christmas Archives – Page 2 of 13

Posted on December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 by admin — Leave a comment

Jesus Was Born-What Happened Next? 3rd Day of Christmas

Gospel Medley Writer's Block: My Experience

Jesus Was Born-What Happened Next? For the 3rd Day of Christmas, you’ll enjoy this Christmasy excerpt from my non-fiction book, The Gospel Medley.

What happened between the shepherds’ visit to the manger and the wise men’s visit to the house? Read on, you’ll find out! Plus, you’ll read another momentous prophecy and testimony about Jesus soon after His birth.

That’s not all–my other twenty-five gifts are below for your reading pleasure, not just this one gift! You don’t have to unwrap them–just click on them.

Let me know what you think by clicking here or emailing me at [email protected]. As always, everyone who responds with a comment or email will get a free book from me.

My past gifts to you are here:

Half of Your Gifts! – Jesus Was Born

Advent Day 1 – Over 90 Free Books Today – The First Day of Advent
2. Advent Day 2 – Get Your SciFi and Fantasy Books on Sale Today – Advent 2
3. Advent Day 3 –Get Your Free Copy of Secret Supers in Space – Advent 3
4. Advent Day 4 – Secret Supers Versus Zombie Turkeys – Who Will Win? – Advent 4
5. Advent Day 5 – What You Don’t Know About Zombie Turkeys – Advent 5.5
6. Advent Day 6 – What’s A Zombie Detective? .99 for Advent 6.5
7. Advent Day 7 –My Free Audiobooks for Advent 7 & More
Do You Know the Story of Before Jesus Was Born? Advent 8
What Happens At Jesus Second Coming? – Free Sample Advent 9

If you want to keep track of all my blog posts and get free books you can subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here.

What Happened After Jesus Was Born? From The Gospel Medley

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift
What Happened After Jesus Was Born? — The Gospel Medley back cover

(After Simeon’s prophecy in the previous post)

36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day. 38 Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem. 39 When they [Joseph and Mary had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.^[1]^.

[1] Joseph and Mary eventually returned to Nazareth but moved to a house in Bethlehem by the time the wise men visited. Since Herod died in March of 4 BC, this episode had to take place before then but after Jesus’s birth. “All these things” included the circumcision (nine days) and the purification (thirty days) plus at least three days for travel and three days back. At least two months passed before they fled to Egypt. We know the wise men visited them while they resided in Bethlehem. After their flight to Egypt, they returned to Nazareth.

What Happened After Jesus Was Born? The Next Episode in Jesus’s Life

The Flight to Egypt

Matthew 2:13–23

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him.”

14 He arose and took the young child and His mother by night, and departed into Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod;

that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”^[1]

Herod’s Slaughter

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.”^[2]

19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 20 “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”

21 He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Footnotes from This Section

[1] Hosea 11:1 – “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.”

[2] Jeremiah 31:15 – Yahweh says: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.

What Happened After Jesus Was Born? Conclusion

What do you think of your third day of Christmas gift? Let me know right here. Don’t forget, I’ll give you a free book after I get your email.

If you like The Gospel Medley, you can subscribe to my newsletter here to see all my blog posts and get free books every month. Or you can just stay at my blog, checking back every day until Christmas.

Get your autographed copy of The Gospel Medley by clicking here.

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Posted on December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 by admin — Leave a comment

Boxing Day – What Does Revelation Say About the Future?

Boxing Day – What Does Revelation Say About the Future? – The 2nd Day of Christmas is Boxing Day, a day of charity. Dig into your free excerpt of The Revelation Devotional. My book is on sale from December 26th to 27th, 2025. It has the book of Revelation verbatim from the World English Bible and Biblical cross references for each verse. Finally, you’ll read thought-provoking questions about each verse.

Boxing Day – Revelation About the Future

March 19 – Revelation 6:1

Four seraphim before God's throne.
Boxing Day — Four seraphim before God’s throne.

I saw that the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as with a voice of thunder, “Come and see!”

What happened when the Lamb opened the first seal?

Who was invited to come and see?

Where were these seals opened in John’s vision?

Prayer: Father, we praise You that through Jesus Christ we may have access to the greatest secrets of heaven. These things the angels did not know until You revealed them through Jesus the Revelator. Then through John, You revealed them to us. Help us to hear and to act on this knowledge from the throne of God. In Jesus’s Name, we pray. Amen.

Saying, as with a voice of thunder. This sound of thunder seems to be a minor detail, but this sound is all through Revelation and around God’s throne. Consider lightning and thunder first appeared when God came down on Mount Sinai in Exodus 19. Observe the other places thunder occurs in Revelation.

Boxing Day – Understanding the Future

March 20 – Revelation 6:2

Get Your Glimpse
Boxing Day
The Four Horsemen — The Four Horsemen

And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

What did John see?

What did the horseman do?

Prayer: All praise to You, Holy Father, and to Jesus our Revelator! You tell us what will happen before it happens. Thank You, Jesus, for not only revealing the future to us in Revelation but also in the gospels. Thank You for staying with Your church to the very end of the age and sustaining us through all persecution. Glory to You forever for Your triumph in the church! Amen.

A white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown.

Some have thought this was a picture of Jesus.

Yet in Revelation 19:11-12I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns.

Jesus is portrayed on a white horse with many crowns. Revelation 19 takes place after His second coming. His second coming has not yet been mentioned in Revelation 6. Who can solve this mystery? Jesus Himself gives the future to the disciples.

Matthew 24:3-5As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray”.

The first thing Jesus mentions are false messiahs, and the first seal is someone who looks like Jesus but is not.

Boxing Day Gift Continues

March 21 – Revelation 6:3-4

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift
Understand Revelation
Boxing Day — The four icons of the four gospels. Also, the four seraphim around the throne of God

When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!” 4 Another came out: a red horse. To him who sat on it was given power to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another. There was given to him a great sword.

Who announces the second seal?

What appears with the second seal?

Prayer: O Prince of Peace, come quickly! O Yahweh Shalom, come and bring peace, for it has been taken from the Earth in our lifetimes and our history since the days of Jesus. Make us the instruments of Your peace, bringing it wherever we may go. O come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen

It was given power to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another. The second horseman of the Apocalypse (Revelation) takes peace from the Earth. Since Jesus’s day, there have been many wars and much death. What did Jesus say about this in His earlier prophecy?

Matthew 24:6-7You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places.

Mark 13:7“When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be troubled. For those must happen, but the end is not yet.”

Luke 21:9 “When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come immediately.”

Boxing Day Gift – Part 3

March 22 – Revelation 6:5-6

When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come and see!” And behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a balance in his hand. 6 I heard a voice in the middle of the four living creatures saying, “A choenix (quart or liter) of wheat for a denarius, and three choenix of barley for a denarius! Don’t damage the oil and the wine!”

Who speaks to John?

What did the rider of the third horse have?

What did the voice amid the four creatures say?

What’s your opinion? What do you think the third horseman represents?

Prayer: Father in heaven, we’ve had famines since the time of Jesus, and they will continue until His return. Let us remember to look to You for our daily bread. And more, let us look to Jesus as our daily Bread of Life. In His Name, we pray. Amen.

“(quart or liter) of wheat for a denarius.” A denarius was the average daily wage in John’s time. Jesus cited this in His parable of the workers in the vineyard. As I write this in 2023, the wheat cost is per 1 Kilogram is $1.00. USD.

A kilogram is about a quart of wheat. What’s a day’s wage today? At a minimum wage of $15/hour, 8 hours of work is $120. This would be a stupendous cost for wheat, which can happen during a famine.

Boxing Day – Part 4

March 23 – Revelation 6:7-8

The Four Horsemen
Boxing Day — The Four Horsemen

When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see!” 8 And behold, a pale horse, and the name of he who sat on it was Death. Hades followed with him. Authority over one fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword, with famine, with death, and by the wild animals of the earth was given to him.

What was the name of the fourth horseman?

What authority did they give to the fourth horseman?

How would he exercise this authority?

What is the current population of the Earth? What is a quarter of that?

Prayer: Father, truly terrible times are coming. Help us to stay with You through these times, for we know You will stay with us. We have Jesus’s promise, “I’ll never leave nor forsake you.” In His Name, we pray. Amen.

To kill with the sword, with famine, with death, and by the wild animals of the earth. In our current world, we don’t fear wild animals, for we can kill them with firearms. However, if society breaks down, the animals will multiply, particularly the predators. Without a working civilization, ammunition will run out, and wild animals will become a deadly threat.

Boxing Day – One Last Thing

Understand Revelation — Jeffry Smith, author portrait

If you like The Revelation Devotional, you can subscribe to my newsletter here to see all my blog posts and get free books every month. Or you can just stay at my blog, checking back every day until Christmas.

You can also get an autographed copy of The Revelation Devotional by clicking here right now!

If you want the Revelation Devotionals in an ebook, then click here. It’s on sale until December 27th. (December 28th in the United Kingdom).

If you want to get a paperback then click here.

What do you think of your Boxing Day gift? Let me know right here. Don’t forget I’ll give you a free book after I get your email.

Jeffry Smith

Posted on December 24, 2025December 24, 2025 by admin — Leave a comment

Norad Santa – Why Have I Watched It For 20 Years? – Advent 23

Norad Santa – Why Have I Watched It For 20 Years? – Advent 23 – Yes, I’ve watch Norad Santa for at least 20 years–maybe even 30. Why?

I heard about it and I couldn’t understand–why was Norad generating an animated Santa? So, I searched the internet.

Norad Santa – The Origin

The NORAD Santa Tracker began in 1955 due to a delightful mix-up. A Sears advertisement in a Colorado Springs newspaper mistakenly printed a phone number for children to call Santa. Instead of reaching Santa, the calls went to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center, where Colonel Harry Shoup answered a call from a little girl asking if he was Santa Claus. Initially taken aback, Shoup decided to play along and instructed his staff to check radar for Santa’s location, thus starting the tradition of tracking Santa on Christmas Eve ¹ ².

The following year, the tradition continued, and when NORAD was established in 1958, it took over the Santa tracking responsibility. Over the decades, the program has evolved into a massive volunteer effort, utilizing military technology to “track” Santa’s journey around the world ³ ⁴. Today, it includes a website, social media updates, and a call center staffed by volunteers, making it a beloved holiday tradition for millions ⁵.

Isn’t it amazing how a simple mistake turned into such a cherished global event? 🎅✨

Sources:

Timeout From Norad Santa for another Review!

Zombie Turkeys: How an Unknown Blogger Fought Unkillable Turkeys (Life After Life)

Katherine

44 reviews

2 followers

December 14, 2025

Zombie Turkeys is ridiculous in the best possible way.

The premise alone undead turkeys that come back stronger every time you kill them had me hooked, but the execution is what really works. Following a struggling reporter and his no-nonsense editor through a collapsing country gives the chaos structure, and the satire of modern media hits harder than expected.

The pacing is fast, the gore is gleefully over the top, and the humor never forgets it’s supposed to be fun. Grocery stores, farms, militias, livestreams each stop somehow escalates the madness without wearing out the joke.

If you like horror-comedy with B-movie energy, sharp commentary, and zero interest in playing it safe, this one delivers. I laughed, winced, and kept turning pages.