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The Greatest Gift

An Anchored Hope Note: Navigating Life with Jesus at the Helm


Christmas is just around the corner, that time of the year filled with twinkling lights, gifts under the tree, candy canes, holiday parties, and ugly Christmas sweaters. For some, this is a season filled with much anticipation and excitement, but for others, it's a time that amplifies feelings of loneliness, grief, financial worry, or pain that comes from fractured relationships.



Wherever you find yourself this year, let's look back to the reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place and the reason why we say this is the season for joy.


The angel that appeared to the shepherds in Luke 2:10-11 said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord,” (italics added).


Do you see it there? Jesus, the Savior of the world, the Lord, was born for us. He wasn't born just for his parents, which is typically what happens when a baby arrives, but He was born as a gift for us. He came into this world so that through His sacrifice on the cross we might be saved from sin and death and be reconciled to the Father. Amazing! This is why his birth was good news that would cause great joy for everyone, including you and me. When we have been saved by His amazing grace and live in close relationship with Him, He fills us with great joy, which can be present even in the midst of sorrow and hardship. Why? Because joy is found in Jesus.


I encourage you draw near to Jesus this Christmas season; the closer you are to Him, the greater you will be filled with His joy.


Speaking of Gifts...


When I was pregnant with boy and girl twins and my preborn son received a hopeless prenatal diagnosis, my husband and I were devastated. A sick child who might not survive at birth followed by the doctors’ counsel to abort was the greatest blindside of my life. But my husband and I, united in our resolve, told those doctors that we would fight for his life, and we expected that they would provide him with the best treatment possible.


As a declaration of his value, we named him Nathaniel, which means Gift of God. He was just as precious as his healthy twin sister, just as worthy of life, and just as much a gift to our family regardless of the outcome at birth.


You can read our full story in my book, Saving Nate: Choosing Life after a Devastating Prenatal Diagnosis, which will be coming out on January 6, 2026—just a few short weeks away! Consider preordering a copy as a belated Christmas gift for yourself or a friend.


Also available from Amazon, Walmart, Focus on the Family, Christianbook.com, Barnes & Noble, and more.

Joy to the World


Since we've been talking about joy, I hope you enjoy this timeless carol as we remember once more that Jesus is our joy, the Savior who came into the world to save us.


If you know a friend who might be blessed by this Anchored Hope Note, please share it with them. I also welcome you to sign up to receive my newsletter for timely messages of hope.



Wishing you a week of hope, healing, and encouragement in Jesus,


Christin


I would love to hear from you and I welcome your thoughts. To respond to this message, click here and your note will be sent right to my inbox. You can expect a reply within a week.

 
 
 

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