Stephen De La Vega

    Christmas may be a little different this year. The Christmas season may always be hard for some of us, but this year that may be true for many more because 2020 was a difficult year, and Christmas may not seem so merry. Can we still “gather around” in joyful celebration, or will peace on earth fall short this year? This will be the first time in about 12 years my family will not enjoy a white Christmas…     Spending Christmastime in the snow, at a place fondly named God’s playground, has become a family tradition with us. Whatever we could do in the snow, we’ve done it over the years. We’ve also spent Christmas Sundays in our home church away from home, and Christmas Eves singing carols by candlelight in another favorite church. We’ve grown used to recalling the Christmas story while overlooking snow-capped trees and snow-covered mountains. This year COVID infections and the lack of available hospital beds forced us to shelter in place. We can’t leave the...

Another Christmas has passed, but the celebration is not over. Do you remember this from last week? …The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him not to be afraid.  The Messiah was coming. The long-awaited Savior of the world would soon be with us. Isaiah’s prophecy would soon be fulfilled: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God with us’)” Matthew 1:23 (NIV) Jesus was born and God was with us. A Savior came and died, And He’s alive today. His name was called Wonderful, And wonderful He remains. They called Him Prince of Peace, And peace He gives today and forever. He was with God and is God – the Mighty God – And He heralds His might today. He was called Counsellor, Still He gives us counsel today Through His gift – the Holy Spirit. He’s the Everlasting Father. Everlasting. He was named Emmanuel, “God with us,” And He is with us this day. (thoughts from Matthe...