Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone…
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: 2, 6 (ESV) 

“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’” 
Luke 2: 10-12 (NKJV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” 
John 3: 16-17 (NIV)   

Here we are again.  

Christmas is right around the corner. With all the joyful noise and celebration it brings.

Emotions, feelings, and memories seem to run a bit deeper and stronger during the Christmas holiday season we have entered once again. 

Memories of Christmases past—joyous, sad, cheerful, and heart-wrenching. And feelings, emotions, and memories are often magnified by the slightest word, act, or occasion.  

Feelings from memories of a painful separation, heartbreaking loss, loneliness, disappointment, despair, and depression do their best to knock us off the track of our focus aimed at the anticipated celebration of God’s incredible gift of love.

On that silent night. Of so long ago.

Yet we know that the Joy of that silent night has and will always prevail.  

The Gift of redeeming grace for you and for me came over two thousand years ago and remains today. An eternal moment offered for now, and for all eternity, the Gift of Heavenly peace—the Prince of Peace.

In the person of a tiny Baby, born in Bethlehem, the eternal Son of God.

For you. For me. For all the world.

For why? Because God loves us.  

For what? So that we may love all others. So we may share His redeeming grace and peace with all the world.

To bridge divides which have occurred between family, friends, and other children of God there for us to love.

To share the redeeming grace of the Babe of Bethlehem. The Prince of Peace. A grace given without cost.  

A grace to pour over broken relationships, filling them with the healing, forgiving, restoring, redeeming and renewing love of the Christ Child.

Over two hundred years ago Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber wrote the lyrics and music forever reminding us of the moment of Jesus’ birth in the song “Silent Night” with some words as these—

“Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon virgin mother and child! Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace…
Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth…”

It’s Christmas. 

That silent night of redeeming grace.  

That silent night of Heavenly peace.

Of eternal love for you, me and all the world, from a tiny Baby laid in a manger.

A love to share with others.

From that silent night of so long ago.

In His Name–Scott

You will be blessed and changed by this poignant video and beautifully sung presentation of “Silent Night” by Gentri.