The ghost of Christmas never: Samuel James with a poignant Christmas reflection, especially for young men. “Fear is powerful. It warps the mind and shrinks the soul. It can deform character, like in Scrooge, or elicit despair, like in George. Most of all, it freezes. Fear paralyzes its host, suggesting that the next step will undoubtedly be wrong, or the next word will come back to haunt.”
Human weakness doesn’t limit God: Paul David Tripp reminds us, “Sometimes we make good-hearted promises that later we realize we are unable to keep. We know things need to get done, but we do not have the power or the wisdom to do them. There is nothing that God has promised to do or that we need him to do that he is unable to do. Nothing.”
What does it mean to have the Christmas spirit? JI Packer answers, “The Christmas spirit does not shine out in the Christian snob. For the Christmas spirit is the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor–spending and being spent–to enrich their fellow humans, giving time, trouble, care and concern, to do good to others–and not just their own friends–in whatever way there seems need.”
Christmas hope for the broken-hearted: Tim Challies reflects on Christmas without his son. “Christmas has never been the same. Christmas never will be the same, never can be the same, for our little fellowship has been shattered, our little family has suffered a grievous loss, our little home circle has been broken.
The universe does not love you: Joshua Luke Smith on why the Immanuel changes everything.
How to change a Christmas song into a Hannukah song: This made me laugh out loud.

Photo by Phil Robson on Unsplash