31 Days of Christmas – Day #11

A Box Full Of Kisses

It was 3 nights before Christmas and Daddy was very busy wrapping presents. 6-year old Alice stood at the table and asked Daddy for a box — a big box for a special gift. He hardly glanced at her through his busy eyes, but he did manage to pull a good-sized box from his wrapping pile.
“No,” Alice said, “that’s not big enough. I want the biggest box you have.”
“Why do you want that box?”
“Because it’s the biggest, and this is a special present.”
“Okay,” Daddy muttered, “I hope this is important.”
“Oh, it is,” Alice replied. “But now I need some paper.” Daddy reached for the least expensive roll, the tattered tissue used for stocking stuffer gifts.
“Uh-uh,” Alice insisted, “I need that pretty gold stuff.”
“Uh-uh,” Daddy replied. “That pretty gold stuff cost $8 a roll. The only reason we got it was to help the little boy next door with his school fund-raiser.”
“I don’t care,” Alice responded. “I want the nicest paper you have for this present. It’s important.”
“Well, who’s it for?” Daddy asked.
“It’s a surprise, a very important surprise,” she added.
Daddy gave in, muttering that he’d never paid $8 a roll for Christmas wrapping paper in his life.
Alice disappeared into her room for almost 3 hours. When she returned to Daddy’s table, she handed him her “biggest box” covered with wrinkled, wadded, and mashed gold paper held clumsily tight by enough Scotch tape to wrap the whole house!
“Open it now, Daddy. Open it now.”
“But it’s not Christmas for 3 more days, Alice. Why open it now?”
“Because I’m too excited to wait. It’s really special.”
Daddy tore away the expensive paper and opened the “biggest box.” It was empty. Absolutely empty!
“Alice,” Daddy said, “why did you use this big box and all this fancy paper to wrap a box with nothing in it?”
Alice said, “That box isn’t empty, Daddy. I spent all afternoon blowing kisses into it for you. That box is full of how much I love you!”

31 Days of Christmas – Day #10

God Did!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Joh 3:16)

Notice that God gave His Son, not loaned, but gave. Did you ever think of what that sacrifice meant to the Father? Knowingly, He sent His only Son into a hostile world.
Many a mother felt some of God’s pain when she received a notice from the government stating that their son or daughter had been killed in action. Through her agony, they may have cried, “I never knew giving a child could be so expensive!”

If you only had one son,
would you send him to this earth
to live in lowly birth
where no one felt his worth?
God did!

If you only had one son,
would you let him leave his throne
and come to live unknown
and face his task alone?
God did!

If you only had one son,
would you let him serve and bless
a crowd that offered less
than love and faithfulness?
God did!

If you only had one son,
would you let him weep and grieve
for men who won’t perceive,
but only make-believe?
God did!

If you only had one son,
would you let him pay sin’s debt
for men who soon forget
and live without regret?
God did!

If you only had one son,
would you let him bleed and die
upon a cross held high
between the earth and sky?
God did!

If you only had one son,
would you raise him from the tomb
to lift away the gloom
from earth and still no room?
God did!

If you only had one son,
would you send him back again
to face a world of men
who still are lost in sin?
God will!
God will!!
GOD WILL!!!

31 Days of Christmas – Day #9

White Christmas

In 1939, Irving Berlin composed a Christmas song, but he thought so little of it that he never showed it to anybody. He just tossed it into a trunk and didn’t see fit to retrieve it until he needed a song for a Bing Crosby – Fred Astaire movie, Holiday Inn, ten years later.
Bing Crosby was a deeply religious man and at first refused to sing the song, because he felt it tended to commercialize Christmas.
Finally, he agreed. It took a scant 18 minutes to make the recording. That “throw-away” song became an all-time hit. Crosby’s version has sold over 40 million copies. The song has appeared in over 750 versions, selling 6 million copies of sheet music and 90 million recordings just in the United States & Canada.
You might not recognize the song from the movie, Holiday Inn, or from the composer’s name, Irving Berlin. But you’re bound to know it, be cause White Christmas is on everyone’s list of Christmas favorites.

“Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!”(Psalm 32:11)

31 Days of Christmas – Day #7

I Did The Best I Could

Joseph and Mary were in a hurry at Bethlehem. It had been a long 80 mile journey from Nazareth, and the time of Mary’s delivery was at hand. It was logical that they would stop at my place of business. I am the innkeeper. Now mind, you, I’m not the only innkeeper in Bethlehem, just the one you remember. And I’m afraid you remember me for the wrong reason.
Oh, it’s true I told him, “I don’t have a room to give you. No, not for any price. The whole town is full.”
Joseph pled with me because his wife was ready to give birth any minute. I’ll never forget the pleading sound in his voice. It was almost like a prayer: “Please, do something to help us. Don’t turn us away.”
I told him, “I understand. Believe me, I understand your anxiety and your wife’s agony. My wife and I just had a baby boy six months ago.”
Joseph countered, “But your understanding doesn’t help. We need a closet or a private corner. Just some place to be alone.”
And right here is where you think I really blew it! Hard-hearted businessman whose only concern was monetary profit and advantage. But you’re wrong. I’d have done anything for that desperate couple. There was no place for them to go. The crowds in town for the tax census had filled up every nook and cranny. People were already sleeping in the streets. I’s have let them stay in my room, but it was already rented!
So, here was my solution. We did have a stable at the inn. Not what you’d call grand accommodations, but it did get them off the streets and out of the weather.
I sent them there and we brought blankets and water and made them as comfortable as possible.
My wife and I were right there when Baby Jesus made His entrance into this world. We were so happy for Joseph and Mary. Our hearts were overflowing with joy. And then some shepherds came in from the fields where they had been watching their sheep. They said they had been sent by angels to find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, to this stable, to my inn.
Just think, the hinge of history became a reality right where I lived. You’re right. I didn’t have much to offer. But I did what I could to welcome the newborn King.
This Christmas, will you do the same?

31 Days of Christmas – Day #6

The Professor Told A Lie

Clem grew up in a parsonage. His daddy was a preacher, then a Bishop, and finally president of Columbia College. So you can understand how Clem skipped boyhood and became a scholar.
He was a Professor of Biblical Learning at General Theological Seminary where he authored “A Compendious Lexicon of the Hebrew Language,” — not exactly a best-seller!
In 1813, Professor Clem looked up from his reading and writing long enough to discover love. He got married, started a family, and began to explore the wonderland of make-believe.
And one day, he authored a false statement. If he had just told it to his children, nothing would have happened. But the meticulous professor wrote it down.
A friend of the family saw a copy and sent it to a New York newspaper and the story was copied, repeatedly.
Thousands came to believe it. All Clem could do was hope no one ever discovered that he, the distinguished Professor of Languages, had written this unmitigated falsehood, based on the appearance and manner of an old German handyman who worked around his house.
But finally, 15 years after it was first published, with his children grown and gone, he confessed. And the whole world rose up to thank him.
Forgotten is his “Compendious Lexicon.” We now remember Dr. Clement Clark Moore for the one whimsical story which embarrassed him. It started, “‘Twas the night before Christmas.”

31 Days of Christmas – Day #5

The Main Event

Nine-year-old Rusty had never seen a circus, so when he heard one was coming to his mid-western town, he worked feverishly to earn enough money to get in.
Finally, the big day arrived. With ticket in hand, he rushed over to Main Street!
He carefully picked out a place along the curb and watched spellbound as the circus parade marched by.
The lions scared him, the elephants enthralled him, and the tumblers astounded him.
Then, adding to this enchantment, a silly clown with a sad face walked up to him and held out his baggy pockets as if bemoaning his poverty. Without a second thought, Rusty grinned and dropped his ticket in the pocket. The clown was gone.
All too soon, the rest of the parade passed by and Rusty ran all the way home. He yelled, “Daddy! Daddy! The circus was wonderful!” He went on to describe every detail of his exciting experience.
His father realized his son’s mistake, but wasn’t sure how to break the news. Gently, pulling his son close to him, he said, “Rusty, I’m sorry. You didn’t see the circus today, just the parade.” The boy insisted, “No, Daddy! I saw the circus!”
“Sorry, Rusty, you missed the main event. There’s much more to the circus than just the parade.”
“That’s okay, Dad. I gave my ticket to the man with the sad face so he could go. Maybe he’s smiling now.”
How often do we miss the splendor and delight of the season by focusing all of our attention toward Christmas day?
This Christmas season, open your heart and take pleasure in the small joys along the way.

31 Days of Christmas – Day #4

If Only. . .

The entire Christmas story absolutely escaped George Albright. The whole “God-born-in-a-manger” thing was beyond him, or maybe just too simple for him to grasp. At least until last Christmas Eve when the snow began to fall.
He had just settled into his fireside chair and begun to read. There was a thumping sound on the window, and at first, he thought someone was throwing snowballs. He went to the door and looked into the yard where he found a small flock of birds huddled in the snow.
They had been caught in the storm and then desperately tried to find shelter by flying through his large living room window. George knew he couldn’t let those little creatures freeze, but how could he help them?
He thought, the barn, of course! The barn is where the children kept the pony. That would provide shelter. If only he could get the birds in there.
He opened the doors and turned on a light, but the birds didn’t move.
Maybe some food would entice them. He sprinkled some bread crumbs leading to the stable doors. Nothing.
He tried catching them and shooing them in. The birds went frantically everywhere except into the barn. They were afraid of him.
Frustrated, he thought, I want them to trust me. How can I convince them I only want to help?
But every move he made just tended to frighten them more. They would not follow or be pushed. If only I could be a bird myself and mingle with them and speak their language and show them the way to the barn, then they could see and understand.
Just then, the church bells began to chime . . . O Come All Ye Faithful. Listening to the music, George recalled the words to the tune and it was at that moment that the Good News pierced his heart and he finally understood the “God-born-in-a-manger” thing.
He knelt in the snow with a new and thankful belief.

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”(Philippians 2:5-7)

31 Days of Christmas – Day #3

The Stolen Statue

In Los Angeles, on Christmas morning, many years ago, Father Hopkins unlocked the church doors in preparation for the 6:00 AM mass. A quick perusal of the sanctuary showed everything in order. The worshippers came and went.

Then, just before the 8:00 service, Father Hopkins checked around again, and to his great dismay, he noticed the Christ child was missing from the nativity scene. In the frantic search that followed, there was no sign of the statue. Everything else in the scene was untouched.
Strange that anyone would want this plaster-of-paris, hand-painted likeness of the Baby Jesus. Complete, the manger set was not worth much; and alone, the one statue of the child was worth even less. But then, without the Son of God, the nativity scene was not worth anything at all.
The focal point was conspicuous by its absence. Who would do such a thing? Could it be pranksters? Atheists? Maybe some scrooge trying to spoil the happy Holy Day?
No one was sure, but one fact was certain: someone had walked into the chapel and stolen Christ right out of Christmas.
Then, just before the 9:00 service, a little boy appeared at the front door of the church. He was pulling a brand new wagon, and in the wagon was the missing statue.
Father Hopkins asked, “Juan, where did you find Jesus?” The boy replied. “Oh, I didn’t find Him, I took Him!”
When Father Hopkins asked Juan why, he said, “Well, I prayed to Jesus for a new wagon, andI promised that when it came, I’d give Him the very first ride!”

31 Days of Christmas – Day #2

Stars In The Window

During World War II, all across America, banners were hung in the windows of homes where young men had gone off to service. One blue star for each son who left, and a gold one if he wasn’t coming home. One evening, a young boy was walking down the street with his father. The stars and banners caught his eye and after a time, he began counting them.
“One star in that window,” he announced, “and one in the next.”
He clapped his little hands and shouted, “Oh , look, Daddy! There are 3 stars at that house.” He ran up and down the avenue pointing out stars and pulling his daddy along.
Then they got to one house that puzzled him. “Look at that big house. It has lots of windows, but there’s not one star. Not even one. Why, Daddy?”
The father thought for a moment and then replied, “I guess they didn’t have a son to send.” Daddy was getting the feeling that his little boy was too young to understand the meaning of all those service stars anyway. After all, how does one explain to a 5-year-old the lonliness, hopes and fears on the other side of those stars in the windows?
Then they came to a vacant lot. There was no house and no windows in which to hang service banners. But in the distance was a stretch of sky where one evening star was brightly glowing.
The little boy shouted, “Oh, look! Look! There’s one star in God’s window. That means God gave a Son, too!”
Then noticing the gold color of the star, he added, “That means His Son died.”

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son; that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.”(John 3:16)

31 Days of Christmas – Day #1

Christmas at Becki’s House

Becky was 4. She wanted to play that December afternoon, but Mother pushed her aside. “Becki, I’m just too busy today. There are presents to buy, cakes to bake and rooms to clean. It’s Christmastime, you know.”
So Becki played alone.
When Daddy came home she rushed to the door with arms outstretched, ready for her usual hug and kiss. But Daddy’s arms were already full of boxes and bags.
“Oooh, for me?” She gasped.
“No, for later. It’s Christmas, you know. Run along now.”
So Becki played alone.
At supper, both Mommy and Daddy were so busy talking and planning the Christmas celebration, with Grandma and Granpa and all the relatives coming over, that Becki couldn’t get their attention.
So she reached for the butter by herself. Somehow her elbow got all tangled up with her milk glass and over it went.
“Oh Becki, not tonight,” Mommy moaned. “Everything is so busy. It’s Christmastime! Run on to bed now. I’ll be there in a minute to help you say your prayers.”
She was already kneeling when Mommy walked in. Becki’s prayer was simple, but maybe one we all need to pray, as well: “God, forgive us our Christmases as we forgive those who Christmas against us.”
AMEN!