Our family went to see "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" on Friday afternoon. I loved it! I will not review it here; there are many, many reviews available online--I will only say that I was thoroughly enchanted with the whole production and found nothing that I would change.

The only reason I am even blogging about the movie is that my son, Sam, bears a striking resemblance to the young man who played Edmund. The likeness was not perfect and it is more noticeable in "real life" when one can see the play of emotion and the turn of a head, but I thought I'd share a Christmas morning picture of Sam:

God's Minute

December 27

And He said to them all, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it.

For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?--Luke 9:23-25

O LORD, Thou Whose eye seest everything, even into the secrets of our hearts, and with Whom is all wisdom and power, be not silent to our petition. In our suffering let us observe Thy presence, and, out of pain, teach us submission.

We cannot always understand what Thou art doing with us, but O Thou Watcher of men, make our souls to know that Thou art always just and good, ever long-suffering in Thy mercy. Give us Thy strength to bear the burden.

Teach us that if we would be most serviceable to Thee, we must be marred and hurt and made to bleed. The we shall come forth as gold tried in the furnace, and Thy righteousness shall be our robe, and Thy glory our diadem.

Amen.

Peter Ainslie, D.D.,
Baltimore, Maryland

Today's prayer seems to fit beautifully with a post I read this morning at Rebecca Writes. If this prayer has resonated with you because you are going through a trial of some kind, please do go visit Rebecca and read her thoughts on God's providential preparation for times of trial. I believe you will be comforted and strengthened in your trial and given a heart to praise Him for what He is working out in your life, even now. And though I may never know who has need of it, I have prayed for you this morning.

A Christmas Tradition

This is Ivy's third Christmas with us and the third year we have given her the same doggy toy.

And this is the third year she has dismantled it while we opened presents. . .

There is nothing quite so happy as a dog who has permission to make a mess. Within an hour, poor "Mustafa", as my husband calls him, is spread from one end of the house to the other.

This year Tom "rescued" Mustafa's head before Ivy totally destroyed it. . .I think he had plans for it. . .

Hard to say where the head of Mustafa may show up next. . .

God's Minute

December 26

We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.--Romans 5:1

OUR Father, Thou Who sitteth upon a throne high and lifted up, Whose glory fills the Heavens, make us conscious this morning that Thou art not far from any one of us, Thy children. Thou has revealed Thy nearness to us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Help us to see that our selfishness is the only thing that can separate us from Thee. Take out of our hearts every selfish impulse, and fill them with a holy l0ve for Thee. Then we know that there shall be fulfilled for us the promise of Jesus, that Thou, our Father and He, our Brother, shall come in and dwell with us this day. Speak to us by Thy still, small voice.

Christmas day has come and gone. We have given and we have received the tokens of friendship and love. We cannot repeat these gifts every day, but we earnestly beseech Thee that the Christmas spirit may abide in our hearts and in the hearts of mankind everywhere. Take out of our hearts every trace of jealously and hatred toward any of Thy children, and give us the attitude toward all mankind which was in Jesus Christ our Lord. Hasten the day when our ears shall hear the morning stars singing together and all the sons of men joining with the angelic choir in the anthem of the first Christmas morning, "Peace on earth among men of good will." Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Rev. Frank W. Padelford,
Boston, Massachusetts

God's Minute

December 25 Christmas Day

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tiding of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.--Luke 2:10-11

We are filled with joy and gratitude this morning for the gift of the Saviour, Jesus. We are especially thankful that He is not a Saviour afar off, but linked to our nature in the manner of His birth, in childhood, in humility, in love and sympathy. He who saw the light of day in the midst of the beasts of burden when first He threw the mantle of humanity over Himself, has lifted us from the burdens of sin and anxiety. In Him we are glad.

With all the angels who celebrated His nativity we add our voice of joy. With the humble who inquired what these things meant, we still search for the truth of the incarnation. Give joy this day to all people, we earnestly pray. Bless all children, the babes of the land. Be with the poor, and give to us all, and to all others, the spirit of good will and of charity. Bring peace to earth, a reception of the good tidings also. May the gifts of love manifest the spirit of Jesus, we ask in His name.

Amen.

Rev. Robert W. Thompson,
Pittsburg, Kansas