Christmas Day is here!
Baby Jesus
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
Aren't you thankful that God sent us his son, Jesus? Today is his birthday. Let's sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus.
2 DAYS until Christmas
Heart
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
God sent his son Jesus to earth on Christmas so many years ago so that we could live with God in Heaven forever (that's what eternal means). But there is something we have to do first. We have to ask Jesus into our hearts. How do we do that? 1. We confess that we are sinful. 2. We tell God that we are sorry and ask God to forgive us. 3. We thank God for sending Jesus to save us by dying on the cross and rising again. 4. We promise to love and follow God with all our hearts. Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37
This Christmas you can give Jesus a very special gift—your heart!
3 DAYS until Christmas
Candy Cane/Peppermint
A sweet candy cane reminds us of God's greatest gift---salvation through Jesus (given to us as a baby so many Christmases ago).
Do you remember the verse that we read yesterday?
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red ascrimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18
Look at the candy cane. There are red and white colors on the cane. Taste the candy. This reminds us of the sweetness that comes with the forgiveness because Jesus died on the cross.
4 DAYS until Christmas
Snowflake
Doesn't snow remind you of Christmas? Snow also reminds us about forgiveness. Think about how white new snow looks. Now think about how sin is dirty. Because God sent his son, Jesus, and because Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we can be forgiven. All the dirty sin is washed clean and we are like pure, white snow.
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18
4 DAYS until Christmas
Snowflake
Doesn't snow remind you of Christmas? Snow also reminds us about forgiveness. Think about how white new snow looks. Now think about how sin is dirty. Because God sent his son, Jesus, and because Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we can be forgiven. All the dirty sin is washed clean and we are like pure, white snow.
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18
5 DAYS until Christmas
Holly
This time of year, you may see decorations of holly leaves and red berries. Did you know that these remind us about Jesus dying on the cross for us? The thorns on the leaves remind us of the crown of thorns Jesus wore on the cross. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head.
(John 19:2)
The bright red berries remind us of the blood that Jesus shed so that we could be forgiven. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
6 DAYS until Christmas
Cross
God sent Jesus for a special mission: to make it possible for us to be with God again, just like Adam and Eve in the garden. Our sin separates us from God. When Jesus was a grown-up man, he died on the cross so our sins could be forgiven.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.1 Peter 2:24
9 DAYS until Christmas
Gold
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11
Do you like getting gifts on your birthday? The Wise Men brought Baby Jesus gifts. These presents weren't the typical kind that a baby might want to play with. However, the gifts were very valuable and would help Mary and Joseph to take care of Jesus.
10 DAYS until Christmas
Sand
The Wise Men were from the East and had to travel very far through the desert to see him. As we talked about earlier, they read prophecies that foretold of his birth. This is what the prophet Isaiah said long before Jesus was born.
Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert, a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 40:1-5 NKJV
11 DAYS until Christmas
Star
. . .and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. Matthew 2:9-10
God sent a special star to lead the Wise Men to Jesus. Isn't that creative? God is so smart.
