December 17, 2019

Christmas fun facts for today : did you know that every year, a huge Christmas tree is in Trafalgar Square, the main, big square in London–and it’s a gift from the country of Norway. Every year since 1947, Norway gifts a tree as a thank you for England’s help during WW2. And it’s even decorated in the Norweigan style–the lights are hung up and down, not in rows. Bonus fun fact (and about WW2 also): during WW2, an American playing card company joined with the American and British spy agency, and they made specific decks of playing cards that were given out as Christmas gifts to soldiers. The cards could actually be peeled apart to show maps, in case the soldiers ever were captured and trying to escape. It would lead them to safety.

You may be tired of hearing about the ultimate gift you’ve been given at Christmas–it doesn’t mean you aren’t grateful for Jesus birth, but sometimes it’s kind of like, yeah, yeah, I know.

So maybe try and think of the gift of the playing cards. God’s gift to us at Christmas, Jesus, is like a map to get us to safety. Jesus is our way to salvation.

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.

John 14:6 (ERV)

And by the way–when Jesus left the disciples, he told them about another gift that God would give them–the Holy Spirit to help them.

¹⁶ I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper^[a] to be with you forever. ¹⁷ The Helper is the Spirit of truth… He lives with you, and he will be in you.

John 14: 16-17 (ERV)

Dear Father in Heaven, Thank you for loving me just as I am. Thank you for sending Jesus to know what it’s like to struggle as a human and understand me. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who is with me always as my helper. Amen.

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