Consider the reason for Christmas. The Son of God became a man to do for us what we could not do for ourselves-be reconciled to God.

 An ornament serves to adorn, decorate and embellish.

 We decorate Christmas trees with a variety of ornaments. So Jesus can use a variety of people in a variety of circumstances and conditions to bring honor and glory to Himself. Where are you today in your race and relationship with Jesus? Which of these ornaments best describes you?

broken, aged, worn, tarnished, not the favorite, in storage. out-of-date

 You can be an ornament for Jesus even if you feel like one of these.

The Touch of the Master’s Hand by Myra Brooks Welch

 ‘Twas battered and scarred, And the auctioneer thought

 it hardly worth his while To waste his time on the old violin,

but he held it up with a smile.

“What am I bid, good people”, he cried,

“Who starts the bidding for me?”
“One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?”

“Two dollars, who makes it three?”
“Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,”

But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,

Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.

 The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said “What now am I bid for this old violin?”
As he held it aloft with its’ bow.

 “One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?”
“Two thousand, Who makes it three?”
“Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone”, said he.

The audience cheered, But some of them cried,
“We just don’t understand.”

“What changed its’ worth?”
Swift came the reply. “The Touch of the Masters Hand.”

 And many a man with life out of tune

All battered with bourbon and gin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin

 A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.

 But the Master comes,

And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters’ Hand.

 Lamentations 3:

²¹ This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

²² It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

²³ They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness

So tell Jesus all about it. He is both God and man and fully understands.

Determine by His grace to live for Him in constant communication with Him.

Enjoy the wonder of Christmas.

Redeeming Love – by Bill Gaither

 From God’s heaven to a manger,

From great riches to the poor,

Came the Holy Son of God, a little Child;

From the azure halls of heaven to a lowly manger stall

Jesus came, and He gave His life for all.

Redeeming love, a love that knows no limit;

Redeeming love, a love that never dies;

My soul shall sing through-out the endless ages

The adoration of this great love on high.

From a loving heavenly Father,

To a world that knew him not,

Came a Man of sorrows Jesus Christ, the Lord;

In my wandering Jesus found me,

Touched my life with His great love,

And this Babe has grown to be my Sovereign Lord!!

Redeeming love, a love that knows no limit;

Redeeming love, a love that never dies;

My soul shall sing through-out the endless ages

The adoration of this great love !!

1 Peter 3:

⁴ But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Hebrews 12:

¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run our races, looking unto Jesus,

Coach Patti