{"id":21974,"date":"2017-12-18T00:05:58","date_gmt":"2017-12-18T08:05:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=21974"},"modified":"2017-12-14T13:33:35","modified_gmt":"2017-12-14T21:33:35","slug":"december-18-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2017\/12\/18\/december-18-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"December 18, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cGlory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.\u201d<\/em> Luke 2:14<\/p>\n

Christmas the Whole Year \u2018Round<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Okay, so I know most people think they are starting waaay too early with the Christmas stuff in the stores. Some of it, I have to admit, is very garish and honestly gives me a headache, but\u2026 I am one of those people who HAS to go into every \u201cChristmas the Whole Year Round\u201d stores I come across on vacation. I am already looking up and down the aisles at all the lovely ornaments, trees and paper.<\/p>\n

I love it for the emotion and memories it evokes. Christmases past. The feeling of peace, love and joy that comes this time of year. I know the stores are bringing it earlier and earlier hoping for increased profit, but my hope is the peace, joy and love will come earlier as well.<\/p>\n

I know the holidays can be busy\u2014crazy busy for some\u2014but what if you chose to do just one less thing this year? Or if this is a lonely time of year for you, a time of unpleasant memories, what if you added a new tradition to start replacing them?<\/p>\n

There are myriad ways to serve and love on people during the holidays, to spread goodwill and love them with Christ\u2019s love. Volunteer serving a dinner at a shelter or doing a coat drive (or simply donating your family\u2019s gently used winter clothing they have outgrown or no longer wear). There are many organizations that start early adopting kids or families for Thanksgiving and Christmas\u2014providing presents and the makings of feasts\u2014to spread the holiday cheer as it is meant to be spread.<\/p>\n

My prayer is that this Christmas would be a miraculous one for each of us in a very personal and special way. That the Lord would show us, no matter what is going on in our own little worlds and the whole world around us; He is still in control. May there truly be peace on earth and goodwill toward men, all to the glory of God.<\/p>\n

\u201cI pray, Lord, that we would get to the place where it is Christmas the whole year round, as we realize we carry Christmas with us every day, in You. Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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