“…because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven…”
Luke 1:78 NIV
The Sunrise
If you’re looking for a show in the sky, the best places to see sunrises and sunsets in Canada were ranked and there are spots in six provinces. According to a report by Mornings.co.uk that used Tripadvisor to gather data for countries around the world, some spots in Canada are pretty popular for their spectacular views of sunrises and sunsets. According to the report, the best place to watch the sunrise in the country is Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta.
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We recognize that it is quite likely that Jesus wasn’t born at this time of the year. Because of the Passover taking place at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, we have a good idea each year when to focus on His death and resurrection. But we don’t know the exact date of his birth. Early on in the history of the Christian church, December 25 was chosen because it was, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, the darkest time of the year. Jesus would call Himself the light of the world, stepping into a world dark with sin. In fact, John the Baptist’s father Zechariah, in speaking by the Holy Spirit, would describe Jesus this way in Luke 1:78: “’…because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven…’” What a wonderful way to describe Jesus – the rising sun from heaven. The dark world in which we live, which is so filled with violence, disputes, wars, and selfish ambition, needs Jesus more than ever, to bring the light of the glory of God into our world. It’s Christmas Eve. The rising sun has come.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley