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Do Not Leave All the Goodness of Christmas Behind

Do Not Leave All the Goodness of Christmas Behind

Christmas is gone and we’re left in awe of God’s love. The question we need to answer now is: what are we going to do about it? How does God’s love change our lives? Or do we leave the joy of Christmas untouched until the next Christmas? That would be sad…and stupid, don’t you think? I do anyway. And that’s why I do not want to leave all the goodness of Christmas behind. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling…

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The Hope Behind Decorations

The Hope Behind Decorations

Christmas is a wonderful time of year. But sometimes we are not feeling it. We might have experienced a loss of a dear family member or we’re struggling with an illness. Or maybe it’s the first Christmas after a bad break-up. There are a million reasons why Christmas might be a tough season. I feel for you. And I pray for you. Just know that Christmas is not about feelings it’s about the hope that comes from our Savior being born and that makes…

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The Meaning Behind Christmas Joy

The Meaning Behind Christmas Joy

Why is Christmas a season of joy? Is it only because people have collectively decided it’s time to be merry? Or could there be a deeper meaning behind it? Why do we commemorate a manger scene 2000 years ago? What’s the meaning behind Christmas joy? And what has Christmas joy got to do with us? Indeed. What’s the point of all this? The point is very simple and sometimes we overlook it. The same way that we might overlook the…

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Keep Calm and Let Jesus Be Born in Your Heart

Keep Calm and Let Jesus Be Born in Your Heart

This is the time that we all are frantically preparing for Christmas. The lists are mile-long for what to do, what to buy, what to wish for. And what not to forget. We want to make our Christmas better than last year, maybe even perfect. All the hustle and bustle that is going on can be very stressful. But I’m here to bring some grace into your preparations. My advice for you this season is: Keep calm and let Jesus…

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Why Is Jesus Better than Santa?

Why Is Jesus Better than Santa?

Christmas is not a day for Santa to bring gifts to well-behaved kids. It’s a day when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Actually, the birth of Jesus has such a huge impact on our lives that we celebrate it for 12 days. So, Happy Second Day of Christmas, all! Jesus is better than Santa in so many ways. For the starters, Christmas without Christ is just a big mess. Not something we want to celebrate for days for sure. But…

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How Can We Receive the Gift of Christmas?

How Can We Receive the Gift of Christmas?

What is the best part of Christmas? I’m sure there are as many answers as people giving them. Very often we talk about food and gathering with our loved ones. And they are great blessings for sure. But the outer things of Christmas do not make what’s the best part of Christmas. I think the best part of Christmas is that the true message of Christmas is always valid. For everyone, everywhere. Jesus came to set people free. Hence hope…

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Somewhere in Your Silent Night

Somewhere in Your Silent Night

I don’t know about you but I feel I am so far behind in my Christmas preparations. I don’t even dare to tell my American friends how behind I am. It’s not the first time either. The first year I was teaching at Concordia College (at Moorhead, MN) I bought my gifts – other than from the college bookstore – at the airports on my way home. I just had been so busy with teaching and grading and everything else…

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Why God Chose the Shepherds

Why God Chose the Shepherds

What do you think? Why did God choose shepherds to be the first witnesses to the birth of Jesus? We all can give a reason or two why we think God did it. But few days ago I read a great column (in Finnish) by Rev. Dr. Eero Junkkaala who gave five possible reasons why God chose shepherds. I found them inspiring. Hence I want to share them briefly with you. Hopefully, they can give you a new way to look at…

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The Reason of the Season

The Reason of the Season

As we are fast approaching Christmas I wanted to share with you this amazing video of the first Christmas. The reason of the season is not family nor friends. It’s not gifts, it’s not food, it’s not having jolly good time. They’re all most wonderful blessings but they’re nothing compared to the birth of Christ. Because that changed history. That changed my life and yours if you let it happen. Hallelujah –  Written by Leonard Cohen & performed by Cloverton. Video…

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Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, dear friend of flowing faith! This is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. How blessed we are that God became a man to save us and form personal relationships with each of us. Lots of reasons to celebrate! Lots of reasons to have a merry Christmas. Lots of reasons to be thankful for. In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. 2 This first enrollment occurred when…

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