that allows just one
lucky Turkey to go free.

- So how and when did
this fun tradition

of turkey pardon start?

As Mark Martin reports,
that depends on who you ask.

- Now this is Chocolate, right?

Chocolate, you are pardoned.

- I'm pleased to
report that unlike

millions of other turkeys
at this time of the year,

Drumstick has a very, very
bright future ahead of him.

- And those are just
two examples and a
long line of pardons

allowing the bird a
new lease on life.

- It is a longstanding
White House tradition

in which the National
Turkey Federation

will present a Turkey
to the president

and the president
will pardon the bird.

So this has been
going on in a lot

of different forms
for a long time.

- The question is often asked,

when did this tradition
of pardoning turkeys

for Thanksgiving begin?

One theory is it started in 1863

during the Lincoln White House

after the president's son, Tad,

begged his father
to spare a turkey

he had adopted as a
friend and playmate.

Bestselling author and
broadcast journalist,

Raymond Arroyo wrote
a children's book

about Tad and his turkey

- After his brother dies, Tad
Lincoln befriends a turkey.

Now the turkey was
sent to the White House

as the centerpiece
of the holiday table.

Tad didn't know that.

He trains the
Turkey to do tricks.

He walks it on a leash,

he teaches it to
eat out of his hand.

He befriends this Turkey.

And the big day comes
when the chef comes

and picks the Turkey up and
takes him to the kitchen.

Tad freaks out.

And I won't tell you
the rest of the story,

but it leads to this
national holiday tradition.

- [Mark] Historian, Lena Mann,

with the White House
Historical Association however,

is not convinced it
began with the Lincolns.

- That is a really
popular story.

However, the sourcing for
it gets a little tricky.

It's just told in one source

and it's told two
years after the fact,

and also it was a Christmas bird

rather than a
Thanksgiving turkey.

So a lot of questions
about the veracity of

that particular account.

- [Mark] The president of the
National Turkey Federation,

Joel Brandenberger,
tells CBN News,

the official presentation
dates back to 1947

during President Harry
Truman's administration.

He adds, the
presidential pardons

actually began in the late 80s.

- Beginning in 1989,

President George H.W.
Bush began the tradition

of pardoning the
Turkey at Thanksgiving.

And the pardoning has
occurred every year

since 1989 as part
of the ceremony,

- [Mark] Regardless of when
the birds first escaped

the Thanksgiving table,
the tradition lives on,

- I think it's endured
because it's fun.

There's a lot of traditions
at the White House

that are much more
serious in nature,

which makes sense,
honoring the presidency.

But this particular
tradition is a fun one.

It also highlights the Turkey

and poultry industry
in the United States

right around the holidays.

So that could be a boost
for those industries.

But really it has become a
really fun media spectacle.

- I've been fortunate to be
at events dating back to 1991.

And each administration,
each president

puts their own
unique stamp on it,

does some fun,
innovative things.

There are not that many
events that generate nothing

but good feelings in
our nation's capital,

and this is fortunate
to be one of them.

- [Mark] Arroyo adds, there
are greater life lessons

to be learned in the
pardoning of a turkey,

pointing to that what happened

between President
Lincoln and his son

came during the Civil War.

- It's really a
standing memorial

to their affection, their love,

and the mercy and forgiveness

that Abe Lincoln taught his
son and his son taught him

at a moment of real
crisis for the country.

- [Mark] Brandenberger and Mann,

agree on the greater meaning.

- [Lina] I think there's
definitely some lessons

in mercy and forgiveness,

particularly around that
idea of thanksgiving.

- [Joel] We are so
blessed in this country

and it's a time to
give thanks for it.

And having the president do
this ceremony with the turkey,

which is, you know, the
symbol of Thanksgiving,

it's been a great way to sort

of give a unifying message
at this time of year.

- [Mark] A message
of Thanksgiving

and a time to have a little fun.

(turkey gobbling)

Mark Martin, CBN News.

- Well, it is a fun story.

I'm reading the
book as I sit here.

Raymond Arroyo's
children's book is called

"The Magnificent
Mischief of Tad Lincoln."

It's a fun story. I
think you'll enjoy it.

There's a moral to all of this

unless you're the one
guy who gets pulled out

and put on the tabletop
and everyone applause.

Run. Run as fast as you can.

The book is
available nationwide.

Anyway, great opportunity for
us to enjoy family traditions.

Family, food, football,

nothing beats that combination
on Thanksgiving Day.

nothing beats that combination
on Thanksgiving Day.

- Win or lose,
let's bow our knees

to give thanks to the father.

That's how the LA
Chargers Chaplain

began a post-game prayer with
players from opposing teams.

George Gregory and his
wife minister to athletes,

coaches and their loved ones

in a profession where
nothing is certain.

Tom Buehring brings
us their story.

- [Tom] While NFL
broadcast finish

and fans exit stadiums,

a game ending huddle
gathers at midfield

where the same opponents
that just played

kneel together to pray.

- A prayer from the Chaplain,

win or lose,

let's bow our need to
give thanks to our father.

They realize that
those opportunities

can go away with one blow.

Gratitude is a part of
everyday life in the NFL.

- [Tom] George Gregory
and his wife, Tondra,

Coach Chaplin, the
Los Angeles Chargers,

players, coaches,
wives, and girlfriends.

Arriving in 2017 at the request

of previously hired
head coach, Anthony Lin.

- We are on a mission
from God, right?

Whether we're church
planning in New York City,

whether we're
helping professional
athletes and coaches,

or whether we're
helping everyday couples

- To have successful
relationships and marriages.

That's what we're
passionate about.

That's what we do every day.

- What's the most common need
from both players and coaches?

- Really to be valued and heard.

They're under the spotlight
heavily to be heard

and valued and loved
and not evaluated

based off wins or losses.

I find man, that it's endearing,

just to ask 'em, how
are you doing today?

- The marriage and
relationship coaches

speak with pastoral conviction,

leading the team's chapel
service, Bible studies,

and small groups to
help bring strength down

to the organization's soul.

As a marriage coach, it
makes sense, doesn't it?

- Yeah.

- [Tom] You are aligned
with an NFL team.

- The similarities I feel

are unconditional
love and acceptance.

The natural reflection of
our relationship with God

to be able to give that

and to receive is what we
all want to experience.

We're made for that.
We're created for that.

Know what your game
plan is as a couple,

that you're unified,

you're running the same
plays at the same time

to minimize those
miscommunications
or those conflicts.

- You've got players from
different backgrounds,

you've got different
communication style.

There's gonna be
conflict on the team,

and marriage has all
those ingredients.

The formation of a
team and a marriage

lets us know that
we're not enemies.

Brought together in
unity and solidarity,

we are called to live
together as one in Christ.

- [Tom] These are
high achievers.

They have what a
lot of people want.

It's lived on a short
accelerated timeline.

- These men are always
asked for things,

an unbelievable amount of stress

that comes with
the consequences,

sometimes if they're walking
by themselves can crush them.

But to have people walking
with you on your journey

to show them that I
don't want anything,

I'm here to add to you,
not take away from you.

They can smell a phony.

They're gonna call you out on it

until they know
how much you care.

Spending time in relationship,
you get to know these guys.

And when they trust you,
they can let you in.

When I can share answers,

when I can talk about
purpose way beyond football,

- [Tom] Is loneliness, more
prevalent than we may think?

- Yeah, I think, Tom, that
loneliness is a big part

and you wanna come
off like the tough guy

or the perfect player
or the perfect coach.

You don't want to tell
your imperfections.

Let 'em know.

That's why you're on a
team. You're not alone.

So when you have your darkest
moments, God is with you,

your teammates are with you,

your other coaches are with you.

- When you see George
and Tondra together,

when they're ministering
to the players,

their significant other
and that's unique.

They get a chance to see a model
of Christ like relationship

from a biblical standpoint.

Pressures to win
at the NFL level,

this is stressful
to share with me

from God's perspective
on what you're facing.

I've seen it time
and time again, Tom.

Why our Chaplains, his role
has helped our team win

because of the trust that our
players had in our Chaplain.

- [Tom] Arthur Hightower
is in his 19th season

as the Chargers Senior
Director of Player Engagement,

who oversees the
player's wellbeing.

How does that
translate literally

in what we see on a Sunday?

- Oh, you talk about heart
and soul when you're going out

and being able to perform.

When your home is right,
your work is right.

Running aimlessly? No.

You don't have that.

You able to keep
your eye on the prize

and your faith overcome it.

- Do these wives and girlfriends
risk being overshadowed?

- Most definitely. Football
is the main priority.

These ladies make a lot of
sacrifices to their own careers.

Medical students, Yale
Law School, doctors,

professional
athletes themselves,

top level collegiate athletes,

they are elite in
their own right.

It's something that those
couples have to do together

and be in agreement about

- Tondra, what's the
most common challenge

that you have to
process with them?

- I think the search
for that significance.

Having some permanence of
their identity and their worth.

They have sort of
a nomadic life.

You are relocating and it's
hard to like dig in roots.

Community is important
because it's very isolating.

It's hard to find
that safe place

where you can really talk
about what your challenges are,

to grow and share
things and have fun

because that's the thing

that keeps your
relationship thriving.

And you have to fight for that.

- [Tom] The identity
turns to a jersey number.

How significant is the
wrestle that goes on

with distancing themself
from a false self?

- We're not our profession.

Football is a stop
on your journey.

It's not your ultimate purpose.

If they're believers,
we tell 'em,

you're not just a football
player, you're a man of God,

or if it's a wife,
you're a woman of God.

And so, your true identity
is who God made you to be,

more than a number,
made to do something.

And we think that something

is to say yes to
faith in Jesus Christ.

- [Tom] What do you think is
most misunderstood about Jesus?

- That He's out to get us.
That's very far from the truth.

You see, the God that
I know through Christ,

He's all forgiving.

He's so gracious.

For every downfall that we have,

for every way we
need to be redeemed,

Christ came to die
for your mess ups

that we may have life
with Him forever and ever.

- Amen.
- Amen.

- And that is a message
that we'll preach.

God's not angry at you.
He is not out to get you.

What is He out to get?
He's out to save you.

He's out to forgive you.
He is out to heal you.

And we all get to have that.

We all get to have that
wonderful relationship with Him

and realize this is our passion.

This is our mission from God.

Well, if you'd like to know more

about George and Tondra Gregory,

all you have to do
is go to cbn.com.

There, you'll find a link

to their marriage
ministry, Journey For Life.

Terry.

- Well, Lexy Rogers remembers
standing on her tippy toes

at the kitchen counter when
she was only eight years old

just to peek at her
grandma and aunt

making magic in the kitchen.

They were experts at
turning everyday ingredients

into extraordinary meals.

And they're also the inspiration

behind Lexy's culinary passion.

- [Reporter] Military wife and
celebrity Chef, Lexy Rogers,

has mastered the art of creating

affordable home-cooked meals
with simple ingredients.

Her culinary skills
earned her a spot

as a top nine finalist on
Season 11 of Masterchef on Fox.

As a mom of young children,
she knows what it takes

to prepare delicious food
the whole family will enjoy.

In her book "Break
Bread on a Budget,"

Chef Lexy shares
recipes and tips

that can turn everyday
ingredients into
extraordinary meals,

especially around the holidays.

- Please welcome back
to "The 700 Club,"

the author of "Break Bread on
a Budget," Chef Lexy Rogers.

It's great to have you here.

Happy Thanksgiving.
- Happy Thanksgiving.

- Good to have you with us.

Talk a little bit about those,

we're gonna talk about ideas
for Thanksgiving leftovers,

but first talk a little
bit about your story

because it's so sweet how
your family influenced

your love for culinary art.

I mean, what was it like
when you were a child?

- Yeah, so food is
really huge for my family

because it's the way that

we bring everybody
together, you know.

So either after church
or after gathering,

we'll get together at my
grandma's house and have food.

And I mean, people who, you
know, just lived next door

would come over and get a plate.

And it really became a
learned love language for me

and something that I carried
onto my family as well.

- Well, and obviously
the gene was given to you

to be creative in
that department

because your book
is so wonderful.

Great recipes and you feel
the kind of family ambiance

that all of this can create

when we make ourselves
available to work at it.

Talk a little bit
about your friend

who suggested that you go on
the Masterchef competition,

because that was a moment,

I'm not sure you realized
at the time it was a moment,

but it changed your life.

- Yeah. I would not
have done that myself.

She was like, "Lexy,
you love this show.

Like audition. What's the
worst that could happen?"

And I guess, I mean this is
the worst that could happen.

No, it turned out really well.

I'm so grateful to have
friends like her to push me

and help me, you know, with my,

- And you were what?

Six weeks pregnant at the time
that you went on that show?

- Yes.

- Experiencing morning sickness.

- Yes. When I got
there I realized I was
six weeks pregnant.

I had no knowledge of it prior

and I was got into the kitchen.

I was like, "Oh my gosh,
it's so many smells in here.

What's going on?"

And that was what was going on.

- Wow.
- But it was a blessing.

And my baby now, she
loves all the food.

So all my friends call
her the Masterchef baby.

- That was an amazing
experience for you.

What was the hardest
part of that?

- Hardest part of Masterchef

probably was being
away from my family.

- [Terry] Yeah.

- You know, we can't call
a number or anything.

- [Terry] It just goes on
as you're successful in it.

- Yeah, exactly.

What you wanna keep going.
- Sure.

- But also I pull so much of
my inspiration from my family,

so being away from them
was definitely difficult.

And then, you know, you're
cooking for Gordon Ramsey,

so that also is difficult.

- [Terry] That's a
little difficult as well.

- Yeah, exactly.

- And then you got, finally
you got the white apron.

What was that like?

- Oh, it was, I mean,
surreal, you know.

You don't know
what's gonna happen

and all of a sudden
you get there

and you're like,
"Wow, this is real.

I'm really here and I
want this thing so bad.

And it's sitting
right in front of me."

And he picked it up
and handed it to me.

And it was just the best
feeling in the world.

- Because some of the people

who come on those shows

are already seasoned
chefs somewhere.

And here you are
fulfilling just a dream

and pursuing a passion that
you have and such success.

I know one of the things that's
so great about your cookbook

is that you and your husband
have several children.

So, cooking on a budget
is important to you.

Talk about that a little bit.

- Yes. It's super
important to me.

I stay home with my kids

and my husband's the one that
goes out and works for us.

And so one of the ways
that I like to contribute,

extra contribute is to
help stretch our dollar.

And that comes through
grocery shopping

and planning and you know,

all of those little
things that you can do

to help make that
dollar stretch.

So yes, it's very
important for us.

- So you gotta have
a plan, everybody.

Do you have any
special traditions

for Thanksgiving
with your family?

Do you do the normal, the
traditional Thanksgiving

with the Turkey and
the cranberry and
the dressing and all?

- So sometimes, depending on
which house I go to, you know.

When I'm just at my house,
- You're the host.

- Yeah.

If I'm the host, I
kind of sometimes

will skip the Turkey just
'cause I'm more of a ham person.

- Yeah. You know what? My
kids are like that too.

- Yeah.
- I totally, totally relate.

Well, you know, we're
eating leftovers

is a great way to
save money on meals.

So we're gonna take some
time with Lexy for a moment

to look at some creative
ways to reinvent

the remains of our
Thanksgiving meal.

Everybody loves, well, some
of us love a Turkey sandwich,

but she's gonna give us
some new twists on ideas.

So let's look at the ideas
you've brought to us.

What's this first one?
- Yes.

So this is our leftover
Turkey sandwich.

Instead of using deli Turkey,

we'll use the leftovers
from Thanksgiving.

- The real deal?
- Yes. The real deal.

And I like to top it
with some dressing,

a little bit of gravy.

Sometimes if you have like
collard greens or something,

you can throw that in there.

And then we'll bake
it all in the oven

so they have nice gold and
crisp on the top of those buns.

And it just, it tastes
like Thanksgiving dinner,

but not in a bite.

- [Terry] It's
Thanksgiving and a bite.

- [Lexy] Exactly.

- Okay. What do we have here?

- This is one of
my mom's favorites.

- Oh, that looks good.

- It is potato pancakes.

And so leftover mashed potatoes,

typically, every house
has mashed potatoes.

We like to fill it with
maybe a little bit of cheese

or some chives, a
little bit of bacon.

So it has a little bit
of a different taste.

- For all of those things.
- Yeah, right.

All of it. All of the above.

You fry it up and
then you're able

to put a little
sour cream on top

and it's just so delicious.

- Awesome. And what
do we have here?

This looks healthy.
- Yeah.

- Well, yeah. A little.
- A little.

- A little bit.

This is a burger that we
chop with cranberry sauce.

Cranberry sauce to me
is one of those things

that typically gets
thrown away, you know.

You don't really use it too
much after Thanksgiving.

I find that it pairs really
well with goat cheese.

And I love goat
cheese in my burger.

- I love goat cheese too.
- Yes, it's so good.

- So, the two of that
together on top of a burger

is a great way to reuse
that cranberry sauce.

- I might have to
sell that to my family

without telling
them what's on it.

Like just make it and eat it.

That's right. That's right.

This is beautiful. What is this?

- This is a sweet
potato spice cake.

By all means, you can make
your spice cake by scratch.

I use a box though,

because I have a lot of
children and not a lot of time.

- And we all love you for that.

We wanna use the box too, right?

- So we take a little bit of
leftover mashed sweet potatoes,

add it to the cake
mix and bake it.

It gives it a little
bit of a denser texture

and makes it a little
bit more moist.

and it's just a great way to
reuse those sweet potatoes.

- And an interesting flavor.

- Yes.
- Too added to it, I think.

Well, it looks great. What
do you do for frosting?

Is that a,

- I prefer a cream
cheese frosting on top.

And it looks like a little
bit of cinnamon too.

- I'm coming to your house.

- You're welcome, anytime.

- Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

That looks delicious.

Okay.

So you've used that and then
down here, what is this?

This is a,

- So these are
leftover sweet potato

and mac and cheese egg rolls.
- Wow. Low calorie?

- Not.

Not low calorie, but
really great on flavor.

This is one of my husband's,

well it was inspired
by my husband.

He always would take a
bite of sweet potatoes

and a bite of mac and cheese.

- [Terry] Really? And I said,
"Why would you do that?"

And then I tried it.

I'm like, "That's why you do
that. It tastes delicious.

- Is he a good Southern boy?

because that sounds
like a Southern idea.

- He is at heart. Yes, exactly.

- Well, we're gonna
make some right now

so people can see
what that looks like.

- That'd be great.

- Okay. So this, yes.

- This is the egg roll wrapper.

Just gonna dip your
fingers in this water here

and put it on the
edges of the egg roll.

That's how we get it to stick

- All? Oh, all
four of them, okay.

- Yes.

All around the
corners. There we go.

And then you are gonna take

a little bit of the
sweet potato mixture.

- Okay.

- Put it in the center.

- And we're gonna,

- And a little bit of the
mac and cheese as well.

- Well you're actually gonna
mix it really together. Yeah.

- I kind of like to layer them

and just put it a little
bit on top right there.

And then, 'cause it's all
gonna get folded together,

you'll get a little bit
of each in each bite.

- Okay.

- Now time to fold.

So we're gonna take the
bottom portion and put on top

and then the side,

and then the other side.

And then you just roll it up.

- Yours is nice and rolled.

Mine's a little fat looking.

- That's okay. It just
looks all practice.

It's no problem.

- Which is maybe
appropriate for this.

- No problem.

And then we like to
put them on here,

I'll use this, on this
little baking sheet.

- And how long are you
gonna bake these or?

- So you can do a couple things.

You can bake 'em
in the oven at 350.

I do it for about 15 minutes.

Or you can deep fry them.
- Oh.

- Or you can have
'em an air fryer.

I know air fryers
are big for me now.

Everybody's got an
air fryer nowadays.

- Saves a little bit of time.

- Okay.

So I will go ahead and
put this in the oven.

It's just two, but.
- Yes.

- And with the
magic of television.

- With the magic of
television. Exactly.

- Oh, look at that.

- Wow. How'd that happen?

- Ooh. They do get
nice and crispy,

don't they?
- They do. Yes.

- Awesome.

- Here. I'll put this over here.

- Now, do you put anything
on this or you just bite in?

- I don't. I just go
ahead and bite right in.

- Serve it.
- Yeah.

- Oh, I wish you all could
have a little bit of all this.

- If you have a little
bit of juices left over

from your soup potatoes,

you can dip it in
there by all means but.

- Yeah, cranberries.

Cranberries. More
cranberries, right.

Okay.

Well this is, these are things

that we want you to
know are available.

They're not in the cookbook

because the cookbook
is about other things.

But Lexy's cookbook is called
"Break Bread on a Budget."

It's available wherever books
are sold. It looks like this.

All the recipes inside
are beautifully displayed

and the recipe's so easy
to follow and so wonderful.

I mean, you know, to be able
to have something like this

from somebody who's been
on Masterchef, why not?

But the rest of these,

the things that we've
talked about today

that are the kind of
food that you can prepare

with leftovers from
your Thanksgiving,

it's available on our website.

All you have to do
is go to cbn.com.

Lexy, it's always a
treat to have you here.

- Thank you so
much for having me.

- Thank you so much
for coming again.

And happy Thanksgiving.
- Yes, happy Thanksgiving.

- Thank you.
Gordon, over to you.

- Caleb Martin and her family

have a lot to be
thankful for this year.

Not long ago, the single mother
of four from West Virginia

was struggling to
feed her family.

Now, she and her
children no longer have

to worry about going
hungry, thanks to you.

- I was the stay-at-home mom.

My husband was
the sole provider.

I never saw myself being
the one to get divorced.

Things were really, really,
really hitting rock bottom.

I couldn't fix it. I
couldn't fix it on my own.

- [Reporter] In the wake
of her painful divorce,

Kayla took on the roles of
both caregiver and breadwinner.

- I went into panic
mode and I was stressing

because my kids were in school.

How am I gonna find a job
that provides the hours

that I need where I can
be home for my kids?

- [Reporter] That's when
the doors open for Kayla

to take a job cooking at
a church daycare center.

- It just fell into place
and it was a daycare

so they provided childcare
for my youngest as well.

It was a reminder
that God is providing

'cause who else could
give you exactly

what you're needing like that
with the hours and everything

and all the things I was
stressing and worrying about.

- [Reporter] The church daycare

is next door to
Operation Compassion,

a partner of Operation Blessing.

- I said, "Yeah, I could
probably benefit from that

'cause I feel they can
help me save on groceries

that would help me provide
in other areas at home."

- [Reporter] The food Kayla
and her family received

provided the relief she needed.

- I feel like I'm
accomplishing something

knowing that I'm
providing for them,

that they're getting
what they need.

As a mother, that's what
you want for your kids.

You never wanna see 'em do
without or struggle or hurt,

anything like that.

So to see them smile and happy,

that made me feel like,
okay, this is okay.

- [Reporter] Kayla now works
at a community action center,

which provides even more support

and stability for her family.

On the path to
becoming a teacher,

Kayla is immensely grateful

for the help she
received along the way.

- In the midst of
everything falling apart,

the Lord still showed up in His
own time and in His own way.

I feel hope now.

- [Reporter] Thanks to you,

Kayla received the
help she needed

during one of the most
difficult times of her life.

- I felt like I
wasn't alone anymore.

I had people fighting for me.
There was someone that cared.

Thank you.

- I feel hope now.
You gave Kayla hope.

You gave it to her
because you are said,

yes. I want to be a part of it.

I want to be a
part of everything

you're doing around the world.

I want to be the hands and
feet of Jesus extended.

You can do that.

If you're not a member
of "The 700 Club,"

I encourage you right now,

you can join with
us 1-800-700-7000.

Just say, I want to join.

How much is that?
It's just $20 a month.

That's 65 cents a day.

If you're already a
member of "The 700 Club,"

I encourage you
to please join us.

My family, my
father started this.

It's a Robertson
family tradition.

What we do is we
donate a special gift

that's equal to
the amount of money

that we're spending
on our holiday meals.

So for Thanksgiving,
for Christmas,

we take an equal amount
and we'll give that

to help other people in
need right here at home

and around the world.

So just send your gift to
Holiday of Hope, CBN Center,

Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23463,

or you can call us
at 1-800-700-7000.

You can also go to cbn.com
and you can donate online.

(cheerful music)

This year as you give
thanks for God's blessings,

please remember the millions
of people who need food,

clean water and medicine.

Your compassion can help
them right now when you give.

Call now and let your love
change a life this Thanksgiving,

- [Announcer] Her
story was legendary.

Her life influenced the
foundation of a new nation.

Discover the inspirational
true story of love,

betrayal, and faith that brought
peace between two worlds.

CBN films presents,
"Pocahontas."

Get your copy for a gift
of any dollar amount,

Call 1-800-700-7000

or go to cbn.com/pocahontas.

- This Sunday marks the
beginning of the Advent season.

It's not only a time to
reflect on the birth of Christ,

it's also a time to
anticipate His return.

So what are the roots of Advent?

When did the tradition start?

And how can we celebrate
it to the fullest?

Watch.

(choir singing in
foreign language)

- Advent is a preparation
period for Christmas.

It was felt that because Easter

had the preparatory
season of Lent,

Christmas as a
great celebration,

should have a period of
spiritual preparation.

- Although it's not clear when
Advent was first celebrated,

its roots go back
to the fifth century

when Catholic monks in France

were ordered to fast during
the month of December.

- It is a penitential season

and it was taken as
seriously as Lent,

which meant heavy duty denial.

You don't eat certain foods,

certainly nothing fat
or anything delicious.

- At the end of the 6th
century, beginning of the 7th,

Pope Gregory the Great
said, it would be four weeks

and it would focus
on the four Sundays

preceding Christmas
Day, December 25th.

- In the more
liturgical churches

such as Anglican or Catholic,

you'll see that the church now
becomes ready for Christmas.

There'll be Advent
candles, Advent wreaths,

special Advent hymns
sung, sermons given.

- [Gordon] The Advent wreath,
often made with evergreens,

is a symbol of God's
eternal nature,

a circle with no
beginning and no end.

- And there are four candles

that are placed
within this wreath.

Three of the candles are purple
and one candle is rose pink.

And on each Sunday of
Advent, a candle is lit.

The first and second
Sundays of Advent

are Sundays in which
purple candles are lit

because these are points of
which the gospel readings

have to do with warning and
with preparation and with hope.

And on the third Sunday,
the pink candle is lit

because it represents
celebration and joy.

We know the Lord is coming.
We expect him to be here soon.

- [Gordon] On the fourth Sunday,

the last purple candle is lit,

symbolizing the
royalty of Christ.

Many people also mark the
Advent season with calendars

that count the days
until Christ's birth.

- Some Advent calendars
will have scriptures

or depictions of different
aspects of the nativity story,

promises of scripture
concerning the Messiah

and others will have little
treats or little toys.

If you don't wanna
give chocolate,

you can get a Lego
Advent calendar.

So that would like be the
ultimate modern adaptation.

- [Gordon] The Advent season
also comes with its own hymns.

- Traditionally, Advent hymns
are sung throughout Advent

and Christmas
carols were not sung

until Christmas Eve
and Christmas night.

And we break all the rules

because we start playing

our Christmas music
before Thanksgiving.

So now we are really
breaking the rules.

"O come, O come, Emmanuel"
is an Advent hymn.

It comes from an
ancient Latin poem.

The poem was written in
around the 12th century,

and it was based on
prayers that were written

in around the 7th
to 8th century.

They were called
the O Antiphons.

- [Gordon] Antiphons
are proclamations

about the coming Messiah
taken from the prophet Isaiah.

- Around the 12th
century, these titles were

put into a song that
existed only in Latin.

This Advent hymn really,

has its roots deep,
deep in church history

and in the reflection
of so many Christians

over the centuries on
these beautiful passages

from the Old Testament
that anticipate

the coming of the Messiah

and what He would do in
the lives of his people.

♪ O come, O come, Emmanuel

"O come thou Lord of
Might" is associated

in the original antiphon

with the appearance of God in
the burning bush in Exodus 3.

"The Lord of might
who brings liberation

to His enslaved people."

And this attribute of might
also is reflected in Isaiah

when we talk about
the names of God,

he's the Almighty God, the
Father, the Prince of peace.

♪ Rejoice, Emmanuel

♪ Shall come to thee, O Israel

The rod of Jesse actually
comes from Isaiah 11:10,

in which it's prophesied
that a rod of Jesse will come

who will deliver and
liberate his people.

Come and be the Davidic king.

Come and be the
ruler of your people.

Come in your might
and set us free.

♪ And close the path to misery

"O come thou dayspring
from on high"

really refers to that
scripture in Malachi 4.

"The son of
righteousness will rise

with healing in His wings."

He'll bring light and cast
the light into the dark place.

And this day spring is
going to come and dispel

the darkness in our
lives to set free

the hearts of human beings.

♪ Who to Thy tribes,
on Sinai's height ♪

The key of David comes
from Isaiah 22:22,

in which the Lord prophesies

that He will give to him the
key to the house of David

and he will open doors
that no one can shut

and shut doors that
no one can open.

- [Gordon] For the early church,
Advent was not only a time

to prepare for the
celebration of Christ's birth,

it was also a time to
anticipate his return.

- As they started to think about

the meaning of
Christ's first coming,

they also tried to personalize
it within their lives.

What did it mean for Christ
to come to them individually?

And of course, when we
think of the first coming,

we also think of
the second coming.

So the season of Advent
started with a prayer

and celebration of the mass,

which would focus on longing
for Jesus to be real,

to come into their hearts.

And that idea led
to prayers of desire

and longing and repentance,

but also prayers of hope
and expectation and joy

because hope is based
in the promises of God.

♪ Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel

♪ Shall come to thee, O Israel

- So many beautiful and
historically rich traditions.

And sometimes we practice them

without really knowing
where they come from.

Well, for more great stories
about Christmas traditions,

check out CBN's Family Christmas

on the CBN family
app or visit cbn.com.

And if you'd like
to have your own DVD

of "Christmas: The Story
Behind the Traditions,"

it can be yours for a
gift of any dollar amount,

just call 1-800-700-7000

or visit
cbn.com/traditionsofchristmas.

It's beautiful. Wonderful.

- [Terry] Spend this
Christmas with family,

the CBN Family, right
in your own home.

- We're celebrating
the holidays.

- [Terry] Enjoy the
scenes and sounds

of the season from
around the world.

- Thank you for joining
me in Bethlehem today.

- To the kitchen.

Merry Christmas.

We are making holiday memories

with the warmth and
love of Christmas.

- I hope you're getting
in the holiday spirit.

It's ACBN family Christmas
from our family to yours.

Get the app or
visit cbnfamily.com.

- When 15 year old Jade
fell off her horse,

she slammed her head so hard
she suffered a brain bleed.

Doctors had to remove
a large section

of her skull to
stop the swelling.

Her outcome looked bleak
until she received a miracle

on Thanksgiving morning.

- [Reporter] It was
a beautiful day.

As 15 year old, Jade Seymour,

saddled her Mustang, Caterie,

for an afternoon ride
with her friend Sam.

- When she left, she said,
"Okay mom, I'm gonna go riding.

We're leaving now."

That's the last
I heard from her.

- [Reporter] They were
about a mile from the house

when something
spooked Jade's horse.

Sam, who was in the
lead, heard jade yell

and spun around to
see her slide off

and hit the ground head first.

Sam rushed to her side.

Jade's nose was bleeding
and she was unresponsive

with no cell service
in the remote area.

Sam couldn't reach 911.

Reluctant to leave Jade, all
he could do was yell for help.

- Help!

Help!

- [Reporter] Soon after
Jade's mom, Rachel,

noticed the horses
had returned alone.

- It was pretty common for
me as a kid to, you know,

get bucked off and walk home

and have the horses
come back by themselves.

And I called for the kids.

- [Reporter] She got no answer.

Meanwhile, a neighbor had
heard Sam's yells for help

and called 911.

First responders
were on the way.

Deputy Brian Lundquist
was the first to arrive.

- I immediately realized

that Jade was in very
serious condition.

It was obvious that there's
a brain injury of some sort.

- [Reporter] Deputy
Lundquist immobilized her

until the paramedics
arrived a short time later.

By then, a helicopter
had been dispatched

to the nearest open area.

- They just started
talking about

getting everything stabilized

and getting her down
to the landing zone

for the helicopter
as quick as possible.

- Back at the house.

- When I saw the
firetruck go by,

my stomach dropped

and that's when I knew
something terrible had happened.

- [Reporter] Rachel
rushed down the road

to find paramedics loading
jade into an ambulance.

- I just saw her
body and her hair

like matted with blood
and dirt and blood.

There was a lot of blood.

- [Reporter] The
ambulance took Jade

and Rachel to the
waiting helicopter

that flew them to Valley
Children's Hospital

near Fresno, California.

Soon after the hospital
called Jade's dad, Scott,

who had been driving
home from out of town.

The information was sparse

and Scott prayed
struggling to stay calm.

- I knew there
was a head injury.

I didn't know if there
was a neck or back.

I knew it was grave enough

to dispatch a helicopter
out to our area.

- [Reporter] Dr. Molly Dorfman

was the pediatric
intensive care physician

on duty when Jade arrived.

- When she first came in,
she looked incredibly ill.

She sort of came in and
out of consciousness

to the point where she
stopped protecting her airway,

meaning her brain had sort
of shut down a little bit.

- [Reporter] They called
in pediatric neurosurgeon,

Dr. Julia Sharma, to assess
the CT scan of Jade's brain.

- There was what
we call a contusion

in the frontal lobe of the
brain on the right side,

which is kind of like a
bruise within the brain

or bleeding within the brain.

So when you have something

that's expanding
inside from swelling

and it's stuck against a closed
space, which is the skull,

the pressure will go up and up.

Eventually, if that's
left untreated,

that will push the brain down
through the narrow opening

at the base of the skull
and can lead to death.

- [Reporter] Doctors had
jade sedated and intubated

and prescribed medication
to ease the swelling.

Her chances of
survival were high,

but doctors didn't know

whether she'd ever
be the same again.

- I still wasn't sure
how she would recover

because we were seeing
already some weakness

on the opposite
side of the body.

- [Reporter] The next
48 hours were critical.

So Scott and Rachel asked
others to join them in prayer.

- The incessant prayer of
God, please be with Jade.

God please help Jade.

God if you can bring her
back, please bring her back.

- [Reporter] Two days
later, Jade's brain pressure

was still critically high,

forcing Dr. Sharma to
perform a craniotomy,

removing a large
section of her skull

to allow the brain
room to expand.

While that brought the
pressure to safe levels,

Jade still wasn't showing
signs of improvement.

- I looked at Dr.
Sharma and I said,

"She can fully recover
from this, right?"

And she just put her eyes down
and she said, "We don't know.

We don't know yet."

- [Reporter] The waiting
and the prayer continued.

Rachel hosted updates and
prayer requests on Facebook

- And the prayers
started pouring in.

It was a huge comfort.

- I had a friend tell me,

"Don't let anybody else
define what only God can do,"

and that I held onto the
entire time we were there.

- [Reporter] Then two days
later on Thanksgiving,

- She started to open her eyes

and then she could
move her right side.

- We were finally given
a tiny bit of hope

and it was given to us by
God on Thanksgiving morning,

- [Reporter] And that hope grew.

The next day, Jade was able
to follow simple commands

and communicate with her hand.

- We were able to take
the breathing tube out,

which is incredible.

And in doing that, we were
able to advance her care,

get her to rehab, start
working on those deficits

that we knew she might have,

and try to get her
back home again.

- [Reporter] Jade progressed
through her physical, speech,

and mental therapy with a speed
that surprised her doctors.

- All these things
that could sometimes

take a week to happen,

she was kind of doing
in the span of a day.

That was remarkable and that
was really wonderful to see.

- [Reporter] Incredibly,
less than a month

after the accident,
Jade went home.

- I got out of the hospital
and I couldn't stop

seeing the amazingness.

And then just being home
and being able to like,

see my family whenever I
wanted to see my brothers,

because they weren't at
the hospital all the time

and be back into a
sense of normalcy,

was really, really
important and huge for me.

- [Reporter] Six weeks later,

Jade had the surgery
to repair her skull.

Today, life in the Seymour
household is back to normal

except now, Thanksgiving
takes on a deeper meaning

for Jade and her family.

- Every Thanksgiving we
get to see the miracle

that happened on that day.

- It's just a reminder
of life is precious.

You know, you look
around the table

and you just go, "This
could be so different.

This could have been
the worst holiday

and now it's the best."

- It could have been the
worst, but now it's the best

because God reached
down and healed

and He will do that for you.

He is no respect of persons.

What He's done for others,
He will do for you.

He is able.

And here's the
secret to miracles,

when you understand He wants to,

that it's his inner most being,

when you hear that,
you turn to Him and go,

I know you want to heal me.

That's when you get a miracle.

If you think it's up to,
you know your special prayer

or how much faith
you can drum up,

or how many good
deeds you've done,

or how many good deeds
you're going to do,

any of those things, no.

You're getting off
the very heart,

the very nature of Jesus.

Look to Him. He is the author
and finisher of your faith.

Look to His great love,

that while we were
sinners, He died for us.

That great love.

Look to His outstretched
arms that redeemed you.

Look to him on the cross,
realize He's already taken it,

and when you do, you get
all the faith you need

to believe for miracles.

Now we're gonna pray.

Before we pray, here's some
other miracles for you.

Here's CJ by email.

He wrote in and said,

"I was getting ready to leave
the house for an appointment

near the end of 'The 700 Club.'

I was just about
to turn off the TV.

Terry had a word about
someone with a throat issue.

Well, that stopped me in my
tracks for about two years.

I've had constant gravelly voice

and had to clear my
throat whenever I spoke.

It was identical to
what Terry was saying.

I cleared my throat, claimed it.

With almost no hesitation,
my throat was cleared.

Has remained that way since.

I waited to write
just to be sure,

but I'm still clear as a bell,

which is great since I
talk for a living in my job

and now I can return
to singing for God.

Thank you and praise God."

- [Terry] That's wonderful.

This is Veronica who lives in
Sterling Heights, Michigan.

And she writes, "I went
to my doctor for the pain

and pulse sensation I was
getting in my stomach.

He did an EKG, which
came out abnormal

and then scheduled
me for a stress test.

One day, the Holy
Spirit prompted me

to watch 'The 700 Club.'

At the very end of the
prayer segment, Gordon said,

'God is healing blockages.

In the name of Jesus, hearts
are meant to be normal.

God has healed you. It's
a great miracle for you.'

That word dropped into my
heart and I took it by faith.

I went for the stress test

and did a virtual follow
up with the doctor.

He said, 'Your heart is pumping
normally, no blockages.'

Praise God. Thank you Jesus."

- Praise god.

Let the word drop
into your heart.

Yes, let the word
become flesh in you.

That's the great miracle of
the gospel, the good news,

that the word can
become flesh in you.

The word was flesh.
It dwelt among us.

He dwelt here,
right here on earth.

What He did so long ago.
It's now 2,000 years.

It's wonderful. He's
still doing today.

He is the same yesterday,
today, and forever.

What He's done for others,
He will do for you.

All you have to do
is open your heart

and let that word drop into it

and God does all the rest.

Let's pray.

Lord, God Almighty,
we come to you.

We claim your wonderful word,

that you forgive
all our inequities.

You heal all our diseases.

So we ask right now that
that word be opened,

that our eyes would
be open to see it.

Our ears would be
open to hear it,

and our hearts would
be open to understand.

Give us a heart of
understanding, Lord God.

Let your word
dwell on us richly.

Let it germinate into
faith and into wholeness

and into healing right
now in Jesus' name.

There's someone,
you're suffering with
a heart condition.

There's congestive
heart failure.

God is healing
your heart muscle.

He's taken away all
that fluid right now

in the name of Jesus.

Your heart was meant to beat
normally, function normally.

No more arrhythmia,
no more problem,

no more weakness in
the name of Jesus.

You're healed now.

Terry.

- Yeah, someone else, you
have an issue with your mouth.

It's not your teeth like
you've been in an accident

that has just jammed your
face right below your nose,

and so all that bone,
God's healing that for you.

The question has
been, will it heal?

Will you be able
to keep your teeth?

Yes. God's healing that for
you right now even as we speak.

And someone else, you have a,
I don't know if it's eczema,

but you have this painful
and itching at the same time.

Rash, you get in various
parts of your body.

God's healing that
for you right now.

It's gonna go away and
it will not reoccur

though you've had it for years.

- There's someone, you're
suffering with depression

and anxiety and God
just wants to speak.

Let the joy of the
Lord be your strength,

Wait on the Lord.

Let him renew your
joy, your hope.

- [Terry] Thank you Jesus.

- Let your hope just
bloom in his presence.

He wants to give it to you
right now in Jesus name.

- Yeah, someone else. You
have an issue with your feet.

It's almost like gout,
but it comes. It goes.

You can't hardly walk
when you have it.

God's healing that
for you right now.

Balance in your system. It
will not come back again

- And God wants to heal the
broken hearted right now.

If you're broken
hearted, reach out to Him

and let Him heal
you in Jesus' name.

Amen.
- Amen.

- Here's a word from Psalms.