The entire day receives order and discipline when it acquires unity.  This unity must be sought and found in morning prayer.  The morning prayer determines the day.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

Hebrews 12:1
The New International Version

It is amazing how strong we become when we begin to understand what weaklings we are!

François Fénelon

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Wishing you a most joyous and meaningful Christmas celebration!

Christmas is not a date on the calendar but a state of mind.  We can live through the twenty-fifth day of December, give and receive gifts, burn candles and even attend services at the church and still miss Christmas.  Unless the spirit of that first Christmas morning, when God came down to earth to take a hand in the affairs of men, gets into our hearts, we will have no Christmas—only another twenty-four hours.  If, on the contrary, we approach Christmas with the wonder that the shepherds had, the adoring thankfulness of the Wise Men, the joy of the heavenly hosts, not only this day but every day will be Christmas for us.

Henry Van Dyke

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

Luke 2:8-14
The New Revised Standard Version

Unto Us
A mother delivers
A Son is born.
Shepherds rejoice
A Lamb is born.
Angels sing
A Lord is born.
A star shines
A Light is born.
Wise men come
A King is born.
The story is told
A Faith is born.

Helena J. Dietrich

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May the presence and power
Of God from above,
The joy and the wonder,
His blessings and love…
May the hope of the season,
The beauty and cheer…
May the promise of Christmas
Be yours through the year.

Roxie Lusk Smith

So the Word became human[a] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.  And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John 1:14
The New Living Translation

Put a candle in your window
When the night is dark with storm.
It will welcome any stranger;
Keep friends and family warm.
When you see someone in sorrow;
Just let your candle shine
From your soul and from your window
It will be a cheerful sign.
Always place a candle
Where the world can see its light—
The glow will lift a sad heart
And brighten every night.

Joan Stephen

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Christmas is not a myth, not a tradition, not a dream.  It is a glorious reality.  It is a time of joy.  Bethlehem’s manger crib became the link that bound a lost world to a loving God.  From that manger came a Man who not only taught us a new way of life, but brought us into a new relationship with our Creator.  Christmas means that God is interested in the affairs of people; that God loves us so much that He was willing to give His Son.

Billy Graham

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Luke 1:35
The New King James Version

You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father’s face and tell him you have received his Christmas gift.

John R. Rice

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At this season, let us be mindful of each other.  Let us know the shelter of one another.  Let us be the angels we have heard so much about.

Corrine De Winter

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Matthew 1:20-21
The King James Version

Jesus Christ—
He made each star and galaxy.
His birth fulfilled each prophecy.
His power made the blind to see.
His sacrifice set people free.
His resurrection proved to be
the turning point of history.

Unknown

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He little knew the sorrow that was in his vacant chair;
He never guessed they’d miss him, or he’d surely have been there;
He couldn’t see his mother or the lump that filled her throat,
Or the tears that started falling as she read his hasty note;
And he couldn’t see his father sitting sorrowful and dumb,
Or he never would have written that he thought he couldn’t come.
He little knew the gladness that his presence would have made,
And the joy it would have given, or he never would have stayed.
He didn’t know how hungry had the little mother grown
Once again to see her baby and to claim him for her own.
He didn’t guess the meaning of his visit Christmas Day
Or he never would have written that he couldn’t get away.
He couldn’t see the fading of the cheeks that once were pink,
And the silver in the tresses; and he didn’t stop to think
How the years are passing swiftly, and next Christmas it might be
There would be no home to visit and no mother dear to see.
He didn’t think about it—I’ll not say he didn’t care.
He was heedless and forgetful or he’d surely have been there.
Are you going home for Christmas?  Have you written you’ll be there?
Going home to kiss the mother to show her that you care?
Going home to greet the father in a way to make him glad?
If you’re not I hope there’ll never come a time you’ll wish you had.
Just sit down and write a letter—it will make their heartstrings hum
With a tune of perfect gladness—if you’ll tell them that you’ll come.

Edgar A. Guest

But you, O Bethlehem Eph′rathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.

Micah 5:2
The Revised Standard Version

If there is love in your heart Christmas can last forever.

Marion Schoeberlein

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Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most.

Ruth Carter Stapleton

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14
The King James Version

May the joy of Christmas fill your days with gladness
May the peace of Christmas take away your anxiety
May the light of Christmas shine through your deepest darkness, and
May the love of Him who was born on Christmas day go with you in all your ways.

Theodore Ferris

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We picture death as coming to destroy; let us rather picture Christ as coming to save.  We think of death as ending; let us rather think of life as beginning, and that more abundantly.  We think of losing; let us think of gaining.  We think of parting, let us think of meeting.  We think of going away; let us think of arriving.  And as the voice of death whispers “You must go from earth,” let us hear the voice of Christ saying, “You are but coming to Me!”

Norman Macleod

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Proverbs 27:1
The English Standard Version

Present to God your past, present, and future.

Unknown

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A Reminder…

We have used small business-sized-cards to invite others to join our daily Christian devotionals.  If you believe you might be able to share some of these cards with friends, church members or other such groups…just send us your mailing address along with the number of cards you would like and we will happily ship those right off to you.  And thank you for helping us grow This Day’s Thought to reach even more people than ever before!

Whensoever a man desireth aught above measure, immediately he becometh restless.  The proud and avaricious man is never at rest; while he poor and the lowly of heart abide in the multitude of peace.

Thomas à Kempis

With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.

Psalm 60:12
The Revised Standard Version

There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world, that is not intended to make us rejoice.

John Calvin

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I wondered how often God had placed people in my daily path with needs that I never sensed…because I was always too busy.

Paul Stutzman

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8
The New Revised Standard Version

The face is the mirror of the mind; and eyes, without speaking, confess the secrets of the heart.

Jerome

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