As I was looking for something to write about this month, I came across some sentiments written by some folks over the years and I thought maybe I should share them with you.  Some of them are close to the heart; others a little humorous.  I found a favorite in the midst of this collection; maybe you will find yours too:

 

My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Bob Hope

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.  Peg Bracken

Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.  Washington Irving

Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day.  Helen Steiner Rice

Christmas, my child, is love in action. Dale Evans

Christmas is the day that holds all time together.  Alexander Smith

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.  Burton Hills

Who can add to Christmas?  The perfect motive is that God so loved the world.  The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son.  The only requirement is to believe in Him.  The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life. Corrie Ten Boom

The Son of God became man to enable men to become the sons of God.  CS Lewis

All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ.  David Jeremiah

The great challenge left to us is to cut through all the glitz and glam of the season that has grown increasingly secular and commercial, and be reminded of the beauty of the One who is Christmas.  Bill Crowder 

May we not ‘spend’ Christmas or ‘observe’ Christmas, but rather ‘keep’ it.  Peter Marshall

The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.  Ralph W. Sockman

I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month. Harlan Miller

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. Norman Vincent Peale

This is the message of Christmas: We are never alone.  Taylor Caldwell

Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.  Charles Schulz

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?   Dr. Seuss from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”

It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas when its mighty Founder was a child Himself.   Charles Dickens

And, this comparison:

Why Jesus is better than Santa Claus

Santa lives at the North Pole …
JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh …
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year …
JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies …
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited …
JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa …
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap …
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn’t know your name, all he can say is
“Hi little boy or girl, what’s your name?” …
JESUS knew our name before we were born…
Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too.
He knows our history & future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly …
JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO …
JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says “You better not cry” …
JESUS says “Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.”

Santa’s little helpers make toys …
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but …
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree …
JESUS became our gift and died on a tree….the cross.

 

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‘Thank you for your ministry.  I have a great joy passing the cross out to people at the Dallas Kidney Transplant Center and everywhere I go.  These crosses are a ministry to people in this world to let them know Christ Jesus died for them on that cross. Thanks for your ministry.  Love you Brothers and Sisters in Christ.’   Keith – TX

 

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And, we thank these CTW family members for sharing the cross and showing others God’s love:

 

 

Mary – MN
Bob – MN
Mignonette – MN
Hilltop Chapel – Palisade, MN
Presbyterian Home Services – Mpls, MN
Bay Area Vineyard Church – Silver Bay, MN
St. Francis Hospital Pastoral Care – Tulsa, OK
Morningside Baptist Church – Healy, AK
Peniel Baptist Church – Bethany, OK
Carol – AZ
Cindy – TX
Dodie – MN
Wayne – AZ
Tiffany – MN
Don – MN
Brenda – ND
Keith – TX
Donna – PA

 

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Irving Berlin, a Russian immigrant, was considered one of the greatest song writers in American history.  Just a few of his more popular songs are God Bless America, Easter Parade, There’s No Business Like Show Business, Puttin’ on the Ritz, and Play a Simply Melody.  But, he is probably best known for his composition of White Christmas, which he wrote in 1940.

Story goes that some of his buddies were complaining about how hot it was in California in December and they appealed to him to write a song that would ‘cool them down’ so he penned this song overnight.  Little did he know that the crooner Bing Crosby would send this simple song, reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting, to the top of the charts and it would become the world’s best selling single, with sales over 50 million copies worldwide!  Still considered one of the top Christmas tunes, here is Bing doing what he did best:

 

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.  

Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States

 

Wishing God’s blessing to you and those you treasure.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Cross The World!