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Read: Isaiah 9:6-7; 53:5-6

Lexie dangled her feet off the bunk bed as her sister got ready for their Christmas program rehearsal. “I’m going to mark my script so I don’t miss any of my lines,” Lexie said. She stuck her pen in her princess purse.

“Girls! We need to be at church soon!” Mom stuck her head in the door. “What? You’re not even dressed? We should have left already!”

Anna poked her head out of the closet. “But I can’t find my shoes.”

“Forget your shoes! Just come on!”

Mom rushed away to check on the twins. By the time everyone was loaded in the van, Mom was downright angry. “This happens every time we need to go somewhere!” she said. “I’m so sick of being late!”

As Mom was about to shut the van door, Anna gasped. “I forgot my shoes!”

Mom let out an exasperated groan. “Get your shoes now! And if you’re not back in one minute, I’m leaving!”

Five minutes later, Anna climbed into the van, shoes in hand. Mom fussed as they pulled onto the street.

“Anna, how could you possibly forget your shoes on a day this cold? And Lexie, that is the last time I want to see you lollygagging when you should be getting ready!”

Just then the radio began to play a song that the twins had been singing all week. Their three-year-old voices quickly chimed in with the music. “For unto us a child is bo-own…unto us a Son is gibben…”

Mom stopped yelling. Then she let out a big sigh. “I’m sorry, girls,” she said. “I’ve been so focused on blaming you for making us late that I forgot why we’re going to rehearse for the Christmas program in the first place—to tell others about Jesus. The truth is, I wasn’t ready on time either, but I didn’t want to admit that, so I made you feel bad about it instead. Will you forgive me?”

Anna and Lexie looked at each other. “Forgive you?” Lexie asked.

Mom nodded. “Sometimes parents make mistakes too. Jesus is still working to make me more like Him, just like He is with you.”

Anna smiled. “Yes, Mom,” she said. “We forgive you!”

–Rebekah Dorris

How about you? Have you ever heard your parents say things they later regret? Just like you, parents make mistakes. The good news is that Jesus is still working on all of us, so remember that when your parents fall short. Remember that Jesus has forgiven you, and He wants you to show His love to others by forgiving them—including parents!

Today's Key Verse: And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

Today's Key Thought: Forgive your parents

When we understand God's plan, we can't help but love Him.

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“Dad, can you get me some water?” my youngest daughter asked. “Sure,” I said, bringing her a full cup. She took it wordlessly. Then my oldest daughter made the same request. She didn’t respond either after I got her some water. Annoyed, I blurted out, “Is anyone going to say, ‘Thank you’? Why is that so hard?”

Sometimes there’s nothing like parental frustration to open the door for God to work. Immediately, I felt the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit: Yes, Adam, why is it so hard to say “Thank you”? Busted. Turns out a lack of gratitude isn’t just my kids’ problem; it’s mine, too.

I don’t know why saying thank you can be so hard, but it certainly seems to be a part of the human condition. In the psalms, however, we see a model for growing in gratitude. There, David and others often praise God amid myriad trials. And a particular phrase frequently precedes their thanksgiving: “I will.”

In Psalm 9:1, David deliberately chooses thankfulness: “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” We might be prone to think of gratitude primarily as a feeling. But David reminds us that it’s also a choice.

Like David, as we choose to cultivate a habit of giving thanks, we can gradually grow to recognize and appreciate God’s goodness in every aspect of life. 

Segment 1

• Christian Nationalism is rising… but no one agrees on what it means.

• It’s not the same old “separation of church and state”—it’s something new.

• Neil Shenvi suggests this movement is already on the decline.

Segment 2

• Some Christian Nationalist rhetoric is undeniably racist and dehumanizing.

• Not everyone in the movement is extreme, but the toxic voices are there.

• Christians should be leading on justice, not just picking sides.

Segment 3

• Outreach events often confuse food and fun with actual evangelism.

• No gospel, no follow-up, no impact – that’s not evangelism.

• Churches that highlight family and follow-through could change lives and save souls.

Segment 4

• University of Colorado pays $10M over the COVID jab.

• 1 in 5 Americans believe the Bible was written to control people.

• Most evangelicals don’t hold to a literal reading of the Bible. Where do we go from here?

___

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Listen to today's Laugh Again with Phil Callaway, "Greatest Babysitter Ever." Enjoy!

Why does Paul say we were "imprisoned" under the law before Christ came? From Galatians 3:23-24, Dr. John explains the law's dual role: it was both our jailor and our guardian. The law provoked rebellion, exposing our sinfulness and trapping us in it. Yet it also prepared us for the gospel through the bloody sacrifices that pointed to Christ. This message reveals why the law was necessary preparation before Christmas—why God's timing was perfect in sending His Son.

Christmas From Galatians: This Christmas, Dr. John takes an unprecedented approach to the season by exploring why Jesus' coming was absolutely necessary. Through the book of Galatians, this series traces God's plan from Abraham's promise through the giving of the Law to the arrival of Christ. Discover why the Law was never meant to save us but to diagnose our condition, how Jesus fulfilled what we could never accomplish, and how Christmas opened the door for all people to become sons and daughters of God.

Friendships with the opposite sex, plus what we can learn from the elderly, and the difference between the Holy Spirit and your conscience.    

Featured musical artist: Phil Wickham

Roundtable: Platonic Guy-Girl Friendships

Is it possible for men and women to be “just friends”? There’s an ongoing debate on the topic, with some arguing it’s possible while others maintain that it inevitably leads to something awkward (or worse, inappropriate). Our guests break down the pros and cons and give tips for doing friendship with the opposite sex in a God-honoring way.       

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Culture: Practical Love for the Elderly

Whether it’s your parents, grandparents, neighbor or fellow church member, God’s call to love our elders is clear. But it isn’t always easy. Senior citizens may be slower than us, have different perspectives, and can even be critical or aloof. But if you have the patience and intention to dig deep, there’s potential for rich relationship and even the opportunity to learn. Isabel Tom lived her entire childhood and young adult years with her aging grandparents. She now works with the elderly and shares her thoughts on what you stand to gain by prioritizing time with the seniors around you.   

 The Value of Wrinkles: A Young Perspective on How Loving the Old Will Change Your Life  

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Inbox: Conscience or the Holy Spirit?

Venturing into a dangerous situation. Asking someone out. Knowing God’s will on a job offer. We all look for direction in various circumstances, but how do you know whether that prompting is your conscience or the Holy Spirit? Pastor Mark Bates weighs in.    

Link to Counseling Services 

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Do doubts about faith ever keep you up at night? Following two decades of debating skeptics, apologist and author Justin Brierley illuminates how the historical brilliance of Christianity withstands scrutiny. He explores doubt as a doorway to belief and deconstruction as a path of transformation — articulating why faith and intelligence aren’t at odds, and offering ideas to help kids navigate their own doubt. Find the clarity and confidence you've been longing for.

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Show Notes and Resources

• Learn ore about his book: "Why I'm Still a Christian" on his website.
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What are your priorities? It takes work to cultivate a family and make a happy home, but the long-term rewards are worth every effort.