OK, so here’s an after-Christmas Christmas entry. This is the place to be to admire all of your amazing ugly/inspirational/colorful/pretty Christmas sweater creations. If you haven’t already sent us your photos, it’s not too late! We’ll keep adding as you send them to us! And if you ate all of your cookies before we mentioned the photos, don’t sweat it.
Our Christmas cookies
So, I understand this might not be anyone else, but for me personally, I typically become more “Christmasy” during the two weeks or so after December 25 than what I normally am the days leading up to Christmas Day. Meaning, as far as Christmas goes, I’m now just starting to get warmed up. Yay! Thus, this belated Christmas entry.
These are the Bible passages that tie in with The Shepherd, the mini Christmas movie we watched at our Zoom Christmas party (also considered the pilot episode of The Chosen):
Luke 2:1-20 – The Miraculous Birth of Jesus Christ Isaiah 9:2-7 – A light has dawned! Isaiah 35 – The lame will leap like a deer (love this chapter!)
If reading this gets you thinking back at all to Saturday evening & you’re good with taking just a bit of time to reflect on The Shepherd movie, here are a few questions to consider:
What are your thoughts on Mary? Joseph? Do you think the movie gives an accurate picture of Jewish shepherds in Jesus' time? What kind of a person is Simon the shepherd? Do you like him? Which fruit of the Spirit did you notice present in this story? What kind of miracles are represented in the movie? Why do you think Simon smiles, right at the end of the movie, when the priest asks him, “So, where is it? Have you found a spotless lamb for sacrifice?" Who do you think is the shepherd being referred to in the title of the movie? Is there more than one shepherd being referred to in the title? Who's the spotless lamb?
A quote from The Shepherd:
“People must know! People must know!”
Oh, & here’s The Chosen Christmas Special:
I know at least some of you have already seen this, but if you haven’t, it includes The Shepherd movie, some of the show’s actors telling the OT story of God & His people, & several Christmas songs presented by different Christian artists. I really enjoyed watching it! Maybe you will, too?
O Come, All Ye Faithful – tobyMac
This tobyMac version is my all time favourite Christmas song! It’s also one of my favourite worship songs! I play this song year round! If you have a fav/meaningful Christmas song you’d like to share with us, sent it & we’ll include it here!https://www.youtube.com/embed/cwtqvJpgOFg?enablejsapi=1&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&modestbranding=1&rel=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&
o come, all you faithful joyful & triumphant ... o sing, choirs of angels o sing, in exultation o sing, all you bright hosts of heaven above to the break of dawn we're gonna sing this song celebrate the day that our Savior's born when Love reached down to all of mankind born of a virgin on a starry night ... we sing come let us adore Him we worship You worship You our Savior's born tonight gonna lift His Name on high we adore You we adore You gonna lift Your Name on high it's a merry Christmas! a merry Christmas! our Savior's born tonight!