CHRISTMAS IS A time of renewal. Pause and ask yourself: How obedient am I to God’s Will and His Word? When defiance or selfish impulses crowd your thoughts, remember an honest, uncomplaining carpenter named Joseph and try to follow the example he has left us.

THERE CAN BE moments during the holiday season where you feel disheartened. If that happens remember this: Over 2,000 years ago, God made a supreme effort to let us know that He cares about each of us! To remind us, to reassure us, He gave us His perfect Christmas gift—and laid it in a manger.

NORMAN VINCENT PEALE wrote about the most unusual Christmas tree he had ever seen, a lime tree that had been rescued from the trash by a church in Florida, whose congregation spray painted white and decorated with scraps of Scripture that had blessed their lives. Named the “Blessing Tree” people came from all over to read from the branches and be inspired. Dr. Peale asked each of us to reflect on how we might be the branches of God’s love.