Worthy Words

Instead of allowing the Christmas season to be a source of tension this year, have it be a source of renewal. As Paul said, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." (Romans 12:18) I've heard this story many times in the past, and, to tell you the truth, always thought that it was an urban legend — but then it was reported by the Associated Press on Christmas Day, 1994. It serves as a great example for us to follow. The story took place on the Western Front during World War I, December 24 and 25. German and British troops were stationed a few hundred yards apart. For weeks they had been engaged in battle. But now it was Christmas and they were ready for some relief. It started when some German soldiers lit candles on their Christmas trees. It was a crazy thing to do during war-time. The British soldiers could easily spot their position. Instead, the British responded by shooting off rockets and building bonfires. The Germans began singing ...

Once upon a time, there was a man who looked upon Christmas as a lot of humbug. He wasn't a Scrooge. He was a very kind and decent person, generous to his family, upright in all his dealings with other men. But he didn't believe all that stuff about God becoming man, which churches proclaim at Christmas. Why would God want to do anything like that? So when his family left to attend midnight services on Christmas Eve, he stayed home. Shortly after the family drove away, snow began to fall. He went to the window and watched the flurries getting heavier and heavier. Sometime later, as he was reading his newspaper by the fire, he was startled by a thudding sound that was quickly followed by another. Then another. When he went to investigate, he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They had been caught in the storm, and in a desperate search for shelter had tried to fly through the window. "I can't let these poor creatures lie there and freeze,...

If you've been blue because this year doesn't measure up, because the kids won't be coming home for Christmas, because you can't buy all the things you want to buy, because you just haven't been able to get in the spirit of things — it's not too late. You still have time to get on the right track. I encourage you to take some time between now and Christmas Day to thank God for the people he has brought your way. Thank him for the blessings he has put in your life. You may be struggling with unmet needs right now and you may be dealing with some difficult relationships — we all are. But you can take a few minutes to forget about what’s missing, and focus instead on what exists — the many blessings that God has given you. We have a bad habit of making Christmas all about “me” — my expectations, my wants, my needs, my preferences. The result is, often, that Christmas disappoints us or frustrates us in one way or another, year in and year out. I...