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   become new.   
      
   2 Cor 5:17   
      
   From Follow the Story by Marva J. Dawn   
      
   CHRISTMAS DAY   
      
   News of Great Joy   
      
   But the angel said to them, "Listen! Do not fear.   
   For I bring you good news of great joy, which will be to all people. "   
      
   -Luke 2:10   
      
   Composers in this world cannot envision music magisterial enough!   
   Oh, how I wish we could have joined the shepherds to hear the regal   
   angel choir sing, "Glory to God in the highest heaven,   
   and on earth peace ..."!   
      
   Oddly, God deigned to present this fabulous concert to the outcasts   
   of that society and to grant unpretentious shepherds the privilege   
   of being the first to visit the Christ Child and to carry the news   
   of his birth to those around them. No wonder everyone was flabbergasted   
   at what the shepherds told them! No wonder Mary treasured all these words   
   and pondered them in her heart!   
      
      
   That is why I capitalize the word Joy and employ it exclusively   
   for divine gifts! When we declare the Joy of Christmas (and of Easter),   
   there is no greater. The euphoria of Christ's birth (and resurrection)   
   overwhelms all human infatuations and electrifies us with a heavenly   
   exhilaration that can't be shackled!   
      
   prayer   
      
   Oh, Jesus, how we love and revere you! May we always cherish   
   and broadcast the Joy of your birth! Amen.   
      
   Read Luke 2:8-20.   
      
   8 And in the same area there were shepherds living in the fields,   
   keeping watch over their flock by night.   
   9 (2Co 3:18) And then an angel of the Lord appeared to them,   
   and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very afraid.   
   10 (Ge 12:3; Isa 40:9) But the angel said to them, "Listen! Do not fear.   
   For I bring you good news of great joy, which will be to all people.   
   11 (Mt 1:21; Lk 1:43; Mt 16:16) For unto you is born this day   
   in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.   
   12 (1Sa 2:34; 2Ki 19:29) And this will be a sign to you:   
   You will find the Baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a manger."   
   13 (Ge 28:12; 32:1-2) Suddenly there was with the angel a company   
   of the heavenly host praising God and saying,   
   14 (Lk 1:79; 19:38) "Glory to God in the highest,   
   and on earth peace, and good will toward men."   
   15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said   
   to each other, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see what has happened,   
   which the Lord has made known to us."   
   16 (Lk 2:7; 2:12) So they came hurrying and found Mary and Joseph,   
   and the Baby lying in a manger.   
   17 When they had seen Him, they made widely known the word   
   which was told them concerning this Child.   
   18 And all those who heard it marveled at what the shepherds told them.   
   19 (Lk 2:51; Ge 37:11) But Mary kept all these things and pondered them   
   in her heart.   
   20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things   
   they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.   
      
   From The Ah-Has of Advent by Rich Bimler   
      
   FOURTH SATURDAY   
   AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and AMEN!   
   And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory,   
   the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. JOHN 1:14   
      
   Christmas has come to you and all of your AH-HA family and friends!   
   We are all ambassadors of health, hope and amen because of Christ's   
   birth, death and resurrection!   
      
   We say amen because the "Word became flesh and lived among us!"   
   Amen, of course. does not mean "the end," but rather it means "Yes,"   
   and 'Hooray." and "So be it," and even "You betcha!" And so Christmas   
   is not the end of our AH-HAing. It's only the beginning!   
      
   Once I was looking at one of the manger scenes in our home. As I   
   focused on each character individually, like Mary and Joseph and the   
   shepherds and even the animals, each one of them seemed lonely and   
   way too serious. But when l looked more closely at each of them, I noticed   
   that they all were focused on one main point--God in the Flesh, Jesus!   
   Once l knew that they all were focused on Jesus, their faces became   
   not lonely. but lovely. and were not too serious, but reverent.   
      
   A little child was asked to finish the Scripture sentence, 'And the Word   
   became ...' He was puzzled for a while, but then all of a sudden he   
   shouted out. 'And the Word became FRESH!" And he was right!   
   The Word, Jesus Christ. became Flesh for us so that his Word would   
   be FRESH in and through our lives! That's the AH-HA of Christmas!   
      
   Lord. we greet thee. born on Christmas morning! Jesus, to thee be glory   
   given, Word of the Father now in flesh(and fresh!) appearing!   
      
   Amen and amen ... and, of course, AH-HA!   
      
   Read John 1:14-18   
      
   11 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.   
   12 Yet to all who received Him, He gave the power to become sons of God,   
   to those who believed in His name,   
   13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,   
   nor of the will of man, but of God.   
   14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory,   
   the glory as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.   
   15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, "This was He of whom I said,   
   'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' "   
   16 We have all received from His fullness grace upon grace.   
   17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came   
   through Jesus Christ.   
   18 No one has seen God at any time. The only Son, who is at the Father's side,   
   has made Him known.   
      
   Conclusion:   
      
   Pray to the Lord and pray to thank Him for coming in the world   
   humbly in a manger.   
      
   Pray to the Lord: "Dear Jesus, You're the greatest gift of all.   
   Everything I am, and everything I have, I give back to You."   
      
   Pray to the Lord and pray to give your temptations and stresses to Him.   
      
   Pray to the Lord and pray to be a generous Godly giver.   
      
   Pray to the Lord and pray to know the Lord's Word as Pure.   
      
   Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse and the Yukon to come together,   
   and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.   
      
   Pray for Muslims and believers in Yellowknife to come together,   
   and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.   
      
   Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach   
   their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.   
      
   - Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you   
   - Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving   
   Christ among Muslim people -   
   Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."   
   - When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims   
   throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!   
      
   Pray that there will be a growing number of people in your city or   
   community trusting in Christ as Saviour and Lord.   
      
   Pray that those who serve in the justice system will be agents of true   
   justice for all.   
      
   Pray to Give me a heart, Lord, that gives as you gave. Amen.   
      
   Pray: Son of the Father, now in flesh appearing!   
   0 come, let us adore you, Christ, the Lord. Amen.   
      
   Pray: Oh, Jesus, how we love and revere you! May we always cherish   
   and broadcast the Joy of your birth! Amen.   
      
   Pray: Lord. we greet thee. born on Christmas morning! Jesus, to thee be glory   
   given, Word of the Father now in flesh(and fresh!) appearing!   
   Amen and amen ... and, of course, AH-HA!   
      
   Pray that Lebanese believers will receive needed   
   encouragement amid political and economic instability.   
      
   Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.   
   and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.   
      
   Remember eternity starts now -   
   Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.   
   --   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)