truth on the go “The time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:6-7, New International Version 54 faulkner lifestyle | december 2O19
The First Christmas “ Christmas represents everything that really matters in life. When we strip away all of the things going on in our world and we get down to what really counts for life and eternity, we find the Christmas manger resting quietly in the middle of it all. ” —Andrea Lennon BY ANDREA LENNON Have you noticed the Christmas season is one of the busiest and most stressful times of the year? The hustle and bustle can leave us with an attitude of, “Let’s just make it through” or “I must conquer it all!” As we prepare to celebrate Christmas this year, let’s make the choice to thrive instead of survive. Daily we can remember that Christmas represents everything that really matters in life. When we strip away all of the things going on in our world and we get down to what really counts for life and eternity, we find the Christmas manger resting quietly in the middle of it all. God’s Word tells us the story of the first Christmas. Tucked away in this familiar passage, we find God’s plan for peace. And do you know what I love about God’s plan for peace? It can be experienced as we live right here on earth. Mary was approached by an angel and told that she would give birth to the long awaited Messiah. Mary embraced this call even though it was way outside of her comfort zone. In fact, the call could have been dangerous to her reputation as well as her life. counted in a census. I love the fact that God was putting Mary and Joseph in the right place at the right time to fulfill His perfect plan. The couple made the long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem and scripture records what happened next. “The time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6-7, New International Version) A baby boy, a Son, a Savior—He was finally here. Everything on God’s Kingdom calendar had been preparing the way for this moment in time. Why did Jesus come to this earth? The angels, who were present at His birth, proclaimed the answer to this important question. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14) Jesus came to bring peace! If you are wondering how you can experience peace on earth, a personal relationship with Jesus is the only way. Jesus came to this earth and lived a perfect life. He died on the cross to provide peace. As Jesus hung on the cross, He paid for our sins and provided the only way for us to have a relationship with God. If you long to have real peace in your life, confess your sins and ask Jesus to forgive you. Invite Jesus to come into your life and save you. You can be sure of the fact that He will. Not long after Jesus’ birth, a small group of shepherds set out to find Jesus so they could worship Him. Scripture shares the account of the shepherds. “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child and all who heard it were amazed...” (Luke 2:17) During the first Christmas, lives were forever changed. Thousands of years later, the same opportunity exists. This Christmas season you can worship Jesus and experience the peace that He provides. Jesus came and brought peace to this world. Peace that is real and lasting. Peace that changes the direction of our lives. Jesus, He Himself, is our peace. To learn more about Christmas Peace, visit my website at www.andrealennonministry.org. I have a Christmas gift waiting for you! Please download my Christmas ebook and enjoy it throughout the holiday season. Merry Christmas from my family to yours! God worked in the heart of Joseph, Mary’s fiancé, and he also embraced the call to be the earthly father of Jesus. The day came for Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem in order to be Andrea Lennon: An “on the go” kind of girl who loves Jesus, Andrea’s life calling is to teach women to know the truth, live the truth, and share the truth. Her passion is honest conversation about the topics that drive our lives and how we can weather the storms through the love and power of our Lord and His Word. Connect with Andrea at AndreaLennonMinistry.org. faulknerlifestyle.com 55
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