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I'm Dreaming of a Right Christmas

He once remarked, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head." (Luke 9:58)

It's been a part of Christmas for as far back as I can remember. Bing Crosby's song, I'm Dreaming of A White Christmas. That was one of Bing's first and biggest hits. It has probably set some sort of record for sales and permanency. It's a classic – a fixed part of the season.

As a boy in Kentucky and later on in Ohio, I especially loved white Christmases. Snow blankets out the ugly and leaves everything, at least for the moment, clean and beautiful and appropriately ready for renewal of the Christ Child's spirit.

But this year, whether there's snow or not – whether Bing Crosby's song is heard or not – I'm dreaming of a right Christmas. The RIGHT kind of Christmas. Some people make much over a WHITE Christmas, and give little or no thought to a RIGHT Christmas.

There's no mistake about it. This Christmas, I'm dreaming – dreaming of a right Christmas.

1) TO HAVE A RIGHT CHRISTMAS MEANS THAT WE MUST FIRST HAVE A RIGHT VISION OF WHO JESUS CHRIST REALLY IS.

We see Christmas only when we truly see the Lord.

It was one great leap from the throne of God to that manger in the stable;

from the top of glory to the bottom of humiliation;

from the bosom of God to the breast of His mother.

He put on humanity that we might put on Divinity.

He loved us so that for our sakes He, through whom time was made, was made in time; and He, older by eternity than the world itself, was younger in age than many of His servants in the world.

He, who made man, was made man;

He who made a tree, had come to earth to die on a tree so that we might have eternal life.

He cried like a babe in the manger in speechless infancy – this Word without which human eloquence is speechless!

His birth was an event so miraculous that all heaven was awed with the wonder of it all.

A star is pointing to the manger cradle with fingers of light.

2) TO HAVE A RIGHT CHRISTMAS MEANS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED HIM INTO OUR OWN LIVES.

It is hard for us to grasp this miracle as we view the baby Jesus. As we see His chubby little hands and arms flailing helplessly about in His manger cradle, let us always remember that this is the very Son of God who ruled heaven and thrust racing planets into space, whirling worlds and luminous suns and sparkling distant stars. He laid aside His purple robe for a peasant's gown: He upon whose shoulders the universe hung, was to become so helpless as to hang at his mother's breast.

What condescension! He was rich, but for our sakes He became poor. How poor? Ask the camel drivers. Ask the shepherds. Ask the wise men. Ask the innkeeper. Ask Mary, His mother.

Examine the records to see how many homes HE owned. He did not own the boat in which He cruised the lake, nor the beast upon which He sat, nor the cradle in which He slept, nor the grave in which He was buried.

He once remarked, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head." (Luke 9:58)

Every door was closed against Him but a stable door. The first night out of heaven lying on a bed of straw in a shelter with lowly animals – Behold your King!

A few wise men follow the pointing finger of His star and will soon come and worship. A little handful of humble shepherds have heard the angel's message and have believed it.

And they came and found the Christ Child; and finding Him, they find a new day. They find Christmas with its passion for giving.

3) TO HAVE A RIGHT CHRISTMAS MEANS A RIGHT APPRECIATION OF YOUR OWN BLESSINGS.

Yes, Christmas IS a good time for remembering all our blessings.

Count your blessings. And when you sit down to the table on Christmas day, be bold in your giving of praise to God. Get the message across to the children especially. Tell them you're looking for a RIGHT Christmas this year.

I'm still dreaming.

Dreaming of a RIGHT Christmas – especially for you and those you love.

Merry Christmas!

Note: Please click the icon in the right collumn to visit our bookstore for some fabulous gift ideas this season!

Feedback

What a grand thought! A RIGHT Christmas! My congregation here in Durban, South Africa will surely hear this one! Carl, we wish for you the best throughout this festive season. May this be your best Christmas ever. We love you!

Pastor Emmanuel J. Moodley
Durban, South Africa

Thank you, Carl and Beverly, for the story of a right Christmas. We go to two nursing homes this season and would love to share this story, if you do not mind. I think this would be a blessing for them to know the message “I’m Dreaming of a Right Christmas.”

Charlotte & Chuck Walden
Cleveland, Tennessee

Thank you for that inspiring message, Carl! Be blest! We love you very much!

Pastor Ernest & Ann Roberts
Tampa, Florida

What a blessing and truly refreshing word for this Christmas Season! Carl, you are truly a blessing to me and to the entire Body of Christ. Merry Christmas! God bless.

Pastor Randy Coggins
Elberton, Georgia

Carl and Beverly - Frances and I read your blog with joy. You have that special touch of God on your lives and ministries that reflects the meaning of Christmas. God Bless you this year and always.

Fred and Francis Brannen
Cleveland, Tennessee

Oh my! I’m longing for a right Christmas, too (already have that “white” one down pat). It’s especially difficult to feel that rightness, when all the world around denies there IS a rightness to Christmas. Or, even more unbelievably, that “Christmas” has anything at all to do with “Christ.” Still, in my home, there is a chance to set to “rights” this blessed holiday. And that’s a start.

Dee Yoder
Mansfield, Ohio

I was surfing on your website a few moments ago and had just listened to your daily “Oasis” radio broadcast. Then, as I was clicking on the icon which says “From Carl’s Study,” all of a sudden - - Bling! - - Your blog appeared titled “I’m Dreaming of a Right Christmas.” The economy had gotten me down this Christmas season and your message lifted me up and out of what I call the Christmas doldrums. Thanks for the uplifting and encouraging “word” on Christmas. I’ll never forget it.

Preston Willingham
Northampton, England

Thanks for this very special Christmas message. Isn’t it wonderful that right now He is seated at the right hand of the Father and is ever interceding for His children? I am so happy to be a child of God today and I tell you I am getting lonesome to see Him. I praise Him for your dedicated ministry and for the privilege of getting to know you as your Executive Secretary when you first were elected to the Forward in Faith Radio Ministry.

Carrie Humbertson
Cleveland, Tennessee

“I’m Dreaming of a Right Christmas” is a beautiful message! We enjoy your ministry here “down under” in Australia.

Mary-Margaret Morris
Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia

Carl, as you know, I pastor in Winter Garden, Florida (near Orlando). I preach a sermon at Christmas time on “How to Have a White Christmas in Florida.” My text is taken from Isaiah 1:18 – “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” It actually turns out pretty well with a good altar response. Merry Christmas!

Pastor Ray G. Minger
Winter Garden, Florida

I’m not sure whether our Christmas here in New Mexico will be white this year. But God helping my wife and me, we want it to be right - as your message so eloquently taught.

Elias Rivera
Albuquerque, New Mexico

We love the idea of dreaming of a right Christmas. We plan to tell our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren this year about dreaming of a right Christmas.

Glenda and David Jacobs
China Grove, North Carolina

Carl, thank you so much for the great inspiration that you are. You and your dear wife, Beverly, are special friends! May you be especially blessed this Christmas.

W.C. and Monte Ratchford
Weatherford, Texas

Christmas. What a wonderful time of the year! I love it! There is something about the holidays that induces a sobering spirit of humility in me – a recognition of who I am and who God is. His gift to me can never be matched or merited – so, each day, in my heart and mind, I kneel beside the manger and peer into the face of the baby who saves me. That vision is powerful. Hope you don’t mind that I printed out a copy of your message, “I’m Dreaming of a Right Christmas,” to use it for our family Christmas devotion this year. It’s powerful – just perfect for the thirty or so Glasscocks and Batemans who will be gathered at our house this year. I trust that you and your family will enjoy the most blessed holiday season ever! Thank you for your treasured friendship.

Vicki Glasscock
Cleveland, Tennessee

Thank you for your continued work for our Lord. May you and your family be blessed beyond measure. I enjoy reflecting and pondering your writings.

Pastor David Hammontree
Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia

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