My great aunt Doris is my godmother and one of the most ardent readers of this column.  She doesn't just read my articles for herself... oh no... she also takes them to church and shares them with her Bible study group.  She's done this, I believe, for as long as I've been a pastor (16 years!).  So, it was no surprise when she called me up the other day to tell me she was going to read my November article to her Bible study group.  It's flattering that she does this, but I didn't really see why she needed to call and tell me... again.

Well, she did have another little reason for calling.  She had recently been on a group trip to Wisconsin and while she was in our state she bought a Wisconsin lottery ticket.  She was wondering if I would check her lottery numbers for her and see if she had won.  So, you see, Doris now has a dilemma... she will want to read this article to her Bible study group... but if she does, she'll have to admit to them that she was gambling! (Sorry, Doris, this isn't Vegas... what happens in Eau Claire doesn't stay in Eau Claire!) 

Now, my great aunt Doris is a very kind and generous person, even if she had won the lottery, which she didn't (sorry, Doris) she'd probably give most of it away, especially to her church.  But still, she's faced with a dilemma.  Whether to forego the ceremonial reading of her godson's article or admit to her Bible study group that she's been gambling!  A difficult decision!  (Love you, Aunt Doris!  Call me when you read this ;-)

The Christmas story is full of difficult decisions: Mary deciding how she would respond to the angel and news of her pregnancy, Joseph deciding to stay engaged to Mary even though it brought shame to the family, the shepherds deciding to leave their sheep unattended in order to go see the baby Jesus, the wise men deciding to go home by a different route even though they knew it would enrage the king.  Life is full of difficult decisions... decisions that often have no popular or easy answers.  But one of the many lessons of the Christmas story is that those who trust in the Lord make good decisions... even if they aren't popular decisions.

Whatever decisions you're facing right now, remember the Christmas story... remember their courage and their trust.  Be at peace... God has a way of doing amazing things through those who have faith!  

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Russ