HOPE for the Holidays - Day 23

My daddy: William Winfred Watson, Jr. in 1939
(December 23, 1921 - June 5, 1994)

"For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all the people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with HOPE to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds." (Titus 2:11-14)

Story of HOPE:

       My father's birthday fell on December 23rd, just two days before Christmas. (Happy birthday, Daddy!) When he was a little boy, acknowledgements of his special day were usually lost amongst Christmas festivities. More times than not, he heard, "This gift is for your birthday and Christmas." 

       And, as the hands of time tick down, it's evident that the real reason for the Christmas season - the celebration of Jesus's birthday - is getting lost amidst "holiday" activities. Each year, Christmas hymns vanish from more public schools, more "happy holidays" replace "merry Christmases", and there's more talk of what's on sale than our Savior's birth. 
        However, we must never lose HOPE, because the truth is:

"Christ, as the Son is in charge...[therefore, we will] keep our courage and remain confident in our HOPE in Christ!" (Heb. 3:6)

"We must not lose heart...while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Cor. 4:16-18)

"For...God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus [the day will come when] every knee [of believers and non-believers as well] will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every [single] tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!" (Phil. 2:9-11) 

O Father, thank You for sending Jesus - the greatest gift mankind has ever received. I pray that today my readers and I will stop and remember Your Son, Jesus - the true Reason for this Season. I pray that we will give thanks to You, Jesus; because although You were God, You didn't think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, You gave up Your divine privileges, took the humble position of a slave, came down as a baby, humbled Yourself in obedience to God, and died a criminal's death on a cross ( Phil. 2:5-8) in our place!

Happy birthday, Jesus!
I'm so glad it's Christmas!
All the tinsel and lights, 
And the presents are nice,
But the real gift is You! 

Happy birthday Jesus! 
I'm so glad it's Christmas. 
All the carols and bells 
Make the holiday swell, 
And it's all about You!

Happy birthday, Jesus.
Jesus, I love You!1

1 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS. Carol Cymbala, 1996.