Many of the key “characters” in the Christmas Story had an important promise of God affirmed to them, which enabled them to “take heart.”

Because of learning, remembering or hearing a FACT. “Take Heart” To be more hopeful To be more joyful To feel encouraged To feel confident Because of learning, remembering or hearing a FACT.

One of the deepest promises and cares about our pain. and assurances that we need in order to live a healthy and abundant life is: God sees, understands, and cares about our pain.

to fully-believe this promise, If we are unable to fully-believe this promise, we will definitely “lose heart” and end up settling for a less-abundant life than God wants for us.

“God does not experience emotional responses due to the actions of another being. God is absolutely independent of any other being.”

by mankind, a man of suffering, and acquainted Isaiah 53: 3-4 3 “He was despised and rejected by mankind,     a man of suffering, and acquainted with grief... 4 Surely He took up our pain and bore our sorrows…”

Jesus wept over… A dead friend (John 11:35) Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) His impending death (Hebrews 5:7)

Many O.T. passages also show that God experiences a range of emotions: God is said to “wail and moan” over Moab (Jeremiah 48:31). God is said to be “angry” (Deuteronomy 1:37), “moved by pity” (Judges 2:18), “pleased” (1 Kings 3:10), and “to rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). Genesis 6:6 says, “The LORD was sorry He had ever made [mankind] and put them on the earth. It broke His heart.”

The Prophet Isaiah recounts from God’s perspective a wide range of His emotions as He goes about rescuing, redeeming, and disciplining Israel.

(New Living Translation) Psalm 56:8 (New Living Translation) “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your Bottle. You have recorded each one in Your Book.”

Abe & Sarah Zack & Liz

His Promise to Abraham & Sarah, with her giving birth to Isaac. Genesis 21: 1-7 God fulfills His Promise to Abraham & Sarah, with her giving birth to Isaac. Abraham was 100. Sarah was 90.

Romans 4: 18, 20-21 18 “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations… 20 … He did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”

Luke 1: 6-7 6 [Zechariah and Elizabeth] were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and regulations blamelessly. 7 But they had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well-along in years.

Birth of John Foretold (Luke 1: 5-25) Mary Visits Elizabeth (Luke 1: 39-56) The Birth of John (Luke 1: 57-66) Zechariah’s Song (Luke 1: 67-79)

Luke 1:13 “The angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.”

“The Lord has done this for me,” Luke 1:25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days He has shown His favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

that the Lord would fulfill Luke 1:45 “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His Promises to her!”