Tag: Christmas

“When Christmas is Hard” – Biblical Advice from Billy Graham

Peanut Gallery: Advent is a season of preparation and anticipation – to get ready for the Coming of Christ. It’s a season to joyfully prepare our hearts and homes to receive “God with us” – Emmanuel. It’s a time to remember Jesus’ humble birth and look forward to His glorious return.

But for many people – with broken hearts and homes – it can also be a tough time of year.

In this re-posted article, Billy Graham offers practical help for those dealing with difficulties during this season. The “good news” is – there’s still over two weeks to work on some of these suggestions… follow the links. You still have time to enter into the joy of the season.

Take advantage of them.. and/or pass them on to a friend in need. You’ll be glad you did. And so will your friend.
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“When Christmas is Hard” – Biblical Advice from Billy Grahem

December 7, 2012 – Billy Graham has shared practical, biblical advice for dealing with holiday-related difficulties. – click on link.

When Christmas is HardIn the middle of the “most wonderful time of the year,” many of you are facing a dilemma or difficulty. You may have a strained relationship with one or multiple family members. Perhaps you’re lonely or grieving a loss and the holidays are particularly painful for you. Or, this is the busiest time of the year and you dread the rat race that often accompanies this season.

Whatever the case may be, we want to provide you with resources to help guide you through this season’s difficulties in a biblical way. Below, you will find some family- and holiday-related questions people have asked Billy Graham over the years, along with his answers.

Help the Lonely
This Christmas was very hard for me. Most of my relatives are gone now (including my husband), and the few I do have are either too old or live too far away, so I was completely alone. Please tell people to reach out to lonely people during holidays, because it’s hard for them.
Be a friend »

Can’t Afford Gifts
My husband lost his job recently and we really can’t afford to give people as much for Christmas this year as we have in the past. But I’m afraid we’ll offend them if we cut back too much. I know this isn’t a spiritual question, but how should we handle this?
Don’t go into debt »

Hectic Holidays
I know Christmas is still some weeks away, but I’m already getting uptight about it. It’s always such a hectic time and we always end up spending far more than we planned to. To be honest, I don’t really enjoy Christmas any more, although I know I ought to. Continue reading ““When Christmas is Hard” – Biblical Advice from Billy Graham” →

Morning Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1.10-12 NLT – live a worthy life

2 Thessalonians 1.10-12 NLT

"The Last Judgment" by Michelangelo executed on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. The work took four years to complete and was done between 1536 and 1541.
“The Last Judgment” by Michelangelo executed on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. The work took four years to complete and was done between 1536 and 1541.
“When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people — praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him.

This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

Christmas Carol: “As with Gladness, Men of Old” – from English Cathedrals (YouTube)

As with Gladness, Men of Old

Detail of Rubens 'The Adoration of the Magi' in St Janskerk in Mechelen.
Detail of Rubens ‘The Adoration of the Magi’ in St Janskerk in Mechelen.
As with gladness men of old
did the guiding star behold;
as with joy they hailed its light,
leading onward, beaming bright,
so, most gracious Lord, may we
evermore your splendor see.

As with joyful steps they sped
to that lowly manger bed,
there to bend the knee before
him whom heaven and earth adore,
so, may we with willing feet
ever seek the mercy seat.

As they offered gifts most rare
at that manger rude and bare,
so may we with holy joy,
pure and free from sin’s alloy,
all our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to you, our heavenly King.

Holy Jesus, every day
keep us in the narrow way;
and when earthly things are past,
bring our ransomed lives at last
where they need no star to guide,
where no clouds thy glory hide.

Morning Reading: Isaiah 25.6-9 ESV – no more tears

Isaiah 25.6-9 ESV

TearsOn this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.

He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.

It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

Christmas Carol: “Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming”

Rose_Bud_Red1Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.

Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to men a Savior,
When half spent was the night.