Today is Christmas day, the day we celebrate the birth of Christ. In the morning our family opened the presents under the tree. In the past few days, I've helped different people in our family plan gifts for the others. My brother and I got money from our aunt and grandparents, and a lot of candy and food.

My dad got an ankle brace and a new pair of tennis shoes, both for him to use when playing tennis with my brother. My brother's big gift this year from me was a skateboard. He has developed an interest in skateboarding via one of his friends (manuel), and a few days ago I just on my old skateboard (the one he has been using) and nearly broke it in two.

A few days ago my dad, brother, and I went and bought a ring for my mom. We hid the ring in layers of boxes, and then put one of her own rings under the tree in a gift wrapped mouse trap. It was pretty funny watching her open the present and find her own ring. After a laugh, we went and fetched the real thing.

In the afternoon we all went to chestnut park for some sports and exercise.

Devotion time notes:

Jeremiah 23

Because the Israelites were being led astray, God promises that he will punish the bad shepherds and gather his people back to himself from the lands they're exiled to. He also promises in the beginning of this passage the coming of a Messiah, "The Righteous Branch", who will be called "The LORD our Righteousness".

Verses 7 and 8 have been fufilled in modern times by the creation of the State of Israel, and the Lord has gathered his people back to their own land from the lands where he exiled them.

The next section of this passage tells us of how widespread the false teaching was. Throughout the land, both prophet and priest were leading the people astray with lies and false gods. Those who were supposedly living a life dedicated to serving God and guiding the people were the ones who were most active in leading the people astray.