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Celebrating the Birth of Our Savior!

10 Dec2017 SeedThoughts// Lynette Hagin

DECEMBER IS WHEN we focus on Christmas parties and family celebrations. But the most important celebration is the birth of our Savior. When I think of Jesus' birth, I particularly think of the angels telling the shepherds that the Savior of the world was born.

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring

you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!' " —Luke 2:8–14 (NKJV)

What a glorious night that was. The Prince of Peace was born! Jesus came to give us peace. Before He left the earth, He reminded the disciples of this gift: "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid" John 14:27 (NLT).

We need to remember that we can look to Jesus for peace. In the world there is turmoil. We have experienced earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, terrorism, and every type of calamity. Of course, we know there is no peace without having accepted the Prince of Peace as our Lord and Savior. I encourage you if you have never asked Jesus in your heart to do so today.

Romans 10:9–10 (NLT '96) declares, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved."

If you once knew Christ but have not been living according to His Word, I encourage you to ask for God's forgiveness and renew your relationship with Him.

We would have no peace had Jesus not paid the supreme sacrifice for it. There was a price paid for peace. God loved us so much that He willingly sent His only Son to the earth to redeem us.

It disturbs me that some Christians rely on chemical alternatives rather than look to the Peace Giver. God can get you through any storm without altering your body chemistry. He is the problem solver, not the problem masker.

How can you receive that peace? Isaiah 26:3–4 (AMPC) says, "You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]."

How do I keep my mind on the Lord at all times? I do this by constantly playing Christian music in my home, my car, and wherever I can during the day. Throughout the day, I thank the Lord for what He has done for me. I am constantly communing with Him, even though I might be doing other things as well.

I choose to dwell on positive things rather than negative thoughts. Satan tries to bombard your mind with worry, fear, anxiety, confusion, and doubt. I encourage you to follow Paul's instructions in Philippians 4:8–9 (NKJV):

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."

"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."
—Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)