“Happy birthday, Jesus. But Lord, as the song says, ‘I have no gift to bring, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum.’”
There’s no greater gift to give or receive than the message of Truth wrapped in Love. The babe born in a stable, laid in a manger, who later lay down His life to save us as the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God. Jesus. King of kings, God incarnate—the most priceless gift offers Himself, new life and eternal life, free to all. He is the Prince of Peace and His peace is not contingent on circumstance. Jesus binds up the broken-hearted. He gives help to the helpless, hope to the hopeless. He is the Good Shepherd and the Way home for wayward. Come, let us adore Him.
Blessed to have my Christmas article “How to Have a Holly, Jolly, Holy Christmas featured on best selling, award-winning author DiAnn Mills’ website.”
While you’re on her site, make sure to check out the other Christmas posts and her treasure trove of inspirational writing sharing the light of Jesus, articles to equip writers on their journey, and her books. (Her latest release and Amazon author page are featured under new book releases below.) In addition to being a gifted writer, DiAnn is a gracious lady, beautiful inside and out.
CHRISTMAS PLAYISTS & PROGRAMS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
(Selections from YouTube play without ads on my site. However, after listening, you may want to click out to YouTube to see more from these artists and subscribe.)
PLAYLIST ONE form GMA: 1 Hour of Non-Stop Christmas Worship Recorded Live | Via Gospel Music Association
Click link to listen to this podcast episode of Our American Stories with Lee Habeeb hosting author Ace Collins who shares The Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas
VegieTales (3 Christmas stories): The True Meaning of Christmas ❄️ Compilation 🎄Merry Larry 🥁 Little Drummer Boy 🌟 Star of Christmas via @VeggieTales on YouTube.
Light in the Darkness | Billy Graham TV Special 2025
The Hallelujah Chorus | Performed by The Harry Simone Orchestra
Dueling Jingle Bells | The United States Navy Band
LET’S KEEP OUR TROOPS SERVING AWAY FROM HOME IN PRAYER AND REMEMBER THEIR FAMILIES TOO.
The Birth of a King | Tommee Profitt – 2023 Live Concert
Amazing concert featuring 20 artists, a 60-piece orchestra, a 100-person choir performed at The Fisher Center at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Instrumental Christmas Carols | Relaxing Classical Music via @HALIDONMUSIC on YouTube.
Spark Story Bible Adventures | The Story Of Christmas | Melanie Wehrmacher | Josh Stifter
PLAYLIST TWO from GMA: 1 Hour of Non-Stop Christmas Worship Recorded Live | Via Gospel Music Association
Christmas Stories for the Whole Family
on the Focus on the Family Podcast
Warm your Heart, make you laugh, and inspire holiday activities, and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with this audio collection.
Help from Focus on the Family 1-800-A-Family/ (1-800) 232-6459
This Christmas Carol Playlist I created features more than 30 songs and includes a wide range of artists spanning decades such as Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole to Andrea Bocelli, Southern raised, Thokoza, Rend Collective, and Mac Powell. (Over over an hour and a half of music focused on the meaning and reason for CHRISTmas.) *If you listen here in my post there will be no ads. ENJOY!
SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletter for notifications of new blog posts and occasional offers and FREEBIES
Handel’s Messiah in Grace Cathedral” (complete) • Beautiful HD • American Bach Soloists
Jamaican Christmas Sorrel Drink Recipe
Sorrel is a member of the hibiscus family. Fruity and tangy notes blend with warm spicy undertones in this traditional Jamaican Christmas drink. With its rich red color, sorrel drink dresses up your table whether in glasses or in a punch bowl. It also makes a great gift when presented in an ornate glass bottle adorned with a festive ribbon.
Ingredients:
2 cups dried sorrel (or 4 cups fresh) Available at health food and spice shops, and select grocers.
10 cups of water
1 circle of orange rind
3-inch piece of fresh ginger peeled and chopped
10 (or about 1 tablespoon) allspice berries (called pimento berries in Jamaica)
Two 4-inch cinnamon sticks
3 whole cloves
1-2 cups of brown sugar (OR 1 1/2 cups of honey and 2 TBL molasses for an anti-inflammatory alternative (sweeten to preferred taste)
Instructions:
Wash sorrel and drain in a strainer, removing any seeds.
Place in a pot with all ingredients and bring to a rolling boil.
Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat, cover the pot and let it steep for 12 hours or overnight. Strain through a fine sieve or cheesecloth.
Sweeten to taste and chill. Serve over ice.
A MOVIE TO INCORPORATE INTO YOUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS: I Heard the Bells | The true story behind #poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Poem I Heard The Bells which became the beloved Christmas Carol. (Available to stream or for purchase.)
Official Movie Trailer: The Man Who Invented Christmas
Based on the true story of how author Charles Dickens wrote the classic A Christmas Carol. Inspiring for the whole family and encouraging for aspiring and struggling authors.
Books make great gifts! (Some new releases included below.)
A CHANCE TO SPEND ONCE WHILE GIVING TWICE:
NEW RELEASE: Blessed to be a contributor to the 2025 devotional compilation book in this series.
From Ruins to Restoration: 50 Devotions to Revive Your Spirit and Renew Your Faith is now available on Amazon: *Kindle sale for limited time .99 cents https://amzn.to/4a1TJP9 Paperback: https://amzn.to/4pBaRjB
***Profits from online sales donated to relief efforts in #Jamaica following #HurricaneMelissa and to Light for the Future ministry.
MORE NEW BOOK RELEASES!
Pastor Michael Duncan is author of the newly released, In His Grace: Volume 4: A Daily Devotional. (Part of a 4 volume set.) https://amzn.to/4q51F6P
BOOKS MAKE GREAT GIFTS!
Pastor Duncan’s Amazon Author Page
features an array of titles offering nurture for the new believer, teaching on leadership, discipleship, Christian living, and a few fiction fantasy titles too.
Don’t miss my latest interview with Pastor and author Michael Duncan, otherwise known as Master of the One Man Sermon! LISTEN HERE: Grit & Grace: Michael Duncan: Author, Pastor, Master of the One Line Sermon Returns.
Art for the Soul: Celebrating 70 Years of Soulful Painting by author and master artist Dr. Bill Nichols. Features photos of his 100 paintings with 30 paired with the stories that inspired them and the spiritual truths and symbolism behind them. Visit his artist site here. AVAILABLE HERE: https://amzn.to/3MHvj3A
Prickly Pears: 30 Devotions on Finding Peace, Purpose and Hope Even in the Midst of Your Pain: https://amzn.to/4oOaGA3 Dr. Bill Nichols’ Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/4rW9ZHG
And the latest releases from Phyllis Clark Nichols ~ Dr. Bill Nichols’ wife: The Unwelcome Visitor at Grey Sage! (Book two in the Grey Sage series.) AVAIALBLE HERE: https://amzn.to/4oV5Xwt
Sacred Sense from a Second Look: Book 2 (A Devotional) AVAILABLE HERE: https://amzn.to/4rTUBf1 Phyllis’s Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/4q87WPk
100 Prayers for Writers: Creative Fuel for Inspired Work by the inimitable bestselling, award-winning author, literary agent, and international speaker, Bob Hostetler ~ God’s presence fell during the first prayer. Buy the book, writer. One for yourself and a few copies as gifts for fellow scribes. AVAILABLE HERE: https://amzn.to/4aeQJPp
Bob Hostetler’s Amazon Author Page: Phyllis’s Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/4q87WPk
Gideon’s Book, a novel by multi-award winning author Maureen Miller. (One of the most gifted authors and beautiful souls I’ve been blessed to know.)
Three souls searching for purpose and healing. From the sun-soaked beaches of Myrtle Beach to the quiet streets of Eden, North Carolina, Gideon’s Book traverses both time and place, exploring the transformative power of faith and self-discovery. A time-slip novel, Gideon’s Book invites readers to pull up a chair and have healthy, heartfelt conversations about tough issues. Mostly, it points to God’s redemptive character in a broken, imperfect world. AVAILABLE HERE: https://amzn.to/48Sfaju ~ And her Christmas article: Unwrapping Rest in Christmas Stress
Canyon of Deceit by bestselling, award-winning novelist DiAnn Mills ~ A clean read romantic suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
More books from DiAnn, including historical romance, Christmas novellas, and suspense AVAILABLE HERE: https://amzn.to/4qbTDJE
PRIOR POSTS
- The Greatest Gift
“Happy birthday, Jesus. But Lord, as the song says, ‘I have no gift to bring, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum.’” There’s no greater gift to give or receive than the message of Truth wrapped in Love. The babe born in a stable, laid in a manger, … Continue reading “The Greatest Gift” - A Time to Disobey
“God, please don’t take Grandma from me yet,” I frequently prayed. Though I’d moved to the USA and Grandma remained in Jamaica, the world felt a little less scary and lonely because she was in it. “But when you take her home, … Continue reading “A Time to Disobey” - Grit & Grace: Michael Duncan ~ Author, Pastor, Master of the One-Line Sermon Returns
Feast on a banquet of truth from one who greets life’s challenges with grit & grace. Michael Duncan: author, pastor, master of the one-line sermon returns as my guest interviewee. Undeterred by threats, he shares wit, wisdom, and some wild stories including … Continue reading “Grit & Grace: Michael Duncan ~ Author, Pastor, Master of the One-Line Sermon Returns” - The Futile Pursuit of Worry
Jesus told us not to worry because he knew we would and thus need this counsel. God gave us His Word not for us to use it to bludgeon ourselves or each other, but to instruct, encourage, correct, redirect our missteps, and … Continue reading “The Futile Pursuit of Worry”
Blessed to be one of the leaders on this team since 2017. For the full #HealthyFaithChat schedule on X (Twitter) and a list of upcoming topics please visit our website: HealthyFaithChat.com
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VIDEO: Christmas with Will Graham ~ Peace on Earth
A message of hope from Will Graham and music from Cochren and Co.
filmed at Billy Graham’s childhood home on the grounds of
the Billy Graham Library
Do you know Jesus?—Do you want to receive His gift of salvation? Wishing you and yours a holy, jolly, holy CHRISTmas.
© 2025 Rachael M Colby | Tattoo It On your Heart
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Tattoo It On Your Heart 
Sonia and I just watched “The Man Who Saved Christmas” last night. It was good. If you are a writer and have ever experienced writer’s block, you will like how it was woven into the film.
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