Bret Hammond

"Is this what God wants?"

We're ready to put a cap on 2014. It's been a year of joy and sorrow, of celebration and mourning. Most of all, though, it's been a year of devotion to God and he has blessed us in some amazing ways.

Laid in a manger, set on a donkey, nailed to a cross, laid in a tomb. All to purchase our peace

Laid in a manger, set on a donkey, nailed to a cross, laid in a tomb. All to purchase our peace

If "peace on earth" means anything it has to mean something within us. It has to mean something to those circumstances that are completely out of our control. It has to mean something to our relationships and our worries. "Peace on earth" needs to address our hearts and our heads.

If "peace on earth" means anything it has to mean something within us. It has to mean something to those circumstances that are completely out of our control. It has to mean something to our relationships and our worries. "Peace on earth" needs to address our hearts and our heads.

Jesus is more than "The Reason for the Season" he is the reason for our peace. In face, the Bible says, "He himself IS our peace." Before "peace on earth" means anything to nations at war it needs to mean something to relationships in conflict. It has to mean something to the hurts we carry and the hurts we inflict on each other.

Jesus is more than "The Reason for the Season" he is the reason for our peace. In face, the Bible says, "He himself IS our peace." Before "peace on earth" means anything to nations at war it needs to mean something to relationships in conflict. It has to mean something to the hurts we carry and the hurts we inflict on each other.

You can have Christmas without Santa. You can have Christmas without snow. You can have it without packages and lights and all of those things we fill the holiday with. But you can't have Christmas without peace. At the heart of the Christmas story is God's one and only son . . . and His one and only offer of peace.

You can have Christmas without Santa. You can have Christmas without snow. You can have it without packages and lights and all of those things we fill the holiday with. But you can't have Christmas without peace. At the heart of the Christmas story is God's one and only son . . . and His one and only offer of peace.