Christmas has a way of bringing out the best in people. It's one time of the year when we look upward in search of peace and hope, inward for the resources to love and give freely, and outward in reconciliation. At Christmastime, most of the world shares a brief but blessed moment of peace.

But what about this year? With numerous armed conflicts around the world, peace agreements being broken almost before they are brokered, and the growing specter of international terrorism, is there any reason to believe that peace will ever come?

When we look at the world situation, there's very little reason to hope. But when we look to the Prince of Peace, Jesus, there's every reason to hope--and every reason to pass that hope on to others.

What can you do to help bring peace on earth? You're just one person, after all, and have very little influence--or do you? You may not command an army or sit at the negotiating table where peace treaties and disarmament plans are forged, but you can change situations through your prayers and you can influence everyone you come in contact with through your attitude and actions. A song that was popular some years ago put it like this: "If everyone lit just one little candle, what a bright world this would be!" You may not be a light to the whole world, but you can light your part of the world. We all can.

From all of us at Activated, may God bless you and yours with His perfect peace, and may He make you a blessing to others this Christmas season and always.

Keith Phillips
For the Activated family