A special Christmas message and prayer from Vince

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Hello, Vince D'Acchioli here with a special Christmas message for all of our friends. It was eight years ago this week. In fact, I just wrote an article and published it about a week ago. The title was Experiencing Joy in a Christmas Tree Hospital Room. Some of you may recall the story.

It was a miraculous story of the healing of my wife Cindy, who had spent four months in intensive care back then. But during that time of decorating that tree, her outcome was uncertain. It was kind of a dark time for us, yet because we know the light of the world, Jesus, we were able to experience joy in the midst of that struggle. I'm also reminded that a year ago this week, my brother Ron passed away. As I've been able to spend time with his family, it's another reminder that oftentimes during the Christmas season, we have painful memories that we have to process.

I have a dear friend and pastor. His name is Danny Carroll. In fact, between Danny Carroll and Pastor Jack Hayford, two men who sow spiritually into my life for all of these years, I'm so grateful for them. But Pastor Danny brought a message last week dealing with King Herod. It's a part of the Christmas story we don't hear very often.

You see, during that time when King Herod was in charge, it was a very dark and bleak time in human history. Yet in the midst of that darkest time in human history, God sent a little bitty baby who would become the light of the world. Pastor Danny tells us that it's a reminder that no matter how dark your time may be, no matter what you may be going through right now, that light of the world, that baby Jesus is still here, ready and able to illuminate your circumstances. It's an important thing for us to remember as we process the Christmas season. I wanted to take a moment and be able to share that with you because I know that there are people out there and you're all over the street.

There are some of you who are not even sure that God exists and my prayer would be that he would reveal himself during this season to you. There are some of you who are experiencing deep darkness right now. Perhaps it's a loss of a loved one. It could be financial. It could be a relationship issue.

It could be a medical issue. It's a reminder that in the midst of this time that we are called, rather than to see God through our circumstances, to ask God to allow us to see our circumstances through his eyes. Very, very big difference. And finally, there are many of us that we're just trying to experience another great season of joy. No matter where you may be on that spectrum, first of all, we want to say we wish you the very best and most joy-filled Christmas season.

That is from Cindy and I. We are so grateful for you and all that you've meant to us over the years. But I want to take a moment as I close and I just want to pray for you. And we would ask maybe that you would just join in this prayer. Would you?

Call ahead and close your eyes and join in. Lord, I thank you so much for these precious ones. Lord, I first would ask for those who may be watching this video right now, who may not be sure about you, whether you even exist. I pray that you would reveal yourself to them during this Christmas season in a very new and profound way that they could not miss the light of the world. For those who may be struggling and dealing with memories that are very, very painful, I pray, Lord, that you would minister to them in a powerful way.

That would help you would help them by illuminating their circumstances and allowing you to shine the light of your son Jesus into their world in a way that would really impact them and help them to discover that joy in the midst of this time. And finally, Lord, for all of us, those of us who may not be experiencing great difficulties right now and those of us who know you and are just looking forward to this season, I pray that you would visit us in a new and refreshing and profound way during this season. We love you. We thank you, Lord, as we celebrate your birthday during this time. We give you all the honor and glory for what you're doing in all of our lives.

And it's in Jesus' precious name that we pray, the light of the world. Amen. Again, thank you all so very much for being our friends. We wish you the best and most joy-filled Christmas season you've ever experienced. God bless you.