IS 9:1-6
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for flames.
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!
GospelLK 2:1-14
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment,
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth
to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there,
the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields
and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
This is a Christmas post. Absolutely no tolerance will be given to any off topic comments. Please respect the intent and nature of this post, keeping it open for Christmas greetings and comments.

A day that reminds that even through our present and upcoming years of enslavement that The Light shines at the end.
My favorite activity at Christmas is laying out my Crèche. This year my little grandson was helping me and was so excited to be doing so. He put out the livestock and the three wisemen and was a big help. When we were finished he looked at the manger and asked “But, where is little God?”
It was so ingenuously said that I was overcome with love for my little man. He will be over later today to see Jesus in the manger.
Merry Christmas to all and God’s blessings on all your households!
How sweet. And you sound like a wonderful grandma … letting him help and learn.
Merry Christmas
AMEN!!!
Thank you. During the years I was choir director in a couple of small churches (choirs numbered about 25) I was always tempted to have the choir sing, “Up From the Grave He Arose!”—- on Christmas Eve. Never actually did it. Still think it might have been a good idea!! Christmas without Easter does not get it done in terms of God’s preparation for our redemption.
I’ve always wanted to lead with “O come let us adore him” at times other than Christmas too. Some of those are appropriate for other times than traditionally used. Greetings fellow worshipper.
That’s a really good image! It makes me think of “what the World could be like, if there were “no controls”, & Everyone could do as they Please!
Thank You “LizieinTexas” & Merry Christmas!
Sundance and Treepers
Merry Christmas
Tea
Ah, tea, yes please, just a little milk, no sugar.
The birth of our Lord and Savior, at least as far as I see it, has a deeper meaning this year. Let us keep in mind that He promises to not leave us as orphans. Let us love Him and lead us.
John 14:15 – 18 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Such an appropriate scripture for the situation that we find ourselves in.
Luke’s Christmas gospel is my favorite. Thanks for posting.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
As part of the Christmas decoration in our home growing up my Mother would open a Bible to the Christmas story in Luke and set it on a small table on a white cloth with two candles
Very simple and very beautiful.
Although I’m on chapter 11 in my reading of Gospels I went back and re-read chapters 1 and 2. Definitely the best version. Merry Christmas to all treepers, Sundance and family. Let’s all make a new years list of all those times we’re going to throw sand in the machine!
Sounds like a plan for New Year’s Resolutions.
Hope in Christ!
God bless us, everyone!
Sundance, this hit me in the heart of hearts. Its Christmas Day here in Idaho Falls, and I’m crying tears of joy. You are OUR beacon of light in these dark times. May God watch over you.
Every time an angel shows up, their first words are always, “Do not be afraid…”
Beautiful words.
So true and then the Angel tells us who sent them and why.
Simple and beautiful.
Pope joao Paulo II said this countless times.
‘The angel went to her (Mary) and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.” … [Mary with a pure heart and true humility.]
I read a commentary once, where it was said, ‘Mary was ~greatly troubled~ because of Humility before God.’
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Humility the virtue opposed to the sin of Pride. [It is preached upon]
Unfortunately, many of us would NOT be troubled if God sent an Angel to talk to us. …. Many of us, think we have some good ideas, that should be relayed to God; especially, about how God allows too many bad things to occur in our world.
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One evening years ago, I walked out of the confessional and saw no one was waiting. … I turned around, re-entered, and asked the Priest, ‘How do I increase the Virtue of Humility?’ … The Priest said, ‘Just start ~always telling the Truth!’
Now days, I sit in a different Church, looking at a huge Crucifix hanging over the altar. … Jesus Christ ~True Man/True God ~ always telling us the Truth. ……. [Years later, I’m still working on the Virtue of true Humility.]
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host…
To my fellow treepers.“Peace with God, peace with others, and peace in your own heart.”
Merry Christmas! I am starting this glorious day listening to Handel’s Messiah which put scripture to angelic vocals and music.
our salvation has come to us as a babe in a manger!
Blessed is the name of the Lord. Merry Christmas to you and your families. Thank you for all you do Menagerie.
Christ is Born!
Thank you Michael.
I have been pondering this, how God moves in this world with such precise timing to give us His gifts, even as he sets even feet who know Him not down paths to deliver His promises.
Ceasar, a prince who sat in power over the whole known world, sent a poor couple in a conquered land on a journey of submission and tribute, only to have it turn out that God was in charge of Time and History all along.
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome the Light.
Merry Christmas to all.
I believe we are walking in darkness and one day we will see a great light!
We are lucky to have a wise man and shepherd in Sundance.
Merry Christmas!
.
Merry Christmas. Bless you all and especially Sundance and his family.
Beautiful words. Merry Christmas and much love to all!
Amen
Having grown up in a family which sang this often, this article hit the spot:
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2022/12/some_thoughts_on_why_handels_messiah_at_christmas_is_so_compelling.html
I read the lessons frequently, and love none better than the Messiah texts. Having sung them so many times, the temptation to break into song while reading can be hard to suppress.
Sadly, there are still many who are walking in darkness. I’m reminded of the Graham Kendrick song, “Shine, Jesus, Shine” from 1987. “Set us free by the truth You now bring us”…so many unwilling to accept the truth that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” John 1:4 Still today, the majority of mankind denies Him.
Merry Christmas Sundance and Merry Christmas to all of you! I always marvel at Sundance’s original and inspiring writings. And his scriptures!
That quote at the head of this posting is most excellent, given the dual nature of the meaning.
While those in the day of the Mortal Messiah experienced the full force of these words through the brightness of His teachings and in experiencing the divine power and light through His tremendous miracles, we too live in a day and a time when these words are coming true again.
Though we live in a day of darkness and a time wherein gross darkness covers the hearts and minds of multitudes of nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples; we likewise will soon experience the fullness of His light in two ways.
First, by living those teachings and principles. We can behold that same light as the disciples of His day, by emulating the Savior in our day and time. It provides us with a brightness of hope and a light others can not perceive in a time of awful darkness.
Secondly, His is soon to return. The world that dwells now in darkness and all manner of sin, are so very soon to behold the brightness of His Second Coming in Power and Great Glory.
I know today isn’t His actual birthday, but in remembrance of the babe of Bethlehem, Merry Christmas to all. May we all be partakes of that great light that shone with a brightness that no man has approached since and become partakes of that beautiful light which is to descend from the heavens and light this fallen Earth.
Joy and peace to one and all.
Amen, Merry Christmas everyone. Peace on Earth, Good Will to Mankind.
Not since the Law of commanding and forbidding had we been”at peace” with God, and now we are, through his son Jesus. Hallelujah!
How do you humanly explain a God who hates us as the workers of inequity we are yet saves us by sacrificing his only Begotten? Truly the foolishness of God.
Thank you for all you do Sundance✨ Merry Christmas to you and yours🎄 God Bless you 🙏
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas🎄 and a safe and joyous New Year. 🥳🎉
Merry Christmas Sundance.
Why God Became a Baby written by Robert Barron in Dec. 23 Wall Street Journal is thought provoking.
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of happiness. Amen.
Merry Christmas GOD Bless Us Everyone…
“good news of great joy”
Perfect. If you’re afraid, you won’t hear it.
Thanks Menagerie. Merry Christmas to you and all the pumpkins!
Just logging on now and seeing the Christmas post – after celebrating a wonderful Christmas with my family.
As important as the political stories & commentary are on the Treehouse – nothing touches the importance of the hope brought to all people through the birth of Jesus Christ to shoulder our sins – sins we could never atone for without his birth (and ultimate sacrifice on the cross for us).
I hope everyone had a fun and meaningful Christmas with the ones they loved.
Glenn