could I ask for! Also, I have a gift with my entire family writting blogs on my favorite web-site about my Lord. Brian thank you for this gift. Sara and Gary thank you for your awesome responses. Most of all, thank you Jesus for your perfect gift.
I have also set up a NATIVITY in my yard as a reminder to all that drive by my house where the perfect gift began. I love to see that little baby Jesus light up. What an awesome gift. Thank you Lord!!!
‘Candles in the Dark’, your blog Wendy, on pg 3 under Inspiration exhorts us all to go ‘light up the world’ with our candles. This is one way we can do it this season…joining our candles together…our outdoor Nativities to remind the world of His gift offered to all as you say above.
Great Wendy, if we keep those lights of The Nativity burning in the yards in NC, La. Va. and our other great states we will surely spread light in our Nation.
I am so happy that we are lighting up our Nation with the light to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to the World.
I am going to try and pipe Christmas music to my yard Nativity so that all that walk by will hear the sounds of His Birth as well as see. How amazing that A Star led the Magi to the King. That Word of His birth led the Sherpherds and others as well as us to the King.
When I see The Nativity, Hear the Music of His Birth and hear the message of the preachers and teachers about The Nativity, I am filled with Joy. When I receive a gift representing His Love I am thrilled in my feet. I think I am a “Dancing Penguin.
I dig and think long and hard when I read these good kind of questioning blogs…so it takes me some time to respond ..I was wondering could it be that Christmas is believed in because of all the right reasons…but when it comes to Easter having to face the reason for Christs’ death and resurrection one finds it hard to face and so therefore it becomes easier to not believe so much in Easter..as in Christmas….I love Christmas too…for me its the getting of the Gift…and I love Easter too even more(so to say) because it is the Opening of that Gift….and the sharing of It…dj
I pass by a house going to work everyday that says “Leave Christ in Christmas”. I believe that is just what Christmas is. Christmas is “LOVE” come down to earth in the form of a baby and savior to us all. I have a nativity house and garden flag outside. I have several nativities inside with one that I painted. They are constant reminder to me of God reaching down and touching us with His love through Jesus. I love to hear the story over and over again and never tire of it. The pastors this past Sunday reminded us that Jesus had a family too, and they played an important part also. John, the Baptist, was Jesus’s cousin and was born right before him. God uniquely orchestrated the timing of John’s being born and then Jesus’s birth. He had to come first to announce to the world that Jesus was the one (savior of mankind). In saying this the tree reminds me particularly of family and those who have gone on to be with Jesus. My Mom was a crafter and every year I pull out the decorations and place each one on the tree remembering the time my Mom had made those ornaments and how she also had her Sunday school class make them. She made each one to honor Jesus. As children we were always in the live Christmas Nativity Performance. We looked forward to it.
When I was young Santa always came to our house. Mom said that Santa would always come as he represented a spirit of giving. God gave His son to the world so I didn’t have any trouble thinking that people could reach out and touch someone in a special way by giving of themselves as my Mom did through homemade guilts and such and a few store bought items. She would pour hours forth of time into each gift. She used her talents to touch others.
In summary I believe we should leave Christ in Christmas and touch others with love by giving as God directs. We can’t possibly ever, ever outgive God as He gave us His Son the most precious gift of ALL, but we can touch others through giving of our talents. Merry CHRISTmas!
Rena, you are so right about special gifts given in love. Remember I have some of your Mother’s beautiful handmade gifts. I love them and cherish them. When I see them or use them I think of your Mom and the beautiful daughter(s) and son she has and their families. It reminds me to pray for you and your family. God’s Love shines forth when a gift is given in love and with love and freely from the heart.
Christmas does bring and produce memories of family. When I think of Jesus, I think of how he taught and made himself part of our family. We are His family when we accept Him as family. This morning on the “Today’s Show”, I saw where women are going to camps all over the world and all kinds of camps to bond with other women. ” Camp Bomshell!” It showed how women are so busy and carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders figuratively speaking. Getting married, having children, having careers and not taking time out to renew themselves. One big worry trying to make and believe your children are smarter and better looking than another. Sounds funny and wierd like a bad movie. But, I’m sure true.
But, when we come together as one family which is what God intended for us these things melt right in front of our eyes when we see and understand that God created all and loves all and we are all His children. O how my heart cries for God’s family to bloom, blossom and come forth. How I would like to see God’s church as one of the getaways for women to renew themselves and be better wives and Moms and the other related issues women are dealing with.
I would like to give a Christmas Gift to all (women, children and men) that visit The Daily Lily (time, my time) to take the time to pray for each of you, your families and to say you are loved by God and me. May each of you be blessed by God in ways that He knows how to bless each of you. Merry Christmas!
I join you in a Christmas Gift of prayer for each of those who have visited THE DAILY LILY. May you and your families feel the love of God through all the daily lilies here. May each of you be blessed by God in ways that He knows will bless you this Christmas.
I also thank the Lord Jesus for all the wonderful daily lilies who have blessed my life as friends and fellow servants serving the Lord Jesus Christ. You are my family. Thanks for sharing and honing me to become everything God wants me to become. Merry Christmas.
I would like to share with the LILES a CHRISTMAS Song that I wrote a while ago, about Jesus and the real meaning of what happened that Christmas night, so long ago. It is entitled:
WHO IS THE CHILD (mg henry (C)
Who is the Child that in a manger lay?
Who is the Child asleep upon the hay?
A helpless Baby, fagile as a rose
A tiny infant, they wrapped in swaddling clothes
Who is the Child in wisdom as He grew?
Who is the Child, such favor that He knew
A little Child, the prophets had foretold
The CHild Whom wisemen brough incense, myrrh and gold
His Name is Jesus, Jehovah’s Mighty Arm
The Lord of Sabaoth, is He
His name is El Shaddai and Adonai
Yahweh and the Prince of Peace
What Man was this, they nailed to a Cross?
What Man was this, Who would not count the cost
This is that Child of Whom the angels sing
This is the MAN, He’s Jesus Christ the King
His name is Jesus, the Alpha and Omega
The rock and a Strong Fortress
This is Messiah, and Shiloh Come
And the Sun of Righteousness
Who is the Child born on that Christmas Day?
Who is the Child, the Truth, the Life, the Way.
Lo! Hear the trumpet sounding from above
Behold the MAN! He greets you as….
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Everlasing Father, Son of God, GOD OF LOVE
Oh HALLELUJAH
Who is this HOLY BRIDGEGROOM at my side?
Who is this blessed one the Spotless Bride?
This is your HUSBAND O New Jerusalem
Behold the MAN, He’s Jesus Christ the KING
HIs name is Jesus Christ, He is the Lord of Lords
This CHILD is JESUS CHRIST, YOUR KING!!!!
mg henry (c)
MG, the words are just beautiful. I look forward to hearing you play this. Are you using it in your school Christmas show?
Unfortunately, we will not be singing this particular song in the CHRISTMAS concert that we are encouraged to call “Holiday Concert”. We are singing a Hebrew Song that I wrote telling about the miracle of the Light that shone for 8 days which is the Hanukkah story and the miracle that God wrought for the Jewish people. However, I have been encouraged NOT to sing TOO many Christmas songs “like we did last year”.
But our God will make a way for us.
Thank you for your kind words of appreciation and encouragement and your prayers. We need to continue in prayer for our schools. Amen!
I had the opportunity of attending this concert and commend MG and her students for their performance. It was wonderful to see the talented children sing their songs, dance to the Hebrew and Irish song and others and play their instruments. I am sure they must work very hard for this. But I did miss hearing some of the Christmas carols like ‘Hark the Herald Angels’ that I had heard them sing so beautifully in previous years that I attended. I wonder if others missed them also.
Gary said something (well, many things) in his teachings this morning that really startled me. He said to “allow GOD to stagger us”. He said, to the effect, that we must let the Word of God amaze and astound us, continually, is the way that I understood what he was teaching. He spoke about the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ and then he closed with this….. “we become the Word incarnate in the earth, today”. That IS astounding, and amazing and challenges our minds, our eyes of our understanding and our hearts to hear what the SPIRIT of the Living GOD is saying to us!!