Bible Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7; Matthew 1:18-25

"I can't believe it's almost Christmas and there's no snow!" Alaina looked out the car window as they drove to church and frowned. "It just doesn't feel like Christmas without snow," she grumbled. For weeks the weather had been just above freezing. Instead of snow, storms of rain and sleet left a wet, muddy mess behind.

When they pulled into the church parking lot, Alaina hopped out of the car and landed in a mud puddle. Her church shoes and tights were covered in mud.

"Ahhhh!" she cried. "It's freezing, and I'm a mess!"

"Come on, honey," said her mom. "Let's run to the bathroom and dry you off before church starts."

A few minutes later Alaina was dry and warm, but her legs were still speckled with mud and dirt. Before she could complain, her friend Hadley excitedly ran up to her. "Alaina! Have you seen outside? It just started snowing!"

The two ran to the window and saw a few flurries starting to fall. Alaina giggled with excitement and forgot her muddy clothes. "Finally! I've been waiting forever!"

After church Alaina ran to the window again. The ground was already covered with a sparkling blanket of fresh snow.

Her mom came up behind her. "It does look beautiful. Why do you think fresh snow is so exciting?"

"Well, it finally covers up all the gross mud!" Alaina exclaimed, looking at the spots on her legs.

Mom nodded. "I think that must have been what the first Christmas felt like."

"What do you mean?" Alaina asked.

Mom smiled. "Just like the muddy mess outside that covered your clothes today, without Jesus our hearts look like a muddy mess full of sin. But just like you were waiting for the snow to cover up the mess, the world waited and waited in anticipation of the Savior God had promised. Can you imagine how exciting it must have been to hear that Jesus was finally here to make our hearts as white as this snow?"

Alaina looked surprised. "Wow, I didn't realize the world had to wait so long for Jesus to come." She looked outside. "Now the snow will remind me just how special Christmas is."

–Bethany Den Boer

How About You?
Do you ever feel impatient waiting for something you really want? Perhaps you couldn't wait for Christmas vacation or opening your presents on Christmas morning. How do you feel when the day finally arrives? The world waited in the same way for a Savior to come. This Christmas, think about that first Christmas when baby Jesus finally arrived and how exciting it is that He came to make our hearts as white as snow.

Today's Key Verse:
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. (NKJV) (Isaiah 1:18 )

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus covers our sins

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

"Mom! Dad just drove in," said Millie. "He probably brought a Christmas tree!" But as she opened the door, Dad came in, and he didn't have a tree.

"I'm sorry, sweetie," Dad said, giving Millie a hug. "I know how much you wanted a tree, but…"

Millie shrugged away and hurried to her room. She didn't feel like celebrating Christmas.

As she lay on her bed, the sound of voices drifted down the hall. Millie went to her door and listened. "I wish we could afford a Christmas tree this year," Dad said. He sounded very sad. "Since it's so close to Christmas, I thought they'd be marked down, but the prices were still pretty high. And with all the extra expenses we've had, I didn't think it was a good idea. But I know Millie's disappointed."

The hurt in Dad's voice brought tears to Millie's eyes. Then a plan began to form in her mind. Christmas is all about God's gift of Jesus and the joy He came to bring us, she thought. Maybe I can give Dad and Mom a gift of joy too.

Millie went out to join her parents. "Mom, can we bring out that little artificial tree we used in Grandma's hospital room last year?" she asked.

"Sure," said Mom, and she got the tree.

Millie pretended to be thrilled with it. "Help me decorate it!" As they worked, Millie continued her cheerful act. "I remember when you and I went shopping and bought this ornament, Dad," she said as she hung a wooden bird on the tree. "We had so much fun."

The angel they had used in years past seemed too big for the tiny tree, but they put it on the top anyway. "Mom and I bought this angel for your first Christmas," Dad reminded Millie--just like he did every year.

By the time they finished, Dad's spirits had lifted, and Millie was surprised to find that she no longer had to pretend to be happy. Her joy was real, and she looked forward to Christmas morning. She didn't expect to get many presents, but it didn't matter anymore. She had already received a wonderful gift--the joy of making another person happy.

–Esther M. Bailey

How About You?
Is there something you can do to make someone's Christmas more joyful? Maybe you won't be getting all the presents you hoped for, but bringing joy to someone else beats anything you'll find under the tree. God brought joy into the world when He gave us the greatest gift of all--His Son, Jesus. Remember that wonderful gift this Christmas as you look for ways to bring joy to others.

Today's Key Verse:
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (NKJV) (Acts 20:35)

Today's Key Thought:
Giving brings joy

Bible Reading: 2 Peter 1:3-8

After breakfast, Thatcher sat quietly as his dad read a passage of Scripture. "Well," said Dad as he closed his Bible, "these verses tell us that God is working to help us develop the same character traits Jesus has and become more like Him." Dad looked at his family. "Has anyone noticed ways He's been helping you do that in your life?"

No one said anything for a moment. Then Thatcher spoke up. "I don't get in fights as much as I used to, and I don't cheat on spelling tests anymore. And I like church better now too." His brows furrowed. "But I haven't been changing much lately."

"Well, we never stop growing as Christians," said Dad. "But often it's hard to pinpoint where the changes are taking place." After they discussed the verses a little more, Dad led them in prayer. Then they all gathered their things for a trip to visit Grandma, who lived several hours away.

When they got there, Grandma greeted them eagerly. "You've grown!" she exclaimed as she hugged Isla. "I see you've lost some teeth too!"

"Thwee teeth," lisped Isla.

"And Thatcher, you must be six inches taller," said Grandma, hugging him. "My! You're a young man now!" Throughout the day, she frequently commented on how much they had changed.

As Mom tucked Thatcher into his sleeping bag that night, he said, "I didn't think I had changed much since the last time we saw Grandma, but she couldn't stop talking about how much I've grown."

Mom laughed. "I know. I often don't notice how you and Isla grow either--until you grow out of your clothes, that is! I guess I see you too much to notice the gradual changes." She gave Thatcher a hug. "That reminds me of what we were talking about this morning. Maybe we're too close to ourselves to notice gradual changes that make us more like Jesus. But Grandma saw them. She mentioned how you and Isla played together without fighting and were quick to help when asked."

"Really?" asked Thatcher.

"Really," said Mom. "Trust that God is working in you to make you more and more like Jesus every day."

–Hope L. Aderman

How About You?
Did you know that if you're a Christian, God is helping you grow spiritually? Growth takes time, so you might not see a lot of change from one day to the next. But know that God promises to work in your life and help you develop character traits that show others the love of Jesus. As you continue to learn more about Jesus, trust God to work in your heart so you'll grow to be more and more like Him.

Today's Key Verse:
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (NKJV) (2 Peter 3:18)

Today's Key Thought:
Growth takes time

Bible Reading: Matthew 5:14-16; John 3:16-21

Emily licked the icing off her fingers and carefully added another snowflake sprinkle to her Christmas cookie. Christmas parties were the best! She grinned as she looked around the table at her friends. Some of them were already devouring their cookies piled with sweet decorations.

"All right, kids! While you finish decorating your cookies, I have a special story to tell you," said Emily's mom. One of the other moms started passing around oranges while Emily's mom answered a question. "No, they aren't to eat just yet. We have to do something with them first! I was looking up different Christmas traditions from other countries and found this really cool one from Germany in the 1700s."

The children now each had a candle, four toothpicks, dried fruit, and a red ribbon next to their oranges. "This is what they did," Emily's mom said, holding up an orange. "The orange stands for the world. God loved our world so much that He sent His Son to save us. Jesus died on the cross to pay the price of our sins and then rose from the dead so we could have eternal life. That's what the red ribbon stands for--the blood of Jesus. Take your ribbon and glue it around your orange."

"What are the toothpicks for?" Emily asked curiously.

"We put the four toothpicks in our orange pointing different directions for north, south, east, and west," her mom explained. "Jesus wants us to spread the good news that He saves all over the world! The dried fruit go on the ends to remind us that when Jesus is our Savior we have the fruit of the Spirit. What are they?"

Some of the kids murmured, "Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

"Is the candle for 'this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine'?" Wyatt sang with his eyes sparkling.

"How did you know, Wyatt? Yes, we're all going to place our candle inside the top of our orange and the grown-ups will light them. This thing you created is called a Christingle, and it's a symbol of Christ's light in us. If you know Jesus as your Savior, you are the light of the world. Kids, let your light shine for Jesus this Christmas!"

–Savannah Coleman

How About You?
Did you know that the Bible says if you are a child of God, you are the light of the world? Light was made to shine, not be hidden! Share with others the good news of Jesus coming into the world to save us. Trust Him to empower you to show the fruit of the Spirit in the way you treat others. Shine Jesus's light to those around you so they can see His goodness and love in you.

Today's Key Verse:
You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (NIV) (Matthew 5:14, 16)

Today's Key Thought:
Let Christ's light shine in you

Bible Reading: Luke 10:38-42

Jade squeezed her new teddy bear tight as she ran to the living room. She waded through piles of wrapping paper to find the family Bible on the coffee table.

"Momma," she said as she walked into the kitchen and found her mother rolling out pie dough on the counter. "We almost forgot to read the Christmas story! We always read it on Christmas after we open our presents."

"I didn't forget, Jade. We just don't have time this year," Mom said. "I need to finish making the pecan pie we're taking to Grandma's and shovel the driveway so we can get the car out of the garage, and we need to leave in forty-five minutes or we'll be late." Mom punctuated her list with a sigh. "Maybe we can read it tomorrow instead."

Defeated, Jade walked back to the living room. She plopped down in the crumpled wrapping paper and looked at her teddy bear.

"What should I name you?" Jade asked the stuffed animal as she touched the pink bow on the bear's head. "I know," she said, "Martha!"

Jade furrowed her brow. She thought about the story of Mary and Martha she learned in Sunday school and realized Martha sounded a lot like her mom.

Jade returned to the kitchen. "I think you're being Martha," she timidly told her mom as she sat down at the counter.

"Martha?" Mom asked. "Who is Martha?"

"In the Bible, Jesus visits two sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha spent so much time cleaning and cooking that she didn't get to spend any time with Jesus. But Mary decided spending time with Jesus was more important than anything else." Jade looked down at the floor. "I think you're letting Christmas be more important than spending time with Jesus."

Mom's face softened. "Thank you, Jade. You're absolutely right. I got caught up in all the work that goes along with the holiday. Even good things, like making a pie for family, can be bad when they keep us from taking time to rest with Jesus so He can refresh our souls and remind us of His love."

Mom put down the rolling pin and smiled at Jade. "Come on, little Mary. Let's go read the Christmas story by the tree. Grandma won't mind if we're a little late."

–Nicole Kraayenbrink

How About You?
Are you feeling stressed or overwhelmed this Christmas season by all the presents to wrap or family parties to attend? Even good things can be bad when they keep us so busy that we don't have time for God. Don't let this year's holiday festivities keep you from spending time with Jesus. Take a moment each day to rest in His presence and remember that Christmas is all about what He did for you.

Today's Key Verse:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (NIV) (Matthew 11:28)

Today's Key Thought:
Take time to rest in Jesus