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UPWORDS Devotional by Max Lucado (Used by permission)

He Still Comes

The world was different this week. It was temporarily transformed.

The magical dust of Christmas glittered on the cheeks of humanity ever so briefly, reminding us of what is worth having and what we were intended to be. We forgot our compulsion with winning, wooing, and warring. We put away our ladders and ledgers, we hung up our stopwatches and weapons. We stepped off our race tracks and roller coasters and looked outward toward the star of Bethlehem.

We reminded ourselves that Jesus came as a babe, born in a manger.

I’d like to suggest that we remind ourselves he still comes.

He comes to those as small as Mary’s baby and as poor as a carpenter’s boy.

He comes to those as young as a Nazarene teenager and as forgotten as an unnoticed kid in an obscure village.

He comes to those as busy as the oldest son of a large family, to those as stressed as the leader of restless disciples, to those as tired as one with no pillow for his head.

He comes and gives us the gift of himself.

Sunsets steal our breath. Caribbean blue stills our hearts. Newborn babies stir our tears. Lifelong love bejewels our lives. But take all these away—strip away the sunsets, oceans, cooing babies, and tender hearts—and leave us in the Sahara, and we still have reason to dance in the sand.

Why? Because God is with us.

He still comes. He still speaks.

From Christmas Stories: Heartwarming Classics of Angels, A Manger, and the Birth of Hope
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2011) Max Lucado

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The Merry Heart (Everything is “Author Unknown” unless otherwise noted)

I’D LOSE MY HEAD…
For her surgery to fuse some vertebrae in her neck, my niece planned ahead. She knew she would have to wear a brace with four steel rods screwed into her skull and attached to a rigid upper-body cast during her recovery, so she brought to the hospital several sweatshirts that were cut to fit over these appliances. On her first trip out of her hospital room, she ventured to the cafeteria wearing a shirt bearing the message, “I’d lose my head it is wasn’t screwed on”

as seen in da Mouse Tracks,via Cup O’ Cheer

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Why Jesus Is Better Than Santa Claus

Santa lives at the North Pole …
JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh …
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year …
JESUS is an ever-present help.Santa fills your stockings with goodies …
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited …
JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.You have to wait in line to see Santa …
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap …
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.Santa doesn’t know your name; all he can say to the little boy or girl is, “What’s your name?” …
JESUS knew your name before you did. Not only does He know your name, He also knows your address. He knows your history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on your head.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly …
JESUS has a heart full of love.All Santa can offer is HO HO HO …
JESUS offers health, help, and hope.

Santa says, “You better not cry” …
JESUS says, “Cast all your cares on me, for I care for you."Santa’s little helpers make toys …
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes, and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle, but …
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.While Santa puts gifts under your tree …
JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.

It’s obvious there is really no comparison. We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about. We need to put Christ back in CHRISTmas. Jesus is still the reason for the season.Yes, Jesus is better, he is even better than Santa Claus

 

Seen in The Good, Clean Funnies List

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Why We Celebrate Christmas

Little baby, soft and warm,
In a straw filled manger, in a barn.
Christmas is a special date,
On this occasion, we celebrate
 
The only child, born of virgin birth,
Sent by his Father down to earth
To save a world gone far astray,
To die, and take our sins away.
 
He walked on earth, this Godly Son,
For there was so much, to be done
He led, He taught, He pleaded,
Performed miracles when needed
 
He was finally nailed to a cross.
He gave his life for a world so lost.
The work He came for, had been done.
His Father called home his beloved Son.
 
He now is waiting there, for us, patiently.
Someday we’ll join Him there, forever to be,
Where heartaches and cares, are unknown.
When we reach there, these will be gone.
 
This year when we meet to celebrate
What happened on this special date,
Remember what Christmas is, without a doubt,
The baby born this day is what it’s all about
 
Dear Lord in Heaven, please hear us, as we pray.
We offer thanks for what happened on that day.
We need you now, to lead us back to your way.
Thank you, for the reason we celebrate this day.

Seen in Cup O’ Cheer
Jack Young © Christmas 2011

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