And the Angels Rejoiced!

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14 KJV

Why all the celebration?

          Where darkness had filled the world, 
                     God has sent JOY 
      in the person of His most beloved, only son.  
                 Let the world REJOICE.  

The greatest event since creation has just happened.

Was it the presents?
Or the trees?

                      Tree at Knapps Station Community Church

Was it all the decorations?

Or the festivities?
Or the great food?

No!

It was the Child

The One born in a stable

This barn is on the Barker Road Potsdam and probably has electricity and running water. Those amenities were not available when Jesus was born.  
Would you want your baby born in a barn, even a "modern" barn?  God did!!

The One whose mother and earthly father
said “Yes” to an angel

          Nativity scene at Knapps Station Community Church

The One who loves you and me so much He came from His throne in heaven to save us from ourselves

The One born to die to save us from our sins
The One whose love for us is limitless
The One who is the Son of God Almighty

The One who chose to become the lowliest
and most helpless of people   
a tiny baby born to a teenage girl
who was a nobody in the eyes of the world

The One who is Lord of all creation

That’s why the angels sang and rejoiced

Will you join in and celebrate
the greatest love story of all time?

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.  John 3:16

                               Nativity Scene in Norwood, NY             

Commentary:

Route 56 between Potsdam and Norwood, NY.  Are you ready to open your heart to the light and love that the Father is patiently and lovingly waiting to give you?

We are about to celebrate Christmas. Are you ready? I'm not asking if your shopping is done, tree decorated and presents wrapped. I'm asking if you are ready to receive Christ in your heart?

Do you realize that the Almighty One who created everything that exists, loves you so much that He sent His Son to become a human baby? 

This was THE God who became a human baby who was born and lived to teach us how God wants us to live and how to treat each other. 

He taught how much He, Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit love us and want us to spend eternity with them. 

He taught us to love God first and foremost and to love each other as we love ourselves.

We cannot do this or anything without God's help. 

We only need to ask Him and He will help us. 

He never stops loving us and will guide us to the Home we were meant to live in for eternity - if we cooperate.

Are you ready for Christmas?

                Church in Lake Placid.  
         Whatever church you choose, go home for Christmas and always.
                         Open your heart 
         and allow the JOY that is Jesus fill you with peace and love.

Knapps Station Community Church would be a great one to visit and stay with.  It is a true church family that will love you where and who you are.  It will nourish your soul and lead you to the Lord who loves you and is waiting for you to come Home.

Have you opened your heart to the One who loves you enough to become a human like you and me and die for our sins? 

Just open your heart. Ask Him for His help. Ask His forgiveness for whatever you have done wrong.

Follow the One who will never lead you astray and get ready for the ride of a lifetime as He leads you Home.

Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.  Psalm 62:18

           Road to my neighbor on Route 35 near West Potsdam, NY

Can You Hear the Cheering? 

I watched a video on Facebook of a young hockey player helping a younger mentally challenged hockey player make a goal.

The younger one could just barely stay upright and skate forward. 

The older one would move the puck in range so the younger one could hit the puck a little and skate closer and closer the goal. 

The goalie got out of the way so the younger one could hit the puck into the net. 

The little guy raised his arm in victory and the goalie rubbed his head in approval. I’m sure he was beaming under his mask.

I think my trip with God is like that
 and I am the challenged child.

Jesus doesn’t force me to follow.

He doesn’t push me toward the Goal. 

He encourages me. He puts the puck in my reach. He helps me every step of the way. He stays beside me when I am afraid and having difficulty. 

He has been there. He lived as a human so He knows what I am going through. 

He helps me get up when I fall down as I have so many times. 

I can choose to go the wrong way and He won’t stop me but He will try to redirect me if I only cooperate. 

He has never given up on me regardless of my sins and missteps. 

Just as everyone watching the event on the video must have been cheering, I believe the angels in heaven cheer for us as we take each little step forward and cooperate despite the many difficulties that life and Satan put in our path. 

We only have to trust in the one who loves us more than earthly life itself and He will guide us to our heavenly Goal. 

Can you hear the cheering?

He holds each of us in palm of His Mighty Hand and loves us each so much that "even the hairs on our heads are numbered." 

Taste and see that the LORD is good; 
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.  
Psalm 34:8




Book Reviews:



Cradle, Cross and Crown by Billy Graham

This tiny gem has writings by Billy Graham and poems by Ruth Graham celebrating what Christmas is really all about.



On This Holy Night The Heart of Christmas

Another little gem with writings by some of the most popular modern authors giving insight into the reason we need to celebrate this blessed season.



The Life God Blesses by Jim Cymbala

Another great Jim Cymbala book that discusses why God blesses some people more than others.  Why would that be?  Read it and gain insight and hopefully be greatly blessed by God!  Available at the Knapps Station Church library.




A Biography of Jesus 32 Simple Lessons from His Life by Tom J.Crowley

Short snippets that give insight into the life of the one born to save us from ourselves.  Available at the Knapps Station Church library.


Faith Conquers Doubt
Blog post by my friend Jean Oathout.


Blessing:
May the light of the Christmas Star
  shine brightly on you 
  today and forever more
May it bring you the Peace, Love and JOY
  of the Christ Child!

All photos taken by Debbie and Tim McEwen unless otherwise noted- 

  used with permission

All bible reference from the NIV unless otherwise noted

If you are interested, you can click on the Blog Archive 

  dates on the top right side of this post to connect 

  to previous blog posts

I would love to hear from you either on the      

  comment section of this blog post
  or through my email  

  debbieamcewen@gmail.com

I post every other Saturday 

The next post will be 12-31-2016, the last for this year!

                    Is this Charlie Brown's Christmas tree??

           All creation knows instinctively to look to the Creator 

                                  and to honor Him.

                          We people need to realize this
              and REJOICE in the One who is come to save us.