"'Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you.' declares the LORD. 'Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. Be still before the LORD, all people, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.'" -- Zechariah 2:10-13, TNIV
"My dear friends, we must love each other. Love comes from God, and when we love each other, it shows that we have been given new life. We are now God's children, and we know him. God is love, and anyone who doesn't love others has never known him. God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. Real love isn't our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven. Dear friends, since God loved us this much, we must love each other.
No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is truly in our hearts.
God has given us his Spirit. That is how we know that we are one with him, just as he is one with us. God sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. We saw his Son and are now telling others about him. God stays one with everyone who openly says that Jesus is the Son of God. That how we stay one with God and are sure that God loves us.
God is love. If we keep on loving others, we will stay one in our hearts with God, and he will stay one with us." -- 1 John 4:7-16, CEV
May the God from whom all love flows,
bless you with joy,
laughter,
good stories,
great food,
and opportunities
to share the Good News
as you gather with family and friends
on this great Feast Day
of Christmas!
And may the One who came among us,
lighten your hearts,
sing into your spirits,
heal your wounds,
and call you his own.
Merry Christmas!!
