We all have: A Past that we must face A Present that needs embraced A Future that is full of grace A Redemption received by faith

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3 I have endeavored in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humor with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly... Charles Dickens

4 We all have: A Past that we must face A Present that needs embraced A Future that is full of grace A Redemption received by faith

5 A Future that is full of grace

6 You are about to show me shadows of the things that have not happened, but will happen in the time before us. Ebenezer Scrooge

7 Men s courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead, said Scrooge. But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it thus with what you show me! Ebenezer Scrooge

8 Luke 2:1-20, Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

9 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly

10 stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

11 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased. When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us. So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

12 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them. Luke 2:1-20 (NASB)

13 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ s gift. Ephesians 4:7 (ESV)

14 Without Christ We were born in sin

15 For I was born a sinner yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. Psalm 51:5 (NLT)

16 Without Christ We were born in sin We were guilty before God

17 None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Romans 3:10-12 (ESV)

18 Without Christ We were born in sin We were guilty before God We were enemies of God

19 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. Colossians 1:21 (NIV)

20 Without Christ We were born in sin We were guilty before God We were enemies of God We were deserving of death

21 For the wages of sin is death... Romans 6:23a (NASB)

22 Without Christ We were born in sin We were guilty before God We were enemies of God We were deserving of death We were unrighteous

23 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Romans 1:18 (ESV)

24 Without Christ We were born in sin We were guilty before God We were enemies of God We were deserving of death We were unrighteous We were without hope

25 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ having no hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:12 (ESV)

26 Spiritually, without Christ, we were destitute, blind, unclean, and dead. Our souls were in peril of everlasting punishment.

27 But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

28 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). Ephesians 2:4-5 (NASB)

29 Grace is the love of God shown to the unlovely; the peace of God given to the restless; the favor of God towards the unworthy; the benevolence of God to the undeserving.

30 But then grace came Grace loves Grace reaches down Grace forgives Grace overlooks Grace encourages Grace gives hope Grace blesses Grace helps us change

31 Spirit! he cried, tight clutching at its robe, hear me! I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Ebenezer Scrooge

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