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“Come thou long expected Jesus!”
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No colored twinkling lights, no tinseled decorated Christmas trees, no Christmas carols, no Santa Claus. That was the first Christmas in the world. Jesus, the Son of God was born into our world in a stable because there was no room for Him in the inns. The world did not anticipate an event that would change history or life. On that night, more than 2000 years ago, God did something that remains beyond our full comprehension. He brought hope to our sin-ridden world.

Prior to receiving God’s gift of salvation, I, like many of my friends look forward to Christmas for the gifts we would receive. When I became a Christian, I began to understand the significance of Christmas—it is the day where God gave mankind the greatest gift of all.

John 3:16 takes on a deep meaning when read in the context of Christmas: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son . . ..” Because of His overwhelming love for each one of us, God gave His Son, Jesus Christ. Recently, our Sunday Service speaker spoke on compassion and charity. He reminded us that compassion is different from charity. Compassion is continuous unlike charity, which is a one-time act. As I thought over it, I realized that it was God’s compassion that brought forth Christmas’ joy. Today, His compassion still goes on. As such, we who have experienced God’s love and compassion need to spread this Christmas joy to those who have not yet beheld God’s grace.

Let us run to the altar, catch the fire of God’s compassion and decide to make a difference in the lives of those outside the four walls of our church not only this Christmas, but also every day. Christmas must go on throughout the year. As we do that, we will enjoy a truly blessed Christmas!

“I drew Mary and Joseph wearing Ulos Batak textile.”

Ulos Batak is a traditional hand woven Batak textile. It is hand made on a body tension (back strap) loom using hand dyed thread and natural dyes are used in combination with commercial dyes.

The Batak people of Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, have a history of weaving Ulos ni tondi (Cloth of the Soul) for ritual & ceremonial purposes that dates back to their earliest history.

Download Wallpaper Here

“Christmas has become a season about everything but Christ. In Kenya, there has even been an argument about whether the tree that we dressed up on this special season should be called a holiday tree or a Christmas tree. As such, I think it is vital for us to go back to the fundamental reason for this season. When we understand it, then we can celebrate it meaningfully. Someone once reminded me that the basis of our faith is conviction not convincing. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will convict us of the purpose of this season.”

YMI Note:
This poem was written in Bahasa Indonesia. We have translated it into English for you.

One of the first entries submitted for “Joy of Christmas” contest!
Zhichuan has kindly made his artwork available for download as wallpapers too.

Download Wallpaper Here

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Jesus Christ was conceived miraculously by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. His life was unique. As a man, He lived in our world yet He was without sin. His death was also unusual. He died but the grave could not keep Him there. He rose from the dead. Jesus did not live and die just to set a good example for man; He came to be the Savior of the world.

Jesus said that He came “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). The Bible tells us that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23) and that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). We cannot escape from the judgment of sin on our own; we need a redeemer—one who is without sin. Out of love for His created world, God took on the onus of redeeming sinful man from the tyranny of sin, not with money or any other way, but with the precious blood of His own Son.

The true meaning of Christmas is about the coming of Christ into the world. It is about the Son of God, who existed eternally with the Father as “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being” (Hebrews 1:3a). It is about the coming of a Son of Man named Jesus in whom “all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). It is about the Messiah who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). It is about the coming of the “fullness of time” that had been prophesied by the prophets of old that:
- A Ruler would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
- A Child would be born and He would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)
- The Messiah, the anointed One, a shoot from the stem of Jesse, a son of David, a King would come (Isaiah 11:1-4; Zechariah 9:9)

Today, we remember the perfect gift of God to man—JESUS CHRIST, SAVIOUR and LORD. He is the ONE who will give Christmas its true meaning. Have you received this gift of Christ in your heart?

“I took this photo while on my way home. I am thankful for how God reminds me of His wonderful presence, no matter where I am or what I am doing. He makes my life interesting. I feel blessed each and every day because of His beautiful surprises.” —Fiona, 19-year-old, Singapore

Photograph & Text by Pamela Bong

“We pray that it will be Christmas Always;
that Christ may be born in our hearts everyday;
that the spirit of giving may abound in our day to day life;
that the cheer of Christmas shall be with us everyday.”

Download audio file (ChristmasAlways.mp3)

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Blessed Christmas!

From the YMI team