Merry Christmas: 2 John, 3 John, & Jude

I wake up today surrounded by family.  My house is packed to the gills, more people than beds.  The tree is glowing and overflowing with pretty packages.  The air smells of comfort and joy (sausage balls and strong coffee).  My kids and their cousins are vibrating with excitement to tear into their Christmas gifts.  

The voices, the laughter, and the hugs, all glimpses of the true meaning of Christmas.  Yet, that's not all.  There's lots to see and do today, but so much more to celebrate!  The time is here.

In faith, I have to be intentional about unwrapping the beautiful everlasting gift that is bigger and better than anything that will ever fit in a box or be contained with a ribbon.  I have to help my children see that gift and unwrap it for themselves too.  I have to tell the story, and read the Holy Living Words in Luke 1:26-56, 2:1-40 and Matthew 1:18-25, 2.   

Merry Christmas everyone!  Today, we honor the birth of Jesus, Our Savior, Emmanuel.  God is with us now and forever!  Our faith tells us how amazing this day is, how glorious!  

And if I take the time to stop and quite my heart, my mind, and my soul, and invite God in, I can feel it.  Our mighty God is with us--  The perfect gift, given out of true abounding love for you and me, from God Himself.

24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Jude 1:24-25    

For the Everyday Reading Project today, we read 2 John and 3 John by John, one of Jesus' disciples.  And then, we read Jude, a brother of James.  The overall point of these three books in the New Testament is to help us avoid being deceived and distracted in our faith.  God loves us, and we are saved by grace.  It's a gift, but we have to be intentional about being faithful.  We may even have to fight for our faith at times.  Even though this isn't the Christmas story we all hear this time of year, this message is perfect for the holiday season.

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

Today, I pray Paul's prayer from Ephesians 3:14-21 for all those who read this post and those on my heart right now _______________.  Thank You for Your Son, Jesus.  

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of His glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of 
Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! 

In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit I pray,

Amen

Christmas blessings today and always,

  

*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project.  Click here to read more.