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Listen while you read: "Away In A Manger"1 (Lyrics) |
Matthew 1:21 – And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. (KJV)
Before I met Jesus, the giver of all good and perfect gifts, I knew of Santa Claus.
The smell of warm oatmeal cookies filled the air to trigger my first and only memory of leaving cookies on a little dish for Santa Claus. I was anxious to see if Santa could make it down the chimney to leave presents and get the cookies early the next morning. I found faint smudges of dark sooty footprints from the fireplace to the kitchen, where a few crumbs remained. My dad grinned mischievously. I gleefully squealed, "Santa came."
After Christmas breakfast, I opened a gift to find A Little Golden Book, The Story of Jesus. Curious to know who Jesus was, I asked my mother if the people on the cover were real. She answered, "Yes." Then, I spent the rest of the morning trying to get through the plastic-wrapped book cover to the live baby Jesus Who was wrapped tightly in blankets. There was just something about that tiny Jesus — baby boy — that this little girl of five wanted to know.
Family members joined us in the afternoon. Throughout the day, different ones read me the book. I asked my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins if they knew Jesus. They all said that they did, and that Jesus loved them, and that He loved me, too.
Daddy said the blessing before our dinner and thanked Him for loving the world so much that He saved us from our sins. After dessert, we gathered around the piano. My aunt played Christmas carols while we sang "Away in a manger" and "O little town of Bethlehem". I knew that Jesus must be very important because we sang songs about Him.
Finally, Grandma said, "Just believe in your heart." So, I did. At the end of the day, I could say, "Jesus came."
Eventually, I learned that the tiny Jesus — baby boy — fully God and fully man — was my Lord and Saviour and that He alone can save me and others from our sins of disobedience and offer us eternity in heaven.
Through the years, as my relationship with God, my heavenly Father, grew, I understood that He is the giver of all good gifts. The more that I learned about Jesus, the more that I left Santa and his sleigh behind.
Have you left Santa behind, yet?
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us never to lose the childlike wonder of the glory of that first Christmas miracle, when Your Son, our God and Saviour, was born to die for the sins of the world. We thank You for coming to earth as a baby so that we could meet our Saviour, Who showed and shared Your love and power with us. We will praise Your name forever, for You alone are worthy of all honour and praise. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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Thursday, January 23, 2025 – In Europe — Pray for the Jewish community to be encouraged and feel the love of their non-Jewish Christian friends. Pray that the Holy Spirit would open the hearts and minds of these secular Jews, and for God's leadership in my work.
daughter: "Update December 30, 2024: And please touch her heart that she may turn to YOU.* November 12, 2024:..." 
What a lovely story!
Loved this. God bless you.
Merry Christmas and thank you.
Merry Christmas Karen. Enjoy the blessings of this day.
Thank you for sharing with us this Christmas Day, Karen.
Merry Christmas, Karen, and thank you for this sweet message.
Thank you, Karen, and Merry Christmas to you and those you love.
Could ONLY have been you who wrote this – a cherished memory, thanks.
Beautiful Christmas story, Karen. Thanks and blessings to you on this Christmas Day!
Thank you for your testimony and have a Blessed Christmas. Continue to witness about Jesus.
Karen:
Thank you for your message today. Christmas blessings to you.
Thank you for this beautiful devotion, Karen. Merry Christmas! May your Christmas be full of blessings and signs of God’s love.
May God bless you Karen and May God bless California and May God bless the U.S.A. because of the faith and love of its people. May the U.S. of A ever remain a united country under One God, our Dear God Almighty! In Jesus’s Most Holy Name, Amen,
(Ontario, Canada)
Dear Karen,
How heartwarming your devotional is. You can feel your love for Jesus which is amazing. Your prayer is so relevant as we do need to have our wonder in the birth of Jesus renewed at times in our lives. We need help with this and praying about it is the perfect solution. Thank you for sharing from your first encounter with Jesus that you remember and how your family encouraged your faith. Merry Christmas and may you continue in 2022 to awaken our eyes to new wonders. Blessings.
Merry Christmas, Karen,
I liked your devotional.
My verse for today:
Isaiah 9:6f. (The Message) The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. For those who lived in a land of deep shadows- light! sunbursts of light! …For a child has been born-for us! the gift of a son-for us! He’ll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness. His ruling authority will grow, and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, Karen, on this grand day celebrating our Savior’s birth!!! Last night celebrating His coming, and today His arrival. Christmas breakfast at my grandson’s after missing last year was very special with family plus a great granddaughter hooked up with us from out of state. As my birthday had been celebrated this month, I have been so greatly loved these recent weeks.
Hearing from so many other family members, and friends, it’s endless.
Thank You, Lord Jesus with all of my joyful heart. Your devotions are always a blessing to me. May the Lord richly bless you and yours in the new year ahead.
Thank you, Karen, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us! Praying your Christmas was absolutely blessed. Blessings.
Good morning, Karin,
To answer your question, I never ever was a big fan of Santa, the present-day adoration makes me very sad actually. Would all become aware that Jesus did come and that he is here.
Blessings and a happy New Year to you and yours.