GOD’S GIFT OF JESUS

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GOD’S GIFT OF JESUS

Christmas is rich with meaning. We celebrate Jesus coming into our world (I Tim. 1:15). The appearing of Jesus (II Tim. 1:10) had significance. Jesus Christ of the seed of David (II Tim. 2:8) was God manifest in the flesh (I Tim. 3:16). Jesus came to live on earth to be a mediator between God and humans (I Tim. 2:5).

Memories

Everyone has memories of Christmas. I recall as a youngster asking Santa for a cowgirl outfit. I wore it out playing in it so much. Another year my parents gave me a bicycle.

The best gift anybody ever gave me was when God saved my soul from sin. That is one day etched forever in my memory.

God’s Gift

At Christmas we remember God gave us a gift. Jesus left heaven’s home life, surely a wonderful place to live, and took up residence in our backyard. One reason He came to Planet Earth was to show people how God would live life if earth had been His home. Jesus was God in the flesh. No wonder then God made such a big deal of Jesus’ birth!

Jesus needed a home to live in when He was growing up, and parents to raise Him. God planned all the details long before the world existed, and when the time was right, He sent an angel to make the announcement.

Joseph and Mary were engaged to be married. They did not live together, and God sent an angel to each of them where they lived to give them advance notice. To Mary the angel said she would give birth to God’s Son, Jesus. A few months later the angel directed Joseph to take Mary home to be his wife. The angel reassured him concerning the child Mary was carrying in her womb (Matt. 1:18-21; Luke 1:26-38).

Announcing the birth

On the day Jesus was born, God sent angels to shepherds on guard duty, watching their sheep at night. The angels announced with great fanfare good tidings of great joy for all people. They said a Savior was born that very day and gave them clues on how to find Him.

After the angels disappeared the shepherds had a brief meeting. They decided to join the celebration. They traveled to Bethlehem and “found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger” (Luke 2:16). After leaving this humble scene, the shepherds mentioned to everyone they came across what the angels had told them about this baby. God used shepherds as social media (Luke 2:17-18).

When you select a gift for someone, do you choose something personal to give?

Shirley Logsdon

Celebrating Jesus’ Birth

 

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About Shirley Logsdon

I am the only child of Christian parents who wanted me to know God personally as they did. One night during church we watched a movie depicting a family in their home accepting Jesus as their personal Savior. I was nine and realized then my desire to make Jesus my personal Savior. With the full support of my parents, I met with the pastor and prayed to receive Christ. A few years later, several of us around the same age began classes for our confirmation to become church members. The privilege of taking communion was a special time for me. . During my teenage years I was outwardly complacent, but was inwardly rebellious. I developed the nasty habit of disrupting harmony in the household by nitpicking at anything and everything. A preacher came to hold revival services at my dad’s church and nailed me silently with looks. This helped me tremendously. I turned a corner and began to respect and obey my parents in attitude and actions. I survived these years through prayer (mine, my parents and friends). The love and tenacity of my parents and God’s grace got me through these years of upheaval. I readily identify with David the Psalmist when he said in Psalm 25:7, “Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to Thy mercy remember Thou me for Thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.” Because my parents provided a stable home life for me, when I went to college my Christian values remained intact. After completing my education in 1979, I started working. For a while, I worked at temp agencies, then I did odd jobs. I settled down in a secretarial position in 1986 working for a firm specializing in retirement plan administration. In 2007, I started working for a law firm, eventually becoming a knowledge management assistant in their law library, helping to alert attorneys to new business opportunities. I am a productive citizen of my country in large part because my parents prayed for me and made clear by word and example what they expected of me. I am extremely grateful to God for them. John 15:5 is my life verse: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” I am confronted with this realization every day I live, and it helps keep me on the straight and narrow path. I met my future husband at church. After a few years of our two families getting acquainted, he and I started courting. We married at the church where we met, in the presence of many relatives and friends. We have been married for 29 years. My hobbies are reading, cooking, and canning or freezing what my beloved husband grows in the garden. Also, I thoroughly enjoy writing. While my writing has included poems, most of my writing has been letters to family and friends. I like to share my faith when I write and am fond of adding a Bible verse or two to help focus on the source of our life. Since I am now retired after working 38 years, I can concentrate on keeping up with birthdays. Something else I enjoy is studying the Bible, often with others. Blogging is a new form of writing for me. I am getting my feet wet and I’m beginning to enjoy the experience.

One thought on “GOD’S GIFT OF JESUS”

  1. Beth Brown

    Jesus , thank You for giving up Your perfect hone so that we may live for eternity in heaven. Shirley, this is a beautiful reminder of the true Christmas gift! Bless you!

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