Day by Day

[Soldier4Christ]

"Bad Attention"

You were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:20

Robert Hawkins got his wish. He is famous now.

Probably.

You do remember Robert Hawkins, don’t you? Last week, 19-year-old Hawkins killed himself. Of course, he knew taking his own life wasn’t enough to make him famous. That’s why Hawkins went to Omaha’s Westroads Mall and opened fire on holiday shoppers and killed at least eight people.

So, Robert Hawkins is famous for now. In a few days, he will fade into obscurity, and a month or two from now, the only people who will remember him will be some police psychologists and the families of those bystanders he murdered. Those few mourning families will remember Robert Hawkins for a very long time.

When I decided to use that story for a Daily Devotion, I knew there were a number of ways it could be shared. For example, I could talk about how we should be prepared for the unknown hour of our death, or I could speak about loneliness and what it does to people. Both would have made for good devotions.

Instead, I wanted to quote one of my parochial school teachers. She said, “For children, bad attention is almost as satisfying as is good attention.” She was right, you know. All of us desire to be noticed, to be acknowledged, appreciated, and applauded –to feel we have made a difference. If we can get those things in a positive way, well, that’s great. But if we have to do something bad, for many, that’s all right, too. This is why Robert Hawkins killed so many people. He couldn’t get good attention, so he settled for the bad.

It’s a shame Robert Hawkins didn’t know there was Someone who had noticed him and loved him. To the Savior, Robert Hawkins was a special person. He was a person so unique, so worth saving, Jesus was willing to leave heaven and be born into this sin-stained world. So that Robert Hawkins might be saved, Jesus lived, suffered, died, and rose. If Robert had believed that, it would have made a difference to him.

Of course, we can’t change things for Robert or for any of the other people who died in that Omaha shooting. What we can do is reach out to those other unnoticed souls around us who want to know they’re special. We need to tell them, “Jesus loves you and He wants you to know He gave His life so you might be forgiven and saved.”

[Soldier4Christ]

"Indulgences"

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24

We have people in our family who are hard to shop for. With the Christmas gift-giving deadline approaching, I’ve been searching for the perfect present.

Amazingly, I found a company that offers such a gift.

On the Internet, there is a company that will sell, for only $12.79, a kit that will enable people to add their names to the list of souls who are going to be checking into heaven. The company, believing people will want to make a reservation in heaven before the celestial city runs out of room, is offering a box which includes the following items:

* a heavenly issued certificate with an ID number
* a first-class ticket to heaven
* an official heaven identification card
* a heaven information guide

That’s right. You don’t have to believe in anything; you don’t have to trust in Anyone. All you have to do is pay your money up front, and you can do what you want and commit any sin you prefer.

And should you get to heaven and find the pearly gates are barred to you, don’t worry, the company is offering a money-back guarantee.

When I first came across the Web site, I thought, “Luther has to be rolling over in his grave. I’ve just come across the 21st century version of indulgences.” Then, after I had a laugh at the silliness of the offer, I realized, “There’s some people who are going to believe this.” I don’t know who could possibly be that gullible, but I’m absolutely sure somebody will think this is a legitimate offer.

This is why I’m not giving you the company name or the Web site. But I will give you this truth: If you want to go to heaven, Jesus Christ has made it possible. So you might have a reserved heavenly home, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. So you might be welcomed through the pearly gates, Jesus died on Calvary’s cross, and He rose from His borrowed tomb.

This is why this year, every year, I pray you, I, everyone, may know that Christ is the Father’s perfect free Gift.

[Soldier4Christ]

"If I'd Been There"

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10: 12

Did you ever wonder what you might have done if you had been at that Bethlehem inn when Mary and Joseph showed up looking for a room? Would you have said, “Here, take my spot, I can find another place to stay”?

Did you ever consider what you would have said if you had been in the crowd at the palace of Pontius Pilate when Jesus was brought out on display? Would you have bucked the crowd and called for the Savior to be released?

Most of us like to think we would have acted differently than everybody else. We’d like to think we would have thought, done, and said the right thing –not the convenient thing.

It’s possible, but I’m not that sure. You see, last week around 10:00 p.m., an employee closed down a northern Wisconsin gas station. Before he left, he reset the pumps, dropping the price of gas by a penny a gallon. At least that’s what he was supposed to do. What he really did was drop the price of gas from $3.29 a gallon to 33 cents a gallon.

An hour-and-a-half later the police called the owner of the gas station. Cars were lined up two deep at every pump, capitalizing on the employee’s error. Even though the price was clearly marked on the station’s big sign, 42 people bought 486 gallons of gas in less than two hours.

The owner of the gas station said, “I was very upset that there's that many dishonest people. . . They knew there was a problem, and they took advantage of an employee's mistake, and I think that's terrible.”

Not a single individual reported the problem.

So let me ask, what would you have done? Would you have been content to drive on by? Would you have called the owner? Would you have stood there and encouraged people not to steal from the business? What would you have done?

I would like to think I would have done the right thing. But I don’t know. You probably don’t either.

What happened at that Wisconsin gas station is pretty good evidence that we humans have sinful hearts; it’s positive proof we need a Savior, a Savior who can rescue us from death, devil, and ourselves. That’s why what happened at a Wisconsin gas station compels me to give thanks for the Christ who was born to save me from my stumbles, falls, failings, and sins. Jesus is good news for those of us who don’t always do the right thing.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Like Father, Like Son"

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

A few years ago our son had a blessed vicarage in Clio, Michigan. Because I have such fond remembrances of that church and the pastor with whom he worked, I simply had to read last week’s Associated Press article which was sourced out of Clio.

The story began with police checking on a truck that had become stuck in mud at a city park. In the passenger’s seat was a man surrounded by beer cans and open liquor bottles. The man explained he had asked his son to “drive them home because he was too drunk to get behind the wheel.” Not a great example, but at least dad didn’t drink and drive.

My sterling opinion of the father tarnished a bit when I read the son, who was driving, was 13. To his credit, the boy told the police he didn’t think he should be driving; to his shame, the boy didn’t want to drive because he, too, was drunk.

My first reaction to that story was to remember the words of Proverbs, which are the text for today’s devotion: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” If those words are true, and Scripture says they are, that boy is going to have a lot of serious unlearning to do. By God’s grace, that, too, will happen.

My second reaction was to give thanks for the many children out there who are blessed to have Christian parents and teachers, people who are doing all they can to make sure the little ones entrusted to them get started out walking on the right path –God’s path.

Indeed, with children’s Christmas services being conducted all over the country, this devotion is a “thank you” to the many adults who sacrifice to make sure the Savior and not Satan is the greatest influence in their children’s lives, that the Holy Spirit and not the spirits contained in a bottle of booze remain the motivator as these children grow.

I rejoice that you have joined your voices with those of the Christmas angels letting young souls know they have good news of great joy in the Savior who has been born for them.

[Soldier4Christ]

"What Are You Living For?"

Philippians 3:13b-14 - But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

What are you living, studying, and working for? What is your purpose for living? Maybe you want to be a famous person, a movie star, a pop star, or a top model. Or, perhaps, you want to be someone with a very high position in society, or earn just enough money to live comfortably. More ideally speaking, maybe you want to be the one who serves others. That’s all right, but whatever your purpose is, it will surely end one day when you pass away. What will you have at that time? Nothing. Saint Paul once said, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

Your life doesn’t end when you die, so your purpose of living and what you have been doing will continue to have influence. It is no good for you to live on this earth without a purpose. However, it is worth nothing to you if your purpose focuses only on this life. Have another look at Paul’s message. He had a very clear purpose for his life when he said, “Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26). He did not run aimlessly and did not beat the air because he had spent all his lifetime, his health, and his wealth on that purpose. Some people have spent their whole lives on what they considered to be an ideal. When they reach old age, they take time to think back on all that happened in their lives and realize a lot of it was wasted.

Think back on Paul. He never felt sorry for the path he had chosen but was willing to give up his own life for that purpose. “However, I considered my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me –the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).

If you want to make your life more meaningful, trust in Christ Jesus in all aspects of your life. Then, you will not run aimlessly but truly have a purpose.

[Def]

"What Are You Living For?"

Philippians 3:13b-14 - But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

What are you living, studying, and working for? What is your purpose for living? Maybe you want to be a famous person, a movie star, a pop star, or a top model. Or, perhaps, you want to be someone with a very high position in society, or earn just enough money to live comfortably. More ideally speaking, maybe you want to be the one who serves others. That’s all right, but whatever your purpose is, it will surely end one day when you pass away. What will you have at that time? Nothing. Saint Paul once said, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

Your life doesn’t end when you die, so your purpose of living and what you have been doing will continue to have influence. It is no good for you to live on this earth without a purpose. However, it is worth nothing to you if your purpose focuses only on this life. Have another look at Paul’s message. He had a very clear purpose for his life when he said, “Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26). He did not run aimlessly and did not beat the air because he had spent all his lifetime, his health, and his wealth on that purpose. Some people have spent their whole lives on what they considered to be an ideal. When they reach old age, they take time to think back on all that happened in their lives and realize a lot of it was wasted.

Think back on Paul. He never felt sorry for the path he had chosen but was willing to give up his own life for that purpose. “However, I considered my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me –the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).

If you want to make your life more meaningful, trust in Christ Jesus in all aspects of your life. Then, you will not run aimlessly but truly have a purpose.

my only reason for living is  John 3:16   (believe)

[Soldier4Christ]

"A Present From God"

God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. . . John 3: 16a

Every year, the post office in North Pole, Alaska, gets flooded with over 100,000 letters – letters that are addressed to Santa.

Many of those little epistles express the innermost thoughts of a child who is sharing his heart’s desires with Santa, a dear friend. A few years ago, one of the letters came in which said, "Dear Santa Claus, last year I got a baby brother instead of the bike I asked for. Is it possible you got mixed up and some other boy, who wanted a brother, got my bike? I know you're getting older, so I understand if you got mixed up. You should know that Mom and Dad have decided to keep my brother, but, try to remember, I would still like a bike."

Like the little boy, most of us receive presents at Christmas, which are not exactly what we want or need. Those gifts end up getting returned or put on a shelf to be forgotten until the time of spring-cleaning.

If that sounds at all familiar, I'm pleased to report this year, our heavenly Father is giving you a Present which you really need: a Savior, Christ the Lord.

Jesus won’t be coming wrapped in bright paper bows; no, He’ll be wrapped in swaddling clothes. Nor is He a new Present, He has been around a lot longer than this world. Even so, Jesus is exactly what every one of us in this tired, old, world needs.

Jesus is one Present who shouldn't be declined or put on the shelf.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Good News"

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11

At Christmas time many of our religious schools put on a worship service during which the children tell the Nativity story.

It was at one such service in Michigan that a student was given one line to say: She was to quote the announcement of the angel who told the shepherds of Jesus' birth. The line is familiar to many: "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy." The student asked her teacher, "What does the word ‘tidings’ mean?" The teacher explained, "The word ‘tidings’ is the same as ‘news.’" Although the Christmas service didn't go exactly as planned (they never do), neither she, nor anyone else was upset, when the girl got up and enthusiastically announced to everybody gathered, "Hey, everybody, I’ve got good news for you!"

I don't think I can improve on the message of the angels or that little girl.

In the midst of the mess of ribbons and bows, with turmoil in every land and in our own lives, God wants you to know, "Hey, I got good news for you!" If your life hasn't been what it ought to be, if things haven't gone the way you hoped they would, the Lord has good news: Your Savior is born to give His life so you might be set free from sin, Satan, and death.

And no matter what else you might hear this Christmas, or ever, the news won’t ever get any better than that.

[Soldier4Christ]

"What Would You Do?"

The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28

It was only a few days ago I asked, “What would you have done if you had been there when Jesus was born?” It seems this week’s Daily Devotions can’t get away from that question.

You see, Larry Bourbannais knew what he would do. After the massacre at Columbine, 59-year-old Vietnam veteran Bourbonnais asked himself, “What will I do if I am ever placed in a similar situation?” He concluded, and told his four daughters: “If something like that ever happened and I was there, I would go after the shooter, because you want to protect people.”

Two weeks ago Bourbannais’ words were turned into action when Christian-hater Matthew Murray opened fire on the people at Colorado Springs’ New Life church. While others were running away, Bourbannais made his way toward the gunshots. As he went, he asked, “Where’s the shooter? Where’s the shooter?”

Without a gun, Bourbannais did all he could. Stepping out from behind a pillar, Bourbannais made himself a target and shouted the word, “Coward”, at heavily armed Murray. Murray fired at Bourbonnais who took some bullet fragments in his arm. Realizing he wasn’t seriously wounded Bourbannais repeated his challenge to the murderer who was then shot by a security guard, Jeanne Assam. Jeanne, too, had decided what she would do in such a circumstance. Standing in the open, Jeanne was praying as she called on Murray to surrender, and she kept on praying as they exchanged fire.

It takes a special person to make themselves a target for someone else; it takes a unique kind of commitment and bravery to be willing to sacrifice yourself for someone else.

This time of year many people look into the Bethlehem manger and see a cute and cuddly little Child. Indeed, many prefer to keep Christmas as a celebration of life and stop Jesus from ever growing older. They never see Jesus’ temptations, His courage, or His cross.

That’s not right. Before the world was created, Jesus knew He would be born in the city of David; He knew He had to be born one of us so He might carry our sins; He had to die so we might have eternal life.

Jesus made Himself the target of sin, Satan, and the law’s condemnation, so all who believe might not perish but have everlasting life. Jesus knew what He would do. He was born to give His life as a ransom for many.

[Soldier4Christ]

"An Influential Child"

She will bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

A blessed Christmas from Mark, myself, and all your friends at Lutheran Hour Ministries.

It’s Christmas Day, and it’s only right for us to talk about babies.

So, let me ask, “Who do you think is the world’s most influential infant?”

Now be careful. I’m warning you: it is a trick question.

According to Forbes magazine, the world’s most influential infant is not Jesus. If you want to see the child who is at the top of the heap you have to make an appointment to visit Shiloh, the daughter of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. That’s right, Shiloh is the child that people find to be most interesting, the child who attracts the most media attention.

Not that it wasn’t a close race. It was. There were other contenders for the title. Suri, the daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, was in the running. Then, of course, there was Zahara, Sean, Pax, Sam, David, and Dannielynn.

You may have noticed the name of “Jesus” wasn’t there.

Of course, the logical ones among us might maintain: “No fair, Jesus isn’t an infant. He shouldn’t even be considered.” If that’s your position, I can’t argue. Although Jesus was born as a human baby, He didn’t stay that way. The Gospels record how the Babe of Bethlehem grew into a Man. As a Man, God’s perfect Son resisted temptation so we might be freed from the curse of the law. As a Man, He turned down Satan’s temptations. As a Man, He carried our sins, and as a Man, He died for us upon the cross. It was a risen Man, a risen Savior, who stood before Thomas and said, “Touch me and see, I am really alive.”

No, Jesus didn’t stay a baby forever.

Even so, who else can say their birth is being remembered 2,000 years after it happened? Can you give me the birthdate of Caesar Augustus, or Herod the Great, Aristotle, Socrates? And, I don’t think, 2,000 years from now Shiloh, Suri, Zahara, Sean, Pax, Sam, David, and Danielynn will be remembered either.

But the Son of God and Mary will still be remembered, revered, and worshiped. And why will He receive this honor? Because He is God’s Son, the world’s Savior. He is Jesus, who was born, lived, died, and rose to save us from our sins.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Christmas Wishes"

When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5

Ethel Martin of Oberlin, Kansas, isn’t going to read the Christmas postcard her cousins have sent to her.

There’s a reason Ethel isn’t going to read her cousin’s card. It’s a good reason. Ethel isn’t reading the card because Ethel is dead.

She died some time ago, as a matter of fact.

Now you might think Ethel’s cousins in Alma, Nebraska, might know about something as important as the death of their cousin, and you might also think it would have been more appropriate, and in better taste, if they had sent a card of condolence rather than a postcard depicting Santa Claus and a young girl.

Finally, you might think there simply has to be a rest of the story here. If you thought that last bit, you would be right. The rest of the story is this: Ethel’s Christmas card carries the date, December 23, 1914. That card was mailed more than 90 years ago. It was mailed, and then it disappeared.

The card disappeared for 93 years.

Only now has it been delivered to Ethel’s sister-in-law, Bernice Martin. The kind people from Illinois who forwarded the near century old card put it into an envelope and added some extra postage. Quite wisely they figured out the one-cent stamp on the original card probably wasn’t going to get it to its final destination, and they didn’t want that card to end up in the dead-letter office.

Ninety-three years. Ninety-three years is a long time to wait. Of course, 93 years is nothing compared to how long the world waited for the promised Savior. Generation after generation, babies were born, grew to adulthood, raised their own families, and died.

Finally, in God’s time, in the fullness of time, God honored the promise He had made to sinful Adam and Eve. In God’s time, when all was right, the Lord sent His Son to be born as one of us so Jesus might give His life to rescue and redeem the entire damned and doomed human race.

Jesus, as the angels have told us, is “good news of great joy.” Now, in the fullness of time, that message has been preached to us. May we, by the Holy Spirit’s power, welcome Him more warmly than did the people of Bethlehem or Herod the King. May we rejoice that, in the fullness of time, we have been given the Babe of Bethlehem, the Christ of the Cross, the Savior of the empty tomb.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Being Remembered"

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” John 11: 25-26a

For years, the pizza company asked, “What do you want on your Tombstone?” When I got tired of the ad, I started answering. None of my answers were as good as the ones real people have had carved into their tombstones.

For example, in Burlington, Massachusetts, there is a stone, which reads, “Sacred to the memory of Anthony Drake, Who died for peace and quietness sake His wife was constantly scolding and scoffin', So he sought for repose in a twelve dollar coffin.” In Falkirk, Scotland, a stone says, “Here under this sod and under these trees Is buried the body of Solomon Pease. But here in his hole lies only his pod His soul is shelled out and gone up to God.”

So, what do you want on your tombstone? A company by the name of Vidstone is offering you a choice. Vidstone has developed a solar-powered, high-tech, weatherproof gadget, which attaches to a tombstone. Guaranteed for 15 years, the Vidstone can play back pictures, movies, just about anything you want to say. I also imagine the Vidstone could play back the compliments and insults of others who might be wiling to shell out $2,000 for a Vidstone.

Knowing most of our readers aren’t going to make that kind of investment, let’s forget the Vidstone and concentrate on what Jesus might have on His tombstone.

At first, I thought the words of the Daily Devotion text might be appropriate. You remember them. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.”

Then I realized Jesus will never have any words on His tombstone. In order to have a tombstone, you first need to have a tomb, and Jesus’ resurrection on the third day after His death assures us that His borrowed grave is completely empty.

That’s why a risen Lord Jesus assures us (John 14:19b) “Because I live, you also will live.” Jesus was born so we might be forgiven; He entered this world so we might be saved; He gave His all, so in life and in death, we might bear witness to the sure and certain hope of resurrection that comes in the Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Scared of the Dark"

The eye is the lamp of the body. [. . . ] If your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Matthew 6:22a-23 (NIV)

Most carnivals and theme parks feature a “Tunnel of Terror”. It is a dark place with frightening monsters, and oversized tarantulas that suddenly drop down or pop up right in front of a person. People pay money for the adrenalin rush of confronting pretend ghosts and monsters. It’s altogether different, though, if we find ourselves alone in the woods at night without a flashlight. And it’s even worse to be walking down an unlit alley in the middle of a big city. The slightest sound gnaws at our nerves, sets us on edge, and makes our survival instincts kick in.

The darkness of evil is similar to both of these experiences. Because we have a sinful nature, evil often attracts us like a carnival ride. We lie to get out of trouble. We might experiment with alcohol or marijuana just to see what it’s like. We might get an adrenalin rush by shoplifting at the mall or sneaking out at night to be with friends. These situations are similar to going through a “Tunnel of Terror”. They are scary, but the consequences are not necessarily permanent.

The reality of evil, though, is much closer to walking through unknown, potentially dangerous, territory in the dark. Just as we could fall into a ditch and break a leg in the woods, we can suffer severe spiritual injury by walking in spiritual darkness. In fact, spiritual darkness holds the threat of the ultimate evil, eternal separation from God in hell.

Once we realize how perilous it is to walk in darkness, we know we need a rescuer. Just as the arrival of a police car with its headlights beaming would drive away our terror in that dark alley, God sent His Son, Jesus, to free us from the darkness and terror of sin, evil, and hell. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

[Soldier4Christ]

"Spirit of Christmas"

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased. Luke 2:14

Christmas is over. Christmas has been over for a few days.

So, how does your house look? Are all the toys put away? Have all the bright wrapping papers been properly disposed of?

And how about the bows? Are you one of those folks who save bows? Are they bagged up and placed on a shelf awaiting the time when they will adorn a Christmas package next year?

Have your guests and visitors all gone home? Does their departure give you a few moments to kick back, put your feet up, and take a good, long nap? It’s quite possible you’re using the days after Christmas to get prepared for the marathon days of football, which are coming; maybe you’re laying a stock of supplies for the big New Year’s Eve party.

What I’m saying is, for many folks, Christmas is in the past, and the spirit of the holy day has long since departed. That’s certainly the case for Ethel Shannon McKinney of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Just a few days ago Ethel and her boyfriend got into an argument. It seems the boyfriend’s dog had damaged some of Ethel’s Christmas decorations.

Ethel got upset, took out a gun, and shot the guy. So much for “peace on earth, good will toward men” at Ethel’s house.

Truly, it is a sad thing when people remember Christ’s birthday and forget the reason why He was born. Although December 25th may be over, it is right and proper for Christ’s redeemed to remember the price He paid, the cross He carried, the death He endured. We need to remember these are God’s great gifts of grace, which should never be put on a shelf or forgotten.

This is why, on the 29th of December, I encourage you to join with the angels and say, “Glory to God in the highest.”

[Soldier4Christ]

"Christmas All The Time"

“For David says concerning Him [Jesus], ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. You have made known to me the paths of life; You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’” Acts 2:25-26, 28

The pastor took the death of his young son very hard.

Even though he had other children, it seemed like all the joy in his life had disappeared. No longer did he look forward to preaching or doing the things that once had brought him fulfillment. His depression got even darker as Christmas approached. He thought he ought to take a few days of vacation, but his commitment to duty obliged him to stay on task.

The day after the holy day, his family was gathered together at the dinner table. Conversation was marked by long periods of silence. It was then that one of the other children said, "Papa, this was brother's first Christmas in heaven." And another one quickly added, "It's Christmas all the time for him now." The pastor’s sadness and sorrow lifted.

In the days after Christmas, surrounded by torn wrappings and discarded bows, many people truly believe Christmas is over. For them, it's back to the disappointments of life.

It doesn't have to be like that. For those who know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, every day can be Christmas. In Jesus every day can be filled with happiness and joy.

So, if you're feeling a bit down, perk up. The living Lord is with you. If you know the gladness that comes from sins forgiven, please share it when the calendar no longer says it is Christmas, but it ought to be.