The Portion of my Inheritance

Wherein is the beauty of Christmas?

With it’s dazzling, vivid colors and the packages tucked tight under the tree arousing wonder and curiosity.

The anticipation and suspense of the season with it’s aromatic senses and tongue tingling pleasures that holds the promise of self-indulgence.

With the sounds that leave the impressions of that Christmas feeling that lighten the spirits and gives warm fuzzies to the auditor.

Is the beauty in the phenomenon of the generosity of mankind, who for just this season open their hearts and wallets to the less fortunate among them?

Wherein is the beauty of Christmas? The resplendent glory that radiates the wonder and awe into our own human hearts. The lustre of the reflected light that reaches down and draws us in.

It is HE who disrobed His own renown and glory and left His glorious splendor and majesty behind and wrapped Himself in our own likeness.  Flesh. . .  dirty and rotting, wasting away in sickness and in pain.  

Wherein is the beauty of CHRIST~mas?

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond-servant, and coming in the likeness of men.  Phillippians 2:5-7

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But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.               Hebrews 13:16

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“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21

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“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.             Isaiah 1:18

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Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!  Psalm 100:1

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“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

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.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Luke 2:8-20

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As we read the different stories on the Nativity to Aria, she play acts them out with one of the several Nativity sets we have. We do this often!

This is one of my favorites, given to me by the Librarian at the school where I work.

Aria loves the CHRIST~mas story, and takes great joy and delight in all the many ways of learning of how our Savior left His throne in heaven and wrapped Himself (our gift) in flesh, and all for us!

And the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14

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When I looked up Advent this is what is said: the coming or the arrival of a notable event, especially of something extremely important.

My daughter, Andrea and I have done Advent with Aria for the past few years.  

So this year, we would like to share with you just a few of the things that we do with Aria leading up to our precious Lord’s birthday, CHRISTmas!

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.” Luke 1:30-31

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