8/3/2019 Newsletter December 2011 n
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Christmas brings new hope and courage, as through the darkness,
the Christmas star
shines its promise of God's unfailing Love.
A Candymaker's MessageA candymaker in the state of Indiana in
the USA wanted to make a candy that would
represent God's Message to us, so he made the Christmas candy
cane. In that simple shape,he incorporated several symbols for the
birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.
He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy--white to
symbolize the virgin birth andthe sinless nature of Jesus; and hard
to symbolize the solid rock of faith and the firmness ofthe
promises of God.
The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent
the precious Nameof Jesus, Who came to Earth as our Savior. It
could also represent the staff of the "GoodShepherd" with which He
reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the
fallenlambs.
Thinking that the candy looked somewhat plain, the candymaker
stained it with four redstripes. He used three small stripes to
show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received, bywhich we are
healed. The single large red stripe was for the blood shed by Him
on the crossso that we could have the promise of eternal life.
The candy became known as the candy cane--a familiar decoration
seen at Christmastime, though few understand its intended
symbolism. For us it can serve as a reminder of thewonder of Jesus
coming down at Christmas and His great Love that remains the
ultimate anddominant positive force in the universe today.
"Let's Never Lose the True Meaning of Christmas!"Even the
Christmas tree can be made a witness and a testimony to others,
symbolizingthe beauty of life and living. In wintertime the
evergreen, even in the midst of death anddecay, is a symbol of
everlasting life. In spite of the hardships of winter, the
evergreenssurvive and stay ever green and continue to be living and
beautiful all winter long--just like theLord!
So make the tree a reminder of Jesus, the Evergreen Tree of the
Spirit!--Of Jesus, Sonof the everlasting eternal God of Heaven!--Of
Jesus and His gifts hung upon us continually,and of our everlasting
evergreen eternal life! Let's never lose the true meaning of
Christmas,nor let the true symbolism of the tree and the genuine
Christ Spirit of Christmas becomedrowned in all the confusion of
this world and its worldliness. Let's glorify the Lord at
Christmas time!--DavidBrandt Berg***
Has the Christ Child come into your heart this Christmas? To
have His Love and thehappiness and peace He brings, all you have to
do is open the door of your heart and inviteHim in. He says, I
stand at the door and knock. If any man hears My voice, and opens
thedoor, I will come in to him (The Bible, Revelation 3:20). Just
pray, Jesus, please come into myheart. Please forgive me for my
sins and fill me with Your Love as You have promised to do.Thank
You for giving me Your new life. Amen.
Once you have asked Him into your life, Jesus will never leave
you, and you'll haveChristmas in your heart forever!
