MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!! Here’s an acrostic to help you focus on the real “Christmas Story” today:

C is for either Child (the child that was conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary and born to her) or Christ (a Messianic title that comes from the Greek word christos and means “anointed one” or “chosen one”).

H is for either Holy Spirit (as in God the Holy Spirit, who in a miraculous way came upon Mary and impregnated her) or Heavenly Host (as in the heavenly host, who praised God and said to the shepherds who first heard the announcement of Christ’s birth, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”).

R is for Rejoice (as in the angel Gabriel telling Mary, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women”) or Reign (as in Gabriel saying of Jesus, “And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end”).

I is for either Immanuel (which means “God With Us” and comes from the Isaiah 7:14 prophecy concerning Christ’s birth) or Incarnation (a word that refers to God taking upon Himself human flesh).

S is for either Shepherds (the first people to hear the announcement that Jesus had been born) or Savior (as the angel said to those shepherds, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”)

T is for either Throne (as in the throne of David that was promised to the baby Jesus) or Tree (as in the tree that would one day produce the wood that would be used to make the cross upon which Jesus would die for the sins of the world).

M is for either Mary (who said of the news that she would conceive Jesus in her womb, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord!”) or manger (which was the animal feeding trough that served as Christ’s first crib).

A is for either Angel (one of which spoke to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds at different times) or Augustus (the name of the Roman Caesar who called for the taxation registration that caused Joseph and the pregnant Mary to travel to Bethlehem).

S is for either Son (as in Jesus being called The Son of God) or Salvation (which Jesus provides for those who place their belief in Him as their personal Savior).