What do you want for Christmas?

Made a friend at church. I think she took ill and disappeared today.
Missed her but hope to socialize around holidays. We'll see.

“But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

“As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You,
that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me."

The pastor spoke on John 17 the other evening.
Today he mentioned some eternal truths about Christmas.

So what's the story?

Christmas brings hope in the Gospel; nothing is impossible.
A time for reconciliation and open-heartedness.

Our joy is full in the season. Jesus is the reason.
"Some folks'd rather live with their problems
than trust in God's solutions through grace."

We celebrate the free gift of salvation.
"Freely you received, freely give."
Truly, that is more blessèd.