{"id":1462,"date":"2016-12-18T11:15:40","date_gmt":"2016-12-18T18:15:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.foundationforbiblicalresearch.org?p=1462"},"modified":"2016-12-23T16:55:02","modified_gmt":"2016-12-23T23:55:02","slug":"the-fugates-thoughts-about-christmas-2016-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.foundationforbiblicalresearch.org\/live\/2016\/12\/the-fugates-thoughts-about-christmas-2016-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The Fugate’s Thoughts About Christmas 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

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, \u201cDo 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\u201d<\/em> (Luke 2:8-11).<\/p>\r\n

Rick and I are celebrating our 58th<\/sup> Christmas as one, our 49th<\/sup> as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. What a year this has been! I could write many pages about the multiple hardships and abundant blessings we have experienced this year. There have been hardships (such as Rick\u2019s hip surgery that resulted from a fall in May and\u00a0subsequently it’s not healing that led to a second<\/strong> surgery in November); as well as the never-ending doctors, rehabilitation, and physical therapy. But, there have also been abundant blessings, such as our sweet youngest daughter traveling from Texas to help us after Rick\u2019s first surgery despite her debilitating Lupus; our dear oldest daughter\u2019s continually sunny attitude and trust in Jesus also despite her severe and ongoing health problems; and our son and daughter-in-law\u2019s rescue of three little ones off the streets of Phoenix. They are presently in the process of adopting those children. He is also starting his own business after recently being laid off from an executive position with American Express. Please pray for these middle-aged parents, the four-year-old twins, and their little two-year-old brother.<\/p>\r\n

With these and many other exhausting events in our lives this year we have found ourselves unprepared for\u00a0usual Christmas celebrations. We are unable to put up decorations of our own, but we are enjoying watching our neighbors hang lights on their cactus and palm trees (we do live in the desert after all). Virginia\u2019s usual cooking, baking, and candy making has been reduced to just a few favorites. Nevertheless, our inabilities have been a blessing because they have helped us to concentrate more on the \u201creason for the season.\u201d The reason, of course, is to praise God for sending His only-begotten Son to be our Savior.<\/p>\r\n

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world<\/em> (1 John 4:14).<\/p>\r\n

However, as we contemplate the celebration of Christ\u2019s birth, we also realize that\u00a0it is important our thinking should be more than just remembering the birth<\/strong> of the baby Jesus. The realization that He was born as the sin-free, God\/Man Who was to be the sinless-living perfect sacrifice for all mankind should cause us to want to know all <\/em>about Him. Not only about His birth but about His entire ministry on earth. His sacrifice to be our personal Savior and all He continues to do for believers is worthy of even more celebration. It is impossible for us in this short letter to list all that God\u2019s Word reveals about Jesus, but here are just a few of the wonderful truths it reveals about who Jesus is, and what He has done for us\u2014His children.<\/p>\r\n