It's the season

of HOPE! Yes, I know, it's the season of shopping and wrapping and baking.

Yes, I know, it's the season for children and for the magic of Christmas.

But most importantly of all, it's the season of HOPE.

Why HOPE? Well,

because HOPE is the "end product" of what's really true about

Christmas. And what's really true about Christmas is that God sent His

Solution to our otherwise insurmountable problem. What's really true about

Christmas is that God sent His Light into our otherwise destructive darkness.

What's really true about Christmas is that God sent His HOPE into our

otherwise crippling fear, despair, frustration, and discouragement.

The Good News

of Christmas is that when "God became flesh and dwelt among us"

in the person of Jesus Christ finally ­ and always -- there is HOPE!

Not just wishes or dreams, but sure and confident HOPE that God's presence

makes a difference for the better in every corner of our lives.

And one of

the "corners of our lives" that needs HOPE is, quite honestly,

in our homes. Yes, we have "nice" homes here in our community.

Yes, we have "respectable" homes here in our community. However,

we also have "real" homes, where things are not always as they

seem, and where crippling fear, despair, frustration, and discouragement

often raise their ugly heads.

But there's

HOPE for our homes! There's HOPE because Christmas is far more than "for

children" and "full of magic." Christmas is the birthday

of the Savior. Christmas is the celebration of the coming of The One who

can promise and deliver on making our lives and our homes much better,

much more the way He and we would want them to be!

Here's a quick

list of "Christmas Miracles" that the HOPE of Christ in Christmas

can produce. If your home is in need of any of these miracles, please

know that because of what's really true about Christmas THERE' STILL HOPE!

1. There's

still HOPE that open, honest, and productive communication can replace

hateful screaming or hateful silence.

2. There' still

HOPE that loving affirmation and caring support can overcome destructive

bickering and hurtful character attacks.

3. There's

still HOPE that courtesy and consideration for one another can replace

disrespect and insults.

4. There's

still HOPE that a strong sense of trust and belief in one another can

conquer distrust and doubt.

5. There's

still HOPE that an atmosphere of fun play and good humor will wipe away

tears and unhappiness.

6. There's

still HOPE that promises kept and responsibility shared can replace broken

promises and irresponsibility.

7. There's

still HOPE that peace, harmony, and discipline can overcome anarchy and

chaos.

8. There's

still HOPE that self-giving service to others can replace self-serving

selfishness.

9. There' still

HOPE that the healthy admission of problems and constructive seeking of

help can replace the denial of problems and refusal to seek help.

10. There's

still HOPE that a warmly shared and encouraged Christian faith and spirit

can overcome godlessness and faithlessness.

Yes! There's

still HOPE! And that's what will make this a "Very Merry Christmas"!

To all of you

in our community I say a personal and very heart-felt "Merry Christmas"!

I love our community and the good people who make this a wonderful place

to live. Thank you to those of you who stop me in the grocery store or

at the soccer game and give me words of encouragement about these articles

I am privileged to write. You bless me, and I am honored to get the chance

to share with you in this way.

Please come

to worship with us at Prince of Peace on Christmas Eve if you don't have

your own church. We'll have Candlelight Communion Services at 3:00, 5:00,

7:00, 9:00, and 11:00 p.m. We're located on Hwy 314 between Lowe's and

The Pavilion. Log-on at www.popdove.com or call 770-461-3403.

God loves you!

And so do I! Again, Merry Christmas!

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