Christmas on June 25 - How Silently

Everything was ready.

The moment God had been preparing for was here at last!

God was coming to help His people, just as He promised in the beginning.

But how would He come?

What would He be like?

What would He do?

Mountains would have bowed down.

Seas would have roared.

Trees would have danced and clapped their hands.

But the earth held its breath.

As silent as snow falling, He came in.

And when no one was looking, in the darkness, He came. 
             -- From The Jesus Story Book Bible,
                      by Sally Lloyd-Jones


This is a really good time to ponder the meaning of Christmas. In the glittering loudness and dazzling clamor in December, it is often easy to miss the "silent gift."

How silently, how silently,

His wondrous gift is given.

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven.

No ear can hear His coming -

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him,

Still the dear Christ enters in!

 -- O Little Town  of Bethlehem,

by Philips Brooks

But these are the early days of summer - a time to stop a moment and reflect - before fall rushes into our lives and when we will have little time to stop and wonder about it all - sort of like those few seconds we are perched at the top of the roller coaster, knowing very quickly it will begin its tumultuous and exciting descent!

This is the time to stop and wonder - marvel again at His matchless gift -

But when the time had fully come

God sent His Son, born of a woman,

born under the law, 

to redeem those under law,

that we might receive the full rights as sons.

Because you are sons,

God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts,

the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father,"

...and since you are a son,

God has made you also an heir.

   --Galatians 4:4-7


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