January 2020 Articles

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Just Rambling December 2019:

Just Rambling:
Our front cover says it all, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season”. You and I know this, but so many in our nation today don’t know this or don’t care to know this. Many people in our nation haven’t been reared in a family that attends church on a regular basis and don’t acknowledge or don’t know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and our Savior. In Luke chapter 1, the angel, Gabriel, appears to Joseph of the house of David and to the virgin Mary who is to be Joseph’s wife. In Luke 1:28-35 the angel tells her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women”. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of His kingdom there will be no end.”. Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man”? And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Highest will overshadow you therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. For with God nothing will be impossible”. During this time before Jesus was born, the census first took place. Joseph and Mary went up to the city of Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David. He was to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn. Now there were in the same country, shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be a afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you. You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying a manger”. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men’ (Luke 2:4-18). So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. This is what we need more of in our nation—Peace and goodwill toward all and to praise God and be ever thankful for his son, Jesus Christ. May we all marvel at Jesus birth as others did when the shepherds told them what the angels had said concerning the birth of Jesus Christ. May we all celebrate the Christmas season but remember we are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior and the love God shows for each of us. May God Bless and Merry Christmas! Van Bennett