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Learn more at GuardYourCard.com. Donate and listen to the podcast at WRWL.org. Alrighty, we're back and we're going to start out here the second hour of this Christmas program and we're going to start with a story by little Lisa.
This one's called A Slice of Light. Jean heaved another world worry sigh. Tucking a strand of shiny black hair behind her ear, she frowned at the teetering tower of Christmas cards waiting to be signed.
What was the point? How could she sign only one name? A couple required two people and she was just one.
The legal separation from Don had left her feeling vacant and incomplete. Maybe she would skip the cards this year and the holiday decorating. Truthfully, even a tree felt more than she could manage. She had canceled out the caroling party and the church activity pageant. Christmas was to be shared and she had no one to share it with. The doorbell's insistent ringing startled her. Padding to the door in her thick socks, she cracked it open against the frigid December night.
She peered into the empty darkness of the porch. Instead of a friendly face, something she could use about now, she found only a jaunty green gift bag perched on the railing from home. She wondered and why. Under the bright kitchen light, she pulled out handfuls of shredded gold tinsel feeling for a gift. Instead, her fingers plucked an envelope from the bottom.
Tucked inside was a typed letter. It was a story. The little boy was new to the Denmark orphanage and Christmas was drawing near.
Jean read, already caught up in the tale, she settled into the kitchen chair. From the other children, he had heard a tale of a wondrous tree that would appear in the hall on Christmas Eve and of the scores of candles that would light its branches. He heard stories of the mysterious benefactor who made it possible each year. The little boy's eyes opened wide at the mere thought of all that splendor. The only Christmas tree that he had ever seen was through the fog windows of other people's homes. There was even more, the children insisted.
More? Oh yes, instead of the orphanage's regular fare of gruel, they would be served fragrance too and crusty hot bread that special night. Last and best of all, the little boy learned, each of them would receive a holiday treat.
He would join the line of children to get his very own. Jean turned the page. Instead of a continuation, she was still to read.
Everyone needs to celebrate Christmas, wouldn't you agree? Watch for part two. She refolded the paper while a faint smile teased the corner of her mouth. The next day was so busy that Jean forgot all about the story. That evening she rushed home from work. If she hurried, she'd probably have enough time to decorate the mantle. She pulled out of the box of garland only to drop it when the doorbell rang. Opening the door, she found herself looking at a red gift bag. She reached for it eagerly and pulled out a piece of paper to get its very own orange, Jean read. An orange? That's a treat, she thought incredulously. An orange of his very own? Yes, the other assured him, there would be one a piece.
The boy closed his eyes against the wonder of it all. A tree, candles, a filling meal, and an orange of his very own. He knew the smell of the tangy sweet, but only the smell. He had sniffed oranges at the merchant stall in the marketplace. Once he'd even dared to rub a single finger over the brilliant pocked skin. He fancied for days that his hands still smelled of orange.
But to taste one, to eat one? Heaven! The story ended abruptly, but Jean didn't mind. She no more would follow. The next evening, Jean waited anxiously for the sound of the doorbell. She wasn't disappointed. This time though, the impostor bag was heavier than the others had been. She tore into the envelope, resting on the top of the tissue paper. Christmas Eve was all the children had been promised.
The piney scent of fur competed with the aroma of lamb stew and honey spread. Scores of candles diffused the room with golden halos. The boy watched in amazement as each child in turn eagerly claimed an orange and politely said, thank you.
The line moved quickly and he found himself in the front of the towering tree and the equally imposing headmaster. Too bad young man, too bad. But the count was in before you arrived. It seems there are no more oranges.
Next year, yes, next year you will receive an orange. The boy felt a gentle tap on his back. He tried to still his sobs. The tap became more insistent until at last he pulled his head from under the pillow. He smelled it before he saw it.
A cloth napkin rested on the mattress. Tucked inside was a peeled orange, tangy and sweet. It was made of segments saved from the others. A slice donated from every child. Together they added up to make one whole complete fruit. An orange of his very own.
Jean swiped at the tears trickling down her cheeks. From the bottom of the gift bag she pulled out an orange. A foil covered chocolate orange already separated into segments and for the first time in weeks she smiled, really smiled.
She set about making copies of the story wrapping individual slices of the chocolate orange. There was Mrs. Potter across the street spending her first Christmas alone in 58 years. There was Melanie down the block facing her second round of radiation. Her running partner, Jan, single parenting a difficult team. Lonely Mr. Bradford losing his eyesight and Sue, the sole caregiver to an aging mother.
A piece from her might help make one whole by Carol Mcdew Grammy. Very good. And now uh the elder Barkley is going to read us a message too about another soldier boy. Go ahead.
All right. A different Christmas poem. This says the embers glowed softly and in their dim light I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep her head on my chest my daughter beside me angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell a blanket of white transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy my breathing was deep secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In perfect contentment or so it would seem so I slumbered perhaps I started to dream. The sound wasn't loud and it wasn't too near but I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough I didn't quite know then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. My soul gave a tremble I struggled to hear and I crept to the door just to see who was near. Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night a lone figure stood his face weary and tight. A soldier I puzzled some 20 years old perhaps a marine huddled here in the cold. Alone in the dark he looked up and smiled standing watch over me and my wife and my child. What are you doing?
I asked without fear. Come in this moment it's freezing out here. Put down your pack for us to snow from your sleeve you should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve.
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift away from the cold and the snow blown and drifts to the window that danced with a warm fire's light then he sighed and he said it's really all right. I'm out here by choice I'm here every night it's my duty to stand and I'm out here by choice. Every night it's my duty to stand at the front of the line that separates you from the darkest of times. No one had asked or begged or implored me I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My gramps died at Pearl on a day in December then he sighed that's a Christmas Graham always remembers. My dad stood his watch in the jungles of NAMM and now it's my turn and so here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while but my wife sends me pictures he sure got her smile. Then he bent and carefully pulled from his bag the red white and blue an American flag. I can live through the cold and the being alone away from my family my house and my home. I can stand at my post through the rain and sleep. I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. I can carry the weight of killing another or lay down my life with my sister and brother who stand at the front against any and all to ensure for all time that this flag will not fall. So go back inside he said harbor no fright your family is waiting and I'll be all right but isn't there something I can do at the least give you money I ask or prepare you a feast. It seems all too little for all that you've done for being away from your wife and your son. Then his eye wailed a tear that held no regret just tell us you love us and never forget to fight for our rights back at home while we're gone to stand your own watch no matter how long for when we come home either standing or dead to know you remember we fought and we bled is payment enough and with that we will trust that we matter to you as you matter to us joe brings back some memories doesn't it sure does some uh a lot of good friends and battle buddies dead sacrifice it uh yeah as the country would just appreciate the sacrifice that so many young men made for this country for god family country well you know we were in a war where that we weren't allowed to win and I won't never forget what johnson president johnson uh the way that literally he sacrificed his men and he was literally he sacrificed his men him and uh mac numero we were betrayed we were betrayed by those that were in charge and then they came home and here we didn't get the best welcome did we no it wasn't a welcome it was uh humiliation well I can tell you that I I was never spit at I wouldn't I wouldn't tolerate that and it seems like when they saw the look on my face they decided the hippies in the airport to back off but uh but you know again like you said I remember walking down the vietnam memorial lot with with uh john doddle and him and I writing down the names of the the men that are friends you know we were just really just so young at that time and uh hear those boys had everything to live for but anyhow you know and one of the things I remember how I had a bad dream one night and I dreamt it as I was walking down the wall and then I remembered you know what you never witnessed to these guys you never witnessed and then then it dawned on me back at that time even though I was raised up in the church I wasn't saved so I couldn't have witnessed to them because I wouldn't save myself but um same here yeah it was a regret we both have well you know I actually woke up in a cold sweat one night thinking of that way why didn't you and then I remember how could I I wouldn't save myself but anyhow here I'm going to read one that we've done so many many times and you know uh what I'm talking about the story from the hand of the great Russian author Leo Telstoy born in the wealthy family Tolstoy sometimes felt bad that he was so rich while other people were so hungry and poor he often worked on behalf of the less fortunate he even took time off for projects such as writing stories for children and starting schools for peasant children and this the title of this message is papa pan of special christian by leo tolstoy it was christmas eve and although it was still afternoon lights had begun to appear in the shops and the houses of the little Russian village for the short winter day was nearly over excited children scurried around indoors and now only muffled sounds of chatter and the sound of muffled sounds of chatter and laughter escaped from the closed shutters old papa pan off the village shoemaker stepped outside his shop to take one last look around the sounds of happiness the bright lights and the faint delicious smells of christmas cooking reminded him of past christmas when his wife had still been alive and his own children little now they had all gone his usual cheerful face with a little laughter wrinkles behind the round steel spectacles looked sad now but he went back indoors with a with a firm step put up the shutters and set a pot of coffee to heat on the charcoal stove then with a sigh he settled in his big armchair papa panoff did not often read but tonight tonight he pulled down the big old family bible and slowly tracing the lines with his forefinger he read again the christmas story he read how mary and joseph tired by their journey to bethlehem found no room for them in the inn so that mary's little baby was born in the cow shed oh dear oh dear exclaimed papa panoff if they only had come here i would have given them my bed and i could have covered the baby with patchwork quilt to keep him warm he read on about how the wise men who had come to see the baby jesus bringing him splendid gifts papa panoff's face fell i have no gift that i could give him he thought sadly then his face frightened he put down the bible got up and stretched his long arms the shelf high up on his little room he took down a small dusty box and opened it inside was a perfect pair of tiny leather shoes papa panoff smiled with satisfaction yes they were as good as he had remembered the best shoes he had ever made i should have given them given those he decided as he gently put them away and sat down again he was feeling tired now and the further he read the sleepier he became the print began to dance before his eyes so that he closed them just for a minute in no time at all papa panoff was fast asleep and as he slept he dreamt and he dreamed that someone was in his room and he knew at once as one dozen dreams who the person was it was jesus you have been wishing that you could see me papa panoff he said kindly then look for me tomorrow i will be it will be christmas day it will be christmas day and i will visit you but look carefully for i shall not tell you who i am when at last papa panoff awoke the bells were ringing out and a thin light was filtering through the shutters bless my soul said papa panoff it's christmas day he stood up and stretched himself for he was rather stiff then his face filled with happiness as he remembered his dream this would be a very special christmas after all for jesus was coming to visit him how would he look would he be a little baby as at the first christmas first christmas would it be a grown man maybe a carpenter or the king that he is god's son he must watch carefully the whole day through so that he recognizes him however he came papa panoff put on a special pot of coffee for the christmas breakfast took down the shutters and looked out the window the street was deserted no one was stirring yet no one except the old the road sweeper he looked as miserable and dirty as ever and well he might however wanted to work on christmas day and in the raw cold and in the bitter freezing mist of such a morning papa panoff opened the shop door let it in a thin stream of cold air come in he shouted across the street cheerfully come in and have some hot coffee to keep out of the cold the sweeper looked up scarcely able to believe his ears he was only too glad to put down his broom and come into the warm room his old clothes steamed gently as the heat of the stove and he collapsed both his red hands around the comforting warm mug as he drank papa panoff watched him with satisfaction but every now and then his eyes strayed to the window it would never it would never never do to miss the special his very special visitor expecting someone the sweeper asked so papa panoff told him about his dream well i hope he comes the sweeper said you've given me a bit of christmas cheer and i never expected to have i'd say you deserve to have your dream come true and he actually smiled when he had gone papa panoff put on cabbage soup for his dinner and went to the door again scanning the street he saw no one but he was mistaken someone was coming the girl walked so slowly and quietly hugging the walls of shops and houses that it was a while before he noticed she looked very tired and she was carrying something as she drew near he could see that it was a baby wrapped in a thin shawl there was such sadness in her face and in the pinched little face of the baby the papa panoff's heart went out to them won't you come in he called stepping outside to meet them you both need a warm place by the fire and a rest the young mother let him shepherd her indoors into the comfort of the armchair she gave a big sigh of relief i warmed some milk for the baby papa panoff said i've had children of mine and i i can feed her for you he took the milk from the stove and carefully fed the baby from a spoon warming her tiny feet by the stove at the same time she needs shoes the old cobbler said but the girl replied i can't afford shoes i can't afford shoes i can't afford shoes i can't afford shoes i've got no husband to bring home money i'm on my way to the next village to get work sudden thought flashed through papa panoff's mind he remembered the little shoes he had looked at last night but he had been keeping them for jesus he looked again at the cold little feet and made up his mind try these on try these on her he said handing the baby and the shoes to the mother the beautiful little shoes were a perfect fit the girl smiled happily the girl smiled happily and the baby gurgled with pleasure you have been so kind to us the girl said when she got up with her baby to go may all your christmas wishes come true the papa panoff was beginning to wonder if his very special christmas wish would come true perhaps he had missed his visitor he looked anxiously up and down the street there was plenty of people about but they were all faces that he recognized there were neighbors going to call in their families and they nodded and they smiled and wished him a happy christmas or beggars and papa papa panoff hurried indoors to fetch them hot soup and a generous hunk of bread hurrying out again in case he missed the important stranger when papa panoff next would went to the door and strained his eyes he could no longer make out the passers-by most were home and indoors by now anyway and he well he he walked slowly back to his room at last he put up the shutters and sat down wearily in his armchair so it had been just a dream after all jesus had not come then all at once he knew that he was no longer alone in the room this was not a dream for he was wide awake at first he seemed to see before his eyes the long stream of people who had come to him that that day he saw again the old sweeper the young mother her baby the beggars he had fed as they passed each whispered didn't you see me papa panoff who are you he called out bewildered bewildered then another voice answered him it was the voice from his dream the voice of jesus i was hungry and you fed me he said i was naked and you clothed me i was cold and you warned me i come to you today in every one of those who helped those of the those of whom you helped and welcomed then all was quiet and still only the sound of the big clock ticking a a great peace had happiness seemed to fill the room overflowing papa panoff's heart until he wanted to burst out he wanted to burst out singing and laughing dancing with joy so he did come after all was all that he said and that's the end of that story pastor joe do you have a something else to read i do but i want to add that bible verse as you do under the least of these my brethren you do unto me jesus said so so true i want to tell everybody a little story how we got the christmas tree compliments of a dear friend of ours william j feder we call him bill um you know one of the everywhere you look there's a christmas tree yet few people really know where it came from uh if you go back the earliest we see the lights at christmas the christmas lights that go on the tree were probably inspired by the jewish festival of lights that happened a long time about 165 years before christ and the first writings in the church were tritium back in 200 a.d when he was talking about you are the light of the world a tree evergreen if you have renounced the heathen temple now let's go back in about 400 a.d there was a catholic pastor named well they call him saint boniface winford boniface he was sent by pope gregory as a missionary to the heathen germans and there he confronted a chieftain named gundahar who was about to offer a little prince aziloth as a bloody bloody sacrifice to the god thor this was still going on these sacrifices pagan sacrifice uh for their pagan god believed to live in a huge oak tree now pastor boniface only took an axe and after a few swings at this mighty blood oak tree an enormous wind blew the tree over well the heathen heathen were in awe they were frightened well then the pastor pointed to an evergreen tree nearby and stated these words this is the word not a drop of blood shall fall tonight for this is the birth night of saint christ son of the all-father and savior of the world this little tree the young child of the forest shall be a home tree tonight it's it is the wood of peace for the your houses are built of fur it is the sign of endless life for its branches are evergreen see how it points toward heaven let this be called the tree of the christ child gather it about not in the wild woods but in your homes there it will shelter no deeds of blood but loving gifts and lights of kindness well this story was picked up by a man named martin luther who in 1520 was walking home on christmas eve under a cold sky and noticed all the wonderful stars that were illuminating the night so bright well by the time he returned home and to the delights of these children he set up an evergreen tree placing a great number of small candles on its branches he told his children that the story of the christ child the light of the world whose birth had so gloriously brightened the sky on that first christmas eve he set up a crash scene under the tree so that the lights would appear above under the tree so that the lights would appear above as the stars of bethlehem and if you go back into history this is kind of where we got this uh christmas tree and it's decorated and if it's done properly it is a christ tree and every christmas we decorate our tree with everything that has a symbol of christ uh the lamb of god the shepherd's crook we have candy canes we use all the different symbols that the christian jews and we call it a christmas tree rather than the trees that you see in the stores and you can go around and tell some of the small town store store store owners about a christmas tree the bible tells us in jeremiah 10 verses 1 and 2 hear ye the word of the lord speaketh unto you a house of israel thus saith the lord learn not the way of the heathen be not dismayed at the signs of heaven for the heathen are dismayed at them for the customs of the people are vain for one cutteth the tree out of the forest the work of the hands of the workmen with the axe they deck it with silver and gold they fasten it with nails and with hammers that it move not they are upright as the palm tree they speak not they must needs be born because they cannot go be not afraid of them for they cannot do evil neither also is it in them to do good now notice you know too often the devil tries to fool us the idea of a tree cut they decorated with gold and silver and yet if you take the same tree with the right symbols on it it becomes everything about christ his birth and with wonderful christmas decorations you can offer something very diametrically opposed to how the world does it but you and your family can have a christmas tree and have the true true meaning of christ in your home and spread the message maybe we'll have christmas trees from one end of america to the other pastor well with that i'd like to go to uh god's word the bible you know joe there were certain times you know that you know i've often thought about if i could have lived at any time in history there would be certain times i'd like to have been there like well uh you know of course in the time of creation uh watching that take place and then uh if i could have been there in the in the garden of eden you know i would have called adam and said hey listen adam kick him out right throw him out you have you have the authority right but the one thing more than any other i would would have liked to be there on the night that the angel of the lord being the lord jesus himself appeared to the shepherds and so let's let's read the second christmas miracle right absolutely and it came to pass in those days that there went on a decree from caesar augustus that all the world should be taxed well that was actually taking a sense of the preparing for attacks to come later and this taxing was first made when sirenius was governor of syria and all went to be taxed everyone into his own city joseph had to and mary had to travel all the way back to bethlehem and joseph went from galley to the city of nazareth and judia and to the city of david which is called bethlehem because he was of the house and the lineage of david to be taxed with mary is a spouse wife being great with child so it was that while they were there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered and she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in the swaddling clothes and laid him in the manger because there was no room for them in the end now you notice she said her first born son mary also had four other sons later on and even though there are those that teach that they weren't really his uh her sons or they they teach that they were brothers but that word used there for sons uh is actually a word that means of the same womb and there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night boy this is where i would have loved to been i'd love to see this here because the entire sky was filled with angels that had to be an awesome awesome sight and lo the angel of the lord well joe you know when it refers to the angel of the lord that's the lord jesus himself the pre-incarnate christ himself amen this is the second miracle to me of christmas right yep and the lo the angel of the lord came upon them and the glory of the lord shone round about them then they were so afraid well the shakana glory i think you and i would even knowing what it is would be in awe and probably frightened if we saw it well even with what we know well you know that you'll only find the shakana glory there in the presence of god amen so that angel of the lord uh is god there is no doubt and the angels said it right there can't be any doubt at all well we're going to see another reason why there can't be any doubt doubt here at all and the angels said unto them fear not for behold i bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people for unto you is born this day in this city of david a savior which is christ the lord now you know that the lord jesus is omnipotent means all-powerful he's omniscient meaning all-knowing and he's omnipresent present and i mean he exists in all times and in all places at the same time yep the bible says the the entire universe is filled with his presence and this shall be a sign unto you you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising god and saying glory to god in the highest in an earth peace and goodwill toward men so these angels were angels were worshiping god right there so you had this praising the worshiping uh and you had the shakana glory so that tells you that they could have been no one other than the lord jesus himself huh amen to that yep and it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven the shepherds said one to another let us now go into bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass which the lord hath made known unto us and they came with haste and they found mary and joseph and the babe lying in a manger now i just want to stop just for a minute and just think here what do you think you know remember these shepherds they were they were at the bottom they were at the bottom of the pay scale and so god the least of society right and the lord decided to appear to them remember one of the beliefs in those days commonly held by the jewish people were that if you were wealthy it's because god loved you if you if you weren't then it was and this was because you know you were not a good person and god didn't love you and you know you had of course that the the teachings of jesus the words were totally contrary to that and this is what put him at odds so often with those in the sand hindrance huh exactly he taught the truth they taught the dogma he taught the doctrine they taught the church dogma of those days and they came with haste and found mary and joseph and the babe lying in a manger and when they had seen it they made known around the abroad the same which was told them concerning this child now you know you've seen things happening today where an event something has taken place and they were witnessing there and all of a sudden you had the media rushing to those witnesses to get their story sticking mics in their face well in those days they didn't have mics but they kept the record of everything and can you imagine these shepherds being surrounded by people all of a sudden these shepherds become very important people huh well they're telling the most amazing thing that they saw that they saw this angel and the heavens filled with angels and this glory that they couldn't describe i mean it was uh probably the most fantastic thing people had ever heard and then they remembered the old testament about the coming of the messiah right yep and all that they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds but mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart and the shepherds returned glorifying and praising god for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them and when eight days were accomplished for the circumcision of the child his name was called jesus which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb meaning salvation of course they they referred to him as yahoshua huh and when the saves yahoshua meaning jehovah saves god saves right absolute and so here and when the days of her purification according to the law of moses were accomplished they brought him to jerusalem to present him to the lord well if it was a baby boy born of course they they say that all firstborn males that open the womb were holy to god but also if it was a baby boy then the days of her purification would be 40 days but if it was a baby girl the days of the purification would be 80 days as it was written in the law of the lord every male that openeth the womb should be called holy to the lord and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the lord a pair of turtledoves and two young pigeons or yeah and uh and beheld there was a man in jerusalem whose name was simian now two people two men had been told to the lord they had asked uh zacharias had prayed that he would see the uh the birth of messiah and he was also prayed for a son that he would see a son and at his old age the lord answered that and here simian uh had was told by the lord that you before you die uh you will see the messiah now think about this for a minute uh here simian and mary and joseph both arrived there at the same time okay so only god could have done that right and i wonder about all these people that that simian was a little nuts when he told them that god had promised he would live before he died he would see the coming of the messiah they must have mocked him he must have mocked him he must have put up with some pretty horrible uh mocking and spurning from the people yeah i would imagine and behold there was a man in the Jerusalem whose name was simian and the same man was just and devout waiting for the consolation of israel and the holy ghost was upon him yeah and it was revealed unto him by the holy ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the lord's christ and he came by the spirit unto the temple and when the parents brought in the child jesus to do for him after the custom of the law then took him up in his arms and blessed god and said lord now let us thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen the salvation which thou has prepared before the face of all people a light to lighten the gentiles and the glory of thy people israel and joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him and simian blessed them and said unto mary his mother behold this child is set for the fall on the rising again of many in israel and for a sign which shall be spoken against well there was the fall and then there was the rising again didn't it oh amen but notice back it's so clearly he talks about the light to lighten the gentiles i mean god gives clues all the way through what's coming and so many people missed it the light of the gentiles i wonder how many people at the time even had a vague imagination of what that meant yeah well you would have found that over in genesis chapter eight right or not genesis isaiah chapter eight you're back in the old testament isaiah chapter eight i'm sorry yeah yeah yeah sword shall pierce through his own soul also that he that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed thoughts of many hearts may be revealed well and then here uh the prophecy of anna and there was one anna a prophetess the daughter phenole of the tribe of asher she was of a great age boy was she and had lived with her husband uh seven years from her virginity and she was a widow of about now listen to this joe about four score and four years which departed not from the temple but served god with fasting uh and prayers night and day so if you had the four scores the score is 20 years yes and for 80 years and four and then the seven she was a widow for 91 years yeah now listen if you take 91 she probably was around 20 when she was married right well at least 15 16 so that put her at well over 100 years of age yeah and she was a widow of four score and four years and departed not from the temple but served god with fasting and prayers night and day and she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the lord and spake of him to them that looked for redemption in jerusalem and when he had performed all these things according to the lord the law of the lord they returned to galley to their own city nazareth and the child grew and waxed strong in spirit filled with wisdom the grace of god was upon him was upon him well here we have two things come first you have the babe in the manger that is one word meaning you know child in arms and then notice and they return to their own city and the child grew uh so many times you see all these uh manger scenes and they have the wiseman there at the birth of christ and we know from matthew that the wiseman didn't go to bethlehem they went to nazareth and they didn't find a babe they found a young child with mary his mother right right he was over two years old right well let's read that part real quick oh you know they followed the star and he sent them to bethlehem and matthew chapter 2 verse 9 and when they heard the king they departed and lo the star which they saw in the east went before them till it came and stood over where the young child was when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy and when they were coming to the house they saw the young child with mary his mother fell down and worshipped him and when they had opened their treasures they presented unto him gifts of gold frankincense of myrrh and being warned in a dream warned of god in a dream that they should not return to harrod they departed into their own country another way and uh well yeah we're we're running up against the clock right now so what we're going to do is uh i'm going to give these folks lisa first you have a quick christmas wish yes and then uh we're gonna go next and then then you joe and i will close go ahead all right okay the most important thing i believe is that if you haven't received if you haven't received christ as your savior now is the time to do it don't wait you might not have another tomorrow and if you're saved and you're not right with god you're not walking with him then return to him today all right randall amen amen uh i i just thank god for this uh season this time this day is very important don't miss the day of your visitation god is specific he sent the gift and i would just encourage you to open the gift sometimes we set gifts aside but open this gift because this gift if you apply it uh it's going to wash away your sins and your name will be written in the lamb's book of life and that is reason to rejoice uh this christmas day all right in style would you like to give a wish quickly yeah absolutely yeah just to tag on to what lisa said as well you know walking with god doesn't make you a perfect being we are all flawed as human beings and that's why we need christ our savior keep a short account it's perfectly normal to you know find yourself in a moment of weakness or backsliding or you know doing something you regret but keeping that short account and repenting and being honest with with christ is what it's all about hey amen go ahead joe we got about a minute all right real quickly we should all keep the spirit of christmas the joy the love in our hearts it should be christmas should be a daily thing with us that are born again a little prayer for all of you tonight i call it may may the love of god surround you and give you peace may the presence of god watch over and guide you may the power of god protect you and give you kingdom authority may the knowledge of god empower and sustain you may the mercy of god forgive you of your sins may the grace of god grant you salvation and may the spirit of god change you forever so that you may serve him with joy witness to his truth proclaim his kingdom to all and let your light so shine that all the world may know that you love and serve the lord god the father god the son and god the holy spirit amen all right joe uh folks i just want to say remember that gift that's the one gift that you can never buy on the greatest gift we're out of time so as we always say we'd like to say have a may this be the your best and most your best and most blessed christmas ever amen yes and until tomorrow good night god bless thanks for listening to the voice of the christian resistance what's right what's left hosted by pastor ernie sanders to learn more about our ministry please visit us online at www.wrwl.org please tune in next time for another edition of what's right what's left the preceding program is sponsored by what's right what's left ministries and is responsible for its content
