Linking up with Charlotte at Spiritual Sunday and Laura at Beholding Glory
"Christmas can be celebrated in the school room with pine trees, tinsel and reindeers, but there must be no mention of the man whose birthday is being celebrated. One wonders how a teacher would answer if a student asked why it was called Christmas." Ronald Reagan
Last week I attended the play at my daughter's school. The kids were totally adorable.....but I've been thinking about their "Christmas" play. They sang ten songs about snow, winter, Santa, presents, one Chanukah song, a five minute talk about the Muslim holiday and it's meaning, world hunger......But no mention at all about what Christmas is really all about...nothing about a virgin giving birth to a Savior...
I grew up Jewish. We kept kosher...attended synagogue and waited for the Messiah.....the One God would send to 'free' His people.
One day in a hospital emergency room, under oxygen......I heard a voice say - pray in my name. Sounds hokey.....but it happened. I pushed away the oxygen.....sat up and whispered the name Jesus. As soon as I did.....I felt Someone touch me....and chains holding me tight fall off. I had been a drug addict since age 12. I never touched another needle after that. Even though I struggled with other things.....I now had an anchor.....and the courage to keep fighting.
The Christmas Story......it's about grace...and mercy...It's about love and a God who cares enough to free and heal anyone calls on His name.
We celebrate Chanukah and Christmas. Chanukah to remember that the Jews refused to assimilate with the those around them and the miracle of light that lasted eight days. And Christmas b/c He is the Light of the world that shines in darkness and His Light will never be extinguished.
Mary did you know.....that one day.....your baby boy will one day walk on water....
"Christmas can be celebrated in the school room with pine trees, tinsel and reindeers, but there must be no mention of the man whose birthday is being celebrated. One wonders how a teacher would answer if a student asked why it was called Christmas." Ronald Reagan
I grew up Jewish. We kept kosher...attended synagogue and waited for the Messiah.....the One God would send to 'free' His people.
One day in a hospital emergency room, under oxygen......I heard a voice say - pray in my name. Sounds hokey.....but it happened. I pushed away the oxygen.....sat up and whispered the name Jesus. As soon as I did.....I felt Someone touch me....and chains holding me tight fall off. I had been a drug addict since age 12. I never touched another needle after that. Even though I struggled with other things.....I now had an anchor.....and the courage to keep fighting.
The Christmas Story......it's about grace...and mercy...It's about love and a God who cares enough to free and heal anyone calls on His name.
We celebrate Chanukah and Christmas. Chanukah to remember that the Jews refused to assimilate with the those around them and the miracle of light that lasted eight days. And Christmas b/c He is the Light of the world that shines in darkness and His Light will never be extinguished.
Mary did you know.....that one day.....your baby boy will one day walk on water....
