Christmas | Wayne Stiles

Archives For Christmas

Posts relating to Christmas.

Twas the Night AFTER Christmas Poem

I’ve decided that during the holiday season we should change the mall’s name to “maul.”

I’ve never seen such mayhem—kids running, parents screaming, angry people in long lines—all to the music of “Joy to the World” in the background. Good grief!

86133588 w Twas the Night AFTER Christmas Poem

(Photo by Stephane Bidouze, via Vivozoom)

If you decide to head to the “maul” the night after Christmas, you’ll see more of the same chaos—a rush of returns in exchange for . . . even more . . . stuff.

So in honor of these days after Christmas, I’ve decided to try my hand at rewriting Clement Clarke Moore’s Christmas classic.

Here she goes. (Ahem.)

7 Christian Christmas Readings for Download

It’s a good thing we have holidays.

Without these forced pauses in our hurried schedules, we would plow through life with only a headstone to stop us.

Matthias Stom fl. 1615–1649 Public domain or Public domain via Wikimedia Commons 7 Christian Christmas Readings for Download

(Photo: painting by Matthias Stom. Public domain, via Wikipedia Commons.)

Christmas certainly offers us a time to take a break from work. It’s also a time for family to reconnect. But most importantly, the holiday reminds us of essential truths in our spiritual lives.

Here are 7 Christian Christmas readings from Scripture with suggested themes for personal reflection or group discussion.

You can also download these Christian Christmas Readings if you prefer to print them.

Dealing with Lonely Holidays

For many people, the holidays draw up painful memories.

Sore spots from childhood or the loss of loved ones hit hard during this sentimental season. While many people celebrate the joys of Christmastime, others suffer lonely holidays.

Dealing with Holiday Loneliness Dealing with Lonely Holidays

(Photo courtesy of stock.xchng)

During one of the most desperate times of King David’s life, the anointed future king of Israel found himself running from two separate enemies—hardly a time to celebrate. With the Philistines to the west and King Saul to the east, a distressed David sought refuge in the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1–2).

David felt very alone.

His situation offers encouragement to us during lonely holidays.

Bethlehem—A Metaphor for Your Heart

Except for sporadic fistfights among the priests in the Church of the Nativity, we usually picture Bethlehem as a place of serenity.

After all, history reveals the city as the hometown of King David. It was the adopted home of godly Ruth. And of course, it was the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

Bethlehem from above tbs43109009 Bethlehem—A Metaphor for Your Heart

(Photo: Today’s little town of Bethlehem, courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)

Christmas cards and carols venerate Bethlehem as an idyllic, quiet place with “silent stars” above it and “deep and dreamless sleep” within its walls. A pleasant picture, for sure.

But it wasn’t always so.

Those Sorry Gifts from Three Wise Men

Growing up, I often felt ripped-off at Christmas.

Because my birthday is December 15, I often heard: “Wayne, this is your birthday-Christmas gift.”

I thought, Hey, gee, thanks.

Natal Reis Magos Those Sorry Gifts from Three Wise Men

(Photo by Patrick-br CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

I wanted to tell the person whose birthday was in August, “Yeah, and here’s your birthday-Christmas gift too.” (Those of you with December birthdays understand.)

As a kid, I also hated getting clothes for Christmas (particularly underwear). Some people just don’t know how to give age-appropriate gifts to kids.

When I read the Christmas story, it seems the three Wise Men didn’t have much experience shopping for children either.

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Jesus’ Birth in a Barn Had You in Mind

It must have seemed really strange. Honestly, it still does.

Two thousand years of waiting for the Messiah, and He is born in a barn and laid in a feed trough.

Shepherd with lamb in Negev riverbed tb010303618 Jesus Birth in a Barn Had You in Mind

(Shepherd in modern Israel, courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)

If it had been up to us, we would have given God’s Son a room in the finest five-star hotel in Bethlehem. But Jesus got only a one-star motel—and God had to provide the star!

When the shepherds hurried into Bethlehem to find the baby of whom the angels spoke, the wonder of God’s power must have seemed a strange contradiction to the conditions they found.

No halos hovered over Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.
Instead, they saw a poor couple surrounded by animals and the smell of manure.

Actually, the crudity of Jesus’ birth story offers really good news.

Because it had you in mind.

The Herodium—A Monument to God’s Sovereignty

Herod the Great is often remembered for the story that never appears on Christmas cards.

Hearing from the Magi that the “king of the Jews” was born in Bethlehem, the paranoid Herod sent and slew all the male boys under two years old in the town—a cryptic fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:15.

Herodium with lower pool tb021407739 The Herodium—A Monument to God’s Sovereignty

(Photo: The Herodium, courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)

Of course, Jesus’ family got word of the impending threat and escaped by night to sojourn in Egypt until Herod’s death (Matthew 2:13-18).

Whenever I visit the area of the Herodium, I can’t help but think of the historical irony that Herod tried to kill Jesus—but failed. Instead, Herod himself died and was buried in the Herodium overlooking the very city the Messiah was born (Micah 5:2).

This offers a lesson of great encouragement in God’s sovereignty.

The Power of Coincidence in Your Life

The first Christmas looked like a coincidence.

From a human perspective, politics set the agenda: Caesar took a census.

Period. End of story.

Bethlehem from Herodium tb010210581 The Power of Coincidence in Your Life

(Photo: Bethlehem, courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)

But from the divine viewpoint? God orchestrated ordinary events for extraordinary purposes.

The same is true today. He uses the power of coincidence in your life as well.

Top 5 Gifts for Bible Lands and Bible Study

Most of us give Christmas gifts that are quickly forgotten.

After the iPhone gets cracked, or the DVD gets watched, or the sweater gets snagged, they all end up at the landfill.

This year, why not give a gift that will last a lifetime?

Juletræslys Top 5 Gifts for Bible Lands and Bible Study

(Photo by Malene Thyssen)

Bible Lands study tools make great gifts because they take your personal Bible study to the next level. What’s more, they don’t wear out.

Here are my top 5 recommendations for gifts you’ll enjoy giving.

Following God’s Voice

“Following God’s Voice” –

Matthew 2:13-23 –

How do we know where God wants us to go? Where do we follow Him? Matthew records four God-given dreams Joseph had by which he led his young family. Each revelation required him to trust God’s ability to guide, provide, and protect. In these last days, as God has spoken to us through Jesus, we also should listen and be willing to follow wherever He leads us.

WAYNE STILES
Hi, my name is Wayne Stiles, and I love connecting the Bible and its lands to life. This is my personal blog where that happens. My goal is to deliver practical content to encourage you in your relationship with God. I believe that a life lived well needs a growing and intentional connection with God through Jesus Christ. I write on the devotional life, Bible lands, understanding the Bible, and resources I have found helpful on these topics.

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