Merry Christmas and welcome to this Christmas Day edition of Our Daily Bread reading today was written by Tim Gustafson and he titled it Christmas card perfect
 The Barker family Christmas video was perfect 3 Rogue clad Shepherds the family's young Sons huddled around a fire in a grassy field suddenly an angel descended from the hilltop their big sister looking resplendent except for the pink high top sneakers as the soundtracks well that the shepherd's stared Skyward in amazement a trek across a field LED them to a real baby their infant brother in a modern Barn big sister now play the role of Mary then came the bonus features when their dad let us speak behind the scenes YT kids complained I'm cold I have to go to the bathroom right now can we go home guys pay attention said their mom more than once reality was far from Christmas card perfect it's easy to view the original Christmas Story through the lens of a well edited Final Cut but Jesus is life
 was anything but smooth a jealous Herod tried to kill him in infancy Mary and Joseph misunderstood him the world hated him for a time even his own brothers did not believe in him is Mission led to a grisly death he did it all to honor his father and rescue us the barkers video ended with these words of Jesus I am the way and the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through me
 that's a reality we can live with forever
 today's scripture reading is from The Book of John chapter 7 verses 1 through 9
 after this Jesus went around in Galilee he did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him but when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near Jesus's brother said to him leave Galilee and go to Judea so that your disciples there may see the works you do no one who wants to become a public figure Max in secret since you are doing these things show yourself to the world for even his own brothers did not believe in him therefore Jesus told them my time is not yet here for you anytime will do the world cannot hate you but it hates me because I testify that it's works are evil you go to the Festival I am not going up to this Festival because my time has not yet fully come after he had said this he stayed in Galilee
 let's pray father as we once again reflect on the birth of Jesus the Christ we are once again humbled by your love grace and mercy thank you for sending your son to provide a way for us to be reconciled to you forever
 we love you lord it's in Jesus name we pray amen
 thanks for listening today I'm Steven and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries