2015 – Stories of Faith, Hope, and Love

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The following story took place on Christmas Eve 1914:

I Shall Never Forget It:
100 Years Since Christmas Eve Truce

With British and German forces separated only by a no-man’s land littered with fallen comrades, sounds of a German Christmas carol suddenly drifted across the frigid air.

“It was a beautiful moonlit night, frost on the ground, white almost everywhere: and at about 7 or 8 in the evening there was a lot of commotion in the German trenches and there were these lights — I don’t know what they were. And then they sang, “Silent Night” – “Stille Nacht.” I shall never forget it, it was one of the highlights of my life. I thought, what a beautiful tune,” Pvt. Albert Moren, a British soldier, wrote in a journal.

Then, during that first Christmas Day during World War I, in 1914, something magical happened, at least in some areas.

Soldiers, the number is hard to quantify but believed to be around 100,000, who had been killing each other by the tens of thousands for months, climbed out of their soggy trenches to seek a shred of humanity amid the horrors of war.

Hands reached out across a narrow divide, presents were exchanged, and in Flanders Fields a century ago, a spontaneous Christmas truce briefly lifted the human spirit. (Read the rest here.)

[Tweet “In the middle of war – a moment of peace. A moment of hope.”]

A moment that may have surprised those present, but one planned by the Holy hands that formed lines and created lives for that time and place.

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalm 139:16

You were created for this time and place; made for the Father’s plans and purposes.

Counting My Blessings
Theme for 2015 – Stories of
Faith, Hope, and Love

If you turn on the evening news, you know most reports are discouraging . . . okay depressing.

God invites you to stay focused on Him, to trust that He is putting people in the right time and place to make a difference. No matter what happens we are called to love, to have faith, and to stay hopeful. We are to tell others about the Source of our faith, hope, and love.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:7

If the Father calls you to a certain place and time . . . He does it for His purposes. And His purposes are always for your good and His glory. Even if that time and place is difficult or painful—He will use it.

Those are the stories that inspire us! Stories of the ways God uses people to bring love and hope. Stories that will encourage and inspire our faith and bless our relationships.

My story and your stories. Encouraging stories.

Negative stories are abundant.The enemy is at work. He is dividing families and communities. He is wreaking havoc and causing pain. But his days are numbered.

Jesus won the victory and faithfully provides everything we need…

The Lord is my Shepherd; I have all that I need. Psalm 23:1

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Philippians 4:6

Now may the God of peace—equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen. Hebrews 13:20a,21

God (Father, Savior, and Spirit) is greater than…

Our fears and anxieties, negative news reports, and every event or situation.

He blesses soldiers with a moment of Christmas peace. He blesses and inspires you and me with stories of faith, hope, and love.

The whole world stands in awe of the great things that You have done. Your deeds bring shouts of joy from one end of the earth to the other. Psalm 65:8

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