21 Days of Christmas E-Book

Kathy Ide

• Herausgeber: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 167

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

Christmas is more than just a holiday. It is a time to recapture the joy and wonder of God's greatest gift: His Son, Jesus.  21 Days of Christmas will warm your heart with stories about giving, loving, and family. These engaging tales celebrate the hope and joy that make this blessed season unique. At the end of each story you'll find an insightful message that will help you discover anew the true meaning of this special time of year. So grab a cup of hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick, curl up in your favorite chair beside a picture window overlooking a serene spot, and savor the true meaning of Christmas through these inspirational and encouraging stories.

Leseprobe

Published by BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC

Racine, Wisconsin, USA

www.broadstreetpublishing.com

21 Days of Christmas

Stories that Celebrate God’s Greatest Gift

Copyright © 2015 Kathy Ide

ISBN: 978-1-4245-5051-7 (hardcover)

ISBN: 978-1-4245-5052-4 (e-book)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked GNT are taken from the Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition), Copyright © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright © 2000, 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible, which is in the Public Domain.

Cover design by Chris Garborg at www.garborgdesign.com

Typesetting by Katherine Lloyd at www.TheDESKonline.com

Stock or custom editions of BroadStreet Publishing titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, ministry, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail [e-mail]

Printed in China

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Contents

Introduction

1    Christmas Then and Now

by David B . Carl

2    If Not for Grace

by Lori Freeland

3    The Christmas Child of 1864

by Lena Nelson Dooley

4    Camouflaged Christmas

by Beverly Nault

5    The Christmas Star

by Charles Lober

6    Jackson’s Daughter

by Nancy Arant Williams

7    The Balsam Walk

by Joanne Bischof

8    The Last Ember

by Linda Bonney Olin

9    Sculpting a Perfect Gift

by Mary Kay Moody

10  The Box

by Jan Cline

11  Star Light, Star Bright

by Kathy Ide

12  A Present Hope

by Lynn Kinnaman

13  A Violet Christmas

by Summer Robidoux

14  A Decree Went Out

by Barbara Curtis

15  Rainbow-Colored Promises

by Kelly Wilson Mize

16  Doubting Thomas

by Nanette Thorsen-Snipes

17  A Family to Hope For

by Marilyn Hilton

18  Home for Christmas

by Esther G. Seim

19  All I Want for Christmas

by Glenda Joy Race

20  A White Christmas with You

by Rachael Landis

21  Guiding Star

by Sarah Earlene Shere

Closing

Other Books in This Series

Alphabetical List of Contributing Authors

Introduction

The Christmas season, more than any other time of year, is known for its cherished traditions. Let me share some of mine with you.

Coming up with clever gift ideas for friends and family, then fighting crowds at the mall, scouring catalogs, and surfing the Internet to find them.

Belting out my favorite carols in the car as I drive to the grocery store to pick up the ingredients I need to make special goodies I never indulge in any other time.

Hauling out the bins stored in the guest-room closet so I can decorate the house, inside and out. Smiling at the memories triggered by nostalgic ornaments as I hang them on the tree.

Traveling “over the river and through the woods” to go from sunny California to snowy Colorado to enjoy a white Christmas with my family.

Attending Christmas services at church—especially those that end with everyone singing “Silent Night” a cappella in a candlelit sanctuary.

Watching a miniature Mary and Joseph reenact the nativity, complete with toddler angels, shepherds, and barnyard animals. Getting misty eyed at the children’s choir performance, yet holding back a grin when one little girl sings just a bit off-key and louder than everyone else, and one little boy spends his entire time on stage adjusting his collar.

And finally, reading heart-warming classics like “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. And of course the story of Jesus’ birth from the book of Luke … which Linus recites so beautifully in A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Whatever traditions you enjoy this year, I hope you’ll take a few moments out of your busy holiday schedule to read the stories in this book. A few are fictionalized accounts of what Mary and Joseph must have gone through in that little town of Bethlehem on that oh-so-holy night. Most of the stories are about people like you and me, searching for meaning and purpose during this season of love, peace, and good will.

As you get caught up in these inspiring tales, and find yourself relating to the characters and their situations, I pray that your heart will overflow with comfort and joy. And with the source of true comfort and joy: Jesus.

—Kathy Ide

1

Christmas Then and Now

by David B. Carl

June yanked the seat belt so hard it locked in place. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she let it retract, then forced her arm to move slowly across her body before clicking the metal tab in place.

Norm pulled out of the driveway, a scowl on his haggard face. “They’ve probably started without us.”

“I hope they have. Why should their dinner be ruined just because we’re late?” She leaned over the center console and glared at her son and daughter in the backseat. “You kids are being careful with that Jell-O salad, aren’t you?”

Sally nodded, her eyes wide. But Billy ignored her, doodling on the foil with his thumbnail.

June turned back to her husband. “Norman, your son is drawing designs on the foil over my Jell-O salad.”

Her husband maneuvered a right turn without looking back. “Billy, get away from that salad this instant or I’ll make you wish you’d never—”

June gasped. “You shouldn’t talk to the children that way.”

Norm took a long breath. “Snuggle Bunny,” he cooed, “if it’s all right with you, would you mind not playing too much with the aluminum foil on your mother’s Jell-O salad?”

June punched him in the arm for the thousandth time in their marriage.

“Ow!”

Mary reached for the water bag hanging from the donkey’s saddle, but stopped short when a piercing pain crossed her abdomen. “Ooh!”

Joseph, who’d been walking alongside her, stopped abruptly. “Are you all right?”

She sent him what she hoped was an assuring smile. “Oh, yes. I just moved wrong.” She reached again, but another pain hit. “Oh!”

Joseph pulled a smoothly polished wooden cup out of the saddlebag, poured some water, and handed it to her.

“Thank you.” She took a sip, then handed him the cup. “Do you expect Bethlehem to be very crowded?”

He frowned. “More than I wish it would be.”

“Do you think we’ll have trouble getting a room?”

“I’ve been wondering about that all day.” Joseph finished the last of the water, then returned the cup to the saddlebag. “There probably won’t be anything decent left by the time we get there.”

Mary’s heart clenched with concern. “What will we do when the baby comes?”

He glanced up. “I’m sorry, Mary. I didn’t mean to upset you. Don’t worry. God will provide something.”

“I’m sure you’re right.” The Lord had sent an angel both to her and to Joseph, and strengthened them when they were rejected by family and friends. Surely He could provide a place for her to give birth to His special Son. He’d probably already prepared the perfect place.

Joseph grinned. “I bet we’ll look all over town for a room, and then someone wealthy will take pity on us and invite us in. I can’t see God allowing His Son to be born in a public inn.”

They continued on their journey down the dusty road, surrounded by others whose ancestors were from Bethlehem. Mary prayed silently, as she’d become accustomed to doing every second she wasn’t otherwise occupied. She knew Joseph was doing the same.

“Mary,” he whispered, “are you scared?”

“Well ...” She adjusted her position on the donkey. “I’ve never been to a big city before. I’m nine months pregnant. I’ve been riding a donkey for five days. And soon I’ll give birth to the Son of God.” She gave a slight chuckle. “I’m a little tense. What about you?”

Joseph straightened his shoulders. “God’ll take care of us. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Mary deeply appreciated her husband’s encouragement and his desire to be strong for her.

June gazed out the car window at the slushy hillsides, wondering how much farther they had to go.

“June,” Norm whispered, “I’m scared.”

She cocked her head at him. “About what?”

He changed lanes to pass a semi moving even more slowly than the cars. “Life is getting to me. It’s too complex. And it gets worse at Christmas. If we go to everyone’s house, we never have a moment to ourselves. But if we stay home, the whole family gets angry and it takes until Thanksgiving the next year to appease everybody. Then it just starts all over again.” He sighed. “What do you think we should do?”

“Maybe we should stop at a restaurant and feed the kids.”

Norm slammed a fist against the steering wheel. “You didn’t hear a word I said.” He shot a glance over his shoulder. “You two shut up and play with the aluminum foil!”

Mary paused at the entrance to the stable, fear gripping her heart. “Joseph, I can’t go in there. It’s filthy! And it smells. There are bugs and flies.” A sharp pain doubled her over. “Quick, Joseph! Get me inside!”

His arm around her waist, Joseph helped Mary walk and then settled her onto a mound of hay. “Just lie down here for a while.”

Mary breathed through the pain, as her female relatives had taught her. “I don’t mean to be a whiner, but your wealthy someone can come get us any time now.”

Joseph squatted beside her, looking helpless. “I’m so sorry.” His eyes darted around the stable. “Tell me what I can do.”

As the pain eased, Mary did her best to focus. “Build a fire to warm this place up. And find somewhere to lay Jesus when He comes.”

Joseph shot to his feet. “I can do that. I’ll go get some firewood.” He darted out of the stable.

Father God, please be with me now. I know Your Son will be born, and that He’ll grow. But … A horrifying thought gripped her. “Joseph!”

He rushed back in. “What’s wrong?”

Mary tried to control her breathing. “We know the baby will be fine, but … what if I die in childbirth? Are there any prophecies about that?”

Joseph swallowed hard, then put on a brave face as he knelt beside her. “We have no choice but to trust in God. Please, Mary, be brave … and pray.”

What did he think she’d been doing?

Her midsection convulsed. “Joseph, I think …” She stopped to catch her breath.

“What, Mary?”

“You should leave.”

“I’ll never leave you, Mary.”

“Joseph, it’s time.”

“Oh! Okay.” He started to go, but turned at the doorway. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”

“Go now!”

Joseph practically disappeared into thin air.

“I can’t go in there.” June sat in the passenger seat, refusing to emerge from the car. “Look at this place. What a dump!” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Merry Christmas, kids. Can you say botulism?”

Norm opened his car door. “Hey, be grateful. This is the only joint open between here and Littleton. It is Christmas Eve, you know.”

June peered at the neon sign above the entrance, half of its letters unlit. “This isn’t a diner. It’s a petri dish with a jukebox.”

Norm took a deep breath. “All right, everybody, we’re leaving.” After slamming his door, he restarted the car. “I thought you wanted to feed the kids.”

June glanced into the backseat. “Okay, guys, the Jell-O salad is fair game.”

Expecting a free-for-all, she was surprised at the silence from her usually rambunctious kids. Looking over her shoulder, she saw them grimacing. “What’s wrong?”

“Um …” Billy mumbled.

“We don’t really like your Jell-O, Mom.”

June gasped. “You do too! I make it every year and you—”

“Nobody likes carrots in their Jell-O,” Norm groaned.

June punched him for the thousand and first time.

When she thought about it, she couldn’t actually recall seeing either of her children eat her traditional offering. June blew out an exasperated breath. “I can’t believe it. Family will turn on you in a heartbeat.”

After an uneasy silence, June ventured, “Norman, why don’t we—”

“Sell our kids to the next passerby?”

She rolled her eyes. “No. Why don’t we tell the kids the Christmas story?”

“What? Where Santa came from?”

“No, the other one. From the Bible.”

Norm shrugged. “Okay with me.”

June sat up straighter. “All right.” She turned to the kids. “Mary and Joseph traveled a long distance while Mary was pregnant.”

“How did they travel?” Sally asked.

“I’ll bet they took a stage coach,” Billy guessed.

“No, honey, they didn’t have stage coaches back then.” June thought for a moment. “Norm, how did they travel?”

“They were probably carried on those big stretcher things.”

“No, they were poor. I think they rode in a chariot or something.”

Norm shook his head. “When they got to the town, there was some kind of convention going on, and all the hotels were full. Joseph went from door to door, and nobody had any rooms.”

“But one innkeeper felt sorry for them and told them they could stay in this darling little stable.” June grinned, beginning to feel the old Christmas spirit. “They had lots of clean, golden hay to sleep on. There was a gentle cow and the cutest little lamb in the stable with them. And for just that night, the animals could talk.”

Norm snorted. “The animals did not talk! You’ve seen too many cartoons.”

June shot a glare at her annoying husband. “Anyway … Mary was sweet, and she had a glow around her face.”

“Where does it say that?”

“Look at any manger scene in the world and you can see for yourself.”

Norm sighed. “So about that time, it started to snow. And this little drummer boy came into the stable.”

“Norman, it has not snowed in Bethlehem since the Ice Age.”

“Then why would the little drummer boy go into the stable, huh?”

“Where’d you get a little drummer boy, anyway, Mr. Never Watches Cartoons?”

His jaw dropped. “I can’t believe you said that. What would Christmas be without a drummer boy?”

“Quieter?”

Norm’s lips tightened to a thin line. “So then one day, the Grinch stole your mother’s brain and everybody lived happily ever after!”

Punch one thousand and two.

“So much for lightening the mood.”

Spotting a red-and-white-checked building in the distance, with lights glowing in the windows, June pointed. “Hey, what’s that?”

“I … I think it’s a Bun Boy Restaurant.”

“We’re saved!”

“Double chili cheeseburgers, here we come! This is gonna be a good Christmas after all.” A huge grin split Norm’s face. “Come on, kids. Let’s sing. ‘Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg.’ ”

Joseph stood in the doorway of the stable, watching Mary sleep. He couldn’t take his eyes off the child she’d just delivered, lying beside her.

“I suppose all fathers think their babies are perfect. But this one …”

He knelt beside his new family. “Rest peacefully, my loved ones. After all, what are fathers for if not to protect their families so they can sleep in heavenly peace?”

Life Application

When God does something, He always has a reason—usually several. Why was Jesus born in a stable filled with filth and flies? Because Herod would never look there. Because God wants us to know that He can do anything anywhere. Because Jesus came to be a servant and to teach us to serve too. The list goes on and on.

In the worst possible circumstances, God’s plan of redeeming the world was perfectly executed. That’s how God often works.

If you’re suffering in an unbearable situation, with fears and terrors circling you day and night, don’t pray for it all to be fixed. Pray that God would make His presence known. We want things to get better—God wants to be near us and do a perfect work in our lives, to grow us, and to use us to heal and grow others.

God can do great things in your life if you let Him. There’s a word for that in Hebrew. Emmanuel. It means “God with us.”

About the Author

Dave Carl serves as the pastor of children’s ministries at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. His wife, Cathy, has patiently put up with him for thirty years. Dave has three kids he loves and one Yorkiepoo he merely endures. He occasionally writes things that are worth reading, and he hopes this piece is one of them.

2

If Not for Grace

by Lori Freeland

The smell of burnt brownies lingered in Blake’s too-bigfor-one-person kitchen, even after he’d flipped on the fan and shoved open the windows. He glanced at his batter-splattered dress shirt and unrolled his sleeves against a blast of December air. How could he be savvy enough to run financials for an international bank and not be able to master a ninety-nine-cent baking mix?

Chloe’s contagious giggle entered the room before she did. Cocooned in a Santa blanket, his niece slid across the slate floor in a pair of reindeer kneesocks, catching herself right before she smacked into the sharp corner of the island.

An emergency-room drama flashed in Blake’s head. Complete with a surge of adrenaline. “Slow down, Button.”

“Uncle Blake.” Chloe wrinkled the nose that had landed her that nickname. “I know what we need.”

“Corner guards?” He pressed a hand over his short-circuited heart. Could you bubble wrap an eight-year-old?

Oblivious to his near coronary, she climbed onto the bar-stool across the counter from him. “We need a wife.”

Blake chuckled at the seriousness in her chocolate eyes. “We don’t need a wife.”

“We do too. No one’s going to give a kid to a single guy.” She eyed the burnt brownies. “’Specially one who can’t cook.”

Blake flipped off the fan, wondering again if he was doing the right thing. As much as he loved Chloe, she deserved a family with both a dad and a mom.

“Maybe we should buy brownies instead.” Chloe tugged off the part of the blanket she’d used as a hood. Static electricity had a field day with her brown curls.

“Or maybe we should buy a candle that smells like brownies.” Blake sat on the stool next to hers.

He hadn’t realized how empty he’d been until Chloe crashed his shallow existence and proved there was so much more to life than work, eat, sleep, repeat.

Chloe jumped off the stool. “You said the social lady could come anytime this weekend.” She stomped a reindeer-covered foot. “If you want her to say you can adopt me, we need a wife. Tonight.”

Knowing her little-girl logic might be right slashed at his heart. He knelt in front of her and said softly, “Getting married doesn’t work that way.” For a second he wished it did. How often did a judge grant custody to a bachelor … under thirty … who wasn’t blood related?

“Then what do we need?” she asked.

A miracle? It killed him that someone who might not understand how much Chloe meant to him had the right to make such a monumental decision about their lives. “Button—”