Page 3 - Preacher of Righteousness Magazine | Mark Barclay Ministries

CHRISTMAS: All about you, Jesus?
Since I was a little boy, Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. I’m not sure if it was because of all the extra trimmings and the goodies my mom made for us, or because with that season often came the first fresh snowfall of the year, or because of the happy feeling I had hearing (yet not understanding) all the Christmas music on the radio in those days.
I was not raised in a home that was a true Christian environment. Sometimes I wonder if those Christmas songs from long ago (Away in a Manger, Silent Night, and others celebrating the birth of Christ) had something to do with my becoming a Christian in the future. Many years have gone by since my early childhood, and I now find myself a senior minister in the body of Christ. I rejoice every Christmas season, knowing that (whether they realize it or not) the world is celebrating and giving attention to the
birth of my Savior!
My kids and grandkids are blessed to be raised in this beautiful gospel. They were raised in church services and went through the nurseries, Sunday school, and youth group. They’ve had years and
years of Bible training and worship and special times with God at His altars. I cannot imagine what could be any better for a parent (and of course for them) than the privilege of being nurtured in such an environment. I watch my son Josh and his beautiful wife Trish, and my daughter Dawn and her handsome husband James, now raising their own children in the same way—Bible, Bible, and more Bible; church, church, and more church; prayer, prayer, and more prayer. But even above and beyond church life, I witness them actually teaching their children to live every day of their life according to the Word of God—the Bible. And it is working! I am grateful and excited about that.
I wanted to share with you one of my favorite Christmas verses. Vickie says that I say every verse I read and preach from is my favorite. I suppose there is some truth to that because the Bible has helped me so very much to live a good life, to beat the discouragements of life, to help my Vickie beat cancer, to help Trish
beat cancer, and to help my entire family beat all
the enemies of their life. Thank God for the Bible.
This verse is by far one of my very favorites:
MATTHEW 1:21
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
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