Once again, as with every Christmas, I believe that there is a great yearning that wells up from deep inside our souls to respond to the “great joy” of the angels’ announcement to the shepherds, to follow the beckoning Star to find the Holy place where Christmas miracles never cease, where every Christmas promise is fulfilled. However, even though we long for the comfort and joy of this sacred realm, we often look for it in stories about talking snowmen, magical reindeer, and Santa’s elves—all of the trappings but none of the essence and truth of the birth of Jesus.
For years I have loved and collected Christmas books during Advent, but I have become increasingly concerned about the content and number of books that claim, “This is a story/book about the true meaning of Christmas”, but lead you farther from the truth with every page. So, this year, I have prayerfully been gathering together a collection of my own Christmas stories, poems, dreams, and family recipes. My hope, even prayer, is that within these pages you will find an open gate through which to begin the journey to Christmas—on the road to the manger, instead of the mall, where Heaven still shouts the Good News, where the Light bursts upon a dark world and where we come to worship God’s precious Son, His Gift beyond measure.
These stories are for those who still believe in Christmas and want to slow down and savor the season, to revel in warm memories and to prepare for the promises of this Christmas to come It is for those who still believe in Christmas Miracles, but it is also for those who long to believe in them but have never taken the first step toward the Giver of those Miracles. And it is especially for those who say that Christmas is only for children, because they are closer to the truth than they realize, for Jesus commanded that we must receive the Kingdom of God like a child. (Matthew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16 and Luke 18:15-17)
HIS
THE TREE IS
GLORIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL
NOT MY OWN, BUT HONORS CHRIST
BABY JESUS, TINY KING, PRINCE OF PEACE
BLESSED SAVIOR AND REDEEMER, GOD’S WORD
THE GIFT OF GRACE, HOPE AND JOY, O LOVE DIVINE
REVEALED FROM THE FOOT OF THE MANGER I ALSO SEE
THE OTHER TREE THAT IS WAITING FOR MY LORD, THE CROSS
FOR GOD’S BELOVED SON, THE LIGHT THAT WILL PIERCE SIN’S DARKNESS
THE TREE IS
HIS ONLY
Note: Read this from top to bottom and then from bottom to top