Inspiration

I looked for Christmas everywhere,
Through snow-filled skies and winter's air.
I hunted in the likely places ---
The festive shops, the children's faces.

I searched for Christmas day and night,
In sprigs of holly, candlelight;
In gifts gay-wrapped and friendly greeting,
Yet found it not, and time was fleeting.

And then --- with a sudden start ---
I thought to search within my heart.

And there --- not lost, but warm and waking ---
Was Christmas, mine just for the taking!

- "The Search" by Emily Templeton

"I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good - sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn't listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for - will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of."

Jesus - as recorded in The Gospel of John chapter 10

A true story by Sharon Palmer.

I was doing some last-minute Christmas shopping in a toy store and decided to look at Barbie dolls for my nieces.

A nicely-dressed little girl was excitedly looking through the Barbie dolls as well, with a roll of money clamped tightly in her little hand. When she came upon a Barbie she liked, she would turn and ask her father if she had enough money to buy it. He usually said "yes," but she would keep looking and keep going through their ritual of, "Do I have enough?"

As she was looking, a little boy wandered in across the aisle and started sorting through the Pokémon toys.

The 'No Vacancy' signs over all the motels in Bethlehem were for your sake. "For your sake he became poor." (2 Corinthians 8:9)

- John Piper