It\u2019s ironic when you think about it. We invest a lot of time and energy (not to mention most of our December paycheck) softening the lines of why this day is needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We fill our homes with warm scents, meant to cover the stench of sin in our hearts. We string twinkly lights to try to push back the oppressive darkness that permeates our world. We roll out a feast and try to forget the gnawing hunger of our souls. We snuggle each other close and ignore that families fracture, marriages implode, and sometimes kids refuse to come home for Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m not here to burst any bubbles. As you read these words, I hope I\u2019m nestled into my own little moment of bliss, temporarily unaware of the aches that come with being a broken woman living in a broken world. But after forty-four Christmases, I\u2019ve learned that I need more than Christmas spirit; I need a Savior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even the most elaborate gifts wrapped in paper cannot compensate for my sin problem or yours. No Christmas carol can drown out the sorrows of this life. No sugar plums can sweeten the sour bile of knowing, \u201call have sinned and fall short of the glory of God\u201d (Romans 3:23).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To truly experience the joy of Christmas, we must face the ugliness that exists in our world and in each and every heart. When we do, silver bells stop ringing. The lyrics from a more somber Christmas carol rise to form a lump in our throat: \u201cAnd in despair I bowed my head \/ \u2018There is no peace on Earth,\u2019 I said \/ \u2018For hate is strong and mocks the song \/ Of peace on Earth, good will to men.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It may not feel like warm peppermint cocoa, but in facing our desperate state we are poised to repeat the angel\u2019s blessing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the angel said to them, \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.\u201d \u2014Luke 2:10\u201311<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus was born, and with Him true hope dawned on that day. He is more than a sweet thought. He came to give us something better than warm sentiments that can only hold for a day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He is the Savior of the world, the Savior of your soul. Good news! Great joy indeed. Don\u2019t rush past remembering all that you needed saving from\u2014but don\u2019t linger there for long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We most certainly need a Messiah. But He\u2019s here! He\u2019s come. \u201cThen pealed the bells more loud and deep \/ \u201cGod is not dead, nor doth He sleep; \/ The wrong shall fail, the right prevail \/ With peace on Earth, good will to men.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s ironic when you think about it. We invest a lot of time and energy (not to mention most of our December paycheck) softening the lines of why this day is needed. We fill our homes with warm scents, meant to cover the stench of sin in our hearts. We string twinkly lights to try […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":71563,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[292],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71937","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advent2024"],"acf":{"hero_background_image":false,"related_plans":[71574],"weekly_truth":false,"grace_day":false,"share_text":"She Reads Truth","devotional_text":"CHRISTMAS DAY: LOVE IN A MANAGER<\/b> It\u2019s ironic when you think about it. We invest a lot of time and energy (not to mention most of our December paycheck) softening the lines of why this day is needed.<\/p> We fill our homes with warm scents, meant to cover the stench of sin in our hearts. We string twinkly lights to try to push back the oppressive darkness that permeates our world. We roll out a feast and try to forget the gnawing hunger of our souls. We snuggle each other close and ignore that families fracture, marriages implode, and sometimes kids refuse to come home for Christmas.<\/p> I\u2019m not here to burst any bubbles. As you read these words, I hope I\u2019m nestled into my own little moment of bliss, temporarily unaware of the aches that come with being a broken woman living in a broken world. But after forty-four Christmases, I\u2019ve learned that I need more than Christmas spirit; I need a Savior.<\/p> Even the most elaborate gifts wrapped in paper cannot compensate for my sin problem or yours. No Christmas carol can drown out the sorrows of this life. No sugar plums can sweeten the sour bile of knowing, \u201call have sinned and fall short of the glory of God\u201d (Romans 3:23).<\/p> To truly experience the joy of Christmas, we must face the ugliness that exists in our world and in each and every heart. When we do, silver bells stop ringing. The lyrics from a more somber Christmas carol rise to form a lump in our throat: \u201cAnd in despair I bowed my head \/ \u2018There is no peace on Earth,\u2019 I said \/ \u2018For hate is strong and mocks the song \/ Of peace on Earth, good will to men.\u2019\u201d<\/p> It may not feel like warm peppermint cocoa, but in facing our desperate state we are poised to repeat the angel\u2019s blessing.<\/p> But the angel said to them, \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.\u201d \u2014Luke 2:10\u201311<\/em><\/p> Jesus was born, and with Him true hope dawned on that day. He is more than a sweet thought. He came to give us something better than warm sentiments that can only hold for a day.<\/p> He is the Savior of the world, the Savior of your soul. Good news! Great joy indeed. Don\u2019t rush past remembering all that you needed saving from\u2014but don\u2019t linger there for long.<\/p> We most certainly need a Messiah. But He\u2019s here! He\u2019s come. \u201cThen pealed the bells more loud and deep \/ \u201cGod is not dead, nor doth He sleep; \/ The wrong shall fail, the right prevail \/ With peace on Earth, good will to men.\u201d<\/p>","share_image_height":"640","day_number":"25","scripture":"Micah 5:2, Luke 2:1-20","available":true,"ad_banner_name":"","ad_banner_image":false,"ad_banner_url":"","songs":"","key_verse":"","key_verse_reference":"","background_image":false,"background_color":"#FBF7F3","scripture_references":false,"share_image":false,"author_name":"","author_bio":"","guest_social_media":false,"show_ad":true,"ad_override":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71937","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/52"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71937"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71937\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71563"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\r\nby Erin Davis<\/i>
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