MariLee Parrish - Love Came Down at Christmas: A Celebration of Jesus Birth

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Its Christmas here at the Parrish house, and the other evening I asked my five-year-old what we should give Jesus for Christmas. In years past, he has said, Doughnuts! (because everyone should have a doughnut on their birthday!), but this time he said we should give Jesus a great big THANK YOU for dying on the cross for us!

My little boy has figured out exactly what Jesus wants from us for Christmasand for always.

Love came down at Christmas. He chose to come. He chose to die. He chose to save us. This is the good news of great joy that will be for all the people! And now we can spend our whole livesand all eternitygiving Jesus a great big THANK YOU for what He has done.

Journey with me through Rossettis timeless poem as we discover Gods plan for Christmas.

Many Christmas Blessings,

MariLee Parrish

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love Divine,
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and Angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love Incarnate, Love Divine,
Worship we our Jesus,
But wherewith for sacred sign?.

Love shall be our token,
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.

CHRISTINA ROSSETTI, 1893

Whoever does not love
does not know God,
because God is love.
This is how God showed
his love among us:

He sent his one and only Son
into the world that we
might live through him.

1 JOHN 4:89

W hen God sent Jesus to earth, He sent hope and love and life! Many of us learn the John 3:16 For God so loved the world verse very early in life, but we often skip right past the ever important John 3:17. Gods Word tells us that we can have eternal life by believing in Christ (John 3:16), and it goes on to say that God did not send Jesus to condemn the world but to save it! Religion and rules have brought shame and condemnation. But Jesus came to love and save. Dont allow Christmas to be just another religious tradition. Open your heart and let the real meaning of Christmas change you. Love came down at Christmasreal love! This Christmas, come to know the real Jesus. The baby in the manger grew up and took all our sin and shame upon Himself. Jesus conquered death with you and me on His mind and in His heart. Ask Him to be the center of your life and allow Him to fill you with His love. As evangelist and newspaper founder John R. Rice said, You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Fathers face and tell Him you have received His Christmas gift.

Love came down at Christmas.

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

COLOSSIANS 3:15 NLT

E arly twentieth-century minister and college professor W. J. Tucker said, For centuries men have kept an appointment with Christmas. Christmas means fellowship, feasting, giving and receiving, a time of good cheer, home. While that thought may create a sense of joy and excitement, it usually causes stress and anxiety, too. Especially for the one hosting the gathering! Fellowship, feasting, giving, home also means shopping, cleaning, wrapping, baking, and more. Christmas is a downright exhausting time for some. The host wants everything to be perfect, and the guests expect holiday bliss. It can be a lot of pressure.

This Christmas, let the peace of the season rule in your heart. As you prepare for your Christmas gatherings, pray for the peace of Christ to permeate your soul. Be thankful for friends and loved ones coming your way. Let them know in advance that while youll still be creating some of the usual traditions, your focus will be more on the peace of Christmas and less on the hustle and bustle. Keep your familys appointment with Christmas but stop worrying about money and gifts and holiday perfection. Instead wrap your mind around the perfect Child born to bring peace to all mankind. While some may be a little disappointed that your meatballs came from the freezer section or the table placecards arent hand-crafted, its okay. You dont have to please everyone. In fact, you cant possibly please everyone! Concern yourself only with pleasing Christ. And He calls you to live in peace.

Peace came down at Christmas.

Infant holy, infant lowly,
for his bed a cattle stall;
oxen lowing, little knowing,
Christ the babe is Lord of all.
Swift are winging angels singing,
noels ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the babe is Lord of all.

Flocks were sleeping,
shepherds keeping
vigil till the morning new
saw the glory, heard the story,
tidings of a Gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow,
praises voicing, greet the morrow:
Christ the babe was born for you.

POLISH CAROL

Love came down on Christmas Day so many years ago and brought the greatest happiness the world would ever know Peace came down on Christmas Day to fill the hearts of men with all the sweet tranquility each Christmas brings again Joy came down on Christmas Day as angels came to earth heralding the miracle of our Messiahs birth.