Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! It's time to celebrate the fact that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. He did that so he could grow up and make the sacrifice for our sins. Praise God! ...and Merry Christmas!

Some good verses to read this week are in Isaiah 9:6 and John 1:9-14. Rejoice!

A good friend of mine has posted a fun Christmas video at www.timewithdizzy.com Enjoy!

Christmas Characters: The Wisemen

One of the most famous parts of the Christmas story is about the wisemen that came from an Eastern country to worship the newborn king, Jesus.

Way back in history, the people of Israel were taken captive by the armies of Babylon. Many of their finest young men were taken to the land of Babylon and were trained to be great leaders and thinkers. Some of their names were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

Some think that the "wisemen" who came to worship Jesus were people who followed years after these men. They were smart. They were educated. They knew many things that other normal people did not know. They also knew about God's promises to the people of Israel. They knew that when the star appeared, that it was a sign in the sky that the new King had been born that would save the people of Israel.

You can read more about the wisemen in Matthew 2:1-16 & 19-21.

They traveled a long way to worship Jesus. They brought him gifts. They used their riches to bless Joseph, Mary and Jesus.

During this Christmas season, let's choose to be a blessing to others too!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Characters - The Shepherds

Shepherds lived out in the fields to watch over their flocks near Bethlehem. They provided for their sheep and protected them.

According to an Israeli history expert, the flocks near Bethlehem were special. This is where the sheep were raised that would be used for sacrifices at the temple in Jerusalem (Bethlehem was only about five miles from Jerusalem.)

These shepherds knew that their sheep would be used as sacrifices for the sins of the people. So, when the angel announced to them that Jesus would be born, they were able to go and see the "lamb of God"...the one sacrifice for sin that would pay the price for all mankind.

Jesus was born so that EVERYONE could have their sins forgiven and become part of God's family.

Read these verses: 2 Peter 3:9 and Acts 10:34

God even loved the smelly shepherds enough to send angels to make this announcement to them! He loves you too! Read Luke 2:4-20.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Characters: Joseph

God the Father looked for someone that would be an earthly father for God's son, Jesus. God knew that Joseph loved him and did things right. Because Joseph trusted God, God also trusted Joseph to raise his son.

Read about Joseph in Matthew 1:18-25.

After Jesus was born, something happened that changed Joseph's life again. God expected Joseph, the step-dad of Jesus, to protect his son too. Read about that in Matthew 2:13&14 and 2:19-23. It was important that Joseph listened and obeyed!

He raised Jesus to know God the Father, too. Joseph taught him about God and brought him to the temple in Jerusalem to worship God his Father.

In Matthew 2:51 it says Jesus "...went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them." He obeyed his mother and his step-father.

Many people who study the Bible think that Joseph probably died sometime while Jesus was a teenager. They think that because we read in the Bible about Joseph being with the family when Jesus was 12, but then we do not hear about him any more after that. Also, Jesus waited until he was thirty to start his ministry. Maybe that's because Jesus was staying home and helping Mary his mother (as a carpenter). We don't know for sure, but that's what many people think.

Joseph was a man that God trusted as a dad to his own special son.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Characters - Mary the Mother of Jesus

Read Luke 1:26-38. This tells about how Mary was willing to do whatever God wanted her to do. Do you have the same attitude as Mary? Are you willing to do whatever God wants you to do?