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December 22, 2025

A Fun Christmas Memory

“In the same region, there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.’” Luke 2:8-14 (NASB)

“Great joy…for all people,” are some of the words spoken by the angel on the night of Christ’s birth. Today’s post is intended to stir up some joy in you.

We live in precarious and perilous times, punctuated by evil dictators, corrupt governments, power-crazed politicians, woke educators, and God-haters. In the midst of evil and chaos, let me remind you that joy is a fruit of the spirit, not the emotions, and therefore is not based on circumstances. Happiness is based on circumstances which we can’t always control; joy, however, originates in our spirit and therefore flows from Holy Spirit in us (Galatians 5:22). In the angel’s announcement above, the word “great” is the Greek word megas, from which we get the English word “mega.” Megas means over and above, above and beyond, more than enough. 

Recalling pleasant memories of past Christmases is a wonderful way to awaken joy during the holidays. They can be from when you were a child, or even as a parent or grandparent, spending time with family. The memory/memories could be of a gift you gave, or one you were given. Maybe it’s a sleigh ride, a ski trip, a family trip, watching the Nutcracker, or Christmas movies with mom, or a football game with dad. Think of something and let it unlock some joy.

Laughter is good. God said it’s like a medicine (Proverbs 17:22). Think of something from a Christmas past that’ll make you laugh. Here’s one of mine.

We once had a dog named Mercedes. Sadie, as we called her, was a Boxer. God used Mercedes greatly in my life. She taught me patience, humility, poop-scooping, and the price of dog ACL surgery. I didn’t actually mind the poop-scooping in and of itself; it was the mocking laughter I could see in her eyes as I did it that irritated me.

We bought Mercedes–yes, I paid for these lessons–because we moved to a rural area where coyotes and foxes could endanger our two other smaller dogs - they needed a bodyguard. Besides, everyone needs THREE dogs! The plan backfired. Mercedes took over our home. Ceci and the girls actually went to obedience school with her a few times. That helped - Sadie learned to sit. She came home and asserted her dominance by sitting on my chest. Seriously. I was stretched out on the floor watching a football game with a nice fire in the fireplace, when she looked proudly over at the girls and sat on my chest. “Good girl. Good sit,” they said, through uncontrolled laughter. True story.

Then there was the time she TP’d (toilet papered) the backyard. Yep, she did. We had a fenced backyard, so at times, when we left the house, we’d leave the back sliding door open a foot or so to give the dogs some freedom. Upon returning home from church one Sunday, there was a trail of toilet paper from the powder room (for all you guys, that’s the half-bath you keep clean for guests) leading through the family room, out the back door, and into the yard. Once in the backyard, it seemed that Sadie’s creative side kicked in. She went over, under, around, and through, making circles, figure 8’s, and more. Then she did her “business” while I cleaned up the toilet paper. And if you don’t see the cruel irony of that, then you’re pretty slow. I swear she was laughing. True story.

But perhaps my most humiliating experience with Mercedes was when I had to chase her around on the roof of our two-story house. I was hanging Christmas lights–you thought I had gotten off the subject of Christmas, didn’t you–and with the house layout, it was easy access to a portion of the roof from our daughter’s bedroom casement window seat. From there, I could walk to the remainder of the roof, even the higher parts. Of course, I left the window open. 

I was on all fours, carefully placing hooks for the lights on the gutters, when suddenly I heard a noise behind me. I turned, and there was Mercedes–she had joined me! I panicked. If she fell off this two-story roof and hurt herself, Ceci and the girls would never forgive me. My tone of voice and panicked attempt to grab Sadie scared her. She, of course, began running around and wouldn’t come to me. So I chased her, which caused her to run more…Kevin Costner became known to the Native Americans as “the man who dances with wolves.” I became known in our neighborhood as “man who dances with dog on roof.” True story.

Remember something today that makes you laugh. If you can’t think of anything, picture me with a 70-pound, well-trained, obedience school graduate Boxer sitting on my chest. The Message version of Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.” Laugh. It’ll do you good.

Pray with me:

Father, in these precarious and perilous times, punctuated by evil dictators, corrupt and power-crazed politicians, terrorists, woke educators, and God-haters, we can still have joy. Cause the spirit of joy to rise up in Your people today. Even those in difficult circumstances, may the strength that results from joy arise in them. Temper their grief with moments of joy. If it needs to be a supernatural impartation, please do that.

Thank You, Father, for sending Jesus, who brought us mega joy. “Joy to the world, the Lord has come.” Because of Him, we can rejoice. Remind us to remain focused on Him this Christmas season.

And we pray for our nation. Please deliver our nation from evil doers; expose terrorists and their plans. Deliver us also from the devastation our sin and turning away from You has caused. Give us the joy that comes from true revival. Cause the awakening to create a national deliverance and turn millions toward righteousness. This has begun, but we need it to become a tidal wave! We thank You for all of this, and ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Our decree:

We decree that “joy unspeakable and full of glory” is ours today through Christ. (1 Peter 1:8)

Click on the link below to watch the full video.


 
 

December 19, 2025

Introduction

Several years ago, my dad wrote a wonderful devotional entitled The Gold That Washed Ashore (now out of print). Dad was old-school in his writing and preaching, crafting sermons of homiletic eloquence, and his devotionals were no exception. This is one of his great devotionals, combined with some of my thoughts. The title of today’s post is:

He Came

“For today in the city of David, there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11 NASB)

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” 

(Luke 19:10 NASB)

Dutch Shares

When Christ came to earth, it was not as most expected. The religious world had overlooked the prophecy regarding a virgin conceiving (Isaiah 7:14); perhaps they simply had a different interpretation of the verse, since it was considered a total impossibility. At any rate, the birth of Christ through a poor, teenage virgin - from the other side of the tracks, Nazareth, of all places - wasn’t on the list of Messianic expectations. Nor was a manger (a feeding trough) for a crib, in a smelly, dung-filled stable. The scribes, Pharisees, and religious elite were confident the Messiah would be regal, wealthy, and come from their ranks, of course.

You must admit, the Christmas story does strain the imagination. It is not so difficult to conceive of God coming to earth to rescue fallen humanity. But becoming a microscopic seed, placed in the womb of a teenage girl, fed by a cord from her placenta, and entering the world through a narrow birth canal is an entirely different story. It seems ridiculous, and certainly sacrilegious, to think of God in dirty diapers, burping, and crying for Mama. I can easily conceive of Him walking on water, but not of falling when learning to walk. Feeding the 5000 - no problem, but smearing food all over His face when learning to feed Himself? That’s a bit of a stretch. He was, after all, God.

But to keep Christ from being truly human not only disqualifies Him from being our Savior, but it also misses God’s heart and message. Christ loved us enough to become one of us. Our Lord’s most common name for Himself was Son of Man. He chose to experience our humanness, feel our pain and hunger, wrestle with the wound of rejection, and know the disappointment of loss. His calloused hands knew hard work, His feet walked hundreds of miles, and He slept many nights on the ground. Jesus had to become human in order to bleed, die, and redeem us; and so He did. Let Him be one of us, and let Him into the muck and mire of our world. Dad speaks eloquently of Christ’s coming and of His redeeming purpose.

From Dad

“From Genesis to Revelation, there is a great scarlet thread of truth calling our attention to a coming Redeemer. This hope of a coming Redeemer was the secret of Abel offering a more excellent sacrifice than Cain’s. It was the only light that gleamed in the ark as it rolled over the waves of an ocean world. This hope guided the patriarchs and gladdened the prophets. Then…the Great Redeemer came. 

“He came, and was a great preacher. All the preachers of the centuries look small when we line them alongside the Man whose hands were calloused by a carpenter's plane and who wore the peasant smock of Galilee. He came, and was the greatest physician the world has ever seen. He was the world’s sympathetic friend in a world of pain. He came, and was the perfect example.

“Yet, He came to be more than a great preacher, physician, or pattern. He came to be our Savior. He came to deal with the thing that drenched the world with blood, that bleached it with bones, and that filled the air with moans and groans. He came to bridge the gulf that separates humanity from God. He came to shut the very jaws of damnation and throw open the gates of gold. He came to fix us so we could appear as if the archer of hell never shot us through.

“All the sins of all His people were gathered upon His shoulders. The heart of Christ became like a reservoir in the mountains, and all the tributary streams of iniquity ran down and gathered into that vast lake. Sin wrote its vicious history with the scourge, thorns, nails, spear, and throbbing agony - our sins, yours and mine. At Calvary, we see the wrath of God against sin inscribed in characters of blood, and we see sin's absolution: ‘Father, forgive them.’ (Luke 23:34)

“We used to sing the great hymn: 

Oh, Now I See the Crimson Wave

“‘Oh, now I see the crimson wave, the fountain deep and wide;

‘Jesus, my Lord, mighty to save, points to His wounded side.

‘I see the new creation rise, I hear the speaking blood;

It speaks! Polluted nature dies! Sinks 'neath the cleansing flood.

‘The cleansing stream I see, I see! I plunge and, oh, it cleanseth me!

‘Oh, praise the Lord, it cleanseth me! It cleanseth me, yes, cleanseth me!’”(1) 

“Thank You, Jesus, for coming!”

Pray with me:

Father, we thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, as Heaven’s great gift. Thank You for the incarnation, Christ’s humble birth, and His substitutionary death. Thank You for the cleansing stream that flows from Him still.

Jesus, You came. As we celebrate Your birth, we thank You for the humbling journey You made…for the sacrifices, the miles, the sleepless nights, and the tears. Thank You for the blood You shed, the stripes You bore, the crown of thorns You wore, the nails and the spear that pierced Your holy body.

Holy Spirit, as we celebrate Christmas this year, remind us to celebrate our Redeemer as He should be celebrated, and love Him as He should be loved. 

And in closing, Father, we remember to pray against the plans of terrorists who have entered our nation. Jesus taught us to ask for deliverance from evil (Matthew 6:13). We do so now. Please expose the terrorists in our land. Give those who search for them breakthrough and unprecedented skill. We ask that You give President Trump and those working with him great wisdom and strategy. Break the back of radical Islam here and throughout the world. All of these things we pray in the mighty name of Yeshua.

Our decree:

We declare our faith that the cleansing stream of Christ still flows today, cleansing us from all sin and unrighteousness.

Have a wonderful Christmas this year, celebrating Him!

Click on the link below to watch the full video.


 
 

December 18, 2025

Introduction

Today, I’m blessing you with a powerful Christmas post from our friend Cheryl Sacks. The insights she offers could most certainly shape the destiny of someone you love. Enjoy.

The Best Gift You Can Give This Christmas

Christmas awakens something deep in us—not just warm memories, but a longing to give the people we love something meaningful. Not another sweater. Not another gadget. Something with weight. Something that lasts.

What if one of the greatest gifts you could give this Christmas doesn’t come wrapped in paper or tied with ribbon?

What if the most powerful gift you can give your children, grandchildren, spiritual sons and daughters, or anyone God has placed in your life, is your blessing?

Long before angels announced good news or shepherds ran to a manger, God Himself modeled this gift. Scripture says, “And God blessed them…” (Genesis 1:28). Blessing was His first act toward humanity—and it is still one of the greatest expressions of His heart.

And today, He invites us to partner with Him in giving that same gift.

Blessing Is God’s Heart

Years ago, as I walked my living room floor praying for my husband, Hal, and our young daughter, something unexpected happened. My usual requests began to shift. Suddenly, instead of asking, I began blessing.

“I bless Hal to be a faithful husband and attentive father—to walk in the fullness of his calling. I bless him with supernatural favor before leaders and gatekeepers, with peace that guards his heart and mind.” My voice grew stronger as I turned to Nicole. “I bless my daughter with joy that springs up like a fountain, with angelic protection, healthy friendships, and a heart that runs hard after God all the days of her life.”

It felt as though heaven entered the room, and the Lord Himself was leading my words. His face seemed to shine toward me. In that moment, I realized: blessing is God’s language. It is His idea. His way.

Throughout Scripture, blessing shaped destinies. Abraham blessed Isaac. Isaac blessed Jacob. Jacob blessed his sons. And their blessings always came to pass. Blessing is more than encouragement— it is a spiritual impartation—words carrying God’s authority, energized by His Word, spoken in His name, releasing His life over another person.

Why Blessing Matters Today

In a world saturated with criticism, comparison, and words that wound, blessing has become rare. Yet it is one of the most life-shaping forces we can release. A blessing isn’t something we simply feel in our hearts—it’s something we speak.

Simple, yet powerful words like, “You are cherished… You are strong and steady… You bring joy wherever you go… You are protected, chosen, and deeply loved,” breathe identity and destiny into a person’s heart.

The Consequences of Withholding Blessings

Many parents and grandparents love deeply but unknowingly withhold the very blessing their children crave. Not out of lack of love, but lack of time, lack of modeling, or simply never having received the blessing themselves.

But Scripture shows us that long silences create openings for the enemy:

  • Words unspoken can feel like rejection

  • Silence can crush hope

  • Lack of blessing creates insecurity, fear, and confusion

  • Hearts can close, and even generational blessings can be hindered

A child—or adult—who never receives blessing will look for affirmation elsewhere, often in destructive places. But the opposite is also true: A spoken blessing can break shame, heal wounds, and set a life on a new trajectory.

When we bless someone, three things begin to move in the Spirit:

The Power of Our Words

“Life and death are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). Words aren’t empty—they are containers of spirit. They can bless or curse. Lift a heart or crush it.

The Power of God’s Word

When what we speak agrees with what He has spoken, His power flows through our words—like lightning precisely conducted through a rod—penetrating hearts, breaking lies, and restoring truth.

The Power of His Name

In Numbers 6, God promised that when His priests blessed in His name, He Himself would bless them. And today, in Christ, we stand in that same authority.

Blessing Is Not Earned—It Is Given by Faith

You may wonder, “Should I bless someone who is selfish or rebellious?”The answer to this question is an emphatic—Yes!

Blessing is not a reward for good behavior. It is a prophetic declaration of God’s desire for someone’s future. We cannot confuse the word bless with the word praise—because those who need blessing the most—are the ones who deserve praise the least. We bless not because of who others are, but because of who God intends them to be.

Blessing When You Don’t Feel Like It

You may feel you can’t speak a blessing over a child, parent, or sibling because you’ve waited too long. Relationships may be strained or broken. Don’t let this stop you. When you gather this Christmas season, look for an opportunity to speak a blessing. If there has been a breach, anger, or bitterness, take the first step—reach out. Sometimes it feels impossible. But God often meets us in the very moment we choose obedience.

I think of a young woman named Karan who lived for years with deep anger and bitterness toward her ex-husband. Christmastime was particularly difficult when she had to surrender her three boys to him and his new wife for the holidays. One Christmas Eve, as she was begrudgingly preparing her children for their holiday visit, she cried out to the Lord to deliver her from bitterness.

“Give him the china,” she sensed the Holy Spirit say.

When he left, her husband had taken half of their china to his new home. Now Karan sensed God telling her to wrap up her half, write “Merry Christmas” on the box, and send it along with the children as a gift.

As she placed the package in her children’s arms, the burden of anger and resentment miraculously lifted. Her bitterness was replaced with heartfelt compassion and a desire to pray for her ex-husband with her children and to bless him. That moment of freedom opened the way for her children to release their own bitterness and rebuild a loving relationship with their father.

A single act of obedience opened the door for blessing—and blessing opened the door for freedom.

This Christmas, Give the Gift That Lasts

As families gather, as children come home, as some feel the sting of loneliness—let’s recover this ancient, biblical practice. Though parents and grandparents carry unique authority, every believer can bless others—neighbors, friends, coworkers, youth, and children God brings across our path. Some adults who never received a blessing at home say they received it from a coach, a teacher, a youth leader, or a spiritual parent.

A blessing is simple. It can be spoken with a hand on the shoulder, through a text or card, around a dinner table, when you tuck your child into bed, or say goodnight to your spouse. But its impact? It can shape a destiny. Heal a wound. Break a cycle. Launch a calling.

Who might Holy Spirit be calling you to reach out to and bless? You may be the only person in someone’s entire life who ever speaks their God-given destiny over them. This Christmas, let’s not just give gifts that last a few weeks or years; let’s give a gift that echoes into eternity.

Pray with me:

Father, thank You for blessing us with Your love, Your nearness, and Your Son. Anoint our words today. Forgive us for speaking carelessly or withholding blessing. This Christmas season, help us speak life.

We bless our loved ones with the assurance of Your love. We bless them with wisdom, peace, and protection. We bless them with the ability to hear Your voice and walk in their purpose. We bless them with favor—with You and with others. May our mouths be fountains of blessing, filled with grace, truth, and love.

Our decree:

We decree that this Christmas season, we will use our words to bless and not to wound. That life will flow from our mouths, shaping destinies and healing hearts. We decree that the Spirit of God will anoint our blessing, and generations will be transformed. We decree that the blessing of the Lord will rest on our homes, our children, and all whom God has entrusted to us. We choose to bless. And heaven will bless through us.

Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Today’s post was contributed by our Cheryl Sacks. She is the author of six books, including her latest, Fire on the Family Altar: Experience the Holy Spirit’s Power in Your Home, available at fireonthefamilyaltar.com or on Amazon

 
 
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