Christmas 2022

By Ron Hutchcraft

It was December and my wife was having a relatively minor heart procedure - until the doctor saw something and suddenly aborted the procedure. Minutes later, he was telling me, "If her heart isn't fixed, she may not have a Christmas." Surgery the next day - and thank God, we had more Christmases.

That Christmas season, a heart repair saved her. This Christmas season, God might be saying, "A heart repair can save you." We all have a deadly heart condition called sin. In the Bible's words, "It is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts (and desires) come" (Mark 7:21). And it says, "The soul that sins will die" (Ezekiel 18:20). We're in trouble with God. And we need our heart cleansed and remade. And that's why Jesus came on Christmas.

To die for this darkness in our heart. To forgive it - and cure it. And God's waiting to do that for you. You open your heart to Jesus, and you're never the same. We'd love to talk with you about it. Contact us at 888-NEED-HIM or ChatAboutJesus.com.

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By Brad Hutchcraft

In the iconic movie "It's a Wonderful Life," George Bailey's daughter, Zuzu, shows him a flower she brought home from school. A couple of petals fall off, to which she simply says, "Look, Daddy. Paste it." All she wants is for her father to fix what is broken.

As we are surrounded by all this Christmas merriment, the reality is that many of us are walking around with things that need fixing. Broken health. Broken family. Broken finances. Broken us.

The good news is that we have a Father - a Heavenly Father - wanting to help fix what is broken in all of us. In Isaiah 61:1, we find that Jesus came to "bind up the brokenhearted." He wants to offer you healing in the midst of brokenness.

Jesus came 2,000 years ago to build a bridge between us and God. He was broken on the Cross for our sin so we could be healed. When we choose Jesus, the journey to true healing begins. If you're ready to find the hope and healing that only comes through Jesus, connect with us at 888-NEED-HIM or ChatAboutJesus.com. Your Father is ready to help fix what is broken.

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By Lisa Hutchcraft Whitmer

Lights! On trees, lawns, homes!

What IS it about Christmas lights that draw us in and make us smile?

Lights are festive and help celebrate!

Lights brighten the darkness!

They also brighten any path we travel, like drive-through Christmas lights.

And in life, with so much uncertainty and upheaval; loss; unexpected twists and turns - boy, do we sure need light.

The birth of a baby 2,000 years ago gave us the "light of the world." Jesus. The humble baby nestled in straw.

God's Word says "if we walk in the light, the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin." All of my selfish choices, my wrongdoing, my sin. GONE! Because of turning to the Light! To Jesus!

If you'd like to reach out to the Great Light-Giver, and have a relationship with Him, call 888-NEED-HIM or go to ChatAboutJesus.com.

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By Ron Hutchcraft

That whole Santa thing freaked me out. "He sees you when you're sleeping." Really? "He's making a list ... who's naughty and nice." Glad those lists aren't real. God's two lists are. And everyone you know, including you and me, is on one of those two lists. They're just like the two lists that were posted after the Titanic sank. "Saved." "Lost." Those two words describe where a person stands with God.

"Saved" means every sin forgiven by God, going to Heaven. "Lost" means separated from God by your sin, not going to heaven. Here's the difference.

The Bible says, "Eternal life is in His Son" - that's Jesus. "Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:11-12). See, only the Man who died for your sin can forgive your sin. And only the Man who proved He has eternal life - by His Resurrection - can give you eternal life.

And you can have Jesus and have life today. By pinning all your hopes on Him. So contact us at 888-NEED-HIM or ChatAboutJesus.com. Today's the day.

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By Brad Hutchcraft

As we were driving a few years back, we heard our oldest son say, "Mommy, play Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer." It was early October. He quickly followed with "it will make me sooooooo happy." On went Rudolph!

We can be that excited about Christmas, too! In Luke 2:10, the angel says, "I bring you good tidings of great joy...for all the people." This isn't joy for a season but joy that lasts...and is for ALL people, for YOU!

The angel goes on to say that a Savior has been born, who is Christ the Lord. Jesus came to earth for us, and He paid our death penalty on the Cross by dying for every wrong thing we've ever done. And He defeated death three days later!

In the book of Romans, Paul tells us that if you "declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." If you're ready to choose eternal life and to have the great joy God promises, connect with us at 888-NEED-HIM or ChatAboutJesus.com. Choosing Jesus will make you soooooooo happy!

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By Ron Hutchcraft

Those days before Christmas our daughter could hear the sound of hammers in the basement and read the "Do Not Enter" sign on the door. Yep! We were building something just for her - a doll house. And she loved it!

You know, there's no gift more special than a gift made by someone who loves us. Especially if it's the One who loves you most. Here's the gift God's offering you. "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Heaven guaranteed; a gift straight from the hand of Almighty God!

Three things about a gift: you didn't make it, you didn't pay for it, and you have to receive it for it to be yours. Well, the gift of "sin is forgiven and heaven guaranteed" is totally from God. Paid for by the death of His Son, because all your goodness and religion could never pay for your sin.

And now it's offered to you by this Jesus, who conquered death. Now will you reach out and take it? Then contact us at 888-NEED-HIM or ChatAboutJesus.com. If you want to know how much God loves you, just look at how much He spent on you.

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By Doug Hutchcraft

I just saw a trailer for yet another Hollywood movie sequel! This one is for a classic Christmas movie. And it looks like...well, the original movie! Just with the actors about 40 years older - and with a lot of grown-up problems.

Christmas feels magical when we're kids. But then the years, the pressures start piling up and that feeling turns into something...well, darker. And while Christmas may magnify that feeling, if we're honest it's something we feel most of the days of our lives.

But that's what makes what happened the first Christmas so special! God's Book says His Son, Jesus, became fully human to experience what we go through...and eventually die in our place, as a sacrifice for running our life our way...what God calls sin.

When we accept the gift of this sacrifice, Jesus Himself says we become a "new creation...the old is gone, the new has come!" Imagine...a new you!

Why not find out how you can become new, by calling 888-NEED-HIM, or visiting ChatAboutJesus.com.

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By Ron Hutchcraft

Our sons are grown men with kids of their own. But not when it comes to some of their Christmas presents for each other. Guaranteed: there will be some classic toys in there somewhere. A memory from their childhood. Christmas is a time when things that meant a lot to you years ago suddenly mean a lot to you again!

Like Jesus maybe. When you were little, He meant a lot to you. Maybe you sang "Jesus loves me, this I know." And you knew He did, because He died for you so He could forgive your sins. But you're older now. Life got complicated. You've been doing life pretty much your way without Him.

But now you're facing things you can't fix. Or change. Or control. My friend, you need a Savior. You need Jesus. You were never meant to drive. He was. Here's His invitation: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

This Christmas, it's time to come home to Jesus. To finally open your heart to Him and tell Him, "Jesus, I'm Yours." Contact us at 888-NEED-HIM or ChatAboutJesus.com.

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By Brad Hutchcraft

A new movie this December tells the story behind the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem that led to the familiar Christmas song "I Heard the Bells." Longfellow wrote the poem after a great deal of personal loss and in the midst of turbulent times in the country. He was a man searching for peace in the midst of storms all around him.

This might have been written in 1863, but it sounds so much like our world today. Deep division, personal loss, struggling to find hope and peace. And it sounds like the world Jesus was born into over 2,000 years ago.

Did you catch that Good News? Jesus came to earth to bring Hope and Peace to everyone seeking it. To me. To you. Isaiah said He is the Wonderful Counselor and the Prince of Peace. Jesus is just waiting for you to reach out to Him, to ask Him into your heart, to find the peace only He can bring.

Longfellow had it right - "God is not dead, nor does He sleep." He wants to hear from you. If you're ready for the peace only Jesus can bring, connect with us at 888-NEED-HIM or ChatAboutJesus.com.

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By Lisa Hutchcraft Whitmer

Our joyful family members together quickly increase the decibels at Christmas. Add in wrapping paper swirling around, happy "Thank-You's" tumbling out, and sounds of new toys in use, and anyone might run for cover!

One year, my young son began to seem a little overwhelmed by all the celebrating.

His grandma noticed, and gently led him off to the side with his new toy. There they found some peace.

With all the crazy on Earth, we crave relief away from stress, sickness, death, loss, conflict, just far from all the noise. We hope to find it in some escape...but we come up empty.

Only the "Prince of peace" is the One who offers "peace that passes all understanding." And what a promise how "a heart at peace gives life to the body."

If your heart is hoping for that peace this Christmas, call 888-NEED-HIM or go to chataboutJesus.com.

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