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HOPE is one of those familiar words that seems to get lost in our everyday speech. It gets mixed in as we flow from one thought to another. Or it gets used casually as we express well-wishes or concern:

I HOPE you feel better soon…

I HOPE I’m not disturbing you…

(or as parents frequently hear themselves saying)

I HOPE you weren’t about to do that thing I just told you not to do…

Pastor and author Paul Tripp describes in his advent devotional Come Let Us Adore Him that there is a “danger of familiarity” in the lives of the children of God. He describes how it “does bad things to us” such as robbing us of wonder and causing us not to celebrate something that used to captivate us. It’s a sort of “Law of Diminishing Returns” found naturally within us.

But HOPE has more power within it than we may realize. It is a feeling of confident expectation, peaceful assurance, and desire for something to occur. In Scripture, it is the foundation for faith to be built upon (Heb. 11:1) that comes from a God of HOPE who fills us with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:3). The absence of HOPE leaves us with a sick heart (Prov. 13:12), while the presence of HOPE renews our strength (Isa. 40:31).

We find this demonstrated powerfully in the story of Simeon as he proclaimed his “release” when he finally laid eyes upon the Messiah he had been HOPING and waiting for (Luk. 2:25-32). This righteous and devout man was filled with HOPE and led by God’s Spirit (reference Rom. 15:3 above) to the temple. But there’s something missing here… by definition.

One of the greatest and most important aspects of HOPE is the unseen. Romans 8:24-25 teaches us that “HOPE seen is no HOPE at all, for who HOPES in what they have?”. Simeon was filled with the Spirit and looking (HOPING) for the Messiah, and rejoiced when he finally embraced Him. Instead of focusing effort on trying to understand the details of how it would come about, he lived righteously, trusting faithfully that God’s Spirit would put him in the right place at the right time. Simeon didn’t become so “familiar” with the promise that he allowed its power to diminish in his life.

When it comes to the Christmas season however we find that our spirits are more drawn to the reminder that Jesus- the One in the manger, the One on the cross, the One at the right hand of the Father, is the one true HOPE.

In the Aigner house, we admittedly focus a LOT on details. There’s good and bad in that fact, but either way it’s there. Lately we have been HOPING for a number of things- rest, guidance, peace, even redirection from bad habits we have let creep into our routine. When we pause to evaluate all that we’ve hoped for throughout the year, we often find that we’ve HOPED in more of a haphazard fashion by expressing something and HOPING it actually happens. This is more of a “wishing well” approach to HOPE than a biblical one.

When it comes to the Christmas season however we find that our spirits are more drawn to the reminder that Jesus- the One in the manger, the One on the cross, the One at the right hand of the Father, is the one true HOPE.

Jesus’ return is our “blessed HOPE” (Tit. 2:13).

We are reminded of the grace poured over us moment by moment while on this side of heaven. And we are reminded of the undeserved inheritance and unimaginable glory as we approach heaven one day at a time.

Simeon HOPED – LIVED FOR it. And we can too.

This Christmas season, may God draw your heart near to His, fill you with His Spirit of HOPE, and the reminder that you are chosen, loved, and saved forever in His mighty hand.                                                           

 – The Aigners

For our family, the focus of Christmas was Christmas Eve.  Yes, we shopped for presents, listened to Christmas music, put up a Christmas tree, looked forward to posole and tamales Christmas Eve, spent time with Joan’s family in Albuquerque or mine in Kansas, and opened presents Christmas morning. But, from the time our children were small, we always looked forward to a Christmas Eve church service followed by a family time. 

That time started with reading “Twas the Night Before Christmas” (with each member rubbing the fuzzy surface of Santa’s clothes), then several children’s books built around Jesus’ birth.  Next, I would read about His birth from the Bible and we would have a short time of prayer. The kids would then go off to bed while Joan and I finished wrapping presents. 

As our children became adults and we began adding grandchildren, we continued meeting at our house for Christmas and the Christmas Eve service followed by the family time (without changes – including the mandatory rubbing of Santa’s clothes).

Then the Lord sent Joan and me to Africa and we missed the tradition for 6 years.  In the U.S. the meeting place moved to our daughter’s home since she had children and our son was not yet married.  But, other than that, Christmas Eve was the same.

In Nigeria, things were different. The months leading up to Christmas were marked by an increased rate of armed robberies. And there were no Christmas Eve services because it was too dangerous to be out after dark. So Christian families gathered in their homes early. There was little outward evidence of Christmas and, because of unreliable phone service, the likelihood that we could communicate with our children in the U.S. was slim to none.  But we had God’s Word, knew His abiding presence, and had experienced His utter faithfulness, and they were more than enough.

Now that Joan and I are back in the U.S., we still meet at our daughter’s home as they did when we were gone.  And now that we have grown grandchildren (as well as an infant grandson), the tradition still holds, always ending with Scripture.

The time in Nigeria was a real blessing to us in many ways.  One of them was in moving more of the Point of Christmas more from our heads to our hearts.  No matter the tradition of the culture where one is living, there are things that are firm and unchangeable. 

Particularly that “God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son..”  By itself, that fact is an absolute wonder!  And He did it for a purpose “that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). The accounts of His birth carry evidence that Jesus met all the requirements for the long awaited Savior of the world; the only One who could reconcile us to God as we put our faith in Him.

At the end of the day, our confidence and comfort are in Him and Him alone.  What a great privilege we have to be able to celebrate His birth openly and without fear!

May the reality of His presence fill you with His peace and joy this Christmas and always.

Christmas cards! A sparkly, happy and festive reminder of the people we care about reaching out to us, sharing their news and remembering us during the Holidays. With photos of happy, smiling families or reindeer smiling gaily you may hang them on your tree, a wreath, a swag across the door, or in some other Pinterest-worthy presentation.

The idea is almost antiquated, surpassed by technology, opportunity, and convenience. Yet, surprisingly, happily, the cards still come. Keeping us in touch with loved ones in a way that still surpasses Facebook.

But the holidays pass. We take down our decorations and then what? Do those cards go in the recycling or trash? Maybe you’re crafty and add them to a holiday book……but then the book ends up in the box with last year’s and the years’ before that, forgotten and collecting dust. A sweet reminder of friends, quickly laid aside, as the excitement of the New Year comes upon us.

What if there was a different way to “use” these Christmas Cards, one with a value greater than the glitter, foil-print, gloss and ribbon?

What if your Christmas Cards became Prayer Cards?

What if those Christmas letters sharing the excitement, success, perhaps sorrow, or changes of your friends’ and family’s previous year were used as an insight on how you can pray for them? Wouldn’t that change your perspective on Christmas cards completely? For them and for you!

Several years ago, close friends of ours, prayers warriors, shared how they “use” their Christmas Cards as Prayer Cards. As the Christmas Cards come in throughout the month of December, and a few in January, they are indeed used to decorate. But once the season is past, they are added to a simple basket on the dining room table.

At each meal throughout the year one card is taken out, perhaps the card or letter is reread, and then they pray over that family or individual. Specifically. By name. By occasion; giving thanks, supplication, or prayerful request.

This family now gets our card every year! We never know what day they might be praying for us. But HE does and they do. And we take strength from their commitment to caring for us. This has become our tradition, as well.

We keep a simple basket at our table, or sometimes on the mantle, filled with Christmas cards of the ones we love as a constant reminder to pray for friends and family, near and far. We pray for their lives; for their relationships; for their salvation. This is not saving the planet. We are not recycling.

We are reaffirming and reinvesting our love and commitment to family and friends throughout the year. We are re-dedicating ourselves and our lives to use God’s precious power to help those we love.

What would it look like for your family to pray over Christmas cards? How would it change your prayer life and the lives of those you care about most?

Anyone read “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”? Remember the mayhem of the Christmas pageant? That’s the Malizzos when it comes to traditions. Really. Some of the “traditions” I’ve come up with are fun: stockings, cookie exchanges, making ornaments (what was I thinking? Glitter….enough said), decorating, and Christmas cards. I’m a little tired just thinking about it.

What do my kids remember? Likely they will just remember stocking paraphernalia, cookie icing, glitter, and the cool lighty-up mini Christmas tree that they fought over. Not too bad. Fun memories certainly. We celebrate Christmas with all of our fun, and there’s nothing wrong with that but what about Christ?

Are these “traditions” just giving a nod to a baby in a manger so we can get on with the gifts?

To be honest, I don't have very Christ-celebrating fruit when I push for “my” traditions. Christ’s fruit (joy, peace, and patience, to name a few) are festivity-ed out of my heart. And then - true confession - I end up feeling guilty. Guilty for spending too much money; guilty for sort of mixing culture with sacred; guilty for personally not focusing on the Messiah King more than decking the halls.

If that’s me celebrating Christmas then what does it look like for me to celebrate Christ?

Funny enough, it’s the traditions that I really have very little to do with. It’s lingering fellowship with dear friends around our kitchen table, movies with others, time away from the crazy to be a family, and PJ’s until noon. It’s eating cookies together with milk and hot chocolate while staying up past bed time. It’s reading “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” as a family. It is NOT anything having to do with glitter because glitter is just wrong.

These are the things that make me dwell on how “the Savior reigns” and make me want to “repeat the sounding joy”. They are Kingdom gifts as are Christ choosing to wrap Himself in flesh, choosing to be a servant rather than a king, and choosing to give His perfection to us and die as the guilty in our place. And they turn my heart to worship the baby in the manger and not just give a nod.

Celebrating Christ during Christmastime, by enjoying his gifts, trumps the mayhem of the Christmas pageant and brings rest.

Although not as traditional as some, our advent season is filled with family, joy and expectation, just the same. One of our favorite Advent traditions combines Christmas books and a sort of countdown.

Being a bookish family, a book-related Advent idea appealed to me immediately. I first heard about it from the lovely Sally Clarkson of MomHeart Ministry fame, but have seen other people share it since then.

The original idea is to wrap 24 Christmas themed books, and unwrap one each day to enjoy leading up to Christmas.

This is great for smaller kids, because as they see the pile grow smaller, they know that Christmas is getting closer in a real, tangible way.

We have added movies to the mix, just one or two per week, our favorites (think White Christmas, It’s A Wonderful Life, The Nativity, etc.)

The books are all types; we have the fun, very American ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, but also more meaningful and traditional The Three Trees and The Nutcracker. One of my favorites is Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect which encourages service to others.

In the beginning, we didn’t have enough Christmas themed books to get us through, but this is where a thrift store can really come in handy! Over the years we have replaced some of the less-loved thrift store books with beautiful, meaningful, favorites.

It is possible that as our kids get older, the books may get more grown up too, but we will probably still have a few family favorite picture books in our pile!

For our family, to gather together and experience a story has become one of our favorite parts of the Christmas season. It is truly a joy to watch the kids unwrap a book and have their faces light up in anticipation!

Jesus and joy go hand in hand. The angels confirmed it that night, long ago. And this is one joy-filled tradition that transforms us and brings us closer together as a family.