It has stood the test of time.
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God's book, the Bible.
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Still relevant in
today's complex world.
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It Is Written,
sharing hope around the globe.
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[Music]
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[voice of child
reading Bible text]
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"And it came to
pass in those days,
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that there went out a decree
from Cesar Augustus, that all
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the world should be taxed.
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(And this taxing was
first made when Cyrenius was
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governor of Syria).
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And all went to be taxed,
every one into his own city.""
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(Luke 2:1-3) I'm John Bradshaw.
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Thanks for joining me today.
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It's that time of year.
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The Christmas music has been
playing in stores for weeks,
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Christmas meals have
been planned down to the last
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mince pie, the trees are
up - real ones and artificial
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ones, family gatherings
have been anticipated for ages
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and people have traveled,
often many miles, to be with
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relatives, the kids are
going to see Grandma and Grandpa
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again, retailers are
either breathing easy or licking
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their wounds,
Christmas lights are twinkling,
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carolers have gone out
spreading Christmas joy, work
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parties have been
attended, bonus checks have been
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gratefully received,
Christmas cards have been
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sent and received from
long-ago friends and distant
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relatives, catalogs from
companies you didn't even
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know existed have arrived
in your mailbox, people are
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planning to enjoy one last
splurge before starting their
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diet in the new year,
cantatas have been enjoyed
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and the Hallelujah Chorus has
moved hearts, nativity scenes
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grace front yards, some
people are enjoying a white
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Christmas, and where I grew
up people are heading to the
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beach and trying to
avoid sunburn. Christmas. Andy
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Williams sang that it's"The
Most Wonderful Time of the
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Year". And it's hard to argue
with that. At Chrismas time,
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people tend to be HAPPY. Life
slows down for a day or two,
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long enough for people to
connect with loved ones and
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friends. And in this culture
of ours, a major Christmas
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tradition is gift giving.
In fact, you could say that
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maybe its the overriding
Christmas tradition. We know
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that Christmas is a
religious tradition - a Biblical
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tradition it's a Christian
tradition. Yet even atheists
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participate in celebrating
Christmas and in giving a
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receiving gifts. In fact, if
you went to any shopping area
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at all, you'd get the
impression that Christmas is
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all about the gifts. Every
Christmas season, all across
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the fruited plain, children
sit on Santa's knee and tell
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him they want bicycles
and Lego sets and scooters and
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dolls and video games and a
whole lot more beside. Adults
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will be wanting clothes
and golf clubs and iPods and
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camera gear - and video games
and a whole lot more besides.
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What do you want for
Christmas? Some years ago I
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asked several people to
tell me about the best gift they
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had ever received. Their
response didn't really surprise
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me. I know for a fact that
some of them had over the years
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been given some pretty
impressive and expensive gifts,
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but not one of them told
me the best gift they'd ever
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received was a new car
or a vacation in Hawaii
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or a new flat-screen TV
set. Each of them told me
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a similar story. It was
in every case something like,
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"I remember years ago - it
was my birthday, and my daughter
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- she was just little
then - she went and made me
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a beautiful card, and she
decorated it, and she wrote
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the sweetest things on
there... And, you know,
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I still have that card. Nothing
I've ever been given means
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as much to me as that card
does." It wasn't the diamond
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ring, it wasn't the fur
coat, it wasn't a Rolex... but
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something from the heart,
something simple, something
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pure - something that
represents true, genuine
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love. And doesn't that sound
like Christmas? Really, when
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you stop and think about
it, overeating, overspending and
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overindulging don't have
a whole lot to do with the
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birth of Jesus. So
what really matters most at
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Christmas time? How would
the sentence end if you were to
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say,"All I Want for
Christmas is..." What would
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make Christmas truly special
for you? What's the essence
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of the Christmas story?
I'm sure you might be able
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to answer that question in
a number of ways, but there's
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a Bible verse that for me
brings us back to the very
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heart of it all. John
3:16 says,"For God so loved the
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word that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever
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believeth in Him should not
perish, but have everlasting
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life." The reason Christmas
is observed at all, is that
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long ago the decision
was made that Jesus would be
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given to the human family.
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God"gave" - and He gave
the greatest and most expensive
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gift that could possibly
be given. Remember how the
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prophet Isaiah put it
in chapter 9 and verse 6:
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"For unto us a child is
born, unto us a Son is given;
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and the government shall be upon
His shoulder." (Isaiah 9:6).
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Notice -"unto us a... Son
is given." Beyond the Christmas
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lights on the houses, beyond
the Christmas trees, beyond
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the mountains and mountains
of wrapping paper, beyond the
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last-minute Christmas
shopping on Christmas Eve
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(men, you know what I
mean ...) Beyond everything,
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Christmas as a Christian
tradition stems from the fact
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that God sent Jesus into
the world. And what did He do
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that for? As John 3:17 says,
For God sent not his Son into
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the world to condemn the
world; but that the world
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through him might be saved.
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God was so committed
to giving you and me every
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opportunity to experience
character transformation,
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He was so committed to
you and me being forgiven
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and cleansed, and freed
from guilt, God was so committed
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to us having everlasting
life, that He gave the
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greatest gift given ever
by anyone to anyone ever. He
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gave Jesus. He gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever
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believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting
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life. You know, there have
been some pretty remarkable
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gifts given over the years.
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Russian business tycoon
Roman Abramovitch bought his
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girlfriend a fourteen million
dollar sculpture. English
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soccer player David Beckham
is said to have spent eighty
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thousand pounds on a bag
for his wife. An American movie
00:07:31.90\00:07:36.30
star evidently bought
a 200-year-old Olive Tree
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for her movie star husband,
for $18,000. For a tree!
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A musician bought his son
a car for his 16th birthday -
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a $360,000 car. Too bad the
boy didn't yet have his driver's
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license yet. An Indian
businessman bought his wife
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a sixty million dollar luxury
jet for her 44th birthday.
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His brother obviously
felt the heat and so he brought
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HIS wife a luxury yacht
shortly afterwards worth more
00:08:05.46\00:08:09.46
than eighty million.
00:08:09.46\00:08:12.40
Of course, there's India's
Taj Mahal. That was a gift given
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by an Indian emperor to
his deceased wife. Impressive
00:08:14.86\00:08:19.06
gifts. But are they the
gifts that really matter most?
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In a moment, What really
does matter most at Christmas?
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And Joseph also went up
from Galilee, out of the city
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of Nazareth, into Judea,
unto the city of David, which
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is called Bethlehem (because
he was of the house and lineage
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of David). To be taxed with
Mary his espoused wife, being
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great with child. And so
it was, that while they were
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there, the days were
accomplished that she should
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be delivered. And she
brought forth her firstborn son,
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and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him
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in a manger, because there
was no room for them in the inn.
00:08:59.80\00:09:02.60
Luke 2:4-7
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[Music]
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Today is a bible
question What is a good way
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for me to share my faith?
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A lot of people I work
with don't believe the way I
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do, but I'm really concerned
about their eternal destiny.
00:09:41.30\00:09:44.10
How do I keep from sounding
like a religious nut and yet
00:09:44.10\00:09:48.36
show my interest in
their salvation? The fact that
00:09:48.36\00:09:51.76
you're concerned with
the salvation of others is a
00:09:51.76\00:09:53.76
really good sign. And I'm
glad you're sensitive to how
00:09:53.76\00:09:56.70
you'll be perceived - that
you want to reach out without
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bringing your faith into a
type of disrepute. But don't
00:09:59.10\00:10:02.03
worry about that TOO much.
If you worry too much about that
00:10:02.03\00:10:05.40
you'll never share your faith
with anyone. The best advice
00:10:05.40\00:10:08.46
I can give you is to
encourage you to pray. Pray
00:10:08.46\00:10:11.43
and ask God to give you
opportunities. And as He
00:10:11.43\00:10:14.23
does, act on them. Try
to figure out what a person
00:10:14.23\00:10:17.33
might best respond to. If
you know someone likes to read,
00:10:17.33\00:10:20.70
share with them a book
that you can recommend as having
00:10:20.70\00:10:22.86
been a blessing to you.
00:10:22.86\00:10:24.06
You'll find a lot of books,
good books, on our website,
00:10:24.06\00:10:26.53
itiswritten.com.
Look for opportunities in
00:10:26.53\00:10:29.70
conversations. When you sense
a person is open to talking
00:10:29.70\00:10:32.70
about spiritual things,
gently introduce that sort of
00:10:32.70\00:10:36.10
topic. Ask questions. That
way you're not coming across
00:10:36.10\00:10:39.46
as an authority but you're
showing a genuine interest in
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what others think. Also,
look for opportunities to serve
00:10:42.56\00:10:46.13
people, to do good to others.
00:10:46.13\00:10:47.96
Help people here or there and
this will open up an openness
00:10:47.96\00:10:52.03
to you and to what you
believe. If someone you are
00:10:52.03\00:10:55.06
connecting with
enjoys watching television,
00:10:55.06\00:10:57.06
recommend a religious TV
program they might watch.
00:10:57.06\00:10:59.66
Tell them about It Is
Written. Refer people to a
00:10:59.66\00:11:02.36
website you think that they
might like. One thing to keep
00:11:02.36\00:11:05.40
in mind is that God is
working in the lives of those
00:11:05.40\00:11:09.16
with whom you work. Pray and
ask God to help you see where
00:11:09.16\00:11:13.83
the openings are, the
opportunities, and when you
00:11:13.83\00:11:16.60
see them take those
opportunities and know that
00:11:16.60\00:11:19.90
God will bless you and
your witness. Oh, and one more
00:11:19.90\00:11:23.06
thought. In that work
setting, be sure that your
00:11:23.06\00:11:26.93
life speaks in favor of
your faith. If your faith hasn't
00:11:26.93\00:11:30.63
made you a better, happier
person, more likeable people
00:11:30.63\00:11:34.20
aren't going to want to your
faith for themselves. If you
00:11:34.20\00:11:38.80
have a Bible question that
you would like answered, go
00:11:38.80\00:11:40.80
to our website -
www.ItIsWritten.com. Click on
00:11:40.80\00:11:43.73
the questions tab.
Submit your question, and in a
00:11:43.73\00:11:49.16
future program we
might answer your question.
00:11:49.16\00:11:52.23
[Music]
00:11:53.46\00:11:57.80
[Music: Midnight Clear]"
00:11:59.40\00:12:07.50
And the angel
said unto them, Fear
00:12:21.40\00:12:24.70
not, for behold, I bring
you good tidings of great joy,
00:12:24.70\00:12:27.50
which shall be to all people.
00:12:27.50\00:12:29.90
For unto you is born this
day in the city of David a
00:12:29.90\00:12:33.20
Saviour, which is Christ
the Lord. And this shall be a
00:12:33.20\00:12:37.56
sign unto you: You shall find
the babe wrapped in swaddling
00:12:37.56\00:12:41.80
clothes, lying in a manger.
00:12:41.80\00:12:44.53
And suddenly there was with
the angel a multitude of the
00:12:44.53\00:12:49.10
heavenly host praising
God, and saying, Glory to God in
00:12:49.10\00:12:53.20
the highest, and on earth
peace, good will toward men."
00:12:53.20\00:12:58.40
Luke 2:10-14 Thanks for
joining me today. Even though
00:12:58.40\00:13:00.60
Jesus was not born on
December 25th, it has become
00:13:00.60\00:13:04.10
the day on which the
Christian world remembers the
00:13:04.10\00:13:06.33
great event when Jesus was
born in Bethlehem, when the
00:13:06.33\00:13:09.63
Messiah came into the world
to be its Saviour of all the
00:13:09.63\00:13:12.86
world. Christmas in
the Western World is
00:13:12.86\00:13:14.86
characterized by family
gatherings, house decorating,
00:13:14.86\00:13:17.63
food consuming and gift
giving - and sometimes it
00:13:17.63\00:13:21.93
seems as though we might
just miss the point. As you look
00:13:21.93\00:13:26.53
around, would you really get
the impression that Christmas
00:13:26.53\00:13:28.96
is actually about Jesus?
Or does it look like it's more
00:13:28.96\00:13:32.93
about sales and stuff and
possessions? I remember one
00:13:32.93\00:13:37.60
Christmas seeing a young
boy who had forgotten all about
00:13:37.60\00:13:40.33
the gifts he was given, but
he was having the time of his
00:13:40.33\00:13:42.73
life playing with the
wrapping that the gifts had
00:13:42.73\00:13:45.73
come in. He was having
more fun with a plastic bag than
00:13:45.73\00:13:48.56
he ever did have with the
expensive toys that he'd been
00:13:48.56\00:13:51.43
given. I hope yours is a
very Happy Christmas. So, let me
00:13:51.43\00:13:56.46
ask you, what would make
this Christmas happy for you?
00:13:56.46\00:14:01.20
And what would you
really like for Christmas?"
00:14:01.20\00:14:04.76
And they came with haste,
and found Mary, and Joseph,
00:14:04.76\00:14:07.86
and the baby lying in a manger.
00:14:07.86\00:14:09.43
And when they had seen
it, they made known abroad
00:14:09.43\00:14:13.06
the saying which was told
them concerning this child.
00:14:13.06\00:14:19.36
And all they that heard it
which were told them by the
00:14:19.36\00:14:22.40
shepherds." LUKE 2:16-18
This Christmas - while you're
00:14:22.40\00:14:24.60
enjoying your mashed potatoes
at Grandma's annual Christmas
00:14:24.60\00:14:27.40
feast - there are some
people who won't be getting very
00:14:27.40\00:14:31.20
much, or giving very
much, because they simply don't
00:14:31.20\00:14:34.83
have very much. Someone
just this week lost a job and
00:14:34.83\00:14:39.46
there's no money for extras.
00:14:39.46\00:14:40.90
Someone this week found
out that insurance won't cover
00:14:40.90\00:14:43.56
that claim, and now they're
in a jam. Someone yesterday,
00:14:43.56\00:14:48.16
perhaps, found out that
the investments they'd made to
00:14:48.16\00:14:50.90
fund their retirement
have collapsed, and now they're
00:14:50.90\00:14:53.96
not going to have nearly
as much as they thought they
00:14:53.96\00:14:57.56
would. So at Christmas,
what really matters? Is it the
00:14:57.56\00:15:02.13
'stuff'? Is it the gifts
and the Christmas tree and the
00:15:02.13\00:15:04.80
lights on the outside of
the house? What really matters
00:15:04.80\00:15:08.26
this Christmas? And let's
think about this from God's
00:15:08.26\00:15:12.06
point of view. We think about
what we want for Christmas,
00:15:12.06\00:15:15.46
that's one thing. But what
would God want? If God had a
00:15:15.46\00:15:19.46
Christmas wish list, what
do you think would be on it? If
00:15:19.46\00:15:22.83
God said, All I Want For
Christmas Is... how do you
00:15:22.83\00:15:26.53
think He'd finish the
sentence? World peace? Sure.
00:15:26.53\00:15:31.13
God would want that, wouldn't
He? Full churches? In many
00:15:31.13\00:15:34.76
cases, no doubt. No more
war, or violence in the streets?
00:15:34.76\00:15:39.53
Surely God would want to
see an end to oppression and
00:15:39.53\00:15:42.10
racism and hate and
violence of all kinds. But as
00:15:42.10\00:15:45.70
important as those things
are, they're secondary. That
00:15:45.70\00:15:49.56
is, peace in the world can
only come when there's truly
00:15:49.56\00:15:54.93
peace in the heart. In the
Proverbs, God tells us what
00:15:54.93\00:16:00.33
He wants for Christmas. In
Proverbs 23:26, God says,"My
00:16:00.33\00:16:06.86
son, give me thine heart,
and let thine eyes observe my
00:16:06.86\00:16:12.43
ways." God asks for
your heart this Christmas.
00:16:12.43\00:16:18.73
A simple request, but it is
not always easy for people like
00:16:18.73\00:16:22.20
you and me to fulfill.
Now, what do I mean by that,
00:16:22.20\00:16:25.40
by saying it isn't always
easy for a person to give his
00:16:25.40\00:16:28.83
or her heart to God? As sinful
human beings we wrestle with
00:16:28.83\00:16:34.20
our own will, our own
desires and wants, and sometimes
00:16:34.20\00:16:39.00
giving God our heart
seems like the toughest thing of
00:16:39.00\00:16:41.73
all. Now, not to give God our
heart would be for us to make
00:16:41.73\00:16:45.66
the same mistake as was made
by the people of Israel when
00:16:45.66\00:16:48.60
Jesus came the first time.
00:16:48.60\00:16:52.03
John wrote that"He came unto
His own, and His own received
00:16:52.03\00:16:54.43
Him not."
00:16:54.43\00:16:55.93
Think of who the people
were who WERE prepared to
00:16:55.93\00:16:59.00
meet Jesus: a
few humble shepherds,
00:16:59.00\00:17:01.16
and some wise men from
a foreign country. Then
00:17:01.16\00:17:05.40
there was Anna and there was
Simeon, but in a country that
00:17:05.40\00:17:07.86
was built upon the hope
of the coming of the Messiah,
00:17:07.86\00:17:11.43
that was precious few.
00:17:11.43\00:17:15.40
When Jesus came to the
earth the first time, that first
00:17:15.40\00:17:17.93
Christmas his parents
couldn't even find a place
00:17:17.93\00:17:20.00
for Jesus to dwell.
00:17:20.00\00:17:22.16
I sincerely hope it won't
be that way this Christmas.
00:17:22.16\00:17:25.00
Christ is looking for a
dwelling place this Christmas.
00:17:25.00\00:17:27.20
Not a stable, not an inn
- He's looking for a heart.
00:17:27.20\00:17:31.76
"My son - my daughter -
give me your heart," God
00:17:31.76\00:17:37.00
asks. Paul wrote to
the Ephesians and discussed
00:17:37.00\00:17:40.13
the hope, in Ephesians 3:17
we read there, Ephesians 3:17
00:17:40.13\00:17:45.16
"That Christ may dwell
in your hearts by faith..."
00:17:45.16\00:17:52.70
And in Revelation 3:20,
the same Jesus is looking
00:17:52.70\00:17:55.33
for a place to rest.
00:17:55.33\00:17:57.03
And He says, Behold,
I stand at the door and
00:17:57.03\00:18:02.76
knock. If anyone hears My
voice and opens the door, I
00:18:02.76\00:18:06.76
will come in to him and
dine with him, and he with Me.
00:18:06.76\00:18:11.96
What's most important
this Christmas? As important as
00:18:11.96\00:18:15.16
some of the trappings
and even the traditions of
00:18:15.16\00:18:17.36
Christmas have become, surely
the most important part of
00:18:17.36\00:18:21.00
Christmas is Christ - and not
simply the historical Christ,
00:18:21.00\00:18:25.93
the baby in the manger.
00:18:25.93\00:18:27.73
But the present day Christ,
looking for lodging, looking
00:18:27.73\00:18:30.53
to see if you'll give Him
the best gift you could give Him
00:18:30.53\00:18:35.33
- the gift of your heart.
00:18:35.33\00:18:37.30
The gift of your life.
00:18:37.30\00:18:41.03
"And Simeon blessed them,
and said unto Mary his mother,
00:18:41.03\00:18:43.43
Behold, this child is
set for the fall and rising
00:18:43.43\00:18:48.03
again of many in Israel;
and for a sign which shall be
00:18:48.03\00:18:52.36
spoken against.
00:18:52.36\00:18:53.36
(Yea, a sword shall pierce
through they own soul also,)
00:18:53.36\00:18:57.56
that the thoughts of
many hearts may be revealed."
00:18:57.56\00:19:01.93
Luke 2:34, 35 [Music÷
00:19:01.93\00:19:10.06
In Matthew 4:4, the
word of God says It is
00:19:13.43\00:19:16.13
written, man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every
00:19:16.13\00:19:19.93
word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.
00:19:19.93\00:19:22.90
Every Word is a one minute
Bible-based daily devotional
00:19:22.90\00:19:26.50
presented by Pastor
John Bradshaw and designed
00:19:26.50\00:19:29.16
especially for
busy people like you.
00:19:29.16\00:19:32.16
Look for Every Word on selected
networks or watch it on line
00:19:32.16\00:19:35.50
every day on our website.
00:19:35.50\00:19:36.76
Itiswritten.com.
00:19:36.76\00:19:39.06
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:19:39.06\00:19:39.86
Watch Every Word.
00:19:39.86\00:19:41.33
You'll be glad you did.
00:19:41.33\00:19:43.80
Here's a sample.
00:19:43.80\00:19:45.80
During the Christmas
season there's a lot of rushing
00:19:54.63\00:19:57.30
in a lot of lives and a lot
of plans being made and a lot
00:19:57.30\00:20:00.13
of gifts being given and
a lot of food being consumed
00:20:00.13\00:20:02.33
and very often
something gets lost.
00:20:02.33\00:20:05.40
Stillness.
00:20:05.40\00:20:07.40
Jesus and His parents
were in a quiet place.
00:20:08.53\00:20:11.10
The shepherds were assembled
on the silent hillsides.
00:20:11.10\00:20:15.06
The wise men traveled
but not along busy freeways
00:20:15.06\00:20:18.33
and they didn't get
stuck in traffic once.
00:20:18.33\00:20:20.96
But get this, "When
Herod the king had heard these
00:20:20.96\00:20:23.90
things, he was troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him."
00:20:23.90\00:20:26.70
That's Matthew 2:3.
00:20:26.70\00:20:28.73
That first Christmas,
the only one who was up tight
00:20:28.73\00:20:31.00
was Herod - and those
he caused to be agitated.
00:20:31.00\00:20:33.66
If it's really about
peace and goodwill and family
00:20:33.66\00:20:35.66
and Jesus - try to
enjoy the peace of Jesus
00:20:35.66\00:20:38.53
this Christmas.
00:20:38.53\00:20:39.70
Merry Christmas.
00:20:39.70\00:20:40.70
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:20:40.70\00:20:43.26
Let's live today by Every Word.
00:20:43.26\00:20:45.26
[Music÷
00:20:45.26\00:20:51.26
Eyes for India is
giving sight to the blind
00:20:55.13\00:20:58.16
and you can be a
part of this amazing work
00:20:58.16\00:21:00.86
that God is doing.
00:21:00.86\00:21:02.40
Fifteen million blind people
live in India, more than any
00:21:02.40\00:21:05.60
other country in the world.
00:21:05.60\00:21:07.26
And many of the blind
in India could see again,
00:21:07.26\00:21:10.23
if only they could have
simple cataract surgery.
00:21:10.23\00:21:13.53
It Is Written is
making that happen.
00:21:13.53\00:21:16.43
Would you
support Eyes for India?
00:21:16.43\00:21:19.50
For just $75 you'll be given
the gift of sight to someone
00:21:19.50\00:21:23.90
who desperately wants to see.
00:21:23.90\00:21:26.36
Here's all you need to do.
00:21:26.36\00:21:27.36
Call 1.800.253.3000.
00:21:27.36\00:21:30.90
That's 1.800.253.3000
to donate and support Eyes
00:21:30.90\00:21:37.03
for India.
00:21:37.03\00:21:38.30
Or, you can write to
It Is Written, Box O,
00:21:38.30\00:21:41.16
Thousand Oaks, California 91359.
00:21:41.16\00:21:45.03
You'll also find
Eyes for India on-line at
00:21:45.03\00:21:48.03
It Is Written.com.
00:21:48.03\00:21:50.00
Every $75 you give gives
someone the precious gift
00:21:50.00\00:21:53.73
of sight.
00:21:53.73\00:21:54.93
Eyes for India, doing
the work of Jesus in opening
00:21:54.93\00:21:58.23
the eyes of the blind and
opening hearts to the love
00:21:58.23\00:22:01.63
of God.
00:22:01.63\00:22:02.63
Call 1.800.253.3000 or
write to Box O, Thousand Oaks,
00:22:02.63\00:22:08.70
California, 91359.
00:22:08.70\00:22:10.83
Or visit itiswritten.com.
00:22:10.83\00:22:15.23
"And she was a widow of
about fourscore and four
00:22:25.16\00:22:28.06
years, which departed not
from the temple, but served
00:22:28.06\00:22:31.26
God with fastings and
prayers night and day.
00:22:31.26\00:22:34.73
And she coming in that
instant gave thanks likewise
00:22:34.73\00:22:38.53
unto the Lord, and spake
of him to all them that looked
00:22:38.53\00:22:42.36
for redemption in
Jerusalem." Luke 2:37, 38
00:22:42.36\00:22:46.16
My Dad told me many years
ago about the gift that meant
00:22:46.16\00:22:48.80
most to him.
00:22:48.80\00:22:49.80
The Christmas in
question was many years before,
00:22:49.80\00:22:52.46
and a number of
years before I was born.
00:22:52.46\00:22:55.13
One of my older brothers
had wanted to buy Dad a gift,
00:22:55.13\00:22:57.73
so he scraped together
what was then only a few cents
00:22:57.73\00:23:01.33
and went and bought Dad a
little bar of shaving soap.
00:23:01.33\00:23:06.23
And that touched my father's
heart - and was more special
00:23:06.23\00:23:09.20
to him than any other
gift he had ever received.
00:23:09.20\00:23:11.66
And why do you think that was?
00:23:11.66\00:23:13.96
Because it came from the heart.
00:23:13.96\00:23:16.20
It was given with
love - and a lot of it.
00:23:16.20\00:23:18.86
The innocent,
giving, self-sacrificing love
00:23:18.86\00:23:21.26
of a little boy doing
something sweet for his Daddy.
00:23:21.26\00:23:26.40
See - that's
what's really important.
00:23:26.40\00:23:28.80
A gift that is
given from the heart.
00:23:28.80\00:23:32.50
This year, I wonder
what you'll give Jesus
00:23:32.50\00:23:35.80
for Christmas?
00:23:35.80\00:23:37.33
I'm sure I can safely
say He doesn't really want or
00:23:37.33\00:23:39.90
need anything you can
buy at a department store
00:23:39.90\00:23:42.46
or anything you
can order online.
00:23:42.46\00:23:44.53
But Jesus wants
something given from the heart.
00:23:44.53\00:23:48.13
In fact, He wants your heart.
00:23:48.13\00:23:52.06
Just a small thing - but
it is what He wants from you.
00:23:52.06\00:23:55.13
Can you give Jesus
your heart this Christmas?
00:23:55.13\00:24:00.46
"And when they had performed
all things according to
00:24:00.46\00:24:04.43
the law of the Lord,
they returned into Galilee,
00:24:04.43\00:24:08.30
to their own city Nazareth.
00:24:08.30\00:24:10.46
And the child grew,
and waxed strong in spirit,
00:24:10.46\00:24:14.36
filled with wisdom.
00:24:14.36\00:24:15.66
And the grace of God was
upon Him..." Luke 2:39, 40
00:24:15.66\00:24:20.60
We wish for you a
Christmas filled with the love
00:24:20.60\00:24:23.13
and presence of God.
00:24:23.13\00:24:24.70
Whatever your circumstances
this year, we hope you'll
00:24:24.70\00:24:27.60
remember that God so
loved the world that He gave.
00:24:27.60\00:24:30.83
The birth of Jesus
represents the giving-ness
00:24:30.83\00:24:33.10
and the love of a great God.
00:24:33.10\00:24:34.63
A God who inspired the
Bible writer to write, "He that
00:24:34.63\00:24:38.66
spared not His own Son,
but delivered Him up freely
00:24:38.66\00:24:42.00
for us all, how shall He
not with Him also freely give
00:24:42.00\00:24:46.46
us all things?" I want to
invite you to pray with us.
00:24:46.46\00:24:50.43
Christmas day, we have a
lot to be thankful for and even
00:24:50.43\00:24:53.06
if your Christmas day
is filled with, from your
00:24:53.06\00:24:55.20
perspective, even more
challenges than blessings,
00:24:55.20\00:24:58.80
we still have so much to
be thankful for as we pray to
00:24:58.80\00:25:01.93
the God who so loved
this world that he gave the
00:25:01.93\00:25:05.60
greatest gift that
could ever be given.
00:25:05.60\00:25:08.56
Let's all pray together.
00:25:08.56\00:25:10.40
Our Father in heaven.
00:25:10.40\00:25:12.30
Today we thank you and
we thank you for Jesus who
00:25:12.30\00:25:16.30
was willing to give
himself for the lost people
00:25:16.30\00:25:19.60
of this lost world.
00:25:19.60\00:25:21.23
And we thank you that in
your goodness and in your
00:25:21.23\00:25:23.60
love, whatever our
circumstances today, we can know
00:25:23.60\00:25:27.66
that there is a God of
love who truly loves us and has
00:25:27.66\00:25:31.80
prepared for us a
bright and a hopeful future.
00:25:31.80\00:25:35.26
How many more Christmas
days there can be until Jesus
00:25:35.26\00:25:39.13
comes back to this world to
take us home we do not know.
00:25:39.13\00:25:42.33
But until he returns, I
pray that you will help us to be
00:25:42.33\00:25:46.53
faithful, to trust
you, to believe in you
00:25:46.53\00:25:50.66
and to lean on you.
00:25:50.66\00:25:52.30
You who have given us
so much, we say to you:
00:25:52.30\00:25:55.43
Thank you.
00:25:55.43\00:25:56.43
And we pray that you
will continue to bless us,
00:25:56.43\00:25:58.86
not merely for our
own sake but so that you
00:25:58.86\00:26:02.36
would be glorified.
00:26:02.36\00:26:04.23
You have truly given
us the greatest blessings
00:26:04.23\00:26:07.10
and for that
today, we say "Thank you"
00:26:07.10\00:26:09.43
and we pray in
Jesus' name, Amen.
00:26:09.43\00:26:13.43
[Music]
00:26:13.43\00:26:15.43
Perhaps our program
today has impressed you
00:26:52.73\00:26:54.73
with a personal need
for deeper Bible study.
00:26:54.73\00:26:57.26
If you desire to
listen to God and follow where
00:26:57.26\00:26:59.30
he leads, we've got a wonderful
resource that can help you
00:26:59.30\00:27:03.23
to do that in a systematic way.
00:27:03.23\00:27:06.53
The Discover bible guides.
00:27:06.53\00:27:07.53
These Bible guides are
easy to use and can be yours
00:27:07.53\00:27:10.16
absolutely free.
00:27:10.16\00:27:11.16
If you live in North
America, we'll send you these
00:27:11.16\00:27:15.70
full color guides or you
can find them on our website:
00:27:15.70\00:27:20.76
itiswritten.com.
00:27:20.76\00:27:21.76
Request the Discover
Bible Guides by calling our
00:27:21.76\00:27:24.90
toll-free
number, 1.800.253.3000.
00:27:24.90\00:27:26.90
You may also request
today's offer by writing to
00:27:26.90\00:27:28.90
It Is Written, Box O,
Thousand Oaks, California 91359.
00:27:28.90\00:27:35.03
From all of us at It Is
Written, Merry Christmas
00:27:35.03\00:27:38.80
and a Happy New
Year to you as well.
00:27:38.80\00:27:41.76
I hope you'll join us next time.
00:27:41.76\00:27:43.76
Until then, please remember:
It is written: man shall
00:27:43.76\00:27:47.63
not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceeds
00:27:47.63\00:27:52.56
from the mouth of God.
00:27:52.56\00:27:58.56