Christmas

My Christmas Prayer for You

by Andy Wood on December 25, 2010

in Five LV Laws, LV Cycle, Principle of Abundance, Waiting

Wherever you may find yourself this Christmas – in prosperity or poverty, health or sickness, laughter or tears, togetherness or solitude – I pray that you will experience the same sense of wonder, gratitude, and grace (and more) that I have found. 

I pray that in the midst of all you call blessings, you experience the beauty of knowing the miracle of being loved in this life – deeply, fully, completely…

That the evening shadows and stars remind you of the one star that mattered most and the Spirit behind it, guiding those who sought Jesus to discover His presence, and to miss Herod’s schemes…

That as heaven and nature sing of the glory of God, the mountains you face only serve as reminders that they are no match for the love He has shown you in His coming and His care…

That Jesus, our Emmanuel, would manifest His faithful awareness and presence and the miracle that takes place when God and sinners are reconciled in love and grace…

That whether you hear His voice in a prayer or a song, a promise or a still small voice, that you would truly hear it – and that as He sings over you, you would taste and see that the Lord is good,  His mercy everlasting, and His truth endures forever to you and yours…

That joyfully and triumphantly, you would live in anticipation and adoration of the Word of the Father who appeared in flesh, and that you would not for one moment miss the opportunity to invest your life in what He is still doing today…

That in the silence of the night or the newness and glory of the morning, you would experience again and again the coming of the King – with the promise that the One who lit the sky once will split the sky when He comes again to claim you…

That the nearness and tender care of the Lord Jesus would carry you through the seasons of loss and the memories of those you miss this Christmas season…

And that the Carpenter’s son who built a bridge of goodness and light will find you waiting, however long it takes, for the day He returns.

Merry Christmas!

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Merry Christmas From the iBand

by Andy Wood on December 18, 2010

in Uncategorized

Just because…

The North Point Folks have done it again, using just iPads and iPhones. Enjoy and share!

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I’ll Be Home for Christmas

by Andy Wood on December 17, 2010

in Five LV Laws, LV Cycle, Principle of Eternity, Waiting

On October 4, 1943, Bing Crosby recorded a song that captured the imagination of millions of Americans.  Within three weeks it was on the top music charts, and remained there for 11 weeks.  A year later, it returned to the charts again.  Since then, it has been recorded by nearly 250 artists.  It was the first song broadcast into space, and remains to this day one of the most cherished songs of all time. 

Remember, the entire world was galvanized in a world war, and hundreds of thousands of American soldiers were in Europe, Africa, and the Pacific fighting for our future.  Nearly the entire country was unified behind our fighting men. 

The name of the song – “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” 

Something about Christmas makes us want to go home, or at least to be somewhere with people we care about.  [click to continue…]

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How to Be a Good Receiver

by Andy Wood on December 13, 2010

in Five LV Laws, Life Currency, Love, Principle of Increase, Words

‘Tis the season. . . to roll your eyes whenever somebody starts something with “’Tis the season!”

Anyway…

This is the season to give, give give!  Toys for Tots, help for the homeless, marches for missions, and then, of course, those never-ending shopping lists. 

With all the emphasis on giving, how about a nice change of pace?  You’ve heard that God loves a cheerful giver.   Well, guess what givers like?  Cheerful receivers! 

Did you know it’s possible to actually motivate someone to be thoughtful and generous, to feel good about themselves and you?  It all comes when you learn the wonderful art of being a good receiver.  Here are seven ways you can do that: [click to continue…]

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Christmas in July

by Andy Wood on July 14, 2010

in 100 Words

Dear Carrie, 

Sorry you weren’t here for your birthday (hope things are going well in Kenya). 

But we wanted you to know we celebrated anyway.

We got this cake, exchanged presents and gave festive cards in honor of the occasion.

The family got together for a wonderful meal, and there was a picture of you somewhere, just to remember the REAL reason for the season.

I know it must feel really odd for people to celebrate your birthday and hardly mention your name.

So I took care of that.  I put it on the cake!

Season’s Greetings!  YO HO HO!

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When Life Gets Slow as Christmas

by Andy Wood on December 12, 2009

in Life Currency, LV Cycle, Time, Waiting

(The Twelve Ways of Christmas, Part 4:  The Way of Waiting)

Waiting for Christmas 2For Scotty Thomas, Christmas was cruel.  What other word can you use to describe living in a house where Dad enforced a hard-nosed rule: Christmas presents were for Christmas day?

“But can’t I open just ONE?” Scotty would ask. 

“No,” his dad would say, smiling.

“I think I know what this one is,” Scotty would say, shaking a wrapped present under the tree. 

“Think all you want,” Dad would reply.  “You may be right.  You may be wrong.”  Inevitably for Scotty, it was a little of both.

Like any good 8-year-old, Scotty also had razor-sharp radar for any kid who seemed to get a better deal.  Jeremy Walker got to open the give from his sister a day early.  Jeff Dunaway opened family gifts the weekend before Christmas day.  But Scotty’s appeals landed on stone.

As Scotty grew older and wiser (age 10 now), he became more sophisticated in his approach.  If he couldn’t win by appeal, he would conquer by steal.  Scotty set out on a mission to find hidden “treasures.”

Snooping through his dad’s workshop and in the attic, Scotty hit the mother lode a full 10 days before Christmas.  A new bicycle, video games, a skateboard, some table games, a basketball, a couple of posters for his room, a wristwatch… this was going to be an amazing Christmas.

It turned into the worst 10 days of Scotty’s young life.  [click to continue…]

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The Myth of the Early Christmas Shopper

by Andy Wood on November 27, 2009

in Consumers, LV Alter-egos, Pleasers

BestBuyblackfridayQ. – Dad, why do you wait until Christmas Eve to do your Christmas Shopping?

A. – Because the stores are closed on Christmas Day.

Christmas has its own unique mashup of truth and myths, and every year somebody ultimately brings up both.  I was asked on one occasion what my favorite Christmas myth was.  I’d like to share my reply with you.

My favorite Christmas myth has nothing to do with Nativity scenes, jolly little fat men, or reindeer with nuclear sinus infections.

It has to do with people. [click to continue…]

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The Elves are Checking In

by Andy Wood on July 30, 2009

in 100 Words, Spoofs

Elf Checkin

(Sung to the tune of “Christmas is Coming”)

Christmas is coming
The elves have been away
Now they’re returning from their holiday.
If you haven’t any reindeer
An airline flight will do
If you haven’t got an airline flight,
Then God bless you.

Christmas is coming
Although it’s still July
We’re going shopping, and no asking “Why?”
Hobby Lobby has your ornaments
And artificial pines
If you don’t have one in your town
Then shop online.

Christmas is coming
The elves may call it quits –
Santa’s reducing all their benefits.
If you haven’t got insurance
Obamacare will do
If you haven’t got Obamacare
It’s time to sue.

(Photo credit:  EchoDeltaDeltaOscarNovember

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The Day After Christmas

by Andy Wood on December 26, 2008

in Exploring the Possibilities, Insight, Life Currency, LV Cycle

This is one of the strangest days of the year.  The Christmas tree is still up, but there are no presents beneath it.  The trips have been made, and people are starting to settle back down to “normal.”  All the cooks have declared a holiday, and the Great Gift Exchange has begun.  And in our culture, we’re preparing for another phenomenon:  the end of one year, and the start of another.

Sort of like they did on the first day after the first Christmas.

Take a look, and maybe we can catch an insight into how we can extend the wonder of the season past all the gifts and food.  And I think we can gain some principles that will also help us prosper in the coming year. [click to continue…]

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Christmas in Stereo

by Andy Wood on December 22, 2008

in Tense Truths

Ever since there was something called “The Christmas Story,” the birth of Jesus has been a two-sided event.  In the familiar stories found in Luke’s and Matthew’s gospels, you read of shepherds and prophets, wise men and kings, Mary and Joseph.  It’s written from man’s perspective.  When the angels announced to the shepherds, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,” that gives us Christmas from the human side.

Left there (which we usually do), Christmas is all about us.  But there is a different story – one that’s told from the counsel of Heaven itself.  You find it in the gospel of John.

“In the beginning was the Word… And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”

That’s an eternal picture.  That’s God’s picture.  And perhaps the best description of Christmas from God’s perspective is the most familiar verse in the Bible:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son….”

This Christmas, celebrate Christmas in stereo.  Take the time to recognize the full picture.  In the words of Charlie Brown and millions before and after him, “Linus, what is Christmas all about?” [click to continue…]

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