While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. LUKE 2:6-7 

Right before Jesus was to be born, His soon-to-be parents had to make the trek from Nazareth to Judea to register for a national census. The trip had to have taken them a while, especially since Mary was nine months pregnant. When they arrived in Bethlehem, eager to find a place to stay the night, the innkeeper said there was no room for them. So Mary and Joseph spent' the night in a stable, on haystacks next to donkeys and sheep. And that's where the Savior was born.

I often wonder how long it was before the innkeeper knew what he had missed. When he heard about the Messiah from Nazareth, who brought dead people back to life and healed lepers of their disease, I can't help but think he regretted his choice to turn them away. He had to have relived the night in his mind, coming up with ways he could've made room for the Savior of the world.

As busy people in the twenty-first century, we can point to a lot of reasons to explain why we don't make more room for Jesus and the people He loves in our lives. We've got bills to pay and kids to raise and responsibilities pulling us in every direction, but there's only one thing God has asked us to do: to love Him-and in doing so, love the people around us.

Let's avoid-the innkeeper's mistake. Let's do some renovations to make room for the Messiah while we still have time.

What do you need to move out of your life to make more room for Jesus? 

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." 
LUKE 2:13-14 

Do you ever feel like it would've been so much easier to follow God if we had been alive when the Bible was written? We sit in silence for long periods of time, hoping God will say something, but we're often left wondering if we're just hearing our own thoughts. We go on retreats at cabins in the woods and fill up journals, but it's hard to know when you've heard from God. It's easy to wish you could have been one of the people in the Bible who God spoke to through angels or thunder or burning bushes or clouds or even a donkey once. 

A relationship with God has always required faith. Sometimes we re­imagine the stories in the Bible, and it seems easier to follow Jesus in our revised version. But think about what it must've been like to be Joseph. When Mary told him she was going to have a baby, he hadn't heard anything yet from the angels. There was no sign from God that the virgin birth was all God's plan, no awareness of the miracle to come. I bet it just felt like a great big mess to Joseph. Be patient when things get weird. Joseph held on for the ride when things didn't make sense, because he loved Mary and he trusted God. 

Unfortunately, life is full of open loops. We never have all the answers we want when we need them (or think we need them). Trusting in God when you don't have all the answers is exactly how Joseph welcomed Jesus to the world. We can welcome Him every day in the same way-with patience. 

What are you trusting Jesus for this season? 

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 
MATTHEW 6:19-21 

Here's how a Christmas list shifts over a person's life: when we're young, we make the list; when we're middle-aged, we fund the list; when we're old, no one can figure out what should be on the list. 

I think for all of us, the first phase is the best. When you're a kid you know exactly what you want for Christmas. You make different categories to show Santa which gifts are the priority and which ones he can cut if he needs to get to the next house. Eventually we graduate from the list-making stage right around the time we fund Santa's list. 

But as we get older, we don't really value stuff on Christmas morning. Sure, it's fun to unwrap a present, but what we want is more availability, connection, and more love. As gifts decline in value, things like time together and family traditions become the real present. 

None of us wants to get to the finish line and realize all we're carrying is a bunch of stuff. That all goes to Goodwill anyway. As Christmas approaches, don't get bogged down in the shopping list. Don't get lured by advertisements saying you'll find happiness buying one more thing or that there is a toy your kid "has to have." Get weighed down by the impressive weight of love instead. That's the real doorbuster.

Show the people around you what they mean to you. Give a lot of love and ask for nothing in return. That's a gift worth giving. It's on everyone's wish list. 

What gifts of love can you put on your shopping list for the people in your life? 

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 
2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 

I know a guy named Rich who runs an organization that came up with one of my favorite ideas for Christmas. They know most of us already have more than we need, and we don't need to add to the clutter in our closets. But kids all over the world don't have basic necessities like clean water or heaters in the winter. So they came up with a gift idea where, instead of swapping gifts with close friends, people can buy gifts for kids around the world in a loved one's name. You can buy a sewing machine for a woman in Rwanda or medical supplies for kids in Aleppo. 

Rich is a genius because not only does he help meet the needs of people in the world this way, he also reminds us all kids are God's kids. I see Rich loving like Jesus because he sees the whole world-people near and far, known and unknown-as people worth loving. The holiday season is not just a time for giving, which is definitely good. But it's for stretching our comfort zones in how we give and who we give to. If we want to love like Jesus, think about those struggling in other countries or other neighborhoods in our own cities. 

Jesus didn't tell us to just love the people who are close to us or to love when it's convenient. He told us to love everybody, always. 
 

No one has to go without if we're all generous with what we've been given. Go big on love. 

What are you going to go big on this season? 

Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 1 JOHN 2:10 

As the year winds down and the holidays wind up, parents everywhere are planning their road trips to see family. Those who have braved this trek know what it's like to hear timeless phrases such as, "Are we there yet?" and ''I'm not touching you," and "I have to go to the bathroom." (This last one usually happens five minutes after the last stop.)

When everyone in the car is hungry and patience runs thin, we're all reminded about our limitations on love. Yes, there's a deep-rooted, unshakable love in theory. But when the milk spills on the new upholstery, it's hard to remember.

In the weeks ahead, a lot of us will find ourselves with family. Some you might like a lot. Others you might trade for a set of golf clubs if you could. No matter where we go, a few people will get under our skin. And guess what­we're those people too.

Don't let minor details make you veer off course. God has an unending, deep, abiding love for you, even when you spill the milk, drop the special plate, knock over the vase, or miss the turnoff Go into this holiday season ready to show a deep love for others that doesn't get irked by the little scuff If you want to go big, decide you won't let the big scuff bug you either. And remember, just like a real human family, when you become a part of God's family, you'll be around people who are on a trip. They might be in a moment of anticipation, they might be in a moment of dread, they might be dealing with crippling self-doubt. Jesus came to show them love in every moment-and it's often through us.

What commitments will you make to love the people in your family well? 

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 
JEREMIAH 29:13 

Christmas Day might just be my absolute favorite day of the year. All my kids are within arm's reach, Sweet Maria is happy as a clam getting preparations ready, the house is warm and festive and smells like cookies out of the oven. But more than the traditions, Christmas has this special power in my life where the invitation to encounter the Savior feels especially fresh and new. Every year, without fail, a few of my friends are in a tough spot during Christmas though. A loved one died, or a relationship ended. A job was lost, or a project failed. I've had a few hard Christmases, too, so I understand. I bet you can relate as well. 

But here's what I've come to learn: if we see Christmas as a season of nostal­gia, we'll be disappointed. If we only want warm fuzzies, presents, and stuffing, the satisfaction won't last. But if we encounter the Savior, everything changes. 

A lot of people thought Jesus was a good teacher and He had great insight about how to live. But if Jesus is just a great teacher or a cultural identity, your life probably won't change much. Others thought He was a really kind man, and He was, but this alone wouldn't have the power to reshape history or your heart. 

If, however, you find a Savior in the manger, you'll leave with a sense of purpose. If you find a God who gave up everything to come live With us and die for us so we could finally get a taste of grace, you'll want to give that grace to everyone you encounter. Who we are after Christmas morning says a lot about who we found in the manger. 

What will you do to focus on Jesus this month? 

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 
ROMANS 12:15 

Somehow, this time of year makes it easier to be happy and easier to be sad. It just depends on what's happening in your life. If you find yourself in a hard spot right now, I want to remind you that love still wins and God does not overlook those who mourn. 

Maybe you lost a loved one this year or one of the headlines splashing the evening news actually happened to you. Maybe you lost a home or a job, or you're praying for a child to end the straying and come back home. Perhaps it was a relationship that went sideways, and you're feeling terribly lonely. Those are real hurts. 

In those circumstances, God says evil will not win. 

God wants to remind us we're remembered even if our circumstances are folding in over our heads. God says He's near to the brokenhearted. He says He surrounds those who mourn. When we're down, God understands our sorrow and kneels down next to us. 

It's okay to be sad. In fact, mourning is a brave thing to do. It means we're holding our hurt rather than hiding from it, putting it in our cupped hands for God to hold with us. Mourning is a bold stare-down with evil while God declares evil cannot have another inch. That's why He sent Jesus to fight for us, to protect us, to take the brunt of evil's sting. 

Our strength is made up of stuff stronger than threats, disease, and loss. If something is weighing you down, hope in Him can set your eyes upward. Let His love wipe away your tears. 

What do you need to mourn this year? 

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. 
PSALM 19:14 

It seems like Christmas comes earlier and earlier every year. When I start to see holiday garland shelved with the Halloween candy, I'm wondering if we've gone too far. The day after Thanksgiving is when everything explodes. People fly out after the turkey is eaten, apparently to bust down some doors. If you work, the weeks in between Thanksgiving and Christmas are all about hitting numbers and landing all the planes so you can end the year in peace. 

To put it mildly, the Christmas season can be busy. I think we all feel the busyness rob us of the true purpose lying underneath. It's supposed to be a time of rest and connection, a time to reflect on who Jesus is and how much He loves us. Don't shuffle past the manger like they do with visitors seeing the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. Christmastime should feel more like the Sabbath than shopping sprees. 

God created us to live with certain rhythms. He made day and night, a season to plant and a season to harvest, a time to work and a time to rest. When He told us to take a Sabbath just like He did, He wasn't making up rules to try to steal our joy. He knew the fruit of rest was joy. He knew breaks from work would give us m:ore time to connect with one another. Rest is the soil where love grows. 

Getting things done is necessary. But if you have more checklists than times with friends, you're probably missing something. 

How will you slow down this month to spend time focused on what matters most to you? 

All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along. 
GALATIANS 2:10 

I know a lot of families who use the holiday season to introduce their kids to people in need. They serve at a soup kitchen or hand out socks at the homeless shelter. I think it's terrific that people get more attuned to the needs of others during the holidays. It reminds me a lot ofJesus. Before He came, God could look down on us and see a bunch of helpless beggars, people who couldn't possibly pull it together in order to become friends with Him. Instead of avoid­ing us all, God decided to jump right in. 

Don't avoid people who look like they've been on the streets for a while-go to them instead. I don't know if it's our fear, or discomfort, or a sense of help­lessness, but the people who need human connection the most are often the ones we avoid. 

Jesus spent His whole life engaging the people most of us have spent our whole lives trying to avoid. He spent His time with the people who cheated others out of money, with those who smelled bad and didn't have a permanent home. Even when He knew they would betray Him, He sought their friendship.

 
During the holidays, we'll scurry around town buying lots of stuff and making new memories. But we'll pass a lot of people who don't have access to that kind of holiday experience. Expand the circle of generosity, and you'll have the kind of Christmas Jesus made for us. 

What will you do this month to intentionally love the down-and-out? 

You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. 
MATTHEW 543-45 

Unfortunately, negativity happens naturally in each one of us. And what hap­pens naturally is usually the easiest thing to do. It's easy to form opinions that validate our experience, surround ourselves with voices that confirm them, and take shots at those we've decided are wrong. 

But Jesus invites us into a different way to live. He tells us to love our ene­mies. When I first started following Jesus and saw that, I was like, Wow. Okay. Um, how do I do that? 

In calling us to love our enemies, Jesus challenged us to resist our natural tendency to separate the world into people like us and not like us. We might not see those we disagree with as "enemies," but they fire us up the most. They're the ones we're prone to slander and harbor negative thoughts about. We might not be going to literal war with those on the "other side," but we do battle when we tear down rather than build up. We wage war with words rather than weapons. 

True Christianity is not easy. It's more straightforward to follow a certain standard of behaviors. But following Jesus is about transformation, not mere compliance-and when Jesus said "love your enemies," He knew only trans­formation could get us there. Will we do this perfectly? Nope. When we ask God to show us how, though, He'll always point us toward His Son and say, "Just do what He did." The best way to love your enemy is to lay down your words and pick up the love of Jesus instead. 

Who's on your list of "enemies," and what can you do to draw closer to them in love? 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 
JOHN 3:16 

I was in college when I first laid eyes on Maria. I knew the moment I saw her that she would be my wife. The only problem was, she hadn't spoken to me yet. My task was to get her attention so she could get to know the man who would become her husband. 

Luckily, Valentine's Day was around the corner. My plan was to turn sev­eral door-sized cardboard sheets into an oversized Valentine's Day card that said, "Maria, will you be my Valentine?" Then I showed up unannounced at her work to make the ask. She was mortified-not even a little impressed. It took about six months to win back her respect, but at least I had been dear. She knew my feelings about her and my intentions toward her. The ball was in her court. 

When Jesus was born, God made His love clear. When He chose to live with us, to experience life as one of us and suffer alongside us, He was telling us in the flesh about a love for us that's stronger than fear, stronger than death. And then it was up to us to decide how we would respond to His love. 

It's as if, from a manger in Bethlehem, God leaned over the whole world and said, "It's your move." Just like the ball was in Maria's court once I made my intentions clear, it's now up to us to decide how we'll respond to God's expression of love for us. We can go on like it never happened, or we can step toward the love that set the whole world in motion. 

As you take a minute to reflect on God's love for you, what changes in you? 

The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God." 
LUKE 1:30 

The story of Christmas tells us a lot about how God rolls. When the angel came to Mary to tell her what would happen, that message didn't come with a playbook of everything that would come after. When Joseph learned about his coming son, the angel didn't sit him down to explain the miracle or how to navigate the situation. Joseph and Mary were asked to trust, no more and no less. The same goes for the wise men. God showed them a star as a compass, but that was about it. 

In our age of on-demand instructions, it's hard to accept the vague sense of direction we get in our spiritual lives. God doesn't give us the play-by-play of what's to come when He tells us to go. He just reminds us to pack light and take a lot of love. 

God gave the wise men a direction, not a bunch of instructions. They knew . the prophets had said the Messiah would be born in B.ethlehem, so they knew He had come when they saw His star hanging just above the place of His birth. They didn't hear the voice of God, and there were no angels telling them what to do next. They just had a star to point them toward the Savior. 

Don't get discouraged just because you don't have all the answers. God isn't sending you on a business trip. He's inviting you to join Him on an adventure. It always leads you to Jesus. 

How do you sense the adventure Jesus is calling you to as you look toward the new year? 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. 
ROMANS 12:2 

No matter how old you are or where you live, there's one thing I've found to be true: the world is pushing us to conform. I know we should not be like the world, which is true, but I'm thinking of something different. Wherever we are, the people around us are trying to figure out whether we fit in or not. Sadly, all of us are being nudged toward acceptance, and that often looks like sacrificing some things we shouldn't. 

I think this is most apparent in junior high where everyone walks through the doors· hoping they don't get noticed, just wanting to fit in. As we grow, we're not much different. 

One aspect of living more like Jesus is getting comfortable with being different, with living outside the norms and risking a life of love. Here's where it gets confusing. The world tells us if we give our possessions away to those in need, we'll have nothing left. Jesus tells us whatever we do for the least of us we have done for Him. The world tells us if we give our love away freely, we'll be taken advantage of Jesus tells us to love our enemies and give them the clothes off our backs. 

If you want to move toward a life that looks more like Jesus, be weird. The world has enough of the same ol' same ol' going on. God is waving you on toward something different, something that will catch the world's attention with His love. 

In what ways are you willing to be different for the sake of loving like God loves? 

Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. 
And if I perish, I perish." 
ESTHER 415-16 

One of the strongest leaders in the Bible is a Jewish woman named Esther. She was an orphan who lived with her cousin, Mordecai, until she was chosen to marry the king of Persia. The king was a decent guy, but like a lot of people in power, he was surrounded by some bad guys. One of the bad guys had it out for Esther's cousin Mordecai, and he manipulated the king into ordering all the Jews to be killed. 

As you would assume, Esther was devastated when she heard the news about her people. She prayed and fasted, hoping God would show her a way to rescue her people. And would you believe it? God showed her His plan to rescue her people-and she was the plan. She chose to risk her life by revealing her identity to the king because she believed she had been placed in her position by God just to make this one courageous decision. 

When we see people make courageous decisions like Esther, it's clear their faith isn't just a set of principles they recite to stay in some kind of club. Their faith is the air they breathe to make it through the day. People who give away love in secret when it comes at a cost are motivated by a faith that runs deep. 

Our actions show us the difference between what we really believe and what we just know. Faith with a dose of courage and love compels us to give ourselves away for the sake of other people. 

How do you sense God wanting to use you for His purposes this week? 

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 
GALATIANS 6:7 

In the decades I was a lawyer, I had the chance to see a few new, optimistic, eager lawyers turn a little sour. I think I know why. I've learned we become what we accumulate the most. These young guys thought they needed to argue with everyone like it was what made them valuable. They somehow believed if they got in enough disputes, they would be good enough advocates and make all their hard work worthwhile. Actually the opposite is true. What they had done over time is accumulate a boatload of people with hurt feelings and a sour attitude. They were around or had been the cause of a lot of pain, and bitterness had begun to consume them. 

But the people who gather love throughout their lives become kinder, more gracious, more hospitable, and full of whimsy. The more love they gather, the more their loads lighten. Their response to the failures of others is always grace because the seeds of forgiveness they planted when they were young have grown with time. 

The people we become are cultivated by small choices we make along the way. Plant forgiveness and grace like you'll never run out of seeds, and you'll never run out of love. 

What are you sowing this month? 

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 

1 JOHN 4:16 

When some buddies and I first started getting together for Bible Doing a few decades ago, we didn't know exactly where it would lead. We had been in Bible studies for years, and those were predictable and honestly not very inspiring. It felt a lot more like school or a self-help group than the life-changing adventure Jesus invited His friends into. It was predictable because it was familiar. 

A few years into our Bible Doing, we felt like family. We got together every week and read the teachings ofJesus for a while. Then we went and did what He said to do together. We probably didn't agree on every controversial issue, but our group wasn't about agreeing on everything. It was about loving people together. We found our love for one another went deeper as we joined each other in loving other people. 

Sometimes it's implied that you need to think like a group to be considered part of it. You have to go through classes about doctrine and sign statements of agreement in order to belong. But Jesus didn't walk by fishermen and say, "Drop your nets and come away to agree with Me." He told them to drop their nets and follow Him. He invited them to join Him in scheming ways to spread love across the globe. 

We're bound together by love, not a bunch of opinions. Don't waste your time trying to convince people to agree with you. Band together in spreading love instead, and you'll find that the arguments that can tear us apart don't matter that much anymore. 

How can you build deeper bonds with people in your life by loving others together? 

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." 
MATTHEW 2:1-2 

Right after Jesus was born, some wise men from the east went to Jerusalem to find Him. They saw His star and knew it meant the Messiah had come. Herod, the king, was furious. He felt threatened by Jesus because he knew this baby was more powerful than him. He ordered the wise men to go find Jesus and then report back with His location. Herod had evil plans in mind to put an end to Jesus' life. 

The wise men were under the king's orders to share this information, but when they got to the manger where love lay fast asleep, everything changed. They knelt to the ground and offered gifts. Any fears they brought with them went away once they saw the face of love. The wise men tricked the king to save the life of Jesus. They went back to their home country by an alternate route. Sometimes in order to obey God, we need to disobey Herod. 

Most of us will never have to fear for our lives the way the wise men did, but we still let fear get the best of us. Fear keeps us from following our passions because we're afraid we might fail. It keeps us from giving love away because we're afraid of vulnerability. We fear judgment and disapproval. We fear the unknown. 

But just like the wise men who changed when they came face-to-face with love, we .can put fear in its place. When we love people more than we fear failure, disappointment, and even death, love wins. We don't have to fear less. We need to love more. 

What can you do today to place the fears you have at the feet of Jesus? 

We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 
2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 

The end of the year is a great time for reflecting on all that's happened dur­ing the last twelve months. If your life is like mine, it's a mix of unexpected surprises, milestones crossed, a few disappointments, and swinging at some curveballs. In addition to what did or didn't happen, think about what you did or didn't become ... and whether that's the version of you that you're aiming for. 

I like to think of my past self as last year's model, and my next self is the new and refurbished version of me. I might look the same, but I've changed a ton since Bob versions one through four. Along the way, I made sure I was always preparing the way for the next version too. I'm still doing this. And you know what that next version always includes more of? Love. 

If you're paving the way for the next version of yourself you'll never go wrong with adding more love to your heart and life. To do that, sometimes you need to make a little more space. Maybe you need to quit something. Sometimes being a quitter is exactly what we need, and the healthiest thing we can say are these two words: "I quit." 

The next version of you is going to be amazing-the best one yet. To get there, you'll have dole out a lot of nos, but there's only one yes you need to be sure of Say yes to the kind of love Jesus lived and died talking about. 

What's the next version of you going to be like? 

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
PROVERBS 27:17

Whoever we are today, we didn't get here on our own. All the joy and whimsy or frustration and sadness we embody come from the influences of the people who have been in our lives along the way. 

As you gather for the Christmas holiday, take a look around. Be honest. Did a relationship with someone leave some gaps in your life? It's okay-it's normal. What are those gaps, and do you need to have a conversation or find a friend to help you fill them? What if it's the opposite? Is there someone in the living room who played a big role but you've never told them the impact they've had? Put down the pumpkin pie, and go say thank you. Of all the people in your life, your family is the one group you don't get to choose. God's family is kind of the same way. Those who follow Jesus are a part of us whether we like it or not. What voice will you choose to have in others' lives? 

We become whoever we trust the most says we are. If the people we look up to tell us we'll never amount to anything worthy of love, shame will fuel our interactions for most of our lives. But if the people we admire tell us our Creator is crazy about us, we'll grow into people who carry extra love with us everywhere we go. Be loud with your love and trust God will put the right people in your path. 

How did people shape you this year? 

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
ROMANS 13:8

The last time it snowed where I live in San Diego was December 13, 1967. There's been one other time since then when they said you could see snow flurries at seventeen hundred feet, but it's hard to make snowmen at seventeen hundred feet. My family always got excited when we traveled in the winter because we thought the odds for snow were improved. We would check the weather to see our chances and pack our hats and gloves in case. We were all disappointed when the flurries didn't stick to the ground. 

A lot of the things we do in our lives don't stick either. We spend our time trying to get ahead in our careers so we can make more money so we can get more stuff, which won't hold our interest for long. We use our energy trying to win the approval of people who still don't know what it's like to be un­conditionally loved and won't remember us. We spend most of our waking hours trying to make life safe, predictable, and comfortable, yet what we really want is adventure. We strive and chase and spin our wheels for things that won't last. 

Love is the only thing that will last. Instead of using our time and energy to gain more attention, control our world, or get more stuff, let's spend it all on love. We don't want to reach the end of our lives and realize all our efforts melted away in an instant. Leave a legacy of love. The rest will blow by like it never even happened. 

How will you invest in love these last few days of the year? 

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 
ROMANS 12:10 

If you've ever worked retail during the holidays, you know stores become mad­houses that look like a cross between cage fighting, professional wrestling rings, mosh pits, and the carpool pickup line at an elementary school. Everyone gets so caught up in the Christmas spirit that they forget to be kind to the people who make their lattes and refold the clothes they throw in a pile on the shelf. If you're one of the millions of people who serve customers caught up in the Christmas spirit, you probably struggle to find Jesus in the midst of the gift­giving rage. 

Don't get me wrong-gifts are great. Who doesn't love to watch kids unwrap the lightsaber they asked Santa for in July? But all the gifts and carols and pageants won't point people to Jesus if we steamroll over them in our quest to construct the Christmas we see in catalogues. 

Christmas is the time of year we set aside to remember the incarnation of Jesus. It's a time to celebrate God's decision to show His love for us by coming to live among us. And since He started in such a humble place, in a stack of hay surrounded by donkeys, I bet He would want us to strip away some of the hoopla to get back to the basics of Christmas. 

If we make the holidays about parties and presents alone, we'll miss Jesus on His birthday. Let's celebrate Christmas the way Jesus would want us to: by putting people first and being generous with our love. 

Who are you putting first in your life? 

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 
1 PETER 4:8 

There's a movie called Stranger than Fiction where the actor Will Ferrell plays a workaday guy who gets stuck in the rut of his routine. He's quite meticulous, too, which doesn't help. He times how long he brushes his teeth (and sub-times the tops and bottoms of his mouth). His closet is never disorderly-everything has its exact spot. He takes the same route to work, clocks in and out at the same time, and never ever deviates from the routine. Until ... 

One day he starts hearing a voice. It's not a voice in his head-it's an audible voice. Spoiler alert: this voice is the narration of a fiction writer whose book somehow has him as the main character. Without his permission, she starts writing his life-his real life. 

It's a fun plot device, especially if you love books. But it puts on display, I think, the fact that we don't live our story in isolation. You and I may not have some faraway writer typing out the steps we take. But the steps we take are influencing the stories other people are writing with their lives. 

When people look at followers of Jesus, they see us as a team living in a combined story. When someone does something lovely in the name of Jesus, they've just added another page to the story we're telling about Him. The truth is, we're living letters. Every time we love without an agenda, we're telling the story ofJesus' life all over again. 

What story are you telling about love these days? 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 
1 JOHN 1:9 

Christmas morning might just be my favorite moment all year. When the kids were young and still in the house, we'd wake up as a family, huddle in the upstairs foyer, pray together, and head down to celebrate Jesus and have fun. Those moments are some of my favorite memories. 

Christmas offered up some chances for mischief too. Like most kids, mine were dying to know what presents were under the tree. A few days before Christmas they would head to the living room, and like expert surgeons with razor-sharp scalpels, they would wriggle under the tree and make incisions on the tape, just enough to see the gift underneath. Then, like sewing in sutures, they'd retape the package. We learned this years later once the kids were con­fident they wouldn't get in trouble. 

Of course, we wish they hadn't done it, bur we had to give them credit for covering their tracks. Here's the problem: we spend so much of our lives figuring out how to cover our tracks when we mess up, we get really good at it. You might fool your mom and dad, or even a couple of friends, but you won't fool God. He knows what we've been up to and into. And you know what? He's not holding it against you. So why try to hide it from Him? 

God always has plenty of grace for us. It's a gift we can unwrap every day. All it takes for us to access it is to get real enough that we realize our need. Remember this: if you think your failure is bigger than God's grace, that's your second mistake. 

True confession: In what ways do you need God's help right now? 

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 
1 JOHN 3:17-18 

Have you ever stepped into a full elevator and faced the people inside instead of the door? Even for a guy like me, it's an uncomfortable social experiment. We like our space. We're suspicious of strangers. We're threatened by strangers who enter our space. 

In one sense, this is natural. We can hug a new acquaintance as a gesture of warmth. There are creepy hugs too. But what about when we go too far in the other direction? What if we don't let anyone close? What if we never seek out people we typically don't let in? If that's you, be cautioned. 

If I've learned anything in life, the people I'm tempted to turn away are usually the ones who teach me the most about love. Whether it's homeless people showing a few nights of grime or friends who call when I'm too busy, the people who infringe on my private space humble me. They teach me things I would have missed otherwise. 

We forget Jesus didn't have a place to stay. He was a homeless man at the mercy of hospitable friends. He said when we take in people who don't have a place to stay, we're doing it to Him. If we want to love Jesus, we'll welcome people who are displaced like He was. 

The way we treat people who don't have a place to stay is the best way to describe what the manger means. 

How are you treating people who don't have a place to stay this Christmas? 

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 
COLOSSIANS 3:16 

Imagine what it must've been like for Mary in those first moments after Jesus was born. Like any mother of a newborn, Jesus would have been pulled tight against her chest, wrapped in a blanket for warmth and comfort while mom looked tearfully and exhaustedly down on the miracle that just happened. (I wouldn't think less ofJesus, either, if He was squealing like most newborns do.) Now imagine what the host of angels must have been doing as they saw God now as a child. If angels drop their jaws at anything, this would have been it. 

Last, imagine what God the Father must have been doing. His precious Son, who was with Him before all things, just became the most fragile, ten­der, totally dependent thing in all creation: a newborn baby. God must have looked on with profound love at the One who would bring His creation back into relationship. He must have swelled with affection knowing the mission He sent His son to accomplish. 

When was the last time you gawked at God? Staring at Jesus is a perfectly natural reaction. All of creation did it when He was born, and we've continued to do it for thousands of years. As you think about this God-made-man, shake yourself out of the familiarity that's layered on top of Him over the years. Let your heart be warmed by the traditions, the garland, the candle-lighting ser­vice. But be shocked-be in awe of the baby in the manger. 

What commitment will you make the rest of this year to meditate on Jesus and His love?

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 
ROMANS 12:18 

One of the great heroes in the Bible is a guy named Paul. Paul was a bad guy in his youth. He was a powerful religious leader who felt threatened by followers of Jesus, so he spent most of his time trying to shut down Christianity. He oversaw the murder of some of the greatest Christian leaders at the time, and he was proud of his oppressive ways. Until he met Jesus. 

When Paul met Jesus, his entire world turned upside down, and he was never the same. He devoted himself to spreading the love of God to those who would listen and those who had no interest. Because of his zeal, he was flogged, beaten, stoned, imprisoned, and shipwrecked out at sea. He spent much of his life on the run because he risked it all to tell people about the life-changing love of Jesus. 

Paul wrote more than half the New Testament, so he left a lot of wisdom behind, but one of his greatest pieces of advice was this: as far as it depends on you, live at peace with all people. This is from the guy who was beat up and pushed down more than most of us could ever 1magine, and still his message was peace. 

He reminds us sometimes total peace isn't possible. Sometimes other people choose to battle no matter how much kindness we extend. But as far as it depends on us, let's live peacefully with other people. We can't always control the outcome, but we can love furiously in the process. 

How can you extend peace to people in your life today? 

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. 
JOHN 12:32 

If you had high school friends who happened to be star athletes, you got a front-row seat to the college courtship process. College coaches would sit in the stands for big games, make home visits to spend time with families, and fly the athletes out for first-class visits in hopes of persuading them to join their team. 

But the best programs don't have to apply much pressure. They still go through some of the motions to attract the best talent, but they know their program speaks for itself Young athletes want to play for the best teams, so top-notch programs don't have to overextend themselves trying to convince kids to join. They're attractive because they're good. 

Thinking about this process makes me think of Christians who see follow­ing Jesus as a kind of recruitment strategy. They see the world in two camps: who's in and who's out. Anyone who has experienced the love of Jesus wants everyone to be "in." But sometimes I wonder if God sees the world in two different groups: "in" and "on the way." If you're spending time with people in order to recruit them, it might already be a lost cause. Being with people to love them is what Jesus did. 

No one leads people to Jesus. He leads people to Himself All the pressure is off All we have to do is give away all the love He's poured into us. Give of yourself without an agenda, and His love will speak for itself.
 

How are you lifting Jesus up to others around you? 

What do you want me to do for you? 
MARK 10:51 

Every December as the year comes to an end, I set aside time to reflect on all the highs and lows of the last twelve months. I try to honestly evaluate things I got right and identify areas I hope to improve. And almost every year, my regrets aren't about the things I did; I regret the things I didn't do. 
We regret trips we didn't take in order to get more work done back home. We regret the kids' soccer tournaments we missed. We wish we'd spent more time with close friends or reading and less time watching TV. We hoped we'd be further along in our writing projects and more involved at the homeless shelter. 

It's easy to confuse a lot of activity with a purposeful life. If we let our feelings determine our commitments, we'll probably spend more time on the internet and less time on the adventures we long for. It's nothing to feel guilty about; it's just our natural response if we're not clear about where we want to invest our time. We need to know what we want and why we want it. 

What do you want to be remembered for? What things would you like to accomplish if you knew you wouldn't fail? Who would you want to share life with, and where would yo􀀙 like to go? There's a good chance there's not much standing between you and those adventures, accomplishments, and relation­ships. You just need to get clear on what you want and make sure you ·want it for the right reason. 

We never regret following through on the commitments we're passionate about and the activities that last. Figure those out and let the rest fall away. 

What do you want to be remembered for? 

I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me. 
MATTHEW 25:36 

Jesus definitely didn't do things by the book. When the religious leaders said He needed to play by their rules, He showed them He was listening to His Father's voice. He spent His whole life engaging the people most of us have spent our whole lives trying to avoid. He made loving the marginalized look easy while we find them the easiest to ignore. He had meals with them, He helped make their daily lives better, and He taught them about hope beyond what they could see. He held them. 

What if we decided to make it easy to find room in our lives for loving those without? What would it take? What would you quit? It's easiest for us to find margin for others in our lives when we get something in return. You would have never found Jesus going for the photo op; most of the time He spent with the marginalized was in secret. He actually avoided credit multiple times by disappearing in a crowd or saying, "Don't tell anyone." How crazy is that? 

When I struggle to decide what I'm supposed to do next, I try to remem­ber those folks left outside the lines: the poor, orphans, widows, and those in prison. Those are the ones Jesus set His sights on. After all, I wantto be remembered for what I did outside the lines rather than the stuff I filled in between. Let's go fill up the margins with our love. It will mean more to the world than pages and pages of words. 

What can you do these last few days of the year to love those on the margins? 

The Lord himself will give you a sign: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." 
ISAIAH 7:14 

This time of year, we hear a lot about the name Immanuel, which means "God with us." Jesus embodied the phrase so well that as He wept for His friends, He made breakfast for them, and He allowed them into His quiet places. Jesus made Himself vulnerable, and He listened when others opened their personal lives too. In Jesus, God kneeled down and said, 'I'm with you." He didn't let death be the end of it. Instead, it was the starting line to a relationship we can encounter today.

 
I think that's what heaven is all about. The tomb wasn't a dramatic explo­sion. Jesus hadn't come so He would be recognized as a king or a :rock star. Jesus came to show all of history that God is here to be as close as a friend. 

For people who follow Jesus, we know that Christmas is like the opening act of a play. The hardest part we remember comes a few months later when we reflect on Jesus' sacrifice for us on the cross. This holiday season, as you celebrate "God with us," remember that He chose to come even when He knew the story would take an awful turn that would end His life. The full manger points to the empty tomb. God came to life with the mission to defeat death. 

Whenever you hear people talk about "Immanuel, God with us," remem­ber that He did it so you could be with Him. 

What will you do today to experience Immanuel? 

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. 
PROVERBS 16:3 

The passage of time is an unstoppable force. It happens to all of us the same. A year ending might stir some frustration for the things left undone, or you might be high-fiving strangers. It all depends on how much you were willing to risk. A year beginning might bring a sense of anticipation, or you might see another lather-rinse-repeat coming. It all depends on how much you are willing to risk. 

When God gives us dreams, He wants us to change as we chase them. We achieve our dreams by bravely facing the lopsided odds. We might think achieving a dream is the point, but I think for God it's more about seeing us become more like Jesus with each step we take forward. Of course, He cele­brates with us too. 

If you've been living with a stirring in your soul, it's time to test your limits. There's no fast-forward to change. Time grinds slowly forward the same way for all of us. The question is, as a famous poet once said, "What do you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Because that is what it is. And that is how God sees you: precious and wildly capable of amazing things. 

The sidelines aren't a place for you anymore. Take a risk. Be bold and cou­rageous. Dream of something only God could accomplish. Decide you're going to risk much ... so God can lead you toward your dream and toward Him. 

What dreams are stirring in your soul?