This Sunday, our Church will hold its annual candlelight program. Yes, we do it on Sunday morning, not on Christmas Eve. A few years ago, I decided, with the leadership of the Church, that we would worship on Sunday morning and celebrate Christmas then, no matter when the twenty-fifth fell.

Our Church building has eight windows in the auditorium, and I have boards and cardboard to black them out for the morning. Sure, it seems like a hassle, but it is one of my favorite programs of the year. The lights will be dim, and almost everything will be illuminated by candlelight. At the end, people will hold up a personal candle as we sing Silent Night. And every year, it stirs emotions deep inside me.

Why do we do it all by candlelight? The goal is to underline the coming of Jesus as the light of the world. The Apostle John in the introduction to his gospel 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.” (John 1:4-5)

Jesus comes as a light into a dark world, and more specifically, the darkness in our lives, and the darkness cannot defeat it. At Christmas, the light is small as he arrives as a baby, but by Easter, the light will shine like the sunrise.  

So for Christmas, we light candles and shine a tiny light. It is symbolic. It is emotional. It is all about Jesus.

What is your first question when it comes to giving gifts, especially at Christmas?

For most of us, the answer to that question is “How much should we spend?”

I want to suggest a better question. What if you asked, “What would be most meaningful to that person?”

Like many people, I have a job that pays me adequately, and I can buy whatever I desire. The issue of money rarely enters my mind when I receive a gift. My mind runs to the motivation behind that gift. Where was their heart?

Did they give this out of obligation? Did they give me the cheapest gift they thought they could get away with? Alternatively, I might think, “Wow, they really know me,” or “This was so thoughtful.”

Over the years, I have received inexpensive gifts that have meant the world to me, and I have also received pricey ones that have made me sad.

The old expression, “It’s the thought that counts,” is partially true. The thought and the heart behind a gift are the real treasure.

This month is the twelfth Christmas as a pastor at the Church I currently serve. That means I have walked through twelve months of Christmas sermons, children’s programs, and candlelight gatherings.

The children who once sang in their sweet little voices have now grown into adults. The young adults who were attending when I came have married, and their kids are performing this year. Several older adults who once carried candles are now unable to participate because of the struggles that come with age. Still others who once arrived with their white hair and new Christmas sweater have gone on to be with Jesus.

Times change. People in the Church change. And the one constant has been the old, old story about a Savior who comes from heaven to be with his people. As I look back on these twelve Christmases, I’m grateful for the privilege of walking with a community that still believes the manger matters. A community that keeps showing up, year after year, to celebrate a Savior who has shown us that hope exists, peace is possible, and love is not out of reach.

I hope this year to see you at Church for Christmas, or that you will join your faith community to celebrate the coming of the King. It is still a story you need to hear.

What is your first instinct about the people you encounter?

Do you see them as friends or as foes?

Do you assume they want the best for you, or do you brace yourself for them to take advantage of you?

Do you believe they genuinely care, or do you quietly wonder if your presence is just an inconvenience to them?

Often, the story we tell ourselves isn’t rooted in the person standing in front of us at all. Instead, it is shaped by what we’ve experienced. Sometimes we judge someone based on a past wound, betrayal, or disappointment. Without realizing it, we project yesterday’s pain onto other people.

How would your life, and mine, be different if we approached others looking for the best and not the worst?

Perhaps there is a whole group of people with whom you might find connection, mutual encouragement, and even friendship. When you tell yourself a different story, it not only changes how you see others but also how you experience life.

If social media has taught us anything, it is that you have more time than you realize.

Imagine if you were to stop doomscrolling, watching meaningless videos, reading through memes, and posting your opinions, how much more time you would have to use for something productive this coming year.

Whenever someone tells me they don’t have enough time to read, attend, or pray, they are really telling me it is not a priority for them.

The first step to improvement is to quit lying to yourself. You have the time, you simply don’t want to do it. Where there is a desire, you will find the time.

One of the great things about the Church as it exists today is that a Sunday morning worship program can be a fantastic entry point to faith. It is an excellent place for people who know nothing about Christianity to start their journey with Jesus.

The only catch is that most people will not start their pilgrimage alone. Few are those who get up on a Sunday morning all alone and go to a Church where they know no one.

On the flip side, estimates indicate that 70% or more will attend a Church if they are invited and accompanied by a family member or friend.

One goal for the ministry I lead is to foster a “culture of inviting.” We will be a community where it is natural to invite those we love to join us on Sunday morning. It is not because we believe that Church attendance is the sum total of being a follower of Jesus, but it is undoubtedly a great place to start.

Love is more than saying the words, “I love you.”

Real love makes you a meal when you are sick or struggling. It sends you pictures that will make you laugh or articles that will make you think. Love cares about your needs, wants, desires, and dreams. It buys gifts and always says, “Thank you.”

Love listens. It puts the phone down and offers our full attention. Love is responding to messages and answering calls immediately. Love exists in the way it communicates, not just in what content.

True love does not neglect work and pass it off to someone else. It shows up early and stays late to make sure everything is done. Love is doing the right thing.

Love is expressed not only in words but in a thousand seemingly insignificant actions that happen every day or every week.

This is not a post asking you to assess who really and truly loves you; rather, it is a call for you to consider your own actions and reflect on whether you are a person who talks about love rather than truly loving others.

In one of my social media groups, someone posted a simple yet profound question. They asked, “Where are the small places in your life where the light is breaking through?”

It had only been shared for a few minutes when I saw it, and there were no responses yet, but it got me thinking. There has been a lot of darkness in my life and ministry lately. Bad doctors’ reports, loss of loved ones, a miscarriage, and surgery have been sent daily, wanting me to pray. People I love have been experiencing job transitions, family tensions, and financial issues. Every day, it can feel like the darkness is winning and that there is little hope.

At times like this, it is an inspiring question to ask, “Where is the light breaking through?”

For every negative experience, there are often two or three positive ones, but the tendency, at least for me, is to let the darkness drown out the light. The truth is that light should chase away darkness. For that to happen in our lives, we need to stop and see the light.

Lately, there has been family time, a small break for the holiday, financial blessings, and at least a dozen other minor points of light. My life is wrapped in light, and I bet yours is too, despite all the darkness that currently seems present.

Every day, it’s worth considering, “Where is the light breaking through in my life?”

I have a meme that says, “Not one scar on my heart came from an enemy.” Some versions of the quote include the line, “they all came from people who ‘love’ me.” There are multiple variations and numerous possible sources, although none appear credible.

While we don’t know the exact source of this statement, the truth is real. The people who hurt us the most are the ones who claimed to care about us, or who we certainly loved. That is precisely why we got hurt; we opened ourselves up and became vulnerable, and they took advantage of us or honestly didn’t care.

I know this is true for me, and I bet it is true for you, too.

With this insight, we have two choices. We can stop opening ourselves up and being vulnerable. Or we could continue to put ourselves at risk. You can cut yourself off and never allow yourself the possibility of being hurt. Or you can keep putting yourself out there. We can let our hearts grow calloused and hard, or we can remain soft and open.

The choice is yours between numbness and the possibility of pain. You must be aware that when we continue to be vulnerable with people, there is also the opportunity for love. One challenge for everyone, especially followers of Jesus, is to keep a soft heart, a forgiving mindset, and a willingness to let people into your life, no matter how many times you have been hurt.

I am not saying it is easy; I am telling you that you will probably get hurt again, but a willingness to accept the possibility of pain is also the doorway to joy, love, and community.

Keep putting yourself out there; it is worth the risk.

It is Monday morning, and I have a whole week of work lying ahead of me. There will be scheduled activity, and there is always something unexpected.

I will start today and this week, as I have started a thousand times before. I will physically get down on my knees (I use a pad on the ground now) and I will pray. I will ask God to bless my family, forgive my mistakes, and guide my life and ministry so that I can make a positive impact for his kingdom.

Real and lasting impact on this world only happens when our efforts are met with God’s power. I would not want to start another week without first talking to God … and I hope you won’t either.