INTRODUCTION

     In her book, “Especially at Christmas,” Celestine Sibley recalled the atmosphere of giving her parents created during the Christmas season.  Her mother would continually remind the children that, “Things aren’t important, people are.”  As packages arrived, she would unwrap them, admire them, be thankful for them, and then, ask the family, “Now, who can we give this to?”  Reflecting on this, Sibley said, “No matter what we had or didn’t have—in a material way—Christmas stood by itself, glorious and unmatched by anything else that had happened in the history of the world.  Jesus Himself had come to dwell among men, and with a richness like that to celebrate, who could be so self-centered as to speak of a ‘poor’ Christmas?”

     But isn’t that precisely the problem?  We live in a very materialistic culture and that greed and selfishness is promoted from every angle.  This push to “get, get, get” stuff is especially heightened in the weeks before Christmas—even to the point where the majority thinks that that is what Christmas is really all about.  In fact, it is estimated that over $200 billion will be spent in this country alone during this next month, and 31% of that will be in the week before Christmas.  This past summer, the Lord spoke to my heart an amazing truth—He had given the prophets of the Old Testament a very special wisdom in order to see something very special.  And then, the Lord corrected me—He made the picture even clearer—not someTHING, but someONE very special.  That SOMEONE was the coming Messiah, Jesus the Christ.  So, especially in a time when so may are focusing on “things,” the true Church must rise up, desiring to be filled with a very special wisdom in order see that Christmas is not really about stuff, but about the greatest gift ever given—Jesus Himself.

     And then, Praise God, the Lord took me even further.  It wasn’t just the prophets who were given that wisdom, it can be seen throughout the Scriptures.  Such was the inspiration for this booklet.  From Genesis to Revelation, God’s people were given a vision—not just the prophets, but each and every person who wanted to see what God was about to do.  As you begin your readings, you will see the story of God’s dealings with His people—the nomads, the shepherds, and even the kings—everyone offered this very special wisdom.  Then, several devotionals will highlight the prophets, as the promised Coming One comes closer.  Then, the answers to all of your questions—Where will He come?  Who will He be?  When will He come?  And then, BAM, on the Sunday before Christmas, someONE is promised—and not just “promised” for in the future, but promised for the NOW!  Yes, even to you and me!  Yes, Christmas is about a very special SOMEONE who is going to…………..Oh, wait a minute!  We probably had better wait until Christmas Day to tell you that!  Praise God—in these coming busy days, don’t let your life be filled with “stuff”—no, be filled with Him!  Receive His wisdom to see Someone Very Special—In this, you will have a very blessed Christmas and a Christ-centered New Year!