Christmas

Lentil Soup And a Wise Man’s Gift

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And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 
Matthew 2:11 ESV

“What’s for dinner honey?” I said with a laugh knowing that it would be lentil soup for its third and final performance. During those first years of marriage, our food shopping was a low-cost adventure. So, with Christmas not far away, even putting up a tree with decorations was something we couldn’t afford. That year, Christmas Eve was pay day and at four thirty I waited in line for my check. “Merry Christmas” My boss said winking as he handed me my envelope. “There’s something extra in there for you tonight.”  

I peeked inside and drew a quick breath in astonishment. “Wow thanks Joe! Merry Christmas to you too” I said amazed at seeing a fifty-dollar bill tucked inside! I drove home through the heavy traffic getting there just before five. “Come on Nancy! Let’s go buy a tree!” I shouted as I ran up the stairs to show her my bonus. Five minutes later we bundled up and drove to a Christmas tree lot where the owner was delighted to sell us a tree for five dollars, just before he closed. Then we raced over to the Woolworth store, where for ten cents each we bought some colored glass bulbs and a string of lights with tinsel. God didn’t have to send the wise men with gifts to make it Christmas; but He did. That Christmas our wise man was named Joe and he left us a special gift on that Silent and Holy Night!

“Because of Bethlehem, I have a Savior in heaven. Christmas begins what Easter celebrates. The child in the cradle became the King on the cross. And because he did, there are no marks on my record. Just grace.”  
Max Lucado
Lentil Soup And a Wise Man’s Gift 
by Peter Caligiuri - Copyright 2021
All rights reserved

Born Again at Christmas

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Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 
John 3:3 ESV

This famous verse comes at the start of a conversation between a Jewish teacher, named Nicodemus and Jesus. Interestingly, Nicodemus had just finished saying that he knew that Jesus must have come from God because of the miracles he had seen Him doing. Then Jesus interrupts him, to say, “Unless you are born again, you cannot see who I really am!” Jesus was happy that Nicodemus understood that Jesus came from God, but he wanted Nicodemus to see the whole picture; and for that to happen, Nicodemus needed to be spiritually reborn.

Just as Jesus had to be born, in order to come to earth, we must ask God to change our hearts in order to receive eternal life and go to Heaven. Just as Jesus had to be born as a real human baby, we must be born again to receive the life He came to bring. Jesus came to earth at Christmas. Now God is asking us to receive Him into our hearts as our Savior, so that we can be born again and spend an eternity of Christmases with Him!

Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Pexels.com

Christmas Communion Service

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 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 1 Corinthians 11:23 ESV

Since our meetings at Watermark are only on the 1st and 3rd weeks each month, this past Sunday was our last service of 2023. What a beautiful time we shared together. If you watch the video, you may notice one of our ladies passing by the camera as she serves communion. Maybe it feels so right to be singing Silent NIght, as we take the bread and the cup, because, in the words we are remembering the birth of Jesus and in the elements, we remember His death. I pray that you also find the peace of our Lord, through the shed blood of Jesus, not only at Christmas time, but even on those moments when you feel betrayed by life. Jesus gave us His example, washed our feet and then laid down His life. At birth, He was laid in the manger, and in death He was laid on the cross. At birth He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and nursed by Mary. In death He was stripped, and while soldiers gambling for His clothing, they gave Him vinegar to drink. These are two silent nights that bring us hope and salvation. The first in Bethlehem, the second at the garden tomb. At Christmas we should remember both of them, as the precious gifts of God’s love that they are, and then fully surrender our hearts and lives to Him.