You can find the ad “Christmas with a difference” in the magazine called VIVA, 08/08/2012, and VIVA comes with THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD.

In THE COLLINS CONCISE DICTIONARY  I find two definitions for Christmas. First of all it says there that Christmas is on December 25 and that it is the yearly celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ by Christians. Secondly it says there that Christmas is also called Christmas Day, that Christmas Day is also on December 25 and that it is observed as a worldly celebration. On Christmas Day gifts and greetings are exchanged.

CHRISTMAS 1958

For me CHRISTMAS 1958 was a “CHRISTMAS WITH A DIFFERENCE”.

What happened?

Until then it was CHRISTMAS DAY, a worldly celebration, receiving and giving gifts. More receiving gifts, than giving, because I was still young at that time.

From then on it was the yearly celebration of the  birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What really happened?

When I was eighteen years old, I became a new creature, I experienced the new birth.

Just as people are born physically, people are born spiritually. And just as I know that I am born physically, I know that I am born spiritually.

Many things are happening when one believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let me just give you the six in relation to God the HOLY SPIRIT:

1. We are born again. 2. We are anointed by the Holy Spirit. 3. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. 4. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. 5. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit. 6. We are given a spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit.

Is CHRISTMAS DAY for you a worldly celebration, where you give and receive gifts or is it  the yearly commemoration of the of birth of our Lord JESUS CHRIST?

THE  NEW BIRTH, WHEN A PERSON BECOMES A NEW CREATURE,  MAKES ALL THE DIFFEREENCE!

In John 3:3 the BIBLE says, “Jesus answered and said to him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”