The Adventures of Christmas Sample

December 15th

The Saturday before Christmas is always nuts for me. We’re talking ulcers, headaches, weird eye twitches... crazy nuts. After a full day preparing before one Christmas Sunday, I realized that the church parking lot was still pretty icy, so I ran out to get a few bags of salt. I wasn’t looking forward to working out in the cold because it felt like 300 degrees below zero and I still had a few hours worth of work left, so I ran through Starbucks to grab something warm and caffeinated.

The car in front of me must have ordered one of everything from the menu plus a few made up drinks. I was in line for about fifteen minutes. If it was any other restaurant, I would have took it as a sign from God and taken off. But I needed some Christmas in a cup. When I pulled up to the window, the lady inside said she was sorry for the wait and that the drink was on her. And it’s amazing how that small act of kindness made me feel. There was a little more pep in my step and not just from the caffeine, but also from the “grande” cup full of hope.

About a year after Jesus was born, his family received an unexpected gift from a group of men known as Magi. What were the gifts that the Magi gave? Gold, myrrh and frankincense. What a weird gift to give to a young family. My wife has been to many baby showers and not once did she find myrrh and frankincense on a registry.

What Mary and Joseph didn't know is that God prompted these men to bring these gifts as provision for an unexpected trip that they were about to be sent on. Shortly after the Magi leave, God tells Joseph to pack up, gather Mary and Jesus and head for Egypt. The gifts they received would help fund the long journey and give them a financial base until Joseph could secure a job in Egypt.

Sometimes the best way to inspire hope is to help a person financially: Buy an extra gallon of milk for your neighbor with several kids. Surprise someone with a gas card. Nothing inspires hope like a hundred dollar bill if you have it to spare.

At Christmas time, my family has a tradition where we drive around our town and look for the house with the best decorations. We sneak a gift card into their mailbox with a note, “Thanks for making Christmas joyful and triumphant.”

Pray about some creative ways to make Christmas a little extra special for the people around you. Offer to pick someone up, get some hot chocolate and go hunting for houses decorated with Christmas lights.