Jesus loves jewelers

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 It's here-the launch of the Holiday season!

  The reports from "Black Friday" weekend showed record dollars being spent. Was it for Holiday gifts? If so, what's the reason for this? Why do so many people look cheerful?

  This time of year there are good reasons ( besides birthdays and anniversaries) to be giving and cheerful. Let's go over them. 

  Hanukkah,

    Hanukkah, also known as the festival of lights,  as an eight day Jewish holiday celebrating the rededication of the second temple in Jerusalem around 165 BCE due to the Maccabean victory over oppression from Greek-Syrian powers. 

  This is celebrated by lighting a candle on the menorah, where a candle is added each night to remember the miracle where a small amount of consecrated oil lasted eight days. With the spirit of celebration in the air, kids are giddily busy playing with Dreidels (a toy that kids hope to receive as a gift for Hanukkah). People are eating SuFgauias- a special doughnut sprinkled with sugar and has a jelly center. 

  The celebration continues with special blessings, songs, traditional foods, and most certainly the giving of gifts. 

Christmas, 

   Christmas is a time of celebration remembering the birth of Jesus, the Messiah. 

   Christmas is celebrated by most on December 25th. 

   To Celebrate Christmas people will sing songs-commonly known as carols. Houses will usually be lit on the outside, with a decorated Christmas tree on the inside. 

Gifts are wrapped and put under the tree, to be opened either on Christmas Eve, or first thing Christmas morning. 

  Then there is a celebration of thankfulness in the form of a Christmas lunch or dinner. 

  Although many people have eloquently spoken about Christmas, a quote about Christmas from the late evangelist Billy Graham really hit it home for me. 

 He said:

 " In the midst of upheaval, crisis, difficulty, problems and fear comes the true message of Christmas with all of its hope, goodwill and cheer. The message of Christmas has been terribly misapplied and misunderstood for many years. Some think of business profits, shopping gifts, tinsel, toys and celebration. Others only think of Bethlehem, of the stars of the sky, shepherds in the field, and angels singing. 

  Still others cynically ask," where is this Prince of Peace, in a world filled with so much trouble?"

  The real Christmas message goes far deeper. It heralds the entrance of God into human history. It is heaven descending to earth. It is as though a trumpeter has taken his stand upon the turrets of time and announced to a despairing, hopeless and frustrated world the coming of the true Prince of Peace. It answers all the great questions that plague the human race at this hour. The Christmas message is relevant, revolutionary and reassuring to us today. I  believe that it can be summed up in three words: a cradle, a cross, and a crown. "

Have a great Holiday season everybody. 

" O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: because His mercy endureth forever "

  Psalms 118:1

Lets enjoy the season.