People refer to a Magic of Christmas

                Is there such a thing?

If there ever were such a thing - I like to think of a famous event that happened

                -on two Christmas’ - 1914 & 1915

                Think of what it took to see this happen on the front lines in WWI

                                -nearly 100 years ago

                                -as Stephen reads from - or pretends to write a letter that was found

-written by a unknown British soldier from the fox holes of that war

People say there’s a certain magic associated with Christmas

                Of course, I don’t believe in magic - & I don’t suppose you do either

                -there are illusionists - who do things that amaze us

                                -& we gasp - “Ahh, Magic!”

                No - there’s no such thing as true magic

-but instead, way better & bigger - there are miracles of God

                                -which are nothing like magic - it’s the workings of God

I think around Christmas - people are sentimental & inspired to do good

                -to love people & spread a peace on earth

                That’s all fine - it’s wonderful!

-because the Christmas story is full of wonderful works of God

                -the angel speaks to Joseph in a dream

                -a star guides men of magic - the wise men to the baby Jesus

                -angels appear to shepherds & “Glory shines around!”

                -& of course, Mary - a virgin conceives & give birth to the Messiah - the Christ

                Mary, at the announcement by the angel that she would become pregnant

-wonders, “How can this be!”

                                “All things are possible with God!”

                -as Jesus was to later proclaim -

“What is impossible with man, is possible with God!”

                Mary was to conceive by God the Holy Spirit

                -that’s the same Holy Spirit alive in us today!

                                Are you facing some impossibilities?

                                Of course, there’s no magic that will help you

                                -actually, a lot of people are stuck with their faith & hope on “Magic”

                                                -to help them

                                                -& that’s a real deep hole that just gets deeper

                                What’s impossible with us - is possible with God!

John 1:1-14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

What’s the real “magic” of Christmas?

                It’s God coming into this world to work a miracle in your life!

                It’s cool to think of what God’s love has inspired in this world

                                -in this wonderful Christmas story of the Baby Jesus, born in a manger

                                                -born of a virgin

                -like men who are at war - stepping out of a hole in the direct line of fire

                                -of the enemy - thinking - hoping - that somehow, the magic of Christmas

                                                -will sustain a truce

                                                -& enemies will stand around singing Christmas carols

                                -that’s one of my favorite Christmas stories - even call it a miracle

                Yet, the greatest “magic” ever - is the new life that you receive

-when you come to Jesus as your Savior!

-& you now experience the very glory of God!