“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 mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Vs. 7
thedailylily.com 
The greatest story ever FORETOLD in Genesis, the Psalms and in Isaiah, and fulfilled in Matthew and Luke. The birth of a Son. What a wonder to have a son! What a wonder to have the Son of God! God’s Son was born for us. Isaiah says,” For unto US” ! God calls us all “sons” for there is neither male nor female from God’s view-point in Heaven. We heard a song today that said, “Mountains” are just hills from Heaven’s point of view. And we who love, serve and obey the Lord Jesus Christ, the SON, are HIS ‘sons’ from His point of view.
God gave us a gift. We can choose to receive this gift or leave it. The reason for the gift is found in John 3:16, it reads
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (Key word: LOVED)
Another verse reflecting God’s love for us; is found in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Key word: LOVE)
John 14:6 (King James Version)
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
We are given a free gift birthed from the beginning of time in LOVE. Know that you are loved. Know that every man has sin, we can not free ourselves from sin. But JESUS can. The New International Version confirms our sinful nature:
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Jesus IS our GIFT of LOVE from the Father. Our gift of HOPE to overcome sin and in receiving the gift we want others to share in our JOY over the special gift.
I viewed a Gaithers DVD entitled BETTER DAY on which is a song, I AM LOVED
which expresses this LOVE of the FATHER – THE GIFT – JESUS!
I AM LOVED by Bill and Gloria Gaither
(Chorus)
I am loved, I am loved, I can risk loving you,
For the one who knows me best loves me most.
I am loved, you are loved, won’t you please take my hand?
We are free to love each other, we are loved.
I said, “If you knew, you wouldn’t want me;
My scars are hidden by the face I wear.”
He said, “My child, my scars go deeper;
It was love for you that put them there.”
(Repeat Chorus)
Forgiven! I repeat… I’m forgiven!
Clean before my Lord I freely stand.
Forgiven, I can dare forgive my brother;
“It was Love for you that put them there.” There was only one reason that Christ came. There was only one reason that He suffered, bled, died and rose again. There was only one reason….PERSONAL LOVE for each and every human being. No individual on earth is exempt….unless you exempt yourself. Like Rena says above….you can choose to receive or reject the gift of Love and redemption as an individual…no church can save, no rites or rituals, not even our good deed and works, no matter how generous and expansive. “If I give away all my fortune and possessions to the poor and give my body as a martyr but have not LOVE….that is, LOVE (GOD..JESUS CHRIST WHO IS LOVE) If I don’t have HIM, then I have nothing. I gain nothing. I am nothing.” 1Cor. 13:3.
Love is a Person. If you don’t have HIM, you have rejected the GIFT OF GOD.
In thinking about the lilies discussions today, I thought of the following poem.
May all come and receive the light of truth of Jesus who died for our sins so
we can be reconnected with the Father forever. A Father who loves us – no scar was too deep for us – He loved us so. As the poem says come receive the light – Jesus today into your lives. May the world be lite up for Jesus!
Light Up the Whole Wide World
By Rena K. Oynes @December 10, 2010
In the beginning of time,
The whole wide world
spun around, and around, and around, and around,
God and Jesus looked down on the world
And saw the messy lives
People yelling SAVE US! SAVE US!
And others didn’t even care.
God shook his finger and said what a mess
Is there any light in the people down there
No, no, how sad, no light down there.
Who can give the light?
Who can give the light, but Jesus
God sent Jesus to light up the whole wide world
In the form of a baby,
In the form of a baby,
He came upon the scene
JOY, JOY, JOY
The angels announced his birth to the World.
There’s a new baby that brings the light of truth
To whole wide world
And His name is JESUS!
Jesus stood in the world
And announced
Come, come and receive the light of truth!!
As each one comes and receives
JOY, JOY, JOY rings out in heaven
The angels announce to the Father
There a new birth today,
Someone’s received the light
Someone’s received the light
Hurray! Hurray! Says the Father
One more light lite below
Record that name in the book of LIFE.
In these times of uncertainty when local and national governments struggle with problems, decisions, issues and many of the world’s governments seem rife with strife, corruption and instability, what a consolation to read Isaiah 9:6-7. That we can know the One who governs justly in all affairs and Who has the whole world in His hands and under His authority. “Oh Come Let Us Adore Him” as the Christmas hymn sings.
And, then we sing, “What child is this, who, laid to rest, On Mary’s lap is sleeping,
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet……..”
I Can Only Imagine That Christmas Morn
By Rena K. Oynes @December 10, 2010
I can only imagine
That Christmas morn
As Mary looked upon the tiny babe that was just born
His face appearing with a heavenly glow
And Mary saying,
My Lord how blessed I am to have carried
Such a heavenly bundle of your love and birthed Him
this day.
What awesome wonder it is, as I gaze upon his face.
A body so perfect with hands so strong and small
A heart and mind so pure and holy
It’s Jesus my Lord I peer upon.
It’s Jesus my Lord I peer upon.
My joy cannot be contained
Oh Lord I can’t believe you entrusted me
To birth and care for your Son
I am honored beyond belief
My joy cannot be contained
Lord lead and guide Joseph and I
Pour out wisdom upon us
as we watch and guide him
As you would have us do our part.
But God for now I choose to gaze upon his face
and hold him close and Love this babe, MY LORD
And I know
The Hope for all people is born in this babe today.
But to the earth, He comes to minister and bring truth
He is the Savior of All
And one day He will welcome all who choose Him
To His Father’s Home
To His Father’s Home
Thank you, God, for sending your precious Son. May we all celebrate Christmas, because of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
God is so awesome. He took a shepherd that had a heart for God and annointed him. He made this shepherd a great warrior and a great King. Although King David was not perfect and made mistakes, he turned to God. God knew his heart. Through King David’s bloodline came Jesus. God’s only Son.
John 1:1-14 ” 1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. 6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light, he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn-not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. 14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
I agree with Needles in her statement above…Thank you, God, for sending your precious Son…..
And I join you, CF, in your laudation of the Christ child Who is the Light as witnessed by the Apostle John and as he instructed us bears witness to that Light in the eternal Gospels