Two thousand years ago, on a night lit brightly by a heavenly star, a young mother gave birth to a Holy Child. In a humble manger in Bethlehem, Love entered the world in human form. Angels announced it, shepherds welcomed it and wise men celebrated it. The long anticipated arrival of the Savior, whose birth had been foretold centuries before, had finally come.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

But was Christ’s arrival in Bethlehem the final climax to centuries of anticipation? Was the work completed on that starlit night? Though Jesus’ birth was the culmination of a miraculous and holy pregnancy, God’s plan didn’t end as Mary held Jesus in her arms for the first time. That moment was only the beginning.


As Christians, we celebrate Christmas because it is the beginning of God’s plan of salvation for us. Jesus Christ, God and Man, Father and Son, entered the world to save us from our sins. And in the years that followed His momentous birth, God walked with us and talked with us. He brought Light to a dark world as He taught the Truth of the Scriptures. He healed the sick. He comforted the hurting. He fed the hungry and He ministered to the multitudes. He faced every challenge and temptation that we have ever or will ever experience. And through it all, He did not sin. He understands us, not only because He created us, but because He lived as one of us.

Why would our Creator do this? Because He loves us. So great is His compassion that Christ lived a life on earth and then willingly went to the cross to die for us. He saved us from eternal separation from God and gave His life so we could be with Him forever. His ultimate sacrifice, 33 years beyond Bethlehem, is a gift of love and of life that should always be celebrated.

This Christmas we remembered and celebrated the birth of Jesus.  But, let us also remember that Christmas doesn’t end on December 25. It is only the beginning of the journey to the cross – a journey willingly taken by our Savior because of His incredible, sacrificial love for us.


“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).


Celebrating His love,





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16 Comments

  1. Valerie RichardsonDecember 27, 2013

    Love you Joan! So very thankful for the richness and depth and breadth of our God's love!

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  2. Sylvia R @ sylvrpen.comDecember 27, 2013

    Beautiful truth, lovely reminder. Thank you, and God bless your coming new year.

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  3. I am constantly amazed at His love...and so very thankful! Happy New Year, Val! Love you, too!


    Blessings, Joan

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  4. Thank you, Sylvia. May you have a blessed new year as well!

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  5. AMEN! Christ and His coming must be celebrated each and every day!

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  6. Dear Joanne
    What is so incredibly amazing about our Lord Jesus, is the fact that He did all these things as a mere human trusting our Pappa every second of His 33 years here on earth to be the power of His whole existence as man. This is how we were created to live.
    Blessings XX
    Mia

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  7. My goal is to wake up each morning with my first thoughts of Him! Blessings, Joan

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  8. This year I want to delve even deeper into the truths that Jesus taught during those 33 years beyond Bethlehem! Blessings, Joan

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  9. Yes...Jesus is the perfect example to follow in our lives! So often we fall short, but each time, He'll pick us up and help us to keep moving forward with Him!


    Blessings, Joan

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  10. Laura ConnellDecember 28, 2013

    That is one of my favorite verses. He is our Wonderful Counselor! Thank you for reminding of the true, true meaning of Christmas. Yes, it is the day Jesus was born. But why was He born? We mustn't forget that the cross is at the center of everything. www.lauraconnell.com

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  11. Hi Laura!


    It's incredible to think about the reason that Jesus was born...He came for all of us because of a love that is too much to even fathom! We are so blessed!

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  12. Such a very encouraging post, Joan! I'm so glad you linked up with Recommendation Saturday! Heart Hugs, Shelly <3

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  13. Thanks, Shelly! I'm celebrating the incredible gift God gave us through His Son!


    Blessings, Joan

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  14. "That moment was only the beginning."
    Yes. And I appreciate your reminder that our journey is only beginning too. Thanks!

    That moment was only the beginning.
    That moment was only the beginning.

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  15. Amen. The Son is the meaning of life. But He is also the life we end up with. And when Jesus went to the cross, He showed that the sinner must not live out the consequences of his sin. Judgement died for him to live. That we celebrate at Easter.


    It is a nice thought life only begins by the birth of The Son. The year 2014 will be fantastic!

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  16. Looking forward to following Him in 2014! Happy new year, Anders!


    Blessings, Joan

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