We’ve been thinking about Christmas every day this week. And now, on the day after, it’s not yet time to stop remembering the gift of God’s Son. Choose one or two of this week’s posts to push your thoughts away from holiday hubbub and back toward the deepest reason for our celebration.

When I look at the sons in my life, I shudder to realize the gift God gave when he sent the world—when he sent me—his Son. A repost of one of my favorite reflections.

Advent is not simply waiting to celebrate Christ’s birth. It is about anticipating his final return.

“You better watch out, you better not cry.” “Oh, be careful little eyes what you see.” Hmmm . . . do these songs teach us the right message?

“O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.” The apostle tells us how God will answer the prayer of Phillips Brooks.

I was wrestling with the deep message in two New Testament passages, when a text from my grandson showed me the simple reality.

I suspect every one of you is in possession of this gift, so my gift is simply a reminder of what you already have. I want us all to take full advantage of this amazing reality!

As we anticipate Christmas, we can also look into our own hearts. Posts this week prompt meaningful self-evaluation. Which one challenges you most?

Sooner or later all of us come to the place where we can hide our brokenness no longer. But God is good and faithful. That’s our testimony in this personal Christmastime post.

Most workers I’ve known with Peter’s tendency toward compulsive behavior changed very little over time. But Peter’s little letter shows us what commitment and the power of the Holy Spirit can do.

How do you respond when the end is near? Peter told his readers to get ready for the end, and then he showed them how.

If we want to show the world that a Savior has been born in us, then we will need to do things differently. The same ol’, same ol’ won’t bring joy to the world.

Today’s verse is likely not one of your favorites, and you certainly don’t bring it quickly to mind at Christmastime. But it gives us hope as we wait for a second return, even as we celebrate the first coming of Jesus.

Actually, all of us are royal. The Bible says so, this post explains why, and suggests what we should do about it.

This is the season for celebrating good news, and this week’s posts reflect God’s best news. Which of them could be the greatest encouragement to you—or to someone who’d be helped by reading along with you? Send them a link, or give them the reproducible version available via the link provided at the bottom of each post.

To realize news is good, we usually contrast it with the bad news that surrounds it. What’s the best news you’ve ever received?

There is one who is always there when we call. Psalm 138: 3 expressed it this way: “On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.”

We can either trip over Jesus or build our lives on him. As we each construct our lives upon the living stone of Jesus, we become a spiritual framework that God uses in expanding his kingdom.

Long before screenwriters used the technique of a plot twist, the Holy Spirit had already mastered the method. And if foreshadowing is a part of a good plot twist, then the ancient writers with divine inspiration used that technique as well. We see all of this in many places in the drama of Scripture, but maybe the book of Esther is the best example of perfect and powerful plot twists.

Today I am considering that Peter’s beautiful words stretch to include my friends and all of us who share friendships with each other as we watched loved ones depart this world and take claim of what we all believe we one day will also receive.