A Christmas Gift of Prayer: Can You Share God's Love with Your Gift?

Someone declared that “Time spent in prayer for a family member or friend is the greatest Christmas gift you can give.” We can honestly and sincerely present  someone to the Lord Jesus Christ for healing, for comfort and strength without knowing the physical, emotional, or spiritual challenges they’re facing.

Being willing to lift up friends and loved ones to God in prayer has eternal value, for it will stay fixated in your mind and in the heart of the recipient. As you contemplate giving your gift of prayer to others, remember you are a shining light for Christ Jesus, the light of the world. Merry Christmas and God bless you!     

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They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.

~Luke 2:16-17 New Living Translation

God, who first ordered light to shine in darkness,has flooded our hearts with his light, so that we can enlighten men with the knowledge of the glory of God, as we see it in the face of Christ.

~2 Corinthians 4:6 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone you know. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them.

~1 Timothy 2:1 Contemporary English Version/The Message

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From Sunday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs are being posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

A Christmas Gift of Prayer: How Do I Begin?

If you were to give your loved ones and friends the gift of prayer for Christmas, what would it include? This is especially hard to do when a relationship is troublesome. The place to start is asking God to soften your heart and give you peace so you can reflect the light of Jesus.

Pray that each one for whom you’re petitioning will be blessed by God’s special presence. Talk to God about what you’re thinking and feeling as you pray for each person. Ask God to heal the wounds they’ve received in life. “God commanded light to shine in darkness,” so remember you are the light made possible by Jesus and let your light shine. Merry Christmas and God bless you!

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The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

~John 1:9 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today

Because the heart of our God is full of mercy towards us, the first light of Heaven shall come and visit us – to shine on those who lie in darkness ... and to guide our feet into the path of peace.

~Luke 1:78-79 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all.

~1 Timothy 2:1 Good News Bible

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week. 

From Sunday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs are being posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

Can the Christ of Christmas Be Your Best Gift?

How exciting! This is Christmas Day. What is the most significant gift you have received on this special day? As a young man I had just finished boot camp and was heading home for Christmas. After the holidays I would be on my way to serve my country, but then it was a special gift to see my family and visit with friends.

Today I am thankful for the gifts I receive that cannot be purchased, like the love of Christ Jesus, the love of my wife, my children, and grandchildren. I am blessed to belong to a wonderful church where I am a part of the family of God. Today I have the privilege of serving God in ways I could never have imagined. So Merry Christmas and God bless you.

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An angel of the Lord appeared to [shepherds], and the glory of the Lord shone over them. They were terribly afraid, but the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This day in David’s town your Savior was born – Christ the Lord! …Suddenly a great army of heaven’s angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased.”

~Luke 2:9-11,13-14 Good News Bible 

 

…God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.

~2 Corinthians 4:6 The Message

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week. 

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From Thursday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs have been posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

Can the Christ of Christmas Enable You to Be a Peacemaker?

We often hear the words, “America is a country equally divided philosophically and politically.” There are some people who delight in that belief, for it provides a constant subject for conversation as well as fodder for news organizations to graze on and preserve an eager listening audience.

Can you imagine God listening to the world two millennia ago and deciding to send Jesus to establish peace and good will among the people? Gather up your courage and decide to be a peacemaker this Christmas, for there will be a moment specially designed for you to give the gift of peace even in the presence of discord. So be ready for the event. Merry Christmas and God bless you.  

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Because the heart of our God is full of mercy towards us, the first light of Heaven shall come to visit us – to shine on those who lie in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the path of peace.

~Luke 1:78-79 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

 

God, who first ordered light to shine in darkness, has flooded our hearts with his light, so that we can enlighten men with the knowledge of the glory of God, as we see it in the face of Christ.

~2 Corinthians 4:6 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week. 

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From Thursday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs have been posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

How Can the Christ of Christmas Change Your Life?

What significant events have you experienced that changed the direction of your life? In some ways that question may be difficult simply because becoming a Christian is a life-changing event. To this we can say, “Thank you, Jesus, for saving and redeeming us for all eternity.”

Celebrating Christmas is rarely a life-changing event but rather an occasion for hearing wonderful music and stories of God’s wonders. Visiting with relatives and eating delicious food are reminders of God’s gracious gifts. Yet, it is the reality of God so loving us that he sent Jesus to draw us near to himself that is the wonder of it all. Have a merry Christmas and God bless you. 

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Stand up! Shine! The glory of the Lord shines brightly on you. The earth and its people are covered with darkness, but the glory of the Lord is shining upon you.

~Isaiah 60:1-2 Contemporary English Version

 

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made us understand that it is the brightness of his glory that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

~2 Corinthians 4:6 The Living Bible

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week. 

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From Thursday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs have been posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

Does the Christ of Christmas Still Intervene in People's Thinking?

Most people are surprised when significant events interrupt their lives and demand change. Hurricane Harvey dumped 53 inches of rain on Houston in 2017, completely changing people’s lives. Imagine the apprehension that grasped Herod the Great when three strangers told him they were searching for the future Messiah.

Significant events can effectively disrupt old ways of thinking and believing. God sent Jesus to interrupt an old system to make way for something new. Jesus set in motion a new system called the Good News for changing people’s lives. Can celebrating Christmas be life-changing for you? Think about it. Merry Christmas and God bless you. 

        

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The wise men listened to the king and then went on their way, to Bethlehem. And now the star, which they had seen in the east, went in front of them until at last it shone immediately above the place where the little child lay. The sight of the star filled them with indescribable joy. So they went into the house and saw the little child with his mother Mary. And they fell on their knees and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts – gold, incense and myrrh.

~Matthew 2:9-11 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

 

For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in my heart, to give me the light of the knowledge of God’s glory, reflected on the face of Christ.

~2 Corinthians 4:6 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week. 

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From Thursday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs have been posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

Can the Christ of Christmas Influence Lives within Our Culture?

Do you feel safe and secure with our culture today? Our society is affected by the economy and politics of this day. If this makes you anxious, remember that God’s plan and purpose will prevail in spite of your fears and doubts. Jesus came to redeem a society that was losing its grip on God.

The coming of Jesus into the world created hope for those experiencing him personally. Covid 19 negatively impacted the world but did not negate God’s plan and purpose for you. So what is your hope, for this Christmas? May it be to rediscover and strengthen your faith and trust in Christ Jesus. Merry Christmas and God bless you.

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We couldn’t be more sure of what we saw and heard – God’s glory, God’s voice. The prophetic Word was confirmed to us. You’ll do well to keep focusing on it. It’s the one light you have in a dark time as you wait for daybreak and the rising of the Morning Star in your hearts.

~2 Peter 1:19 The Message

 

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made us understand that it is the brightness of his glory that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

~2 Corinthians 4:6 New International Version

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week. 

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From Thursday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs have been posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas".