Meditations On The Birth Of Christ

This series of meditations on the birth of Christ encourages the reader to relive the miracle of Christmas. Through reflecting on Scripture, Church tradition, and Chinese culture the reader may experience afresh the Word becoming flesh. The reader travels to ancient Bethlehem in a spiritual sense to contemplate the meaning of the incarnation for the past, the future, and the present. As the reader recalls the first coming of Christ into history, he or she may also direct the heart to the future, looking forward to the second coming of Christ at the end of the age, and simultaneously experience his transforming presence in the present. The reader could develop a spiritual formation in the Advent season with the inspirations from the Chinese cultural and wisdom resources.

A star, a stable, angels, shepherds, kings, and at the heart of it all a mother and her baby. In The Art of Christmas Jane Williams' meditations on the birth of Jesus take you deep into the story of the original Christmas as depicted in some of the world's greatest paintings. A beautiful book for Advent 2021, these profoundly perceptive reflections on the different ways in which artists have imagined the Nativity will deepen and refresh your appreciation of the real meaning of Christmas, and the message of love, joy and peace that it speaks to all the world. Illustrated in stunning full colour, with famous and lesser-known Western masterpieces, and presented in a small, easily portable format, The Art of Christmas is ideal Advent reading for all art lovers, but also makes a wonderful Christmas gift. Jane Williams' insightful meditations will not only help you rediscover the spiritual heart of Christmas, but will also give you a deeper, expanded appreciation of the skill and mastery behind these masterful paintings. You'll gain a fuller and more spiritual understanding of Christian art, and see Christmas as never before.

Illustrated devotions to enrich your understanding of the Nativity narratives. This devotional guide for the days from Advent to Candlemas builds on the popularity of the ancient Christian tradition of walking the Stations of the Cross. Readings and prayers will help individuals and groups walk the Stations of the Nativity, from the vision of Zecharias in the temple to the return of the Holy family to Galilee. Along the way readers can pray and meditate on the Annunciation, the Visitation, the birth of John the Baptist, Joseph’s dream, the Nativity, the appearance of the angels, the shepherds and Magi at the manger, the Presentation, the flight into Egypt, and the massacre of the innocents. Each station includes an opening sentence and a response, a Bible reading, a reflection, prayers, a longer meditation, and a short closing prayer. Striking engravings or woodcuts provide a visual meditation on each station.

"Twenty-five days of readings drawn from scripture about the birth of Christ"--Introduction.

When thinking about Christ's birth, we often focus our attention on Luke's detailed gospel account. But to appreciate the main point of the story--that the eternal Son of God assumed our flesh-and-blood human nature--we need to learn from the rest of the Bible why Christ came to earth. Why did Christ come? In this book, thirty-one thoughtful meditations answer this vital question, and the answers encourage us to celebrate Christ's birth more deeply, see more clearly how it is connected with the rest of His ministry, and recognize its importance for our lives. Table of Contents: To Do the Will of the Father To Save Sinners To Bring Light to a Dark World To Be Made Like His People To Bear Witness to the Truth To Destroy the Works of the Devil To Give Eternal Life To Receive Worship To Bring Great Joy To Demonstrate True Humility To Preach the Gospel To Bring Judgment To Give His Life a Ransom for Many To Fulfill the Law and Prophets To Reveal God's Love for Sinners To Call Sinners to Repentance To Die To Seek and Save the Lost To Serve To Bring Peace To Bring a Sword To Bind Up Broken Hearts To Give Us the Spirit of Adoption To Make Us Partakers of the Divine Nature To Reign as King To Restore Human Nature to Holiness To Be a Faithful and Merciful High Priest To Be the Second and Greater Adam To Satisfy Our Deepest Thirst To Be Loved by God's Children To Reveal God's Glory

Advent is not about a sentimental waiting for the Baby Jesus --Richard Rohr Advent is a time to focus our expectation and anticipation on the adult Christ, the Cosmic Christ, who challenges us to empty ourselves, to lose ourselves, to surrender. Preparing for Christmas offers daily meditations, prayers, Scripture readings, and questions for reflection for each day of Advent.

This is a book of inspiring prayers and meditations for the Advent and Christmas season. Daily prayers for morning and evening devotion are followed by a space in which the reader in encouraged to write his or her own prayers, meditations, reflections, and insights.

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