Daily Stop & Thinks

Christmas Eve            

It’s not what’s under the Christmas tree that matters. It’s who’s around it. (Charles Schultz, late American cartoonist)

In many homes, Christmas Eve is the time for family to gather for singing Carols, enjoying cookies and hot chocolate, and opening gifts. For those families who recognize the reason for the season—the coming of God’s Son to provide salvation to all who will trust him, there is even greater joy for members of God’s heavenly family on earth.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)

Gift-Giving

I always like the gifts I get, but how I love the gifts I give! (Carolyn Wells, 19^th & 20^th century American poet and writer)

Well acknowledges that it’s gift-giving that gives her greatest joy. As children, we didn’t look at gifts that way. It was always the anticipation of getting what was on our wish list, and disappointment when we didn’t. We were certainly thrilled when we got the gifts we wanted. But growing up brings a more mature attitude about receiving and giving gifts.

Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Quoted in Acts 20:35)

Anno Domini

Christmas is the day that holds all time together. (Alexander Smith, 19^th century Scottish poet)

Smith may not have fully realized what he was writing, for Christmas is far more than just a miraculous day of the birth of Jesus. We number our calendar years from the life of Jesus. B.C. – before Christ; A.D. – anno domini, the year of our Lord. Few people may recognize the significance of dating that way, but it should be a reminder of the wonderful gift of Jesus.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

It’s Not Funny

I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, “Toys not included.” (Barnard Manning, 20^th century English comedian)

It’s a joke, of course, but can you remember when the opposite happened? Toys with no batteries, and the giver had forgotten to provide them? Wow, what a disappointment that was to the children. On a more serious note, how often do we think about the potential reaction to the gifts we’re giving? Will they be useful and enjoyed? We should be thoughtful in our giving.

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)

Christmas Gifts

Suggestions from Oren Arnold, late journalist and novelist.

“To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.” That’s quite a gift list, isn’t it? As we think through these days until Christmas itself, these intangible gifts are surely far more important than glittery, wrapped packages, no matter the monetary value.

Wisdom: “My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver!” (Proverbs 8:18)

The Good Life

The “good life” is one of self-honesty, knowing ourselves, and being ourselves to the glory of God. (Linda Brumbaugh, blogger)

To some, the good life seems to mean having as much “stuff” as you can get, enough time to do what you want, and unlimited opportunities to entertain yourself. Others have discovered, however, that life consists of more than just satisfying our desires. When we examine our abilities and opportunities, we discover that including God in our lives makes the “good life.”

My child, get wisdom; develop good judgment . . . Listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. (Proverbs 4:5, 10)

A Hug for Christmas

A hug is a great gift—one size fits all, and it’s easy to exchange. (From a Norman Rockwell calendar)

As you’re planning your Christmas gifts (just a week from today), you probably realize pretty quickly, that you can’t afford to give gifts to everyone you’d like to. But Rockwell’s calendar comment suggests a worthy idea. Be sure to express your affection and appreciation for your friends with a warm embrace and words of encouragement and hope.

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. (Romans 12:10)

Books and Reading

If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th-century American essayist)

Many bookstores are closing because of declining sales. Information of all kinds is available online, so why buy a book? Yet, authors still write, and publishers continue to make their material available in hard copy. Emerson didn’t know about the Internet, but he would no doubt still encourage us to follow the works of intelligent authors, whatever the venue.

(The Apostle Paul in prison nearing death): “. . . Also bring my books, and especially my papers (2 Timothy 4:13)

Home

A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it. (George Moore, 19^th-20^th century Irish novelist)

We admire explorers who have discovered new continents and countries. Many world travelers today enjoy exploring the world and discovering new places, cultures, and sights. For most of them, it usually feels really good when they return home. There’s no place like home, they say. In reality, of course, life is like a journey, and it’s important to have a home to look forward to.

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time . . . He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. (1 Peter 3:18)

Difficulties

Do not equate difficult with impossible. You can do the difficult. (Tom Kight)

He says, “Higher levels of difficulty simply require deeper levels of commitment.” Some of us give up pretty quickly when we’re faced with a difficulty, whether it’s an obstacle in our path, a mental problem we can’t resolve, or just a decision we’re struggling with. To overcome those issues, as Kight suggests, we may only have to make a firm commitment and keep working at it.

Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3)

Hope

When the unthinkable happens, the lighthouse is hope. (Christopher Reeve, late “Superman” actor)

Reeve’s comment is an antidote to what essayist William Styron wrote, “It is hopelessness even more than pain that crushes the soul.” Reeve continued, “Once we choose hope, everything is possible.” His counsel can be a great encouragement in today’s society where, in the confusion about identity and purpose, not much gives hope. To look above is to find lasting hope.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13) 

Healthy Fear

Fear that does not take you to God, will take you away from God. (Author Unknown)

We live in a fearful world. Many fear Covid-19; others fear the vaccine. Blue voters fear that red candidates will win elections and vice versa. Aristotle said, “He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.” But a lot of people find it difficult to handle fear, and many never defeat it. So, the observation of our unknown writer is very helpful for the fearful.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)