"Christmas Eve..."

It is hard to believe it is Christmas Eve...where has this last year gone?  As I have been pondering this season, two familiar scriptures keep coming to mind, one that gives the prophecy of Christ's birth in Isaiah, around 700 years before he was born, and the scripture of his birth in Luke.  I continually marvel at how God is so intimately involved in His creation.  Nothing is left unattended or to "chance"...He is in control of everything and takes everything into consideration-supreme over all.  But yet He humbled Himself to build a bridge between sinful man and Himself.  As I think about the people we reach out to in Africa, my prayer is that they will see Jesus in us and in our actions-reaching out to them-ministering to them-all in the name of Jesus.  For our friends and family across the Atlantic, we pray you will have a blessed Christmas and once again witness the fullness of His birth in a new and powerful way!  Thanks for all your support and prayers over the last year...we miss you and love you! 

Isa 9:6-7  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.   Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Lk 2:1-20  In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to his own town to register.  So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."   Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,  "Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."   So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.