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Merry Christmas

With the commercialization of Christmas, its real meaning is often obscured. If we aren’t careful, the tinsel and the wrappings will blot out the star and the straw of Bethlehem. What is the real meaning of Christmas?

• Christmas is for family. The song “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is more than just a perennial favorite. It is the desire of almost every one of us.

• Christmas is for friends. Friendship is not about those you’ve known the longest. It is about those who came and never left your side. A friend is someone who walks in when everyone else walks out.  And as Ann Landers said, “It takes a long time to grow an old friend.” So, remember them with a card or a call.

• Christmas is for Christ. Don’t forget whose birthday we celebrate. As the angel said, “Unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” Take time to worship him and give to the needy in his name.

Merry Christmas to you and yours from the Paul W. Powell Legacy Library team!

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Paul W. Powell - www.PaulPowellLibrary.com

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Today's Devotional

Senseless Tragedies

Once we buried a young lady who was only 21 years old. She was killed in a head-on collision while on her way to church. The night before the funeral, my daughter asked why God allows things like this to happen.

I wish I knew. Things like this have puzzled saints, wise men, and philosophers since the world began.

There is simply no one easy answer as to why tragedies like this happen. The answer may lie in the fact that God made us free. He created us with the ability to make our own choices, and choices always involve consequences. If we are careless or foolish in our choices, or if others are, we may suffer because of them. If God did not allow us freedom, we’d be less than people. We’d be robots.

This may be the only explanation we will ever have for some suffering. However, we do not have to know why things happen in order to be victorious over them. On the cross Jesus cried out “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) But the heavens were as brass. God was silent. He didn’t even answer his own Son. Jesus might have despaired and become bitter against God. But instead he said, “Father, into thy hands I commend [entrust, hand over] my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

This kind of faith is far more important than any answer we might receive. In our lives, as in the life of Jesus, it is faith that makes the difference between victory and defeat.

So keep believing in God no matter what. Commit your life to him and regardless of what happens, God will help you.

Paul W. Powell - www.PaulPowellLibrary.com

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