Tag: Christmas.

December 20, 2025

December 20th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Luke 2:6-20

Highlight Verses:

“Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The theme of the third week of Advent is Joy.

That word can get confusing.

I put up lots of lights and cute creations in front of our house because it’s fun.

We put up Christmas trees and garlands and stockings inside our home because it’s both fun and nostalgic.

We exchange gifts at Christmas because it’s fun, we want to express our love for our friends and family, and because it reminds us of the gift that God gave us through the birth of Jesus.

But the angels spoke of JOY that night, because it was finally the day when history split in two –

BC, (Before Christ) and AD (Año Domini – year of our Lord).

JOY came to the World in the person of Jesus aka Emmanuel – God with us.

No other amount of Christmas celebration could top that fact.

It is truly the reason for the season.

What brings you joy at Christmas?
How do you spread that joy?
December 6, 2025

December 6th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Luke 1:26-38

Highlight Verses:

“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Here’s where my Lutheran upbringing shows up.

While I’m not that well versed on the liturgical calendar anymore,

I’ve always had a favorite season – Advent.

Granted, when I was a kid growing up in the Lutheran church, I loved the season for the presents, the food, and the time off school.

As an adult, I’m just blown away at the incredible gift that God gave us by sending the Son as a baby to live among us, and to grow up to sacrifice himself that we might live.

As we transition from a season of thanks to a season of anticipation of the arrival of Jesus,

we would do well to thank God for the gift of His Son, our Savior.

It’s not a bad idea to enjoy the presents, food, and vacation time either.

What is the most amazing or interesting aspect of the Advent season for you?
How do you prepare yourself to celebrate the birth of Jesus?
Christmas Day 2024

December 25th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – Esther 9-10

Highlight Verse:

“He told them to celebrate these days with feasting and gladness and by giving gifts of food to each other and presents to the poor. This would commemorate a time when the Jews gained relief from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned into gladness and their mourning into joy.”
‭‭Esther‬ ‭9‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus was born at a time when there was great sorrow in the land.

Israel was occupied by Rome.

Poverty and oppression were the norm.

To make things worse, Caesar declared a census that required people to move to their ancestral lands during the taking of the census.

In the midst of all that stress and hardship, Jesus was born.

The festival of Purim celebrates how God saved Israel from her enemies.

Jesus, would save far more than just Israel.

I just spent three Christmas Eve services explaining the gift of Jesus coming as a baby to 4- and 5-year-old kids.

For the most part they didn’t really get it.

But they understood that Jesus coming as a baby was the reason behind the biggest celebration of the year.

That’s a great reason to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

Simply put, Jesus came to rescue any who would reach out to Him for rescue.

It is the best cause for celebration ever.

In what ways do you bring the real reason for the season into your Christmas celebrations?
Are there more ways you can think about to highlight the Gospel aspects of Christmas?
Christmas Eve, 2024

December 24th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Deuteronomy 32

Highlight Verse:

“He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Why on earth did I schedule Deuteronomy 32 on Christmas Eve?

It’s a tough chapter that’s all about how bad people have become.

Which, by the way, ties right into the reason for Christmas.

You see, Christmas isn’t just another time for religious people to practice religious rituals or for party people to have another excuse to party.

It’s not even about feeding kids’ imaginations and giving them reasons to behave.

Christmas happened because humans are messed up.

God had to come rescue us.

He had to come as a baby so He could live a blameless life. That way, He satisfied the requirement of a perfect sacrifice to satisfy justice for the sin filled lives that all humans have lived.

Christmas is the beginning of the outpouring of God’s love for each and every person.

It is God with us!

Emmanuel!

May your Christmas be blessed as you enjoy the gift of God with us!
Christmas Eve, 2023

December 24th, 2023
Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 4

Highlight Verse:

“My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This was written by Solomon, who learned much of his wisdom from his father, David.

Proverbs is his attempt at passing down that wisdom to future generations.

For the most part, my father was not wise. He made many mistakes out of poor judgement and weak morals.

But there is still some wisdom that he passed along to me.
- If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.
- You get out of life what you put into it.
- When you see someone in need, stop what you’re doing and help.
- Don’t be afraid to admit your wrongs and try to change them.
Okay, the list is pretty short, but there was some and I will pass it and other wisdom I’ve gained along the way on to my children and those whom I influence.

Do/did you have a wise father? What kind of wisdom did you get from him?
Do/did you have an unwise father? Have you been able to glean any wisdom from him?

One other thing I learned from my dad was a love for Christmas. It’s a time from which I have mostly good childhood memories.

I pray that today and tomorrow be times where new good memories come for you and your families.

Merry Christmas!
December 23, 2023

December 23rd, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Luke 2:1-20

Highlight Verse:

“She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Raise your hand if you’re surprised I chose this verse for the last open topic before Christmas.

I don’t see any hands!

Okay that might have something to do with the fact that I am sitting at my desk in our basement before you have a chance to read this.

Did I mention before that our basement is always a bit chilly. And I forgot to grab my sweatshirt before heading downstairs.

That’s why I am wearing my “Snuggie.” You know, one of those blankets with sleeves.

Oh so comfy.

Which may have been how Jesus felt wrapped in swaddling clothes.

The NLT translates it “strips of cloth.” That’s actually highly accurate. Babies would have been wrapped in soft strips of cloth. They were meant to give a baby a comforting transition from the womb to the real world. Almost like being in a constant hug.

That’s what Christmas is like for me.

It’s the warm hug of family and home.

It’s the pleasure of fond memories.

It’s the relief of no work responsibilities.

And, of course, it’s the comfort in knowing that God loved us enough to share His son with us.

In the midst of this all-to-short Christmas weekend, I pray that you may be able to take time to rest in God’s comfort and spread that comfort and joy to those around you.

Merry Christmas Eve (Eve)

Tag: Christmas.

December 20, 2025

The theme of the third week of Advent is Joy.

But the angels spoke of JOY that night, because it was finally the day when history split in two –

JOY came to the World in the person of Jesus aka Emmanuel – God with us.

December 6, 2025

I’ve always had a favorite season – Advent.

we would do well to thank God for the gift of His Son, our Savior.

Christmas Day 2024

In the midst of all that stress and hardship, Jesus was born.

But they understood that Jesus coming as a baby was the reason behind the biggest celebration of the year.

It is the best cause for celebration ever.

Christmas Eve, 2024

Which, by the way, ties right into the reason for Christmas.

Christmas happened because humans are messed up.

It is God with us!

May your Christmas be blessed as you enjoy the gift of God with us!

Christmas Eve, 2023

This was written by Solomon, who learned much of his wisdom from his father, David.

Merry Christmas!

December 23, 2023

Which may have been how Jesus felt wrapped in swaddling clothes.

In the midst of this all-to-short Christmas weekend, I pray that you may be able to take time to rest in God’s comfort and spread that comfort and joy to those around you.