https://latterdaysoprano.com/2019/12/13/celebrating-christmas-with-jesus-and-santa/
Santa’s Nativity Prayer
On Christmas Eve the other night
I saw the most amazing sight,
for there beneath the Christmas tree
was Santa kneeling on his knee.
His countenance was different than
that all-familiar, jolly grin;
his head was bowed, and hand to breast,
and slightly tucked into his vest.
For there in a Nativity
was Jesus and His family,
and as I heard him start to pray,
I listened close to what he’d say.
“Lord, You know that You’re the reason
I take pleasure in this season.
I don’t want to take Your place,
but just reflect Your wondrous grace.
I hope You’ll help them understand
I’m just an ordinary man,
who found a way to do Your will
by finding kids with needs to fill.
But all those centuries ago,
There was no way for me to know,
that they would make so much of me,
and all the gifts beneath the tree.
They think I have some hidden power
granted at the midnight hour.
But it is my love for You
Inspiring all the things I do.
And they give You all the Glory,
For, ‘You’re the One True Christmas Story.”
Original author – Alda Monteschio
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https://lynndove.com/2013/12/11/santa-is-welcome/
The sleigh was all packed, the reindeer were fed, But Santa still knelt by the side of the bed.
“Dear Father,” he prayed “Be with me tonight. There’s much work to do and my schedule is tight.
I must jump in my sleigh and streak through the sky, Knowing full well that a reindeer can’t fly.
I will visit each household before the first light, I’ll cover the world and all in one night.
With sleigh bells a-ringing, I’ll land on each roof, Amid the soft clatter of each little hoof.
To get in the house is the difficult part, So I’ll slide down the chimney of each child’s heart.
My sack will hold toys to grant all their wishes. The supply will be endless like the loaves and the fishes.
I will fill all the stockings and not leave a track. I’ll eat every cookie that is left for my snack.
I can do all these things Lord, only through You, I just need your blessing, then it’s easy to do.
All this is to honor the birth of the One, That was sent to redeem us, Your most Holy Son.
So to all of my friends, least Your glory I rob, Please Lord, remind them who gave me this job.”
Warren D. Jennings
I found it of particular interest that the colours of the “official” Santa Claus Coat of Arms are the traditional Christian colours of Christmas. Red is for the blood of Christ, green is for the eternal life in Christ and gold is for Christ the Divine.
https://latterdaysoprano.com/2019/12/13/celebrating-christmas-with-jesus-and-santa/
Gold: rgb(254, 214, 41)
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I found it of particular interest that the colours of the “official” Santa Claus Coat of Arms
are the traditional Christian colours of Christmas.
Red is for the blood of Christ,
Green is for the eternal life in Christ and
Gold is for Christ the Divine.
color name="Earth yellow" hex="D69C4D" rgb(214,156,77)
color name="Dartmouth green" hex="005F01" rgb(0,95,1)
color name="Penn red" hex="9A0103" rgb(154,1,3)
Gold...
Green...
Red...
Gold: rgb(254, 214, 41)
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https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/the-christmas-bible-story-nativity-of-jesus-in-scripture.html
https://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Stories/The.Christmas.Story.html
The Christmas Bible Story: Read the Nativity of Jesus Christ
Christmas is a season of spiritual reflection on the foundations of the Christian faith. It’s also a celebration of the arrival of Jesus. Christmas is a time for Christians to praise God’s love for the world through the birth of the Christ child: Jesus. The Bible tells of His birth hundreds of years before, fulfilling prophecies from the Old Testament.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
Read the full Christmas Bible story from all four books of the Gospel below. Find the accounts of Angel Gabriel visiting the Virgin Mary, the nativity of Jesus, angels visiting the shepherds, and the three wise men bearing gifts for the newborn King. Also, discover the scriptural meaning of Christmas that gives revelation of why Jesus became man and "the Word became flesh."
Christmas is the annual celebration of Christ's birth. Let us give thanks for the glory of Jesus and the eternal life given to all who repent and believe in Him! May God bless you this Christmas and beyond.
Rejoice in the birth of Christ with a FREE 25 Days to a Joyful Christmas Prayer Guide!
mother mary, birth of jesus, christmas bible story
The Angel Gabriel Visits Mary
Birth of Jesus Foretold ~ Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
christmas bible story, nativity of jesus in the bible, birth of jesus scripture
The Nativity of Jesus Christ
The Birth of Jesus Christ ~ Luke 2:1-7
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Birth of Jesus Christ ~ Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel"(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
christmas bible story, angels visit shepherds
Angels Visit the Shepherds
The Shepherds and the Angels ~ Luke 2:8-21
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
christmas bible story, three wise men
The Three Wise Men
The Visit of the Wise Men ~ Matthew 2:1-12
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: "'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
christmas bible story, birth of jesus in the bible, jesus christ birth
Bible Meaning of Christmas
The Word Became Flesh ~ John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Jesus Announces the Good News ~ Mark 1:14-15
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”