Month: January 2020

Merry Christmas!
Having been waiting for almost 4 weeks to see a light in the darkness, Christmas has now arrived!  We get to celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus, for the next 12 days.  This season is called “Christmastide.” Christmas is not a one-day event. It starts on the 25^th!

All during Advent, we waited.  We waited, with patience and hope, to see a light appear in darkness.

Then the light has come.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. …  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. (Luke 2:11, 15-16)

Did you go to “Bethlehem” and see that thing which the Lord had told them about?  How do you want to respond to what you saw there?  How is what you saw there impacting your life today?  How is it giving you strength, hope, and help as you live your own life today?

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)

…and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). (Matthew 1:23)

Dr. Sachi Nakamura (Christian Books Translator, JCFN Board Member, Spiritual Director)