Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-04-26
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
beginning Dee. ~.

=. ItsN $ H. DOYLE.
Topic.-Ilnr can we carry the Christ
mas spirit ttroueh lg01?-Luke ii, $50
The celebration of the birth of Christ
Is necessarily limited to but one
day of the year, which we cali Christ
mas day. But the spirit Of Christmas
should be manifested upon every day
of the year. To do this it is necessary,
first of ALL to understand Just what the
spirit of Christmas is. There are
many things that characterize the
Christmas season but if we were call
ed upon t0 name the one that is most
prominent the majority of Christians
would undoubtedly decide in favor of
joy Christmas is. above all. joyous
season. The spirit of joy has charac-
terized the day Of Christ's birth from
the very beginning. 1t was the key
note of the announcement of the angel
of the Lord to the shepherds on the
first Christmas morning. Behold l
bring you good tidings of great JOY"
And what reason for great joy. For
unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Saviour, which is Christ the
Lord" Well may the whole world
sing at Christmas:
Joy to the world the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing.
OF all the seasons of the year the
Christmas season is the most joyous of
all Joy Is the dominating spirit of
the season.
This spirit Of JOY at Christmas is
manifested IN different ways. a. 1t Is
manifested in expressions of gratitude
to God. With the angelic chorus the
world sings GLORY to God in the high
est, and on earth peace. good will to-
ward men," Perhaps at no other time
is God so abundantly praised as at
Christmas time At that time as sell
dom at any other we remember Gods
great gift to the world. and the senti
ment Of most people is, Thanks be
unto God for His unspeakable gift"
But gratitude to God is not to be linn
tied to any one day Of the year, how.
ever important that day may be. II
should characterize every day of the
year. Every day we should praise and
bless His holy name and not only for
the daily blessings Of life, but every
day there should be In our hearts that
spirit of Joy that will lead us to thank
Him daily for the gift of His son. e.
1t is manifested in the kindly attitude
Of men toward their fellow men. Be
ing joyful ourselves. we are anxious
10 impart this joy to others. The result
Is joyful greetings, the enriching Of
the lives of others with gifts, unusual
kindness and expression of good will
But these are also things that should
not be reserved for but one season OF
the year. There are always those about
us who need our assistance. Kind
words and deeds are needed and appre-
ciated every day of the year. The
spirit of JOY should be a factor in our
lives every day. Indeed, the Christ
mas spirit will accomplish greater re-
suits and prove a greater blessing on
the common days of life than at a par
ticular holiday season. Then all are
more or less able TO find Joy for them
selves. But 1t Is mostly when amid
the daily routine of life, with its du
ties and burdens, that we need the sym
patty, cheerful greetings and assist
ance of our fellow men. Let US not
forget this fact. Let us be kind and
helpful upon all occasions, and thus
manifest the Christmas spirit through
out the new year upon which we shall
soon enter.
But how may we carry this spiri
through the year? By remembering
the goodness of God to us in the gift
Of His Son. 1t is this that fills us witt
the spirit Of joy at the Christmas sea
son, and why should it not have the
same effect at other times? 1t un
doubtedly would, but the trouble Il
that we forget it. But let us forget i
no longer. When an opportunity comes
to do a deed of kindness or to speak {
word of good cheer to some one IL
trouble, In sorrow or in scourage
ment, let us remember the great gif
of God to us and give ourselves IL
good deeds, in kind words and in heart
felt sympathy to others.
BIBLE REFERENCES.
Gen. Ill. 10; lisa. vii, IA; tx, 6, 7; Il
ITO; Mic. v, 2; Zech. TX. o; Nal. i'll, 1
Nv. 10; Matt. 1. 1-16; Luke 1, 1888
John iii, 10; Rom. v, os; Rev. xii, II
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