A good way to start the New Year is to honor and worship Jesus. We are going to review some of His names. 
JESUS meaning GOD IS SALVATION. Yahweh saves.
Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.”
Many people are hustling to finish shopping for gifts, running at a fast pace to get the right present, get them wrapped and ready to see the happiness on the face of the recipient.
In all the preparation one thing is not even thought about. The most important Person, the Lord Jesus.
Christmas is a wonderful time of year but let us not leave out the reason for the season, Jesus. God gave us the most precious gift. We don’t have to shop for it or pay for it. All we have to do is accept it.
Jesus paid the price. If you have not received God’s Gift do it now. Ask Him to forgive your sins, believe He died for you and rose again, and call upon Him to save you. Your new life can begin today!
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus was foretold by Micah 700 years before Christ’s birth. Micah named the exact town and Matthew records the event. Bethlehem is still standing today and both Biblically and historically is proven to be the actual place where Jesus was born.
The journey to Bethlehem took Mary and Joseph about 4 days. It was not an easy journey for a woman about to give birth. Tradition says she rode on a donkey but that is not in the Bible account. She may have had to walk that distance.
Today take a few minutes from your busy Christmas preparation and think about the obedience of Joseph and Mary. They were willing to sacrifice time, ridicule, and hardship to bring JESUS into the world.
Two humans that made a difference to everyone from that time for all eternity.
Luke 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
For centuries, bells have been rung to announce the arrival of the Christmas season. They symbolize the announcement of the birth of Jesus when angels in heaven praised God and declared, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:14
This week there will be a series of Bible verses giving thanks to God for His bountiful blessings.
With all the hustle and bustle of the Holiday season there is a very important Holiday that gets shoved in the background. Christmas decorations go up the day after Halloween and everything focuses on Christmas (not the true meaning but the materialism).
The true American Holiday, Thanksgiving is all but forgotten, unless of course it is for the feasting on turkey and the trimmings.
Thanksgiving. Thanks. Giving. It is a day when the focus should be on giving God the thanks for the bountiful blessings He has given to us.
Let us take time this coming week to thank The Lord for all His blessings.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Center for Evangelists 
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