Our daily bread: Christmas edition

Grandpa's Tree  When I first saw the twisted Christmas tree, I wished Grandpa were alive to fix it. He could make any tree beautiful. No matter how bad it looked when we gave it to him, it was beautiful when he gave it back. He would get out his saws and clippers and begin cutting and shaping. When he was done, the tree looked as if it had been grown in a greenhouse where a caring gardener had watered, pruned, and protected it from storms, drought, and nasty bugs. Then Grandpa would turn the tree over to the rest of the family to finish the job. We added lights, ornaments, and garland, and the imperfect tree was ready for a perfect celebration. What a transformation!  Life is like that crooked tree. Each of us comes to God bent and misshapen from the effects of sin. But when we put our faith in Christ as Savior, God lovingly begins His work in us, transforming us from the inside out (Philippians 1:6). Then He puts us into the care of His family, the church, and they continue His work by adding the lights of truth (Ephesians 4:15), the ornaments of encouragement (2 Timothy 4:2), and the garlands of love (1 Peter 4:8). What teamwork! The message of Grandpa’s tree is this: Under God’s loving care, a life marred by sin can become beautiful! —JULIE ACKERMAN LINK What sin has twisted, God’s grace can straighten. Philippians 1:1-11 Ephesians 4:15 2 Timothy 4:2 Philippians 1:1-11 NIV 1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,  To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons :  2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Thanksgiving and Prayer  3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.  9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Mark this reading as completed on YouVersion Ephesians 4:15 NIV 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Mark this reading as completed on YouVersion 2 Timothy 4:2 NIV 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.  20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.