I may be fooling myself but I think I’m on top of the holiday ‘doings’. I finished up my Christmas shopping this week. I’ve sent out my Christmas cards. The family recipes books came back from the printer yesterday. I really like the way they turned out! I’ll try and post a picture of the front and back cover.  I’m wrapping those to ship today to family out of state. All I have left to do is wrap gifts, finish sewing the grandchildren’s pj’s and prepare for our Christmas meal. I dropped making candy trays this year so that saved me an enormous amount of time. I really miss making all the goodies but my blood sugar was at a pre-diabetic stage a few months back so I’ve had to stay away from all sweets. It’s lowered now and I’m really trying to be good. I’ll make up a bunch of goodies for Christmas day and enjoy it just that one day and then out it goes! Husband raises his eyebrows when I say so! We’ll see! My grown kids are watching their weight, too, so I’m helping them by not baking up a ton of stuff.

It has really helped to evaluate all I’ve been doing in years past for the holidays and to eliminate what wasn’t absolutely necessary. My side of the family picks names and my grown children decided to pick names this year, too, so that has cut way back on shopping.

It’s been such a nice change of pace. I’m really enjoying the season. For the most part, my heart has been at peace!

I’ve been talking to the grandchildren a lot about Christ’s birth. My husband will read the Christmas story to everyone on Christmas day, as is our tradition. I have  a lighted nativity scene in front of our home which the grandchildren helped me set up. We talked about the names of each of the figures. I also have several nativities in the home… one at eye level so they can pick it up and touch it. I’ll see if I can post a picture of it, too. There is a lighted STAR OF DAVID in the window and we talk about how the wise men followed the star to the baby Jesus many, many years ago. I also bought some $1.00 CD’s with only religious Christmas songs for adults and one for children. We’ll practice learning these songs.

I love sharing Jesus with my grandchildren.

Well, my ‘Memory Tree’ is up as of last night. I like that name! I was thinking as I went through all the ornaments of the memories attached to each one and thought that would be a great name for my tree! Today I hope to get the rest of the house decorated. I threw out all my Santa decorations quite a few years ago. I’ve been collecting nativity scenes, angels,  Bethlehem stars and anything else I can find that’s spiritual and points to Christ. I’ve heard someone refer to Santa as a ‘glory stealer’. I thought that was a very good description! Think about the similarities of the fable of Santa Claus and how they mimic the truth about our Savior.

1. He is everywhere at one time.(He sees you when you’re sleeping, He knows when you’re awake)

2. He knows everything. (He knows if you’ve been bad or good)

3. He rewards those who are good or doesn’t reward those are bad. (Praise God we are saved by grace but we do have our rewards in heaven). (You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why… )

How confusing for a child to be told that there is a Santa Claus and then for them to find out years later that it was a lie. How can we expect our children to believe that there is a true living God when we’ve deceived them about Santa?

I love Christmas and I’m not ready to give it up .I think there is good that can be had from it if the focus is kept on Christ.  It’s a wonderful time to spend with our families and create beautiful memories. It’s also a great opportunity to teach our children to reach out to those who have less than they do. I just believe it’s important to evaluate the things we do during this season to see whether they are bringing glory to God.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31 

Christmas is such a perfect time to share the Gospel with unsaved family and friends. What other time during the year can a Christian openly share Christ within the context of a holiday except for the possibility of Easter?

Christmas cards seem to be the least confrontational. I found religious Christmas cards at our local dollar store and Walmart with salvation Scriptures already imprinted. I also found computer paper with a salvation Scripture for under $5.00 at our local bible book store. I wrote a testimony to God’s provision and guidance in our family’s life over the past year and printed it onto this paper to include in our Christmas cards. I also included a salvation tract for those who don’t know Christ.

I have many in my family that are unsaved. I have few opportunities during the year to share Christ openly as I do during December.  My heart breaks for these loved ones. I want them to know the peace and joy that comes from the forgiveness found in Christ Jesus. It’s not easy to take this step of boldness. We fear of offending those we love. We fear their rejection.  Yet, what greater offense can there be than to withhold news that will save someone from an eternity of torment without God’s love?

It’s a small gesture but by God’s grace we can pray that He will bless our efforts and use it to draw our loved ones into His kingdom.

If I had to choose a subtitle for my life I think it would be EXAMINE. It has become a constant theme in my life. I have tried to make it a regular habit to evaluate much of what I do and compare it to Scripture. There are so many duties we are commanded to do by the Lord that I don’t want to spend my days in unproductive things that detract from His will.

So, again, I am EXAMINING my December goals. Of course, every jot and tittle will not be found specifically listed in Scripture but hopefully the principle will be there. If not, then I must decide if there is any value in it and let it go if not.

Most of all I want a quiet heart this month.. not only for my relationship with the Lord but also for my relationship with my family and others. If I am stressed and irritable then the rest of the months blessings will mean nothing to them.

So, I’m EXAMINING what duties are necessary and what can be dropped. This is so freeing and gives me time to really concentrate on the important things this month… Christ’s birth and loving my family and those in need.

Blessings,
Georgene

P.S. As I was putting up our Christmas tree I asked my husband, “What in the world does a tree have to do with the Savior’s birth?” He replied, “I haven’t the foggiest”.

Well, it’s officially begun! The December crazies are upon us! Women running from store to store trying to beat the holiday rush to find the perfect gift, marathon baking stints, box after box of wrappings and decorations being drug in from the garage and attic, midnight wrapping escapades and sleepless nights.  It makes a person hyperventilate to just think of it. If I look ahead to all that needs to be done this month it certainly has the ability to steal my peace of mind. So, I’ve put my mind to remembrance that TODAY is all I am to be concerned about.  I’ve fixed my mind on the PRESENT MOMENT and each time TOMORROW rears it’s ugly head I remind myself that I am only promised the present moment. I’m not even promised my next breath so why allow the peace from this present moment to be stolen by something that may never even arise.

One of my favorite authors is Elisabeth Elliot. She has two teachings that have been life changing and they are called, The Gift of the Present Moment (Ps. 16:5) and Do the Next Thing.

Here are a few excerpts from an article she wrote for Gateway to Joy many years ago called The Present Moment and the Power of God’s Love. I pray it will bless you this month as you go about your holiday preparations.

“We do need to concentrate on the present moment instead of getting ourselves all tangled up in the past and the future. Verse twelve in Psalm 90 says, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Think about all the ways in which you can waste your days, and all the very exciting things that people can say you’ve got to do, you’ve got to go there, you’ve got see this, you’ve got to buy that. The truth is, we’ve only got this one day, so are we being reasonable when we think that we can arrogate to ourselves years and years.

I use the way sacrament, which may not be familiar to all of you, but its simplest definition is a visible sign of an invisible reality. To God this present moment is just one of all the moments He knows of all eternity. But for you and me, this is the present moment, so this is a visible sign of the invisible reality of God’s sovereign rule over everything–everything that’s happening. That ought to bring us peace.

The carrying out of God’s purpose for us this day, this hour, this minute, now. God is going to give us this grace if we long for it and ask Him for it. He’s always giving good, someone has said, as fast as He can get us to take it. God is always giving good as fast as He can get us to take it, but we’re not by any means always ready. “

Let’s purpose in our hearts to ask for God’s grace in abundance this month!

Blessings to each of you!
Georgene