Thoughts for Life: Christmas...It's About the Cross

Sandy Kirby Quandt shares with us,
"I’m not fond of secrets. Christmas
time makes it really difficult for me to
keep secrets.

When I was a child, the suspense of not knowing what was in the packages with my name on them, was torturous.

Because of that torture, more times than not, I surreptitiously lifted the cellophane tape off one end of my brightly colored presents.

After years of practice, I became an expert at unwrapping the package without damaging the paper, sneaking a peek, replacing the tape, and acting surprised on Christmas morning.

When I clandestinely unwrapped my Christmas presents, if there was a toy inside, whoopee. If there was a necessary sweater, or more knee socks, well...

As an adult, I have the same problem. Only in reverse.

I get so excited about what I’ve bought my husband. I can’t wait for him to open what is under the tree.

To help him figure it out, I give him hints. Sometimes, he won’t play along.

When I think about it, I wonder if God felt the same excitement and anticipation I feel at Christmas when He prepared to send His gift of love to our broken world.

All through the Bible, God gives us hints as to what was to come.

Sometimes we ignore His clues and won’t play along, but that doesn’t take away the gift.

God’s prophets spoke of a Messiah. Shepherd. Cornerstone. One from the house of Jesse. One from the line of David, whose kingdom would never end.

A Savior. Immanuel. God with us. Those words hold joy and excitement.

Unlike the words in Isaiah ... words like pierced, crushed, punishment, wounds.

That’s when I understand the joyful gift of a baby in the manger became the necessary gift of a sacrifice for our salvation. And I cry.

Next to the manger scene I set up each December, hangs a cross and a crown of thorns. Lest I get caught up in the presents, the baking, the decorations, and the carols, I need a reminder in front of me.

Christmas is about much more than a baby, gifts, and family.

Christmas is about the cross. It’s about the sacrifice, the suffering, and the Savior who died so we might live.

Don’t get me wrong, I still get excited about the gifts under the tree. But it’s the gift that hung on a tree, that really matters. This Christmas … remember Easter."

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5 GNT

Sandy Kirby Quandt is a freelance writer and follower of Jesus, with a passion for history, travel, and photography ... passions which often weave their way into her stories and articles.

Sandy has written numerous articles and stories for publications including Pockets, Sparkle, Power for Living, Kyria, Today's Christian Woman, The Lookout, Alive! and Mature Years.

WORDaction Publishing uses puzzles Sandy writes for their Standard magazine.

Her story, The Friday Night Dateless Club, appears in OakTara's anthology, Falling in Love with You.

You can read Sandy’s blog at www.sandykirbyquandt.com. Sandy and her husband live in Texas.

[Be sure to check out Sandy's blog, she offers some good recipes for gluten-free dishes.]

Read Sandy's devotions.

Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!

Used by permission www.christiandevotions.us and Sandy Kirby Quandt at www.sandykirbyquandt.com

(Google images added)

The Christmas Tree
by Butch Dias

The Christmas lights hang on a tree,
Blinking its colors oh so merrily.
Some blink and some they chase,
Along the branches they do race.

To make the tree really stand out,
Lighting up you have no doubt.
But there is a light that never dims,
Hung from a cross by His limbs.

The light radiated by His love,

Sent from His Father up above.

Hanging from a wooden tree,

Dying for you and for me.

His love, His light it did shine,

He said, “Your sins are now mine.”

Our sins that made the world so dark,

Were sent away for an eternal walk.

As far as the east is to the west,

The life He gave was God’s best.

The Christmas light, it shines so bright,

Let Jesus illuminate you tonight."

(used by permission)

butchdias@bellsouth.net

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 04:03 AM PST

During the winter months, homemade hot chocolate is a favorite at the Savage household. In fact, when my kids’ friends come over, they always ask, “Mrs. Savage, can we please have some of your famous hot chocolate!” I’ve even been known to send a college student or two with a container of it for their dorm room.

It’s just four ingredients:
2 parts powdered milk
1 part powdered creamer
1 part powdered sugar
2 parts Nestle Quick

(Be sure to check out Jill's blog Homemade Hot Chocolate to get the rest of the instructions.)

By the way, this makes a great teacher’s gift too! Just fill mason jars, add some Christmas fabric over the top of the lid, attach instructions for making a great cup of hot chocolate, and you’re done!

Enjoy!

The post Homemade Hot Chocolate appeared first on Jill Savage.

Let’s pray:

Father, it is of great concern to us, that we do remember that Jesus came for the express purpose of providing salvation for mankind.

We are appreciative of this, and we want to honor what You did for us in providing a way for us to come into Your Holy Presence through what He did accomplish at Calvary.

May we humbly admit our own need of Him, and may our hearts rejoice at this special time of the year, as we celebrate what happened in the stable some 2,000 years ago!

In the name of Jesus, the Savior, Amen.

Today’s Bible verse: Is. 25:9 "And it shall be said in that day, 'Lo, this is our God'; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

Today’s quotes: Martin Luther – “You yourself in your own conscience must feel Christ himself. You must experience unshakably that it is God’s Word, even though the whole world should dispute it. As long as you do not have this feeling, you have certainly not yet tasted of God’s Word.”

Our Daily Bread- "The cradle without the cross misses the true meaning of Christ's birth."

Some thoughts today: Our Sanctification is growing in Christ, as we employ His concepts every day.

- Authority establishes what needs to be done to deal with broken harmony, and what needs to be done to bring things back into harmony.

- As Christ desires to dwell in us, we are to learn what is the width, length, depth, and height of His love, and become rooted and grounded in His love. Eph 3:17-19

For those of you who read my post on budgeting, Me? Follow a Budget?, I want to let you know that it is working just fine for me! Thank the Lord for His guidance in making it work!

Sunday’s post: O, Come Lord Jesus Rose Johnson

12/23: The Colorful Christ Bell author unknown [It's worth checking out!]

Tuesday's post: #47 Mediocre Prayer Habits? C. Peter Wagner

Thursday's post: #48 The Reader's Digest Sermon C. Peter Wagner

A popular post: Mysterious Ways: Blooming Susie "I missed Mom more than anything. Thanks to an inexplicable coincidence, I knew she was still with me."