For some 47 years now, America has watched a family tradition called a Charlie Brown Christmas, in which a fictional cast (cartoon children) strive to find the meaning of Christmas among themselves. When asked lamentingly about what the real meaning of Christmas is, one of these characters, named Linus, takes center stage and recites Luke 2:8-14.
For many tens of millions in America, driven to faithlessness by godless progressives who rape the minds of children and fill them with self-destructive ideals and push them into drugs and various vices to help fill the void that only GOD through His Son Jesus Christ can fill, this annual cartoon broadcast may be the only meaningful proclamation of the Gospel they will be willing to stop, watch, and for a moment intently hear.
Most will not hear the necessity of WHY we need to believe on Jesus...to escape damnation that is already manifest upon us before we are even born. Our life is to be one that rediscovers GOD and clings to Him, and trusts in His word. As John the Baptist testified of Jesus / Yeshua in
John 3:31,33-36
31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that
is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from
heaven is above all.
33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to
his seal that God is true.
34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of
God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all
things into his hand.
36 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. (KJV)
Whether it is a Charlie Brown Christmas or a simple proclamation and sharing of kindness that comes only when we are in the month leading into a remembrance of Christ's Birth (GOD with us, who came as a gift among the most poor, showing he neglects no one)...let us share the message of hope and love and faith, and say Merry Christmas, in both words and extra acts of kindness this holiday. And in so doing, share abroad the love of Christ Jesus, which is the love of GOD toward us, that whosoever believes exclusively into Jesus and what he did for us at the Cross, and that by faith also into His resurrection from the dead and ascension, they should not perish when his or her life ends here upon the Earth...for through Christ alone, our soul will live forever, and that with joy and peace and blessings beyond what any words can describe. Thank you.
King James Version (KJV)
Alternative Word Pictures with Reiterations translation - translation mine (AWPR)
8 And there were in the same country shepherds
abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. (KJV)
(8) And
Shepherds were in the fields and grazing ranges of the country-side,
the same (also) abiding / lodging in the fields
(with the flocks [of sheep])
and keeping
a doubly protective guarded watch of the night over the flock
of them.
(AWPR)
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and
the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. (KJV)
(9) And
behold, look and see,
an Angel (of the) LORD
stood above and over them,
and (the)
LORD’s glory shone forth [great light] around them;
and they
were terrified with such a fright so as to run away,
[it
being such a mentally and spiritually overwhelming] great fleeing terror.
(AWPR)
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for,
behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (KJV)
(10) But the
Angel said to them,
(Although you can)
‘Do not fear or be terrified with
such a fright so as to run away.
Behold, look and see,
for I am giving forth a good proclamation of
good tidings,
of good news to you,
which will be to the people a great joyous
exultation;
(AWPR)
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
(KJV)
(11) because
was born to you this day / today
a
Savior / Deliverer (from destruction) and benefactor
who
is Christ / (the Anointed (One),
LORD / YHVeH / JeHoVaH,
in
the city of David.
(AWPR)
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find
the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. (KJV)
(12) And
this to you is a miraculous (and visible) Sign /
proof
of a Miracle Of Fulfillment:
you
will search out – inquire and find a (nourishing) baby
having
been enwrapped about as in a band
in a swathing / in swaddling
clothes,
laid down – placed – set in a stall.
[alternatively:
a feeding trough].
(AWPR)
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, (KJV)
(13) And of a
sudden – suddenly
there
was together with the Angel
a fullness
– multitude – throng of a Heavenly / Celestial army
singing
praises of approval – benefits – commendations / praising
GOD,
and laying
down forth definite words, saying:
(AWPR)
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
good will toward men. (KJV)
(14) ‘Praise – honor – applause duly rendered /
Glory
in the highest to GOD;
and upon Earth,
Peace – Tranquility – Rest – and Every Kind Of
Good;
in men, benevolent pleasing favor – kindness and good will.’
(AWPR)
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away
from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even
unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath
made known unto us. (KJV)
(15) And it
so happened in what manner or way,
the angels
withdrew and went away / departed
from them
into the Heaven.
And
the men, the Shepherds, spoke up alongside and with one another,
(saying),
‘Let
us most definitely (now) pass through and go
as far as / unto Bethlehem,
and let us behold, see and know this pronouncement
/ command,
that having occurred and come into being,
the which the LORD / JeHoVaH / YHVeH
made known / revealed unto us.’
(AWPR)
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and
Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
(KJV)
(16) And they
came forth so as to make a public appearance,
urging
themselves on hastily – quickly,
and diligently
sought and found out both Mariam / Mary and Joseph
and the
newborn child / baby lying down in a
stall
[alternatively:
a feeding tough].
(AWPR)
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad
the saying which was told them concerning this child. (KJV)
(17) Then
seeing and being made aware with understanding,
they went
around making it known regarding the
Statement
/ Pronouncement / Command spoken to them
regarding
this child.
(AWPR)
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those
things which were told them by the shepherds.
(KJV)
(18) And all
those hearing and listening intently
were struck
with astonishment and marveled / wondered
regarding
/ concerning the thing spoken about the Shepherds
(who
were) up alongside and with them.
(AWPR)
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them
in her heart. (KJV)
(19) Then Mariam
/ Mary
kept considering –
pondering – mulling over – meditating
(upon) these spoken
words / sayings, in the heart of her.
(AWPR)
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and
praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told
unto them. (KJV)
(20) And the
Shepherds turned about and returned,
[alternatively:
Gr. epistrephan also means “having converted”]
(verbally and publicly [with
loudness])
recognizing – honoring –
glorifying and singing praises to GOD
for / upon / regarding
all (the) things
which they attentively
heard and beheld / saw,
even as (it) was spoken
/ proclaimed up to and alongside with them.
(AWPR)
21 And when eight days were accomplished for the
circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the
angel before he was conceived in the womb.
(KJV)
(21) And when
were fulfilled – completed – accomplished
(made
fully past) 8 days to circumcise the baby,
moreover
was called forth the name of Him, Jesus / Yeshua;
that called
forth / That called from through the Angel
before
He was conceived in the womb.
(AWPR)
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And to all I would like to say,
Merry Christmas!
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