For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given .... Isaiah 9:6a

Every year my parents used to ask, "Well, son, what do you want for Christmas this year?"

And since this was in the days before eBay, in the years before "Black Fridays" and "Cyber Mondays," in the era before people camped out for days in front of a store to get an "early-bird special," I have to confess, I didn't always get what I wanted. That's because there were years when my request was a bit big for the family budget. There were times when what I wanted simply couldn't be found, and there was a time or two when my parents thought my requests weren't very sensible.

During those years I didn't get what I wanted.

Does that sound familiar to you? Have you experienced those times when you were given socks instead of a sled, or underwear instead of that new flat-screen television?

I guess you haven't always gotten what you wanted either.

Well, there are two ways to change that. The first way is the easiest way: stop depending on others to give you what you want, and get it for yourself. According to a nationwide survey done in Canada, 37 percent of the people consulted said they were going to spend almost as much on themselves as they did their spouse or their children.

Giving gifts to yourself is one way to be sure you're going to get what you want for Christmas.

But there is a second way: don't stop the Holy Spirit from giving you the Savior that you need.

Yes, I am fully aware that most of us already know the Savior, and that's a wonderful thing. It is quite possible He has been with us from before we can remember. For that we should be most grateful.

But I still maintain, this year you need a Savior. More than anything else on your wish list, you are going to need a Savior. You see 2013 is going to be a year which is different than any year which has gone before. No, I'm not a prophet. I simply believe that as we grow older, as circumstances around us change, we do too.

And in whatever circumstance we find ourselves, we will need our Savior. We will need His forgiveness; we will need His peace; we will need the hope He alone can give. And we will need all of these things differently than we ever did before.

So, I don't know what you want this year for Christmas, and I don't know if you're going to get it. But we at Lutheran Hour Ministries sure pray you get what you need: the fellowship, the friendship, the salvation won by our Savior.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, create in us new hearts so that we may want what we need: Jesus Christ, our Savior, who is Your good news of great joy for all of us. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Ezra 8-10    Revelation 15

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