1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 2: Thank you for listening to your daily prayer, where we 3 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 2: help you find the words you need to connect to 4 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 2: your Father in Heaven. No matter what's happening in your 5 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 2: life today, you can trust that God wants to hear 6 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 2: from you. Right after the short word from our sponsors, 7 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 2: we'll pray through today's prayer to keep Christ at the 8 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 2: Center of Christmas. A Prayer to Keep Christ at the 9 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 2: Center of Christmas written by Clarence Haines, read by Lea Gerrard. 10 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: But the Angel said to them, do not be afraid. 11 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:05,479 Speaker 2: I bring you good news that will cause great joy 12 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 2: for all the people today in the town of David. 13 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 2: A savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, 14 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 2: the Lord Luke to ten through eleven. For many, Christmas 15 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 2: is the most wonderful time of the year. In families, 16 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:25,679 Speaker 2: it's a time to get together to share food, laughter, 17 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 2: and hopefully make some lasting memories. The kids love it 18 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 2: because of the anticipation of the gifts they'll receive. I 19 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 2: think we can all remember how we couldn't wait for 20 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:37,960 Speaker 2: Christmas Morning to come so we could or rip open 21 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 2: those presents. Stores also love this time of year because 22 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 2: for many it's the last opportunity to add to their 23 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 2: bottom line for the year. In some cases, the Christmas 24 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 2: shopping season will make or break their profits for the year. 25 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 2: This is a big reason the promotion for Christmas seems 26 00:01:55,840 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 2: to happen earlier every year. While the decorations, the lights, 27 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 2: the plays, and the music are all wonderful, it's easy 28 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 2: for the reason we celebrate Christmas to get lost in 29 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 2: the shuffle of Frosty the Snowman and silver bells. Christmas 30 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 2: is about giving. However, it's not about the gifts we 31 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 2: give to each other, but the gift that was given 32 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:25,920 Speaker 2: to us over two thousand years ago. In a stable 33 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 2: surrounded by other animals, the greatest gift ever given to 34 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 2: humanity was born. This child, a gift to the weary world, 35 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 2: would sacrifice his life for our sins and open the 36 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 2: door to reconcile us to the Father. The humble arrival 37 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 2: did not match the majesty of the one who was 38 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 2: born to us. How could the King of Kings, the Messiah, 39 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 2: the creator of the world come to us in this fashion. 40 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 2: Yet this is exactly how Jesus entered the world, bringing 41 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 2: light into our darkness. This is what Christmas means and 42 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 2: we must center everything we do around it during this 43 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 2: holiday season. But how do we keep Christ at the center? 44 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 2: One way is by telling the story. Yes, we can 45 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:22,639 Speaker 2: tell it to the world, and we should, but let's 46 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 2: start by making sure we tell it in our homes. 47 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 2: Make it a new tradition if it's not one already. 48 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 2: Christmas is the perfect time to remind your kids of 49 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 2: who Jesus is and why he came. 50 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 1: It's also the one. 51 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 2: Time of year when songs about Jesus are played and 52 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 2: even celebrated on the radio, and because people are in 53 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 2: a festive spirit, it can open doors for conversations with 54 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 2: others about who Jesus really is. We can also keep 55 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 2: Christ at the center by what we do. Since the 56 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 2: heart of the Christmas story is selfless giving, find ways 57 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 2: to give. Giving doesn't have to be monetary. It could 58 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 2: be as simple as giving your time or your full 59 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 2: attention to someone who's lonely. Maybe you could invite someone 60 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:17,040 Speaker 2: over to spend Christmas with you and your family. Small 61 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:20,479 Speaker 2: gestures like these can give you opportunities to share the 62 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 2: love of Jesus with someone else, giving love in a 63 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 2: fashion that really keeps Christ at the center. Regardless of 64 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 2: how you choose to show it keeping Christ if the 65 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 2: center comes with intention and purpose. Yes, enjoy the music, 66 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:44,360 Speaker 2: the food, your family, and your friends. However, don't forget 67 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 2: to celebrate the birth of Jesus, because after all, he 68 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 2: is the true reason for the season and the source 69 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 2: of all our joy and hope. Without him, there is 70 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 2: no Christmas spirit to enjoy. Let's pray, Heavenly Father, thank 71 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 2: you for sending the gift of Jesus to be our 72 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 2: savior in this Christmas season. Help me not to get 73 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 2: distracted by all the things Christmas has become, and to 74 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 2: keep Christ at the center of everything we do. Open 75 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 2: my heart to see those around me, and let your 76 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 2: heart of giving overflow in me with generosity toward others, 77 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 2: I pray I wouldn't just give gifts, but more importantly 78 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:38,039 Speaker 2: show people kindness and hospitality, so that they would not 79 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:41,840 Speaker 2: just know that Jesus is why we celebrate, but that 80 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:45,679 Speaker 2: they would see it by the things I do. Thank 81 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 2: you again for the greatest gift ever given, and let 82 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 2: the light of Jesus shine through my life, not just 83 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 2: in this season, but in every season. 84 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name. Amen, Your daily. 85 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 2: Prayer is a production of life Audio and Salem Media. 86 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,679 Speaker 2: If you haven't already, be sure to follow the show 87 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:22,960 Speaker 2: in your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode. 88 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 2: For more faith filled, inspirational podcasts, visit us at lifeaudio 89 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 2: dot com.