Holiday Tidings to You!

Stories, stories, stories …

Whether it’s a historical tale of English pirates in the 1700s … or a sci-fi thriller about aliens invading Earth … or a military adventure featuring US Special Forces in the Middle East … or a murder mystery with a down-on-his-luck PI … my days are filled with stories.

As much as I enjoy reading and working on these stories as an editor, at this time of year, my thoughts turn to another story—one that I believe no human could conjure up with even the wildest imagination. Some call it the Greatest Story Ever Told. Others relegate it to the land of legend and myth.

Whatever you may believe, it’s a story that’s epic in every sense of the word:

A Jewish maiden chosen by the Creator of the universe …

A scandalous pregnancy in a small town of Roman-ruled Israel …

A birth in a manger, with some of the first well-wishers being lowly shepherds from nearby fields …

A baby boy named “Jesus,” who became known as the Christ—the Messiah of the world …

A hurried escape from a murderous tyrant who had no wish to hear of a baby born to be king …

And all the way to a bloody cross, a wondrous resurrection, and the offer of new life to any who would receive this Jesus …

Yeah, it’s epic, from start to finish and beyond—and maybe it does sound pretty far out there. But, for me, it’s a story that only God himself could write. And I’ve staked my life on that.

So amidst all the hustle and bustle of the season, I pray that the story of the baby in the manger would touch your heart anew. May God give you and yours peace and joy during the holidays. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!