...kindergartener

Katelynn Hardee is a kindergartner in Vista, California. 

She is also a hero to 123 students at her elementary school.

Katelynn overheard a parent say she was having difficulty paying for an after-school program. Her mother explained that “sometimes people aren’t as fortunate and that we need to try to be kind and give when we can.”

So Katelynn decided to set up a stand to sell hot cocoa, cider, and cookies. She donated the money she collected, which went toward paying off the negative lunch balances of students at her school. As a result, according to the school’s principal, “other students are already talking about ways they can also make a difference.”

This Christmas week, we’re asking what Christmas can teach our post-Christian culture about Christ. We’ll explore the grace of Christmas.

If a child can change the world, anyone can change the world. 

Our past is no barrier to God’s future. How we begin the race is not as important as how we finish.

What in your past bothers you today? 

What guilt or burdens are on your heart? 

Let’s find God’s Christmas grace wherever we need his grace the most.

The book of Revelation describes Jesus as “the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world” (13:8 NIV). 1 Peter 1 points to “the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (v. 19) and says that “he was foreknown before the foundation of the world” (v. 20).

That is before God made the world, his Son was already a sacrificial lamb for the sin of the world.

Romans 5:8 makes this fact plain: “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” “While we were still sinners”—before we had done one thing to earn God’s forgiveness, Jesus died for us.

Here’s the point to understand: Jesus chose to die for you before you committed any sin. He knew your forgiveness would cost him his life, but he chose to create you anyway. And every other person in human history with you.

There is nothing we can do to earn such love because it was decided before we even existed. His redeeming grace is like a house you build for your grandchildren before your children are born. It is like a soldier who dies for a country that does not yet exist but his death helps create.

Would you have a second child if you knew that child would murder your first child? 

We are God’s second children. And he chose to make us, and his first child chose to die for us, anyway.

Such sacrificial love is the grace of Christmas.

“Now you’re mine twice”

Where do you need this grace the most today? 

Name your need and claim the Christmas grace of your loving Lord.

Who do you know who needs such Christmas grace from you? 

Who needs your forgiveness as you have needed the forgiveness of God? 

Who needs your love as you have needed God’s love? 

How can you pay forward what you have received?

One of the first stories I remember hearing in a sermon was about a boy who built a red model sailboat. He worked on it for days until it was just right. Then he took it down to the creek behind his house to sail it.

Unfortunately, when the wind caught its sails, the string attached to it broke. The boy had to watch his red boat sail down the creek and out of sight. He was heartbroken.

Days later, he happened to walk by a secondhand store and saw his sailboat in the window! He ran inside and told the man at the counter, “That’s my boat in your window. I made it and it’s mine.”

The man said, “Son, I paid someone for that boat. If you want it back, you’ll have to pay for it.”

The boy was angry but determined.

He worked every job he could find until finally he put together enough money to buy back his boat. It was a joyful day when he marched into the store, put his money on the counter, and took his boat from the window.

As the boy carried his red sailboat home, he said to it: 

“Now you’re mine twice. I made you the first time, and I bought you the second.”

This is the grace of Christmas.

...ever

The Christmas party was over. Several of the men were sitting at a table reminiscing about the Christmas days of their childhood. The conversation turned to the best Christmas of their lives. As they went around the table, they noticed one man hadn't said anything. They asked, "Come on.. Frank, What was your best Christmas?"

Frank said, "The best Christmas I ever had was when I didn't even get a present." The others were surprised. They had to hear the story. Frank began to talk.. "I grew up in New York. It was the great depression and we were poor. My Mother had died when I was just eight years old. My Dad had a job but he only worked two or three days a week and that was considered good. We lived in a walk up and we just barely had enough food and clothes. I was a kid and didn't really notice."

"My Dad was a proud man. He had one suit. He would wear that suit to work.  When he came home, he would take off the jacket and sit in his chair still wearing his shirt, tie and his vest. He had this big old pocket watch that had been given to him by my mother. He would sit in his chair, the chain from watch hanging out, connected to the fob in his vest buttonhole. That watch was his proudest possession. Sometimes, I would see him, just sitting there, looking at his precious watch. I bet he was thinking of my mother."

"One year, I was about twelve, chemistry sets were the big thing. They cost two dollars. That was big money but every kid wanted a chemistry set including me. I began to pester my Dad about it a month or so before Christmas. You know, I made all the same kid promises. I would be good. I would do my chores. I wouldn't ask for anything else again. My dad would just say, 'We'll see.."

"Three days before Christmas he took me to the carts. There was this area where all the small merchants keep their street carts. They would undersell the stores and you could get a good buy. He would take me to a cart and pick out some little toy. "Son, would like something like this?" I, of course, would tell him, 'No, I want a chemistry set.' We tramped to nearly every cart and him showing me some toy car or toy gun, and me refusing it. I never thought that he didn't have the money to buy a chemistry set. Finally, he said, we better go home and come back the next day."

"All the way home, I pouted and whined about the chemistry set. I repeated the promises. I said I didn't care if I never got another present. I had to have that chemistry set. I know now that my Dad felt guilty about not being able to give me more. He probably thought he was a failure as a Father and I think he blamed himself for my mother's death. As we were walking up the stairs, he told me, that he would see what he could do about getting me the chemistry set. That night I couldn't even sleep. I could see myself inventing some new material. I could see the New York Times.. 'Boy wins Nobel Prize!"

"The next day after work, my Dad took me back to the carts. On the way, I remember, he bought a loaf of bread, he was carrying it under his arm. We came to first cart and he told me to pick out the set I wanted They were all alike, but went through them, like I was choosing a diamond. I found the right one and I almost yelled. 'This one.. Dad!'"

"I can still see him, reaching into his pant's pocket, to get the money. As he pulled the two dollars out, one fluttered to the ground, he bent over to pick it up and as he did, the chain fell out of his vest. The chain swung back and forth. 'No watch.' In a flash, I realized that my Dad had sold his watch. He sold his most precious possession to buy me a chemistry set. He sold his watch, the last thing my mother had given him, to buy me a chemistry set."

"I grabbed his arms and I yelled, 'No.' I had never grabbed my Dad before and I certainly had never yelled at him. I can see him, looking at me, a strange look on his face. 'No, Dad, you don't have to buy me anything.' The tears were burning in my eyes. 'Dad, I know you love me.' We walked away from the cart and I remember my Dad holding my hand all the way home."

Frank looked at the men. "You know, there isn't enough money in the world to buy that moment. You see, at that moment, I knew that my Dad loved me more than anything in the world."

That is the way that God loves us. He didn't just say it. He showed it. He gave the most precious thing anyone could give. He gave His Son. John 3:16, says, "For God so loved the world (you and me) that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life."

He gave His Son, Jesus, That you and I might have everlasting life. If you haven't accepted that great gift.. Accept it now.. Just ask him to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart and be your Lord and Savior. It is that easy to receive the greatest gift ever given.

story

Herman and I locked our general store and dragged ourselves home. It was 11:00 p.m., Christmas Eve of 1949. We were dog tired. We had sold almost all of our toys; and all of the layaways, except one package, had been picked up. Usually we kept the store open until everything had been claimed. We wouldn't have been happy on Christmas knowing that some child's gift was still on the layaway shelf. But the person who had put a dollar down on the package never returned.

Early Christmas morning we and our twelve-year-old son, Tom, opened gifts. But I'll tell you, there was something humdrum about this Christmas. Tom was growing up; I missed his childish exuberance of past years. As soon as breakfast was over Tom left to visit his friend next door. Herman mumbled, "I'm going back to sleep. There's nothing left to stay up for." So there I was alone, feeling let down.

And then it began. A strange, persistent urge. It seemed to be telling me to go to the store. I looked at the sleet and icy sidewalk outside. That's crazy, I said to myself. I tried dismissing the urge, but it wouldn't leave me alone. In fact, it was getting stronger. Finally, I couldn't stand it any longer, and I got dressed. Outside, the wind cut right through me and the sleet stung my cheeks. I groped my way to the store, slipping and sliding.

In front stood two boys, one about nine, and the other six. What in the world? "See, I told you she would come!" the older boy said jubilantly. The younger one's face was wet with tears, but when he saw me, his sobbing stopped. "What are you two doing out here?" I scolded, hurrying them into the store. "You should be at home on a day like this!" They were poorly dressed. They had no hats or gloves, and their shoes barely held together. I rubbed their icy hands, and got them up close to the heater.

"We've been waiting for you," replied the older boy. "My little brother Jimmy didn't get any Christmas." He touched Jimmy's shoulder. "We want to buy some skates. That's what he wants. We have these three dollars," he said, pulling the bills from his pocket. I looked at the money. I looked at their expectant faces. And then I looked around the store. "I'm sorry," I said, "but we have no --"  Then my eye caught sight of the lay-away shelf with its lone package. "Wait a minute," I told the boys. I walked over, picked up the package, unwrapped it and, miracle of miracles, there was a pair of skates! Jimmy reached for them. Lord, let them be his size. And miracle added upon miracle, they were his size.

The older boy presented the dollars to me. "No," I told him, "I want you to have these skates, and I want you to use your money to get some gloves." The boys just blinked at first. Then their eyes became like saucers, and their grins stretched wide when they understood I was giving them the skates. What I saw in Jimmy's eyes was a blessing. It was pure joy, and it was beautiful. My spirits rose.

We walked out together, and as I locked the door, I turned to the older brother and said, "How did you know I would come?" I wasn't prepared for his reply. His gaze was steady, and he answered me softly.  "I asked Jesus to send you."

The tingles in my spine weren't from the cold. God had planned this. As we waved good-bye, I turned home for a brighter Christmas.

-author unknown

true

It was only five days before Christmas. The spirit of the season hadn't yet caught up with me, even though cars packed the parking lot of our Houston area Target Shopping Center. Inside the store, it was worse. Shopping carts and last minute shoppers jammed the aisles. Why did I come today? I wondered. My feet ached almost as much as my head.

My list contained names of several people who claimed they wanted nothing, but I knew their feelings would be hurt if I didn't buy them something.  Buying for someone who had everything and deploring the high cost of items, I considered gift buying anything but fun. Hurriedly, I filled my shopping cart with last minute items and proceeded to the long checkout lines.

I picked the shortest but it looked as if it would mean at least a 20 minute wait. In front of me were two small children a boy of about 10 and a younger girl about 5. The boy wore a ragged coat. Enormously large, tattered tennis shoes jutted far out in front of his much too short jeans. He clutched several crumpled dollar bills in his grimy hands. The girl's clothing resembled her brother's. Her head was a matted mass of curly hair. Reminders of an evening meal showed on her small face. She carried a beautiful pair of shiny, gold house slippers.

As the Christmas music sounded in the store's stereo system, the girl hummed along off key but happily. When we finally approached the checkout register, the girl carefully placed the shoes on the counter. She treated them as though they were a treasure. The clerk rang up he bill. "That will be $6.09" the clerk said, as the boy laid his crumpled dollars atop the stand while he searched his pockets finally coming up with $3.12.

"I guess we will have to put them back, " he bravely said. "We'll come back some other time, maybe tomorrow."

With that statement, a soft sob broke from the little girl. "But Jesus would have loved these shoes," she cried.

"Well, we'll go home and work some more. Don't cry. We'll come back," he said. Quickly I handed $3.00 to the cashier. These children had waited in line for a long time. And, after all, it was Christmas.

Suddenly a pair of arms came around me and a small voice said, "Thank you, Sir."

"What did you mean when you said Jesus would like the shoes?" I asked.

The small boy answered, "Our mommy is sick and going to heaven. Dad said she might go before Christmas to be with Jesus."

The girl spoke, "My Sunday school teacher said the streets in heaven are shiny gold, just like these shoes. Won't mommy be beautiful walking on those streets to match these shoes?" My eyes flooded as I looked into her tear streaked face. "Yes," I answered, "I am sure she will."

Silently, I thanked God for using these children to remind me of the true spirit of giving. Christmas is not about the amount of money paid, nor the amount of gifts purchased, nor trying to impress friends and relatives. Christmas is about the love in your heart to share with those as Jesus Christ has shared with each of us. Christmas is about the Birth of Jesus whom God sent to show the world how much he really loves us.

shopping

I am flat broke from overspending at Christmas time.  But I need to go shopping again soon because I am completely out of self-respect.  I've said things I wish I could take back and I am not feeling too good about myself.

I also want to exchange a carton of self righteousness for an equal amount of humility. I hear that it is less expensive and wears well, and while I'm at it I'm going to check on tolerance and see if there is any available in my size.

I must remember to try to match my patience with the little I have left.  My neighbor is loaded with it and it looks awfully good on her.  I was told the same department has a repair shop for mending integrity.  Mine has become frayed around the edges from too much compromising.  If I don't get it refurbished soon, there won't be any left.

I almost forgot the most important thing of all - compassion. If I see some - no matter what the color, size or shape - I'm going to stock up heavily regardless of the price.  I have run out of it so many times and I always feel ashamed when it happens.

I don't know why it has taken me so long to get around to shopping for these items. They don't cost nearly as much as some of the frivolous things I bought at Christmas time.  And I'll get a lot more satisfaction from them.

Yes, I'm going shopping today and I can leave my checkbook and credit cards at home!  The things I'm looking for have no price-tags.  What a joy!

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23a) 

?why

I've been to Bethlehem. It's fairly indistinguishable from many other Judean towns, except for the Church of the Nativity built over the traditional site of Jesus' birth. Bethlehem is located on a ridge some 2500 feet above sea level, and five or six miles southwest of Jerusalem. Why, with all the grand locations in the world to choose from, did God choose for His Son to be born in Bethlehem? I can think of three good reasons.

1) TO FULFILL PROPHECY

Seven hundred years earlier, the prophet Micah quoted God: "As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah... from you One will go forth from Me to be ruler in Israel, His goings forth are from long ago, from days of eternity."

Now, some Messianic prophecies are cryptic - they are identified and understood only after the event has occurred. Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 must have perplexed readers for hundreds of years as to their meaning. Only after the Savior went to the cross did the followers of Jesus realize how the first seems to be the thoughts of the Lord on the cross, and the second an eyewitness description of that event. God placed such prophecies in the Bible so that when they happened, His people would be comforted to know He had planned it from the beginning.

However, Micah 5:2 stands out there in the open. God wanted everyone to know the Savior would be arriving in Bethlehem. And everyone did know, at least those familiar with the Scriptures. When the magi arrived in Jerusalem asking at every street corner where the newborn King could be found, word filtered up to King Herod in the palace and he called in his advisors. "In Bethlehem," they all agreed, quoting Micah 5:2.

God keeps His word; Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

2) TO IDENTIFY WITH DAVID

The Messiah would be a Son of David and sit on the throne of David. Old Testament prophecies emphasized both points again and again. Since both Mary and Joseph were of the lineage of David, Jesus was doubly covered. When the census of Luke 2:1 called everyone to his ancestral home, they made the journey of a hundred miles south to Bethlehem.

Bethlehem was where Ruth lived and where she gleaned the fields behind Boaz' harvesters. Boaz spotted the lovely young widow and the rest, as they say, is history. Their son Obed became the father of Jesse, who raised a large family of sons and daughters, the youngest son being David. Thereafter, Bethlehem would forever be known as the city of David. Even the angels called it that. "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior," they said to the shepherds. Doubtless many of the psalms of David which God's people have loved and sung for thirty centuries were inspired by time spent in the same fields and meadows where the shepherds met the angels that wondrous night.

One day as the Lord and His entourage were approaching Jericho, a blind beggar sitting beside the gate began to call out to Him. "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"  Again and again, he repeated that refrain. When our Lord came within earshot, He had the man brought to Him and restored his sight.

The Son of God is the Son of David! Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

3) TO MAKE A CONNECTION

Bethlehem in the Hebrew means "House of Bread" (Today, the Jews call it "Beit Lahm", meaning "house of meat.") What more fitting place for One to be born who would be known as the Bread of Life.

One day, Jesus fed thousands of people with the lunch of a child. Soon afterward, He taught the people the meaning of the miracle. "There is a bread that endures to eternal life," He said. He Himself was the living and true Bread from Heaven, "which a man may eat and live forever." (John 6)

Isaiah asked the people of God in his day: "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread?" (Isa. 55:2) That is to say, why are you working and worrying and spending your life for things that do not nourish you, do not strengthen you, and do not satisfy you? A good question for our day, also.

Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecies given hundreds of years earlier. Jesus Christ is the Son of David, born in the City of David. Jesus is the Bread of Life, born in the House of Bread.

How much plainer can God make it? Jesus is Lord.

...example

Summer was here. For Craig, that meant he'd be going on an annual camping trip with his Grandpa and his cousin Scottie. Craig loved spending the summers at his grandparents' farm. But the annual campout was the highlight of his year. He was all packed--couldn't wait to go.

Craig sat anxiously on the old porch swing, waiting for Grandpa to pull up in his beat up jeep. He noticed a few clouds in the darkening sky. "Looks like rain," he muttered, hoping the clouds would blow over. Then just as Grandpa pulled into the driveway, it began to pour.

"Looks like this trip is going to be ruined, "Craig whined, as he threw his gear into the back of the jeep.

"Now, I don't know about that." replied Grandpa with a wink. "By the time we get to the lake, it's likely this rain will have cleared up a bit. Besides, the best fishin' comes right after a change in the weather."

Craig hopped into the jeep as Grandpa started it up and slid it into gear. Then, after a quick stop to pick up Scottie, they were on their way.

As they arrived at the lake, the rain had slowed to a slight drizzle. Setting up the tent was a messy job. Though he had mud splattered everywhere, Grandpa never complained. He was grateful that God had sent a little water down to make driving the stakes into the ground a little easier on his aging body.

Once the tent was set up, it was the boys' job to gather firewood. "This wood's all wet, Grandpa." yelled Craig. But wet wood wasn't enough to discourage Grandpa, either. As Grandpa carefully arranged the wood for a campfire, he told the boys a story from the Bible about Elijah calling down fire from heaven to consume not only wet wood, but an altar also.

After Grandpa got the fire going, the boys had a wiener roast. The mixed smells of the wood burning and the hot dogs roasting just above the flickering flame had the boys mouths watering with hunger. The hot dogs were delicious. Both boys ate heartily. Then Grandpa pulled out a big bag of marshmallows and they roasted them, too. Scottie's first marshmallow burst into flames so Grandpa showed the boys how to slowly and steadily toast them just above the fire. By this time, it was getting rather late. The boys sat close to Grandpa and watched the stars come out after the clouds had blown away. After a brief lesson in astronomy, the boys gazed into the heavens while listening to the sounds of nature.

"What was that?" asked Craig, hearing an old owl hooting in the nearby woods.

"Just an owl." replied Grandpa, who found himself identifying a number of other sounds to the boys. Together they learned to recognize the sounds of frogs croaking, crickets chirping and even a cougar's scream.

"Grandpa, how'd you get so smart?" Scottie questioned.

"Oh, Scottie, I'm not all that smart." Grandpa replied. "I just happen to know the One who has all the answers."

"Me too, Grandpa." Craig shot back. "And do you know why we say our prayers every night before we go to bed?"

"Why's that, Craig?"

"Because we know God's home when we see His lights come on." came Craig's reply.

And then with a chuckle, Grandpa explained to the boys that God is omniscient. "Now I know that's a mighty big word for you boys to understand, but let me put it this way. God is all knowing. He knows your thoughts before you ever put your prayers into words."

"Wow!" came Scottie's reply.

"That's awesome." said Craig.

"Awesome," replied Grandpa. "I can't think of a better word to describe Him."

"And Grandpa," Scottie piped up. "We wouldn't know much about Him, if it hadn't been for you."

"A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children..."  (Proverbs 13:22)

The most important thing you can give your children or grandchildren is a godly example of a life well-lived!

...heart

"So he got up and went to his father.

But while he was still a long way off,

his father saw him and was filled with

compassion for him; he ran to his son,

threw his arms around him and kissed him."

(Luke 15:20 - The Prodigal Son)

While he was still a long way off...

The father knew the son's heart!

He did not say,

"Here comes that scoundrel...

What does he expect from me? A loan?"

Perhaps we are a long way off

from being what God expects of us.

We are so far down the road

that anyone else might suspect our motives

for calling on the Father

Perhaps we are Christian

for what we can get out of it.

But God can see...

even though the distance is great

...the direction of our steps and

...the purpose of our heart

And if that purpose is a longing

...for a renewed relationship

...or a closer tie

God's heart will go out to us

Even though we are "still a long way off".

...invitation

It was the biggest night of the year in a little town called Cornwall. It was the night of the annual Christmas pageant. It's an especially big deal for the children in town -- they get to try out for the roles in the Christmas story. Everybody wants a part.

Which leads us to the problem of Harold. Harold really wanted to be in the play, too, but he was - well, he was kind of a slow and simple kid. The directors were ambivalent - I mean, they knew Harold would be crushed if he didn't have a part, but they were afraid he might mess up the town's magic moment. Finally, they decided to cast Harold as the innkeeper - the one who turns Mary and Joseph away the night Jesus is to be born. He had only one line - "I'm sorry, we have no room." Well, no one could imagine what that one line was going to do to everyone's Christmas.

The night of the pageant the church was packed, as usual. The Christmas story unfolded according to plan - angels singing, Joseph's dream, and the trip to Bethlehem. Finally, Joseph and Mary arrived at the door of the Bethlehem inn, looking appropriately tired. Joseph knocked on the inn door and Harold was there to open the door.

Joseph asked his question on cue - "Do you have a room for the night?"  Harold froze. After a long pause, Harold mumbled his line, "I'm sorry - we have no room." And, with a little coaching, he shut the door. The directors heaved a sigh of relief - prematurely. As Mary and Joseph disappeared into the night, the set suddenly started shaking again - and the door opened.  Harold was back! And then, in an unrehearsed moment that folks would not soon forget, Harold went running after the young couple, shouting as loud as he could -- "Wait! Don't go Joseph. Bring Mary back! You can have MY room!"

I think little Harold may have understood the real issue of Christmas better than anyone else there that night. How can you leave Jesus outside? You have to make room for Jesus. And that may be the issue for you this Christmas.  What will you do with this Son of God who came to earth to find you?

Jesus is the One who trades a throne room for a stable, and the praise of angels for human mockery. This is the Creator who gives Himself on a cross!  The Bible gives us the only appropriate response: "The life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) You look at what Jesus did to pay for your sin on that cross, and you say those life-changing words - "For me."

Jesus is at YOUR door this Christmas. Maybe He's been knocking for a long time. Maybe He won't keep knocking much longer. All your life - even the events of the last few months - have been to prepare you for this crossroads moment with Jesus your Savior. Don't leave Him outside any longer. Open the door this Christmas Day. "Jesus, I cannot keep You out any longer. Come on in. You can have my room... my life."

-ron hutchcraft

...come?

Halfway through December we were doing the regular evening things when there was a knock at the door. We opened it to find a small package with a beautiful ceramic lamb inside. We looked at the calendar and realized that the 12 days of Christmas were beginning!! We waiting excitedly for the next night's surprise and only then, with the gift of a matching shepherd, did we realized that the lamb was part of a nativity set.

Each night we grew more excited to see what piece we would receive. Each was exquisitely beautiful. The kids kept trying to catch the givers as we slowing built the scene at the manager and began to focus on Christ's birth.

On Christmas Eve, all the pieces were in place, but the baby Jesus. My 12 year-old son really wanted to catch our benefactors and began to devise all kinds of ways to trap them. He ate his dinner in the mini-van watching and waiting, but no one came.

Finally we called him in to go through our family's Christmas Eve traditions. But before the kids went to bed we checked the front step - No Baby Jesus! We began to worry that my son had scared them off. My husband suggested that maybe they dropped the Jesus and there wouldn't be anything coming. Somehow something was missing that Christmas Eve.

There was a feeling that things weren't complete. The kids went to bed and I put out Christmas, but before I went to bed I again checked to see if the Jesus had come-no, the doorstep was empty. In our family the kids can open their stockings when they want to, but they have to wait to open any presents until Dad wakes up. So one by one they woke up very early and I also woke up to watch them.

Even before they opened their stockings, each child checked to see if perhaps during the night the baby Jesus had come. Missing that piece of the set seemed to have an odd effect. At least it changed my focus. I knew there were presents under the tree for me and I was excited to watch the children open their gifts, but first on my mind was the feeling of waiting for the ceramic Christ Child.

We had opened just about all of the presents when one of the children found one more for me buried deep beneath the limbs of the tree. He handed me a small package from my former visiting teaching companion. This sister was somewhat less active in the church. I had learned over time they didn't have much for Christmas, so that their focus was the children. It sounded like she didn't get many gifts to open, so I had always given her a small package - new dish towels, the next year's lesson manual - not much, but something for her to open. I was touched when at Church on the day before Christmas, she had given me this small package, saying it was just a token of her love and appreciation.

As I took off the bow, I remembered my friendship with her and was filled with gratitude for knowing her and for her kindness and sacrifice in this year giving me a gift. But as the paper fell away, I began to tremble and cry. There in the small brown box was the baby Jesus. He had come!

I realized on that Christmas Day that Christ will come into our lives in ways that we don't expect. The spirit of Christ comes into our hearts as we serve one another. We had waited and watched for him to come, expecting the dramatic "knock at the door and scurrying of feet" but he came in a small, simple package that represented service, friendship, gratitude, and love.

This experience taught me that the beginning of the true spirit of Christmas comes as we open our hearts and actively focus on the Savior. But we will most likely find him in the small and simple acts of love, friendship and service that we give to each other. This Christmas I want to feel again the joy of knowing that Christ is in our home. I want to focus on loving and serving. More than that I want to open my heart to him all year that I may see him again.

Don't forget the reason for the Season.

-gaye willis

faith

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." (Luke 2:15 NIV)

If man were to script the Son of God's birth, Jesus would have been born in a palace or a mansion. The news of His birth would have first been sent to one of the power brokers of the day - King Herod or Caesar Augustus.

But, God's script was different:

     no palace, but a manger surrounded by animals...

     no power brokers, but the social outcasts of the day, a band of shepherds...

            They were considered untrustworthy and their work made them ceremonially unclean.

            As a result they could not participate in worship.

After being surprised (and terrified) by a visit from the angel of the Lord, and then a large group of angels, the shepherds were confronted with what to do with the message they heard: "Today is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). What did the shepherds do with the first announcement of the Gospel? They believed! Their immediate response was: "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about" (Luke 2:15).

They don't stop to discuss whether it's exactly according to what was written in Daniel.  They don't question if they really saw angels or if they're just imagining things because they're overworked. They don't get a religious leader to accompany them. They don't even get cleaned up! They hurry off to Bethlehem to find Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. They believed all that God had told them!

What are you doing with what God has told you? 

     Are you acting and reacting with faith?

     Or are you discussing logistics?

     Bargaining with God?

     Nit-picking the assignment?

     Getting another interpretation?

What is God asking you to do today in faith? Just believe!

And you will be amazed at how God works in your life...

     how He works through you to reach a hurting world...

     how He spreads His message to expand His Kingdom!

-marji Kruger

one

He was born in an obscure village
The child of a peasant woman
He grew up in another obscure village
Where he worked in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty

He never wrote a book
He never held an office
He never went to college
He never visited a big city
He never traveled more than two hundred miles
From the place where he was born
He did none of the things
Usually associated with greatness
He had no credentials but himself
He was only thirty three
His friends ran away
One of them denied him
He was turned over to his enemies
And went through the mockery of a trial
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing
The only property he had on earth

When he was dead
He was laid in a borrowed grave
Through the pity of a friend

Nineteen centuries have come and gone
And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race
And the leader of mankind's progress
All the armies that have ever marched
All the navies that have ever sailed
All the parliaments that have ever sat
All the kings that ever reigned put together
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth
As powerfully as that one solitary life
-James a francis 

need

If our greatest need had been information,
   ...God would have sent us an educator;

If our greatest need had been technology,
   ...God would have sent us a scientist;

If our greatest need had been money,
   ...God would have sent us an economist;

If our greatest need had been pleasure,
   ...God would have sent us an entertainer;

But our greatest need was forgiveness,
   ...So God sent us a Savior.
-roy lessin

...cost

“The surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”

Scripture and history prove that people who make the greatest difference in the world are those who are willing to pay the highest price.

Consider Paul’s reflection on his years of ministry: “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure” (2 Corinthians 11:24–27).

What explains such sacrificial courage?

Paul described his passion this way: “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). He would pay any price to serve the One whose grace saved his soul and redeemed his life.

“Saying ‘yes’ to God’s destiny for our lives”

You and I have gone as far with Jesus as we can go at our present level of sacrifice. So it is with every area of your life. Your portfolio or annuity is all it can be without further investment. Your marriage is all it can be without further commitment of time and energy and passion. You have gone as far at work or school as you can unless you make further sacrifices to make further progress.

What is your next step in worshiping and serving your King? Where does he want more of your time, more of your abilities, more of your money, more of you? What service is he asking you to render? What witness to give? What sin to refuse? What forgiveness to ask or offer?

Curtis Almquist of the Society of St. John the Evangelist: “Surrendering to God’s will can evoke fear in our hearts, raise questions, instill resistance. It can be quite costly or difficult. We may be misunderstood or judged harshly by people surrounding us. And yet, there’s enormous freedom, authority, and joy in saying ‘yes’ to God’s destiny for our lives.”

Will you manifest such joy to your consumeristic culture today?

-jim denison

...servants

“I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2 Timothy 1:3-5

It seems like an eternity ago that I was a kid who lived near a Christian college campus in Nampa, Idaho. That narrows it down for those of you who are familiar with the area. Back in the day (I think that is how they now refer to the good old days) meals were served in a dining hall, family style.

My mom was one of several women who cooked in the dining hall kitchen. These were not just cooks, they were women who loved the Lord and were godly “mothers” to students who were far away from home attending college. It was not uncommon to see students sharing their joys and sorrows with one or more of these precious women.

If the truth were known, these wonderful (cook-mother-confidant-spiritual advisors) probably did as much or more to shape the spiritual lives of many of the students than their professors. Why? Because they were the real thing! The cooks did not simply serve up home cooked food, they served up the reality of God’s Word in action.

The apostle Paul, was very much aware of the powerful influence that Timothy’s mother and grandmother had in him being shaped and molded into a man of God. The faith of these two women was passed along to Timothy.

Sometimes it is hard for men to admit that their mother or grandmother played a significant role in their spiritual life. They would rather take all of the credit themselves and even belittle these precious women who loved them enough and loved Jesus enough to point them to Christ.

It really does not matter who has touched your life for Christ. The important thing is to fan the flames of faith in your life and get busy helping others. The one or ones you help may be family or friends. It really does not matter who they are–just share Jesus with the one nearest to you.

If you are a bit reticent about whether you are qualified, let me share what Paul wrote in Galatians 3:26-29: “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

You may be a mother, grandmother, father, grandfather, educated or uneducated, wealthy or in poverty, young or old, native born or another race—there is no excuse for not sharing and caring. Commit yourselves to be God’s FAITHFUL SERVANTS!

-cecil thompson

righteous

“By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.” Hebrews 11:4

In Matthew 21:28-31, Jesus told the parable of two sons. The father asked both to go and work in the vineyard. The first refused but later changed his mind and went. The second son said he would go but he did not go. He asked the hearers which of the two did the will of his father? The answer from His hearers was the first.

Doing what is right in the sight of God is more than mere words. That does not mean that we are not to speak words of faith, but we certainly must follow them up by faithful action. The book of Hebrews presents a gallery of men and women who were faithful to the Lord by their lives. They are true heroes and heroines of the faith and we need to spend time considering what they did, or were, that makes them examples of faith.

Abel was the second man born in the world. Adam was created by God, Eve was fashioned from a rib taken from man, and Cain was their firstborn son, followed by his brother, Abel. We need to stop, close our eyes, and think what it was like at this early stage of man’s life on the planet that God had prepared for them.

God had created a paradise for man that was beyond anything we can imagine. Just think—no weeds, perfect weather, harmonious relationship, animals were no threat, no sickness and no death. Got the picture? But then Adam and Eve sinned and were forced out of the Garden of Eden, weeds began to grow, work was essential to survive, sweat poured from the brow, pain was experienced, and death became a reality, both physically and spiritually.

In chapter four of Genesis, we are told that Adam lay with his wife and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son named Cain. Later she gave birth to a second son named Abel. We are not told very much about life during those early days, but a number of things may be inferred.

Each of these two sons of Adam and Eve had their own occupations. In the second part of verse two, it is Abel, the younger son that is mentioned first. We are told that he kept flocks. He was a shepherd of the sheep. David realized in Psalm 23, that “- – the LORD is my shepherd.”

It was possible that in the times alone with his sheep, Abel communed with God and gained a knowledge of what would be pleasing in His sight. Abel seems to have developed a sweet attitude and a desire to do what was right in the sight of the Lord. He must have considered what he could offer to the Lord that would be acceptable.

After Adam and Eve had sinned they were aware that they were naked and tried to deal with their guilt by fashioning aprons made from fig leaves. After pronouncing judgment on them and their seed, God made garments of skin. That implies the shedding of blood to cover the sin of Adam and Eve, and foreshadowed the shedding of the blood of His own dear Son, Jesus Christ, to cover our sin.

Abel was a keeper of the flocks. In some manner he knew that the sacrifice of the most dear and precious of the flock would please God. In contrast, Cain was a worker of the soil. We might refer to him as a dirt farmer. There were no John Deere tractors back then, and his work was hard and laborious. We have no idea of the type of plants he planted, weeded, and harvested. It appears that in the day to day labors of life, that Cain developed a bitter, resentful attitude. There is no mention as to why he brought his offering of “SOME” fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. Not the first and best, but just “some” of the fruits of the ground.

The words describing Abel’s offering start with the word “BUT” in contrast to the offering of Cain. Abel brought the fat portions of the firstborn of his flock. Again this is a foreshadowing of the Firstborn of the Father who would be sacrificed as the supreme payment of sins. Abel demonstrated faith in God. He knew somehow what would be pleasing to God and he gave his best.

God was pleased with Abel’s sacrifice, but not with Cain’s. The result of Cain’s bitterness and resentment was the murder of his brother. That is how his faith speaks to us today. We do not need others around us to hold our hand and try to map out our life—we need to spend time with God.

Abel is a true hero of the faith. He was close enough to God to know what would be pleasing to Him. Hebrews 11 says his life of faith still speaks, even though he is dead. Will your life still speak of faith after you are dead? Does it speak of faith while you are still alive? Trust, believe, and act in faith!

-cecil thompson

! real

“Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him. David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.’ Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!’ This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.’ “II Samuel 12:4-7

It was either in high school or college that I memorized a portion of a poem by the famous Scotsman, Bobbie Burns. It was the last stanza of his poem; “To A Louse”. This humorous poem was composed upon seeing a louse on a ladies bonnet at church.

Here is the portion I still recall: “O wad some power the Giftie gie us to see oursels as ithers see us! It wad frae monie a blunder free us an foolish notion: What airs in dress an gait wad lea’es us, an ev’n devotion!”

Here is my attempt at a loose translation: “Oh that I would have the power that God gives us, to see ourselves as others see us. It would from many a blunder free us and a foolish notion. What snooty airs in dress or strutting would leave us and bring us to true devotion.” (Very loosely paraphrased)

How do people in the world see you? 

Do they see you as one who is true and authentic, or one who lacks integrity and dependability?

I have shared in the past about a young man who was referred to me while I was a Juvenile Probation Officer in Idaho. This young man had been arrested and convicted before I was hired by the county. The judge sentenced him to a long term in the State Juvenile Correction Center.

One day I received a letter from the Superintendent of the Correction Center. He related how totally incorrigible this young man was. He said that he was such a disruptive force that he was being returned to the community. It was his suggestion that I notify the police to keep a watch on him and if he committed another offense, to try him as an adult.

I was stunned by the candid nature of the letter. I had just finished reading it when this young man knocked on my door. He wore a smile and acted enthused about me setting up a schedule for his supervision. Not knowing what to do, I asked him if he had any idea what people thought of him?

He said that he thought they probably had a good opinion of him. I passed the letter from the Superintendent across the desk for him to read. The smile disappeared from his face and a look of shock appeared. It was very obvious that it was a shock to him. (By the way–it was a turning point and he never re-offended).

So what things do we cover up in our life? 

What secrets do we “sweep under the carpet” rather than cleaning them up with the help of the Lord? It is only as we confess our sins that Jesus is able to give us His forgiveness and cleanse us through and through. We may be able to fool ourselves, but He knows the truth.

-cecil thompson