Dec
26
Love Messes
By Jan Ross | 4 Comments
‘Tis the day after Christmas and all through the house … is a mess, and, we didn’t even have Christmas here! Everywhere I look I see signs of love … let me explain! The mess in the kitchen reminds me of all the food I cooked over the past few days to share with children and grandchildren and friends. The dirty dishes, empty trays, and leftovers remind me of the love we shared sitting at a table enjoying the seasonal delicacies.
Dec
23
Silent Night
By Jan Ross | Comments Off
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) “Silent Night” has become an anchor for Christmas celebrations throughout the world. Its lullaby-like melody and simple message of heavenly peace can be heard from small town street corners in mid-America to magnificent cathedrals in Europe and from outdoor candlelight concerts in Australia to palm thatched huts in northern Peru. “Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!” can easily be called the world’s best-loved Christmas carol. It has been translated into nearly 300 languages and dialects. Its message of heavenly peace sets the theme for Christmas celebrations around the globe.
Dec
22
Away in a Manger
By Jan Ross | Comments Off
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7) Probably one of the first songs little children are taught during this season is “Away in a Manger”. I can remember as a little girl singing this with my class in front of the entire church, each of us stepping out of the choir to say our verse while we recited the entire account of the birth of the Lord Jesus from the Gospel of Luke. It was something we looked forward to each year, singing the sweet lullaby about Baby Jesus and saying our memory verses.
Dec
19
We Are the Reason
By Jan Ross | 1 Comment
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (I Peter 3:15) During this season, more than all others, the “Reason” can be hard to focus on for even those with the strongest faith. Television floods our homes with commercialized Christmas advertisements and programming. Radio fills the airwaves with seasonal songs, many of which fail to even mention the “Reason for the season”. Workplaces are full of hustle and bustle trying to get ahead so everyone can take a few days off without the business losing money. Parties, pageants, cantatas, plays, programs, shopping, wrapping, planning, cooking, baking, greeting . . . and the list goes on. Time is soon snuffed out and there is none left to devote quality time with the “Reason” for the season.
Dec
17
Emmanuel: God With Us!
By Jan Ross | 1 Comment
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) Emmanuel . . . God with us! The history of this Christmas hymn is rich with meaning as you will see in the original translation. Each verse of this poetic masterpiece praises the coming of the Savior by a different name: Emmanuel, Branch of Jesse, Day-Spring, Key of David, Lord of Might, Wisdom, and Desire of Nations! O COME, O COME EMMANUEL O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Dec
16
Which Star?
By Jan Ross | 1 Comment
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:10-11) The Magi followed the Star to meet the Christ Child face to face and worship Him. Interestingly, the song we would attribute to these “wise men” is based on a lot of assumption which has dramatized the visit of the Magi to honor the Son of God. However, the song itself gives us some food for thought as we consider its context.
Dec
15
Grace and Truth
By Jan Ross | Comments Off
“For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17) From the manger to the cross, His glory was revealed to all who would receive Him. The same is true today . . . to all those who would receive Him His glory is revealed! Jewish custom said there had to be two witnesses to establish the genuineness of a given testimony. The presence of grace and truth witness together that Jesus is the light of the world, the Savior, the Son of God. It has been said that truth without grace is cruel, and grace without truth is irresponsible. But when grace and truth come together, the heart of God is made known. The heart of God is present in Jesus—and that is the salvation of the world.
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