. . . thou shalt call his name JESUS . . . Matthew 1:21

Hard Candy:  Reminds us that Jesus is like a “rock”-dependable

Peppermint Flavor:  Is like the gift of spices from the Wise Men

White Candy:  Stands for Jesus as the holy, sinless Son of God

The Letter “J”:  Stands for Jesus, our Savior

Cane:  Is like a staff used by shepherds in caring for sheep.  Jesus is our “Good Shepherd”

The Color Red:  Is for God’s love that sent Jesus to give his life for us on the cross

The Stripes:  Remind us of Jesus’ suffering-his crown of thorns, the wonds in his hands and feet; and the cross on which he died

Genesis 12:3 (NIV)  “I will bless those who bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Matthew 1:1 (NIV) A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Acts 3:25 (NIV) And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers.  He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’

Galatians 3:16 (NIV) The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.  The Scripture does not say “And to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.

Also see Galatians 3:16

Genesis 17:9 (NIV)  Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after your for the generations to come.

Genesis 21:12 (NIV)  But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant.  Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.

Matthew 1:2 (NIV)  Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

Luke 3:34 (NIV) the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

Hebrews 11:17-19 (NIV)  By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.  He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, (18) even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” (19) Abrahan reasoned that God would raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  John 1:12

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  Ephesians 2:8,9

For God sent not his Son into the world to comdemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  John 3:17

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.  John 3:36

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  Revelation 3:20

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.  I John 5:11-13

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  Matthew 10:32

But what saith it?  The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shat be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Romans 10:8-10

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:  Romans 5:12

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  Romans 3:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Romans 6:23

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8

Moreover, Brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  By which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures;  I Corinthians 15:1-4

I have really enjoyed writing out these hymns and really reading the words.  So often we only learn the first verse, but, when you continue to read the entire song it is amazing the thought, love and spirit that has been poured into them.  I hope you enjoy reading them.

Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright-Round yon virgin mother and Child, Holy Infant, so tender and mild-  Sleep in Heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night! Holy Night! Shepherds quake at the sight; Glories stream from heaven a far, Heavenly hosts sing alleluia-Christ the Savior is born!  Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night! Holy night!  Son of God, love’s pure light-Radiant beams from Thy holy face-With the dawn of redeeming grace-Jesus, Lord at Thy birth, Jesus Lord at thy birth.

Image by Nick Owen's Poetry and Pictures via Flickr

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;  Behold, a Virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.

New Testament Fullment:  Matthew 1:22,23

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Do you believe:  God is in control of everything?  Did he mean for Christ to come and die on the cross?  Did he have a master plan for Christ and the saving of all mankind?  Do you believe that Christ in the Gospels is the Messiah that was anticipated in the Old Testament?

God’s statement to Eve in Genesis and God’s promise to Isreal of a Messiah permeates the Old Testament.  Scriptures concerning the Messiah are first noticed in the Book of Genesis and go through to the book of Malachi.

Are we willing and bold about sharing Christ with others that are in need of a Savior?

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For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given:  And the government shall be upon his shoulder:

And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The might God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

New Testament Fulfillment:  Matthew 1:21,23; Luke 1:32,33; John 8:58, 10:30, 14:19

Mary: mother of Jesus (Luke 2:16).  Mary was a young Jewish girl engaged to the carpenter Joseph when God revealed to her that she was to be the mother of the Messiah.  Joseph, advised of these events in a dream and knowing Mary was miraculously pregnant, took Mary as his wife.  Toward the end of her pregnancy, the couple from Nazareth traveled to Bethlehem for a taxation census, and Jesus was born there.  Mary was present at Jesus’ crucifixion and became one of His followers after His resurrection.

Joseph: A carpenter who was the Husband of Jesus’ mother, Mary (Matt:1:18).  Joseph was engaged to Mary when she conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit; then Joseph took Mary as his wife to save her from public disgrace.

Old Testament Reference:  Born of a virgin: Isaiah 7:14

New Testament Fulfillment: Matt. 1:22,23

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Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity (conflict) between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (KJV)-

-(this is the gigantic conflict between God and the evil one, a struggle that is played out in the hearts and history of mankind.  In crushing the head of the serpent is Christ’s victory of Satan.)

This verse is called the protoevangelium or the “first gospel” because it was the original proclamation of the promise of God’s plan for the whole world.

New Testament Fulfillment:  Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 2:14

SEE Romans 16:20–And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Ever since mankind has been watching and waiting for this coming “Seed.”

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Bethlehem means “house of bread.”

Town six miles southwest of Jerusalem.  David and JESUS were born there. (Micah 5:2 and Luke 2:1-7 for the prophecy and fulfillment of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.)  David was anointed there, and it was known as the City of David. (I Samuel 16:4, 13; Luke 2:4,11)

**There is another Bethlehem seven miles northwest of Nazareth (Joshua 19:15.)  Jesus’ birthplace was known as Bethlehem Judah, which distinguished it from the other Bethlehem.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head;  The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;  I love Thee, Lord Jesus!  look down from the sky, And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;  Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there.

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Declared to be the Son of God:  Old Testament Reference: Psalms 2:1-12

New Testament Fulfillment Matt. 3:17; Mark 1:11; Acts 4:25,26; Acts 13:33; Heb: 1:5, 5:5

John 1:1-In the beginning was the word (Jesus), and the word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.  All thing were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that light.  That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  But as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word (Jesus) was made flesh and dwelt among us (and behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John (John the Baptist) bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.  And of his fulness have all we received, and grace   for grace.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

No man hath see God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.