O Holy Night

O holy night the stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new glorious morn

Fall on your knees

O hear the angels' voices

O night divine

O night when Christ was born

O night divine o night

O night divine

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
Luke 2:13-14

Merry Christmas!!

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

Giving - One of the Reasons I Love Christmas

I don't remember when I started to care more about giving gifts at Christmas than receiving them but I know for sure that I do now. I love to give presents to family members and watch their excitement. I love to shop for gifts. I love to save things up throughout the year so that I can give them to those people who are most important to me at Christmas time.

I love the feeling that I get when I give someone a gift that they appreciate. One sort of tradition that I have made through the years is the tradition of giving my oldest nephew a Mario graphic t-shirt each year. I have done this in different ways through the years - one year wrapping up a gift for him and my brother to share, with a Mario shirt in it for each of them, and this year buying Mario shirts for him and all of his siblings - and I always get excited about giving that gift. I know that the gift makes my little nephew happy, and that makes me happy.

The Bible tells us that it is more "blessed" to give than to receive, and I truly believe that. One of the main reasons that I love Christmas is the fact that this holiday gives us the excuse to shower our family with gifts.

Merry Christmas!

By Emily Acker, co-author of No Longer Broken

Christmastime Is Beautiful

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11

I love Christmastime for many reasons. I love picking out gifts for my family. I love baking and decorating. I love seeing Christmas lights when I drive around town.

Christmastime is beautiful, and it is about so much more than all of that. It is about Jesus. And I am grateful that he came to earth as a baby, that he lived a life here on earth, and died and rose again, to be my Savior.

Joy to the world! The Lord is come:
let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare him room
and heaven and nature sing.

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

God Will Be With Me Through Anything

There are times when doubts creep into my mind, when fear and anxiety get the best of me. I start to panic and fear and wonder what the future is going to hold. In those moments, I feel that it is all on me. And that is overwhelming.

One night when I was beginning to worry a thought came over me. God will be with me through anything.

God will be with me through anything.

It was a simple thought, one that I should have known all along. But just thinking it then, knowing that no matter what I will face in the future God will guide me through it, calmed me.

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25:5

I don’t have to be afraid for tomorrow because God is already there. He knows what is going to happen, and he will take care of me.

Life isn’t always going to be easy. It will be far from perfect. But God is going to hold my hand through everything, and I will be okay because of that. Is there anything more comforting than knowing that?

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken