In this issue we offer suggestions for your family as you prepare for Christmas.

This is an opportunity to teach spiritual truths to our children and to share the same Good News to our world today that the angels proclaimed 2,000 years ago.

This is how God showed his love among us:
He has sent His one and only Son into the world
that we might live through Him.

In this is love: not that we loved God,
but that He loved us and sent His Son
as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
     (1 John 4:9-10)

May the Lord bless your family for His glory.

Regardless of objectionable practices of past and present Christmas observances, Christian families can focus on the true reason for the celebration – God's love in sending us a Savior!

By no means!  Christmas is the primary Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ the Lord.

However, there is no indication that Christ was born on December 25, and there is no instruction or example in Scripture of celebrating His birth.  Further, the celebration of Christmas did originate from a pagan winter festival and various customs centuries ago.

Yet today the content of Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ the Lord.  The old pagan roots of Christmas are no longer remembered or associated with Christians' observance of this day.

Christmas provides a unique opportunity for Christians to proclaim to the world the good news that a Savior has come – Jesus Christ the Lord!

At Christmas time, it is appropriate to include a witness for Christ in our greetings to extended family, neighbors, and co-workers in keeping with the holiday.  We have a ready-made opportunity to explain the Good News of the Gospel.

Your presentation of the good news of God's gift may take many forms:

These tracts use Scripture to show that Jesus came to die for man's sin and invite readers to accept Him.

 •  Pocket Testament League offers low-priced copies of the Gospel of John with different cover designs, various translations, several languages (Spanish, ESL, Chinese, Japanese, large print, bilingual), and all contain the plan of salvation and an opportunity to sign up for a free correspondence course.

    "The best gift you can give is the gift of God's promise of eternal life through faith in Christ.  And God's Word explains it better than human words can.

    "Giving a Gospel of John is the easiest way possible to share your faith at a time of year when so many people are open to the message of God's love and forgiveness."  –Pocket Testament League.

 •  Send cards with a biblical message and/or Bible verse, write out a verse such as John 3:16, or include Christmas tracts with all your Christmas cards.

 •  If you mail or e-mail an annual family letter, include a personal testimony of the Lord's working in your life, your gratefulness for His salvation, and a Bible verse.

If you send e-cards (Crosscards, Dayspring, etc.) or if you have a website or other online presence (such as Facebook or a blog), you can include a message and/or link to the Gospel, such as:

 •  Scripture:

    "The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

    "To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12)

 •  Links to online information and video:

"Have you accepted the most precious gift anyone could ever give you?  Read more." (link to http://christiananswers.net/godstory/prayer1.html)

"Watch a free on-line video which clearly explains how Jesus Christ was born and why – starting at the very beginning, at the dawn of Creation.  Watch The Hope, an 80-minute video." (link to
http://christiananswers.net/hope/home.html)

Prepare a plate of baked goodies or a basket of fruit for your neighbors, friends, and/or family and include a Christmas tract, a Scripture portion (see above), or an audio tape or CD of a book of the Bible.

Everyone loves to hear the familiar Christmas carols.

 •  Go caroling in your neighborhood, in a hospital or nursing home, or to shut-ins from your church.

 •  Go as a family or with another family or a group.

 •  Include your testimony in just a couple of sentences between songs, briefly speak of the gospel message in the songs, and/or pass out Christmas tracts.

 •  Print 4-page Booklet of 14 Christmas carols to take with you caroling, or Carols by Candlelight, a Gospel message with words for carols, that you can give to those you sing to.

Christians' celebration of a Christ-centered Christmas is a testimony to all around us and can have an impact on our culture today.

Although the CIA Factbook list 75% of the U.S. population as "Christian" and the vast majority do not object to the religious aspects of Christmas, a small minority do.

Some Christian organizations are working to keep the Christian emphasis in our public celebration of Christmas in various ways, such as:

 •  Nativity Displays.
Steven W. Fitschen, president of The National Legal Foundation explains the right to display Nativity scenes on public property, and a memorandum of law has been prepared by Liberty Counsel regarding publicly and privately sponsored religious holiday displays and religious holidays in public schools.

 •  The Use of "Christmas" in the Marketplace.
Liberty Counsel and American Family Assoc. have prepared lists of retailers for people who want to patronize and encourage companies who acknowledge Christmas, and avoid those that do not, in order to help ensure that Christmas does not get secularized or censored from its essence – the birth of Jesus Christ.

Generosity is part of a group of character qualities included in the broader category of love.

"We love, because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

Explain to your children that we give gifts at Christmas to show our love for others, just as "God so loved the world and gave his only begotten Son."

 •  Because God has been generous to us (Eph. 3:19-20).

 •  Because God tells us to (Luke 6:30, 38; Romans 12:8, 13; Eph. 4:28; Isa. 58:10-11; II Cor. 9:7).

 •  Because we are stewards of what He has given to us.

Study the characteristics of love and generosity and what God says about them:

Wanting and doing the best for another, expecting nothing in return.  Also: compassion, affection, concern, caring, empathy, encouraging.

See I Cor. 13; I John 3:17-18; Romans 12:9-10; John 15:12-13; Phil. 2:1-4.

Gladly and unselfishly giving self, time, talents, money, and possessions.  Also: sharing.

See II Cor. 9:7; I Tim. 6:18; II Cor. 8:1-5; Heb. 13:16; I Tim. 6:18.

Read and study Bible passages that encourage Christian generosity.  Start with the following.

    •  Deut. 16:17
•  1 Chronicles 29:11-17
•  Proverbs 11:24-25; 22:9
•  Matthew 25:35-40
•  Luke 6:38
•  Acts 20:35
•  Romans 12:13
•  2 Corinthians 8:2-21; 9:5-15
•  Galatians 6:6
•  1 Timothy 6:17-19
•  Hebrews 6:10; 13:16
•  I John 3:17

 •  We must thoughtfully consider the needs of others in order to meet those needs in a practical manner.

 •  We can be generous regardless of our financial situation and our ability to purchase gifts – we have much that we can give: time, attention, conversation, work, service, etc.

 •  When you give to those in need, do it in the name of the Lord so that He gets the glory and others are pointed to Him.

Christmas is a time of giving, modeled on God's great gift to us. Teach your family how giving pleases the Lord.

 •  Model a free and happy generosity.

 •  Teach your child to be thoughtful of those in need and understand how to meet their needs.

 Talk to your family about those God told us to give to: prisoners; widows and orphans; our "neighbors"; the poor, handicapped, hungry, thirsty, or sick; strangers, those in need of clothing, and those that cannot return our gifts.  (See James 1:27; Luke 14:12-14; Matthew 25:35, 36.)

"Let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." (1 John 3:1)

Discuss ways to meet the different needs of people.

 •  Some need material things. Give food, clothes, or money for housing, utilities, or transportation to a needy family or individual.

 •  Some need friendship, companionship, time, or service. Make a short visit to a nursing home, take a meal or a "tea party" to a shut-in from your church, or help serve a meal at a rescue mission.

There are several ways that you may become aware of the needs of others and give to them.

 •  You may know someone to give to directly. This may be extended family, neighbors, friends, or acquaintances.  (See the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37.)

 •  You may give through your local church, such as a benevolent fund.  An example given to us in Scripture.  (See Acts 6:1-7.)

 •  You may give through an organization that ministers in parts of the world with which you would not come into contact, such as:

Gospel for Asia offers you the opportunity to give the Gospel as well as a practical gift to meet urgent needs of Dalit ("Untouchable") families, showing them a tangible expression of God's life-changing love.

Gospel Rescue Missions present the Gospel, as well as provide emergency food and shelter, youth and family services, rehabilitation programs for the addicted, education and job training programs, and assistance to the elderly, poor, and at-risk youth.  See a directory of missions and "Eight Ways to Truly Help the Homeless" (including precautions for your family's safety).

Home School Foundation helps needy homeschooling families through hard times, including their Widows Fund.

"He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor."  (Proverbs 22:9)

Hospitality is a gift that money cannot buy, and it is something that God tells us to give to others (Romans 12:13).  You do not need to do an elaborate dinner or party.

 •  Ask a neighbor in for tea or coffee.

 •  Do not wait until your house looks "perfect" to practice hospitality.

 •  True love will offer the best gift, the Good News of salvation, along with any gift that ministers to physical needs (Acts 3:6).

 •  Give in the name of the Lord so that He gets the glory and others are pointed to Him.