Christmas Movies, Facts of Christmas Sermon, Devotionals

 Hi Folks,

I hope you are having a good week!  I have a number of things for you this week which I hope will be a big blessing to you and your families this week and next!  

I have linked some family friendly Christmas movies below that looked wonderful!

The Nativity Story I have watched twice this season and it gets better each time I watch it!!  The movie sticks to the Biblical storyline other than 3 liberties taken that are not true (just for your FYI:)

-Mary and Joseph did not have a near drowning experience in a lake; the Wise Men did not come at Jesus' birth, but when He was around 2 (Matthew 2:11-"young child" meant 2+) and Mary was more than thankful to accept Joseph's hand in marriage (rather than being grumpy about it) as the custom was to marry young, have a family (age expectancy in Bible days was only 50) so that a family's lineage could go on. 

We Three Kings is a brand new release this month and it gives the true story behind the Christmas carol.  It features some well known folks in the Christian music industry as well (Michael W. Smith is one).

I've seen the trailer and I can't wait to watch the whole film!

Chasing the Star is about the Wise Men and their long, audrius journey to find the Savior (they came from Persia, not the Orient as the carol states:) and it would have taken many months/miles to get to Him.

I watched the trailer and it looks thrilling, but I can't guarantee how close it sticks to the Bible story, but it looks interesting:)

The Christmas Candle I started to watch and the story line looks very sweet.  It was written by a well known, Christian author who is a fabulous storyteller, so I think it would be enjoyable to watch.  

The Facts of Christmas:  Sometimes it's hard to tell fact from fiction when you consider all the traditions of Christmas.  Unless you read the Christmas Story firsthand, it's hard to sort out.  My mom and I also listened to this sermon Sunday and I really enjoyed it!!  

It held my attention, I learned much and it was ideal for someone who had recently trusted Jesus as their Saviour, either in the last few years, weeks (the applications to life were great!), or for someone who needed a reminder of what happened in their life when they trusted Christ.  Would HIGHLY encourage a listen in snippets as you can, AND LISTEN TO THE END! 

https://livestream.com/opendoorchurchlive/services/videos/215163200. (Move to the 22 minute mark for the sermon)

Devots.  Below are 3 devots. that I picked up. They go along beautifully with the sermon link above if you take a listen to it in the next 2 weeks.  

The 3rd devot. listed mentions Jesus saying that we did not praise Him or proclaim Him as Lord, (He was speaking to His disciples, but it could be applied to all who have trusted Christ), the very rocks they walked on would cry out!!  And if God said it, He means it!   Could not we praise Him this week, through listening/singing to Christmas carols or even by wishing someone "Merry Christmas" as a way to remind them of the True Meaning of the season right now???

I pray that the Lord richly blesses you and your family this Christmas week!  

God bless!

Devots.  (Used by permission.  Taken from https://www.dayspring.com/). 

The Wonder of God's Plan (This ties in great with the sermon link above!)

https://www.dayspring.com/daily-devotion/date/2020-12-18?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion%202020-12-18&utm_term=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion

Good News for All the Earth: 

https://www.dayspring.com/daily-devotion/date/2020-12-13?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion%202020-12-13&utm_term=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion

The Rocks, Stones, and Stars:

https://www.dayspring.com/daily-devotion/date/2020-12-20?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion%202020-12-20&utm_term=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion

Family Movies:

The Nativity Story:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-Snme2w97c

We Three Kings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AQ1mHMfIVI&t=45s

Chasing the Stars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em6JOnNDC9c

The Christmas Candle (below):

WATCH THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE ONLINE FOR FREE A Timeless Holiday Film for the Entire Family Max Lucado's classic film The Christmas Candle tells the story of the century-old legend of an angel who touches a single candle, and whoever lights this candle receives a miracle on Christmas Eve. Based on the bestselling book of the same name, The Christmas Candle is sure to inspire you with the hope that IS Christmas. RevelationMedia is proud to offer this incredible film for a limited time for FREE. Simply use the link below, and enter your email address for an opportunity to stream the movie.  REGISTER TO WATCH THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE Filmed in a late 1800s setting, The Christmas Candle is visually beautiful. It reveals a story of hope, prayer, and inspiring Christmas miracles. You don’t want to miss watching this heart-warming and encouraging movie. REGISTER TO WATCH THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE Receive Two DVDs of The Christmas Candle When You Support RevelationMedia This online film event is brought to you exclusively by RevelationMedia. Your support enables us to provide films like this as well as The Pilgrim's Progress, and our new iBIBLE (an interactive and visual Bible that brings the Scriptures to life) free to the global missions community.  When you register to watch The Christmas Candle, you will also have an opportunity to make a contribution to RevelationMedia. Please prayerfully consider doing so. To show our appreciation for your support, we will send you two FREE DVDs of The Christmas Candle—one for you, and one to give as a gift! REGISTER TO WATCH THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE Please feel free to share this online movie event with your friends, family, and even your entire church.  Copyright © 2020 RevelationMedia, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: RevelationMedia PO Box 518 McKinney, Texas 75070 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Devot. The Shepherds Told Their Story

 Hi Folks,

I hope you are having a great week!!! Below are 2 devots. that caught my eye this week.    The first one is about poor shepherds who were the first ones to be told that The Savior had been born.   

There is something very significant about the angels proclaiming the news to the shepherds first. At that time they were considered ceremonially unclean.  I asked my Pastor to give me a little more insight on this and he said, "It would appear that by Jesus time they were considered "unclean" because these shepherds were not nomadic, but would live on the hillsides with the sheep from March-October.  Because they were unable to "separate" themselves from the livestock for any period of time and because they were unable to practice the "ritual washing" required by the temple priests they were considered unclean."     

Now what interests me is that these shepherds may have been some of the ones to raise sheep to be bought and used as animal sacrifices in the Temple in Jerusalem.  At that time, God's way of the people being cleansed and forgiven of their sin was through the blood of certain animal sacrifices.   

Hebrews 9:22 says, "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission {forgivensss}."  But When Christ came, the Bible says that He became our sinless sacrifices, the Lamb that was slain for the sins of the world.  

1 Peter 1:18-19, "knowing that you were not redeemed (using the terminology of a slave being bought from the slave market-i.e. we being bought  back from the slave market of sin) with [a]corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,  but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." 

In light of this, I was thinking how sad it was that those who were a part of something so important-raising sheep whose blood would in turn  be God's means, at that time, of cleansing, covering and forgiving sins- would be considered the lowest of the low, "untouchables."  And yet God made a point of sending a great multitude of angels to them in the sky to proclaim that God had come!!  And then they were to  be the messengers to spread the word to others.   Wow!!!    I believe this was God's way of showing that He was no respecter of persons, He was coming to save everyone-rich, poor, those who considered themselves righteous and those who were humble enough to admit that they were sinners. But God wanted to tell the lowest of the low first in order to show how greatly He loved them!

Romans 2: 6, 10-13 says, "Who (God)will render to every man according to his deeds:  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:  For there is no respect of persons with God.  For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;   (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified."

The 2nd devot. I have below reminds of Christ's humble beginnings.  Think of coming from a place where there are streets of gold and gates with different precious gems on them (Revelation 21), the worship of angels, (Revelation 7:11), the adoration and praise befitting the King of all (Revelation 17:14, 19:111-16) and coming to a smelly stable and having a feed trough as your bed?   From a human standpoint, I'm not sure I would be willing to do that for anyone, but Christ was willing to do that FOR US.  

"Let this mind be in you, (have the following mindset of humility) which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (i.e. because He WAS God)  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (God took on human flesh and yet remained God)  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (1 Pet. 2:5-8).

It's an awesome  thought if you dwell on it long enough.....

Well, enjoy pondering the below devots. I hope you and yours have a blessed and healthy weekend!!!! 

(Devots. used by permission.  Taken from https://www.dayspring.com/)

The Shepherds Told Their Story:

https://www.dayspring.com/daily-devotion/date/2020-12-14?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion%202020-12-14&utm_term=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion

Humble Beginnings: 

https://www.dayspring.com/daily-devotion/date/2020-12-11?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion%202020-12-11&utm_term=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion

Devot. Prophesying Christ's Birth

 Hi Folks,

I hope you are having a great week!!!  The below devots. are some great ones for the Christmas season. 

The first devot. below brought to mind a conversation I had via phone with my pastor this past weekend.  I was hosting a zoom movie for some of the teen girls I mentor and I was showing "The Nativity Story" from 2016.  I was going through the film and researching details so I could give the girls some in depth background on the Christmas story they may not have thought of. 

I was asking my pastor exactly where do we find some of the Old Testament prophecies that predicted Christ's birth and how many years were they prophesied before they came to pass?

~Numbers 24:17 and Isaiah 9:6-7 predicted Christ's birth (the passage in Numbers was written 1,4000 years before Christ's birth)

~Micah 5:2 predicted Christ's birth and the exact town He would be born in.

~Isaiah 7:14 predicted that specifically a virgin would would birth to the long awaited Messiah (Savior) (this was prophesied 750 years before Christ's birth)

If you read through Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1-2, you will find words like "as it is written" (Luke 2:23) to give credit to the fact that the words or incidents that just occurred were spoken of in the Old Testament and were now coming to pass.

As I thought of this on Saturday, I just sat back and thought, "Wow, here we have prophecies of Jesus, God Himself, coming to earth for us down to the exact town He would be born. God made sure it was recorded so that when it happened, we would see The Truth and know that God keeps His Word! Wow!!" 

I hope the devots. below are a big blessing to your weekend/week ahead and that it refreshes your mind on the Christmas story.

As a thought, consider reading through Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1-2  through this season (on your own or as a family), maybe as bedtime reading.  I plan to do the same with a pencil and sticky notes in hand as I read carefully through the accounts.  

Each writer  God inspired to write the Christmas story had their own flare based on 2 factors-their profession and the audience they were writing to. 

My pastor gave me these details of the 2 writers, the audience they were writing to and how they wished to present Jesus in these books, "Each of the Gospel writers present Jesus in a unique way to a unique audience so that taking the four together we truly get a better view of Jesus and how He revealed Himself to humanity.  Matthew is writing primarily to a Jewish group of believers, so he presents Jesus as the Messiah, the Anointed One so they could understand His coming from Old Testament Scripture.  Luke is writing primarily to a Greek audience, so He presents Jesus as the Son of Man (God's Son).  Matthew 9:9 records that Matthew was a tax collector.  In Mark and Luke he is listed as Levi, but the description and calling by Jesus indicate that Matthew & Levi were one and the same person." 

I pray that the devots are a blessing to your weekend.  

God bless you and yours! 

(Devots. used to by permission. Take from https://www.dayspring.com)

Prophecy: Born in Bethlehem:

https://www.dayspring.com/daily-devotion/date/2020-12-07?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion%202020-12-07&utm_term=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion

Jesus the Savior:

https://www.dayspring.com/daily-devotion/date/2020-12-06?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion%202020-12-06&utm_term=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion

Names: 

https://www.dayspring.com/daily-devotion/date/2020-12-05?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion%202020-12-05&utm_term=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion

Devot. Advent

Hi Folks!

I hope you are having a good week!!!   Well, here we are at the first week of December and the countdown to Christmas begins:)

The below 3 devots. are a great start to the Christmas season, they are practical, but contain some valuable lessons to be learned that you can apply to your life and pass onto your family as we prepare for Christmas.

I pray you and your family has a blessed week!

A touching song to prepare our hearts for Christmas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUFSxt7qkNw

(Devotionals used by permission.  Taken from https://www.dayspring.com)

Introducing Advent to the Next Generation: 

https://www.dayspring.com/articles/introducing-the-next-generation-to-advent?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNANN20201129WaysToPrepareForTheChristmasSeasonArticles&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter%20%2B%20Daily%20Devotion%20List

Advent: A Season of Hope, Love, Joy, Peace:

https://www.dayspring.com/articles/advent-a-season-of-hope-love-peace-joy?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNANN20201129WaysToPrepareForTheChristmasSeasonArticles&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter%20%2B%20Daily%20Devotion%20List

6 Ways to Prepare for the Christmas Season:

https://www.dayspring.com/articles/6-ways-to-prepare-for-the-holidays?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNANN20201129WaysToPrepareForTheChristmasSeasonArticles&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter%20%2B%20Daily%20Devotion%20List

~~"Without the humility of the stable, there is no hope of Heaven." (Jennifer Reed) ~~

"...Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:" Philippians 2:5-9