Imperfect Perfection - Tracy Krauss

"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5: 22, 23 NIV

Peace. Joy. Love. At this time of year, the fruit of the spirit is proclaimed by both Christians and the secular world alike. Unfortunately, 'peace on earth' is often more of a catch phrase than a reality. How many people are stressed out about all the added pressure of the season?  Shopping, decorating, baking, cards, concerts... The stress of the preparations can make the fruit ferment!

Beyond the preparations, the holidays themselves can bring a lot of stress. Annual family get togethers are often fraught with arguments. Unrealistic expectations can lead to a feeling of discontent once it's all over. It can be especially painful for those who have recently lost a loved one.

This year, all of my children are coming home for Christmas. I know that our time together won't be 'perfect'. We may have an argument or two. (Especially around the card table.) My gift wrapping might be sloppy. (I'm not as meticulous as my daughters.) I might even burn something. (It has been known to happen...) But the joy of being with the people I love most will outweigh all the negatives.

I would like to wish everyone who reads this blog a happy and safe Christmas season. May you find joy, peace and love in the imperfection of your friends, family and loved ones.

Your Light Has Come by Pamela Mytroen

Anna slapped the alarm off and flopped back down in bed. She had hoped Christmas Eve morning would somehow be different but it turned out to be just as dark and cold and lonely as any other day this winter. Working during the holidays meant longer hours, demanding customers, and darkness. Always darkness. Tomb-black in the mornings when she drove to work and dreary and grey when she returned home every evening.

She pushed the mounds of blankets away from her sock-covered feet. It was this season when her Jimmy was taken from her. Now her bed was cold and the car was always frozen every morning.

Her grandchildren would be gone this year to their other grandparents, so what was the sense of baking their favourite gingersnaps and sugar cookies? Why bother putting up the Christmas lights? That had been Jimmy's job, and now he went and left her in the shadows.

Anna closed her eyes and walked to the bathroom. She was getting good at walking around in the darkness. She slipped on her deli uniform, pinned her hair up, and trudged into the kitchen.

Leaving the lights off she placed a mug under her coffee machine. The yellow light blinked on. She turned away from it and folded her arms, listening to its hiss. That's when she noticed the frost on the window. She rubbed her eyes, trying to make sense of what she saw. How could it be? The streetlight illuminated it from the outside. Maybe that's why it appeared so ethereal.

She stepped to the window and breathed over the feathery, frosty design. Her name, Anna, had been etched in delicate crystals, and with the next breath Jimmy's name swirled across the pane, along with the names of her three grandchildren. Light sparkled from the window and bathed her in a shimmer of warmth. She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them quickly again like she had done on Christmas mornings long ago - to be sure it was really true - that there was a gift under the tree that bore her name. The names of her precious loved ones whispered across the window like northern lights and then they were gone, and the frost returned to silent kaleidoscopes.

The coffee machine gave one final hiss and spurt. She didn't want to turn away from the wonder washing over her. She hadn't felt this new and alive for. . . well since Jimmy's last Christmas.

Anna finally reached for the coffee mug, sat down, and warmed her hands around it. She grabbed a pen and scratched out a list across the back of her power bill: sugar, sprinkles, lights, and a real tree. What else would she need? Oh, ginger and cloves.

Anna stood up and moved to the window. With the first rays of sun, the frost glittered in lavender and pink. Her light had come. The Artist had remembered her and had brushed a ballet of hope across her icy soul.

She had waited in darkness long enough. Welcome, Christmas, welcome.

"Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord rises upon you" (Isaiah 60:1).

Pamela Mytroen

Merry Christmas! Or is it? -- by T.L. Wiens

Merry Christmas!

How can two words create such controversy? Quite by accident, I sent out a Christmas greeting to a large group when I hit “reply all” instead of “reply to sender.” It was a Christian group so I shrugged and thought it would be fine. I was so wrong!

The letters started to come in—nasty letters condemning my wishing of blessing as the world stops to celebrate. I want to be clear—my original note was in praise of Jesus Christ and my thankfulness for His gift to us of His life.

The Bible doesn’t in any way command us to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. I accept if others don’t want to but what I don’t understand is why they hinder those of us who do want to set apart a time to remember Jesus’ coming to earth. I think it’s kind of sad when the people who talk to me about being upset about Christ being taken out of Christmas are not followers of Christ. I think it’s sad that we as believers aren’t out there sharing salvation at a time when the world stops to consider a baby in a manger who became the man Jesus Christ, Savior of the world. I fear it will be Christians who stop the world from these considerations.

So, I wish all you in the Inscribe family a Merry Christmas! I pray it will be a time to remember a gift that yes, we should remember with joy every day we live and take the time during the Christmas season to stop and just praise God for His goodness and mercy while the world is watching.

Jesus---Light of the World by Connie Inglis

I LOVE Christmas. I can't wait to put on the Christmas music and decorate the tree. One of my favourite features of Christmas is the lights. By the time my decorating is done, my house is filled with lights. Throughout December I like to wake early, turn on the tree lights, make a cup of coffee and just sit in the big, cushy chair by the tree. The lights twinkle and the tinsel shimmers and the world is tranquil and harmonious.

As I sit there, sometimes I think about the significance of light surrounding the birth of Jesus. There was lots of light. Every time an angel appeared, there was light. When the angels came to the shepherds, there was more light. And then the wise men followed the light of the star to the place where Jesus lay. All the light was a guide, a lamp leading to Jesus. But they were dim lights in comparison to Jesus. John 1:4,5 says, "In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." And verse 9 calls Him the, "true light." So, there was darkness and SUDDENLY there is Light--brilliant and true and pure and no darkness can ever put it out. Wow! The "Light of the World," as Jesus calls Himself in John 8:12.

But wait--that's not the end. Jesus then turns around and tells us that as His followers, we are the light of the world. He gives us His light. 2 Corinthians 4:6 says, "For God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ." Just as suddenly we, as earthen vessels, are filled with a treasure, His light and glory. All because of Jesus. And He gave it to us to shine.

Consider the lighting of one candle. It lights up part of a room. Add another candle and another and another--the more lights the brighter the light, the brighter the room. It's a quality of light that cannot be denied and it reminds me of the importance of community when shining for Jesus. Jesus compares our light to a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. A city of lights, a community of believers, shines much brighter than a single house light. We, you and I, are also part of a community--a community of writers that dispel the darkness through words of encouragement and hope, words of Love and Light. Jesus wants us to shine as community for Him.

I want to share this Christmas song by Third Day with you. It speaks about Jesus coming down, the Light of the World. As you listen to it and as you read the Scripture references, be encouraged. And may your Christmas be FILLED with the light of Jesus.