Merry
Christmas!
A few Thank You’s are in order.
We at Harvest wanted show our appreciation to you by extending a few Thank You’s. Thank you for partnering with us in God’s Kingdom. Thank you for entrusting us with the resources you are faithfully stewarding. And thank you for allowing us to walk along side you as we help you manage all that God has given. Please enjoy this video we put together for you.
Don’t let the true message of Christmas be lost among us.
Among many great gifts given during the holiday season is the simple gift of listening. Much in the same way you are listening to us now, you can give your ear to a family or friend. It’s a simple thing, but often filled with a profound effect. While we celebrate the birth of our Christ, may God challenge us to listen. Let us hear the word of God and the hearts of those around us.
Often, we fall prey to a tendency to commercialize Christmas. We forget the real and historical events that led up to and formed the true Christmas story. In the events unfolded in Luke chapter 2, we are reminded of the various characters who listened. Mary and Joseph who listened to God. The Shepherds who listened to the angels in the field and were ready to see Christ. Even the Wisemen who listened to the prophecies long foretold by God’s prophets.
Our prayer is that the true message of Christmas wouldn’t be lost among us. That Christ humbled himself, came to earth, lived a life in ministry to those around him, and then gave his life on a cross to defeat death and reconcile us to the Father.
We put together a video that we would love for you to take a moment to watch. Let us formally thank you for the ways that you entrust your resources to us. For partnering with us. For letting us walk along side you to help you steward all that God has trusted you with. As usual, please let us know if there are any ways we can be praying for you.
Have a blessed holiday and a Merry Christmas.
Luke 2:1-21
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.