On the night Jesus was born, there was a lot of celebrating going on! And those celebrations continue on to this day—all around the world.
In the US, our Christmas celebrations
center around putting up a Christmas tree and a nativity scene. On the actual day, we have a big meal and exchange presents.
In Norway, they start celebrating on Christmas Eve. Church services start at 5:00 p.m., then people go home for a special dinner. They generally have porridge, and one lucky person gets an almond hidden in their bowl.
In Poland, on Christmas Eve everyone watches the sky, eagerly waiting to spot the first star of the night. Once a star is spotted, dinner begins! This tradition is to remember the magi, who followed the star to find Jesus. They also have a tradition of putting hay on their dinner table underneath their tablecloth. This reminds them that Jesus was born in a manger.
In the Gambia, they have parades at Christmas time. They carry with them something called a *fanal*. It’s something they make out of bamboo with white paper hung over it, usually in the shape of a boat, and decorated with candles or lights.
In Russia, they celebrate Christmas on January 7. They go to church and then come home to a meal with twelve dishes—one dish to honor each of the first twelve disciples.
In reality, it doesn’t matter how we celebrate Christmas but rather who we celebrate. Christmas is the time we set aside to celebrate Jesus. He became human to save us from sin and death. That’s something worth celebrating all year.
• What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
• Why is it so important that Jesus—who is God—became a human (John 1:1-17; Romans 8:3-4; Hebrews 2:14-15, 17)?
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 (WEB)
Celebrating Christmas Around the World
December 22
December 22, 2019 • Melissa Yeagle
Are My Best Years Behind Me?
December 31, 2019 • Aurora Scriver
"My best years are behind me.” I know I’ve whispered or shouted that lie to myself in times of transition—a new school, a new job, a new schedule. One of the most stinging times I remember was when I was about to go to college. I was leaving behind my beloved hometown, church family, and friends. At the time, high school had been my best four years yet. I couldn’t imagine how there could be better days after those times. But, guess what? If you know Jesus, your best days are never behind you. Because, even though one day you will die, you await resurrection in Him. Jesus is coming back to make all things new—heaven, earth, me, you, and everyone else who is a part of His family through faith. When we come back to life, our sin stays dead. Sin is what causes all that is twisted and broken, so, when it’s gone, there will be no more tears, pain, or death. Instead, through Jesus, we will live as we were made to—in perfect relationship with God and each other. Serving God then won’t be boring; contrary to popular belief, it won’t even be limited to singing. We will worship God by using all of the amazing talents and gifts He gave us. And while we don’t know all the details of our sinless, resurrected existence, we do know that we’ll have Jesus, our family of former sinners now saved by grace, and the promise of the best years of our lives—forever. And we don’t have to wait to start participating in this amazing kingdom work. That’s because Jesus started it and called us to continue it by the power of His Holy Spirit. As soon as you know Jesus through faith, you can jump right in. Go serve God in your everyday life through the gifts He has given you, asking Him and looking for opportunities to share the good news: through Jesus, our best days are yet to come. • What have been the best times of your life so far? What made them great? • What part are you most looking forward to about the new heavens and new earth? What questions do you have about them? • What talents and gifts do you have that you can use to share the good news of Jesus? But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13 (WEB)
Trust God
December 30, 2019 • Emily Rudolph
With our heads bowed and eyes closed, I sat in our weekly prayer circle at church. Every Wednesday before band practice, our ministry group would come together and pray. We took turns thanking God, praising Him, and laying our requests before Him. As I listened to my friend talk to the Lord beside me, I knew I was next to pray. “Lord,” I prayed, “thank You for Your grace and love. Thank You for our many blessings.” I paused because I wasn’t sure how to put the thoughts in my heart into audible words: “http://and...um...lord, help me to trust You. Sometimes it’s just hard to trust You.” I closed my short prayer with an “amen” and then continued praying silently with the friends beside me. As I sat there listening to the other prayer requests, I realized what I had just said to the Lord: “Sometimes it’s hard to trust You.” Immediately, my heart flinched, and I felt convicted. Had God given me a reason not to trust Him? Was His track record tainted in some way? Was He not faithful to me? Had He retracted His love for me? As I wrestled with these questions in my mind, the solitary answer was a resounding, “No!” Here’s what I do know. God is the One who tells me that He will never leave me (Hebrews 13:5). He is the One who loves me unconditionally (Romans 8:38-39). He is the One who loves me even in the midst of my sin (Romans 5:8). He is the One who sent His only Son to die in my place (John 3:16). He calls me His own... His child (John 1:12). He can be trusted more than we can possibly imagine (Ephesians 3:14-21). • In our broken world, people can be untrustworthy. You may have been hurt by a person’s unfaithfulness. Read Numbers 23:19. Why God can be trusted, even when others are not trustworthy? • Read the Bible passages mentioned in the last paragraph of today’s devotion. For each passage, tell yourself (out loud) who God is. (For example, “He loves me forever. He will never leave me.”) Write down any of the truths that stick out to you. Those who know your name trust in you because you have not abandoned those who seek you, Lord. Psalm 9:10 (CSB)
Letters of Shame
December 29, 2019 • Rebecca Roskamp
What am I? I thought as I stared down at my hand, now covered in words written in permanent ink. Cruel words—written all over my hands— stabbing me in the heart like knives. This can’t be who I am, I thought. Lazy, slow, fat, short, stupid, http://weak...every word stung with fresh pain when I looked at it. Insult after insult, crawling up my fingers and over my knuckles like ugly insects. Oh, God, no. This can’t be who I am. Where had the prayer come from? How had God come into this? God didn’t belong here, with this hand, covered in my brokenness. I was on the floor, crushed beneath the weight of the letters on my hand. What am I, God? This isn’t who you are, Becca. I blinked at the soft whisper over my heart. That writing isn’t you. That writing is what they think of you. It isn’t what defines you. I will tell you what you are. In Christ, you are My child—loved and treasured. Replace those words with My words, Becca. All that matters is what I think and say of you. Because I know you. And I love you. “Okay, God,” I said with sobs. “But it’s so hard. These words won’t just go away.” By My power, they can. Slowly and painfully, they will leave as you replace them with My words. It won’t be easy. But I will help you. I will remind you. I will love you. I looked again at the words, feeling their hot sting. NO MORE. “What God says is all that matters,” I said. I picked up a red marker from the floor. I opened my hand and, right over my palm, wrote the words, YOU SAY. The red ink, like Christ’s blood, covered some of the letters of shame on my hand. Peace settled over me. And while I knew it wouldn’t be easy, little by little, the poison of the words of shame would give way to the peace of the red letters representing what God thought of me. I would let His words guard me from the sting of lies. God would define me. I am what He says I am. • What are your letters of shame? Reread today’s Bible verses. In Christ, how does God see and define you? • How can you use God’s definition of you to replace the lies of your letters of shame? O Lord, You have searched me and known me. Psalm 139:1 (NKJV)