The song Little Drummer Boy shares a message about the gift to share with Jesus the Christ. HERE is a version of the song from Pentatonix to enjoy.

POTENTIAL ACTIONS:

• What gifts can you give to yourself in 2022?
  • Maybe allowing more time for celebrating, studying and living your faith? If so, lots of possibilities are HERE on the full Christian Playbook website with a focus on devotionals, or another of the CP Tab topics
  • Perhaps you’ll consider more time for contemplation? Lots of contemplative/centering prayer ideas HERE from CAC
• What sharing can you do with others in our world in 2022? Can a specific action go on your calendar?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 2, 2022:

•  
• Jeremiah 31:7-14 or Sirach 24:1-12 
• Psalm 147:12-20 or Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21 
• Ephesians 1:3-14 
• John 1:(1-9), 10-18

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – regular updates, including toonfever.com

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

Don’t we all want a little more peace during this Christmas-tide and all year long? In THIS WEBPOST, Bob Hostetler uses effective “Movin’ and Prayin’ ” efforts we’ve seen in the Quaker Prayer and others – palms up, palms down, etc.. – to help us towards a more peaceful season.

SUGGESTED ACTIONS:

• Read Bob’s webpost
• Try out the approaches of identifying concerns, sharing those with God and emptying yourself of those so you can continue life in newness

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 2, 2022:

•  
• Jeremiah 31:7-14 or Sirach 24:1-12 
• Psalm 147:12-20 or Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21 
• Ephesians 1:3-14 
• John 1:(1-9), 10-18

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – regular updates, including toonfever.com

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.

~ Isaiah 52:9

• “Where would any of us be without any of God’s little magnifying glasses all around – those who have shined with the power of faith in spite of the odds, those who have borne Christ to us and enabled us to read how much God loves us?”   AND
• “even ‘little you’ can proclaim God’s new day has begun”

POSSIBLE ACTIONS:

• Reflect: who are those people who have shined with the power of faith in your life?
• Consider: where are your proclamation opportunities in the days ahead? How can you make those happen effectively?

PRAYER: Spirit God, stir in us the ability and inclination to proclaim during this season, in worship, conversation, singing and more. May we make these Advent and Christmas-tide seasons the very best possible! Amen!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, December 24/25, 2021:

• Isaiah 52:7-10 
• Psalm 98 
• Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12) 
• John 1:1-14

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – regular updates, including toonfever.com

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

Do not be afraid . . . a Savior has been born to you.

~ Luke 2:10–11

Our Daily Bread “nailed it” with this posting (HERE). Focus on A Charlie Brown Christmas during this time of year is perfect! 🙂

As many times as some of us have watched this show, one wonders: how many have noticed Linus’ blanket dropping while talking about fear not? It’s a great catch by Anne Cetas (that video segment is HERE)

Most can identify with Linus, even if it’s not an actual security blanket we cling to regularly. Charles Schulz helps us understand that Linus doesn’t NEED the blanket as much as it’s a helpful part of life. He can use it as a costume, support for a pathetic little Christmas tree and much, much more. And he can lose touch with it while telling the Christmas Story.

So, perhaps having a little security blanket isn’t so bad. One might even begin to think about the Christmas Story being a security blanket; knowing that it’s there in the Bible and as a symbol of our faith can be especially wonderful as we marvel at nativity scenes. We can remember that a life born during this season has changed our world forever!

POSSIBLE ACTION: Take a drive in the evening, admiring the lights and specifically enjoying nativity scenes and other Christian symbols of the season

PRAYER: Spirit God, stir in us the ability and inclination to enjoy this season, including those security blankets that can be helpful (and sometimes dropped) during the Advent and Christmas-tide seasons… Amen!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, December 24/25, 2021:

• Isaiah 52:7-10 
• Psalm 98 
• Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12) 
• John 1:1-14

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – regular updates, including toonfever.com

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

“… Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 

~ Psalm 46:10 NIV

Steven Curtis Chapman’s “Be Still and Know” song title contains a wonderful message, especially during a season that almost demands we not be still, and that consumerism should be exalted.  Here’s a rendition of the song with some wonderful accompanying pictures

POSSIBLE ACTION: Perhaps today or tomorrow you can include some “quiet time with God,” possibly starting with listening to Chapman’s song?

PRAYER: Spirit God, stir in us the ability and inclination to “be still and know” this day and throughout these blessed Advent and Christmas seasons… Amen!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, December 19, 2021:

• Micah 5:2-5a 
• Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7 
• Hebrews 10:5-10 
• Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – regular updates, including toonfever.com

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

Christmas movies can help bring in the holiday spirit. For instance, viewing the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” continues to bring tears at the ending scene, all these many watchings later.

In case you are in search mode for a new holiday classic to watch, HERE are some suggestions from the 1940s and 1950s based on a Guideposts posting. HERE is a listing of some newer movies to consider.

If you’re a movie fan, try out a new Christmas movie this year. Who knows, it may just provide kindling for an even warmer holiday season…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, December 19, 2021:

• Micah 5:2-5a 
• Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7 
• Hebrews 10:5-10 
• Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – regular updates, including toonfever.com

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.

~ Luke 1:46b-47a

PROMISE is the summary word for this week in Behold! by Pamela C. Hawkins. In the verses above and those that follow in Luke 1, Mary understands the promises made to her. Can’t these same scriptural words apply to us too? Reading the rest of the Lectionary verses in Luke we find so many promises and also the gratitude of a young woman.

My Soul Magnifies the Lord is the title of a Chris Tomlin song. While not a traditional Christmas song, it echoes a bit of Mary’s commentary and shares a rejoicing spirit in the melody.

This week, may we hear the music of our Christmas tradition and rejoice in the promise of Christ’s birth in each of us through the Holy Spirit!

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: Check out this webpage to continue listening to some favorite Christmas songs

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, December 12, 2021:

• Zephaniah 3:14-20 
• Isaiah 12:2-6 
• Philippians 4:4-7 
• Luke 3:7-18

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – regular updates, including toonfever.com

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

Friends recently put up their holiday sign.   JOY.     It’s pictured below.

That simple sign is a reminder of the emotion we hope to conjure up this season. Emotions that Star-Child, Joy to the World and many other songs mention.

Annette L. Sherwood in her JOY poem (HERE) provides precious prose about joy. Readers will likely relate to Annette’s experiences and add some of their own spurred on by her words. The expression of joy relates to self, others and God.

Perhaps this Christmas season we can be part of another’s joy in wonderful ways…

“in your bright eyes…childlike enthusiasm to preach…warm handshake
in the crisp air…”  or in hundreds of other ways

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, December 12, 2021:

• Zephaniah 3:14-20 
• Isaiah 12:2-6 
• Philippians 4:4-7 
• Luke 3:7-18

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – regular updates, including toonfever.com

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

I truly believe that if we keep telling the Christmas story, singing the Christmas songs, and living the Christmas spirit, we can bring joy and happiness and peace to this world.

~ Norman Vincent Peale, pastor and author

During this Advent season, Christian Playbook will again be highlighting a variety of Christmas songs. May each bring some of the joy, happiness and peace that Rev. Peale mentions!

The first song we’ll highlight this Advent season is Star-Child – you can listen to it HERE (with music by David Haas) and a more traditional version HERE. As with so many songs, the history of the lyricist is interesting; you can see about that and much more HERE,  thanks to UMC!

May the day soon approach “when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!”

POSSIBLE ACTIONS:

• Have time today to listen to some Christmas songs? Check out this Youtube site link – no sign up necessary – to listen to some favorite songs
• If you have additional songs to suggest, please email salong_now @ yahoo.com and we’ll consider adding them

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, December 5, 2021:

• Baruch 5:1-9 or Malachi 3:1-4 
• Luke 1:68-79 
• Philippians 1:3-11 
• Luke 3:1-6

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – regular updates, including toonfever.com

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

The Guideposts posting featured today – A One-Word Christmas Prayer for You – is classic Bob Hostetler. Many of his posts include a number, and 1 word is certainly appropriate for this season: Come!

Many consider it an overwhelming challenge to “pray without ceasing.” Bob’s concluding remarks share a nice prayer approach:

Pray it often. Just one word, but say it, whisper it, think it, as perhaps the most fitting Christmas prayer ever: “Come.”

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, December 5, 2021:

• Baruch 5:1-9 or Malachi 3:1-4 
• Luke 1:68-79 
• Philippians 1:3-11 
• Luke 3:1-6

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – regular updates, including toonfever.com

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE