OUR DAILY BREAD : CANCELED CHRISTMAS

[cimi]

December 15
Sunday


CANCELED
CHRISTMAS

READ:
Luke 2:36-38
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Joseph and His mother
marveled at those
things which were
spoken of [Jesus].
__Luke 2:33
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We felt as if our Christmas was being canceled last year. Actually, our flight to see family in Missouri was canceled due to snow. It's been our tradition for quite a few years to celebrate Christmas with them, so we were greatly disappointed when we only got as far as minnesota and had to return home to Michigan.

On Sunday, in a message we would have missed, our pastor spoke about expectations for christmas. He caught my attention when he said, "If our expectations for Christmas are gifts and time with family, we have set our expectations too low. Those are enjoyable and things we're thankful for, but Christmas is the celebration of the coming of Christ and His redemption."

Simeon and Anna celebrated the coming of Jesus and His salvation when Joseph and Mary brought Him to the Temple as a baby (Luke 2:25-38). Simeon, a man who was told by the Spirit that he would not die before he saw the Messiah, declared: "My eyes have seen Your salvation" (v.30). When Anna, a widow who served God, saw Jesus, she "spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem" (v.38).

We may experience disappointments or heartache during the Christmas season, but Jesus and His salvation always give us reason to celebrate. __Anne Cetas

``````````````````How wonderful that we on Christmas morn``````````````````
``````````````Though centuries have passed since Christ was born,``````````````
````````````````````May worship still the Living Lord of men,`````````````````
````````````Our Savior, Jesus , Babe of Bethlehem. __Hutchings````````````````
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Jesus is always the reason to celebrate.

******************Today's Bible Reading __ Luke 2:36-38********************
As we age, we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that our
usefulness for the Lord's work is over. Today's reading radically
illustrates how this can be a false assumption. In Luke 2 we are
introduced to Anna, who ministered voluntarily in the templle
for many years after being widowed. During her long ministry,
Anna served as a prophetess. When se saw the baby Jesus, she
acknowledged his messianic identity by proclaiming that He would
be the instrument of redemption for Jerusalem (Luke 2:38; Isa.
52:9). The lesson for us is that our service for Christ is never over
until we pass into eternity.