There is one gift that sits beneath our tree...our gift to Jesus. This year on Christmas Eve as a family we read the Christmas Story from the Bible. As Jeff finished reading the scriptures, I talked to the kids about how Jesus is our special gift from God and how we thought every Christmas we could think of a gift to give back to Jesus. Maybe it would be a bad habit we want to change or a good habit we want to start, but something that would show Jesus and others our love.
On small slips of paper we wrote what we wanted to give to God to glorify Him and placed them in a decorated box. Then our 8 year old Noah prayed, dedicating the box to the Lord. When all the presents were gone on Christmas Day, we placed our gift beneath the tree. It will be packed away with the Christmas decoration and brought out next year, when we will open it to see how we did and decide on a new gift to give.
Today Becca shared her game in the car with Noah to honor him and I walked out of the little girl's room without yelling when frustration overcome me at bedtime and returned when she was ready for bed. Noah was not quite as successful. He needed a reminded when he annoyed his sister; however, he ended the night by telling Becca he loved her. Sometimes we forget that small steps will get us to our destination, we just need to remember to take these steps every day.
This year we aren't dedicating our lives to be missionaries in a far off land, but desiring to give more to our own family. I do believe it's a gift that would make Jesus happy.
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
The List
Christmas growing up was all about the list. The list I made was split between parents, Santa and the grandparents. The end result: everything I asked for I received.
About the age of 10, I had grown tired of the process. I was content with what I had, yet there was pressure to choose something. As I looked through the ads my mom had laid on the table, I said the first thing I saw… “I want a TV for my room,” I announced. “This year I’ll ask Santa for a color TV for my room.” This was in the day that electronics were not cheap or in every room of the house, so for me to ask of such a thing at my age seemed beyond ridiculous.
The anticipation of Christmas morning arrived as I lay in bed fully awake at 6:30am. We were not allowed out of our beds until 7am so I imagined of the treasures that awaited me downstairs. Maybe new Barbies or pretty new clothes? For a brief moment that color TV came to mind and I laughed, not still surprised that I had asked for such a thing.
At seven am my brother and I opened our parents’ door, announcing the arrival of Christmas and raced downstairs to check out our presents. I froze at the sight of a tiny TV with a red bow on it. I didn’t know what to say, although “thank you” came out when my mom asked if I liked it. I never imagined I would actually get it. Yet there it was, a color TV, with a small picture frame size screen, just for me.
The Bible reminds us that God loves us more than our earthly parents and how He desires to give us good things. Nothing is impossible with God. Perhaps He’s just waiting for you to ask Him for that outlandish gift. Though you can’t figure out a way, He can. Three years ago my plea was to stay home with our children. The mountain was huge and I had no idea how God would move it, but He has. Now we have a new list: a Christian coffee shop for Jeff to run and my book to be published. They seemed like crazy dreams, but we know everything we ask for according to His will, we will receive. So, make your list, check it twice and give it to the Father that loves you beyond your comprehension.
Matthew 7:7-11
7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
About the age of 10, I had grown tired of the process. I was content with what I had, yet there was pressure to choose something. As I looked through the ads my mom had laid on the table, I said the first thing I saw… “I want a TV for my room,” I announced. “This year I’ll ask Santa for a color TV for my room.” This was in the day that electronics were not cheap or in every room of the house, so for me to ask of such a thing at my age seemed beyond ridiculous.
The anticipation of Christmas morning arrived as I lay in bed fully awake at 6:30am. We were not allowed out of our beds until 7am so I imagined of the treasures that awaited me downstairs. Maybe new Barbies or pretty new clothes? For a brief moment that color TV came to mind and I laughed, not still surprised that I had asked for such a thing.
At seven am my brother and I opened our parents’ door, announcing the arrival of Christmas and raced downstairs to check out our presents. I froze at the sight of a tiny TV with a red bow on it. I didn’t know what to say, although “thank you” came out when my mom asked if I liked it. I never imagined I would actually get it. Yet there it was, a color TV, with a small picture frame size screen, just for me.
The Bible reminds us that God loves us more than our earthly parents and how He desires to give us good things. Nothing is impossible with God. Perhaps He’s just waiting for you to ask Him for that outlandish gift. Though you can’t figure out a way, He can. Three years ago my plea was to stay home with our children. The mountain was huge and I had no idea how God would move it, but He has. Now we have a new list: a Christian coffee shop for Jeff to run and my book to be published. They seemed like crazy dreams, but we know everything we ask for according to His will, we will receive. So, make your list, check it twice and give it to the Father that loves you beyond your comprehension.
Matthew 7:7-11
7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
Sunday, December 20, 2009
O Smelly Christmas Tree
Every year my husband and I say we are throwing out the artificial tree at the end of the year. It has been with us longer than our children. The not-so-evergreen is dusty in looks and smell, branches are missing and is an all-together pain in the neck to put together. Luckily, last year we packed it away in its tree bag and put it in the garage. It’s been almost six month now since we have brought in the amount of money we need to live on. I left the public schools to Home School and the housing market dropped terribly. We thought it would be easier for him to find another job to supplement, but it’s been hard. But we’ve trusted God and wait on Him, because we feel He’s called us to this place.
So tonight Jeff and I pulled in the Christmas tree bag. We opened the windows to get rid of the musty smell as we started assembling it. And then the elves came to help. The oldest,6 years, is very helpful. The youngest, 3 years, is eager. Everyone had a job and with only half a dozen missing branches and needles all over the floor, the tree made it up.
I sighed as I dug for the ornaments, as it’s hard to think about Christmas when the bills need to be paid. How can we justify presents when we can hardly pay for food we do need? I was thinking how there would not be many presents underneath it this year, even if the job comes tomorrow. There’s still insurance to pay and loans to pay off. We just can’t afford Christmas this year, I thought to myself.
The children eagerly opened the boxes of ornaments and started putting them on. As my son hung the first ornament, he said words that melted my heart.
“You know the best thing about decorating the tree? It’s remembering all the people that gave you the ornaments and where they came from.”
I smiled, for I remember telling him that the past several years. Every ornament has a story, whom it’s from or what trip we got it on. It’s the memories on the tree, not the presents under it, which make the difference.
As I turned on the Christmas music I heard Rebecca yell, “There’s a Tigger one!” Thirty seconds later she called “Another Tigger one!” I laughed, remembering the year every friend gave me a Tigger ornament because they knew he was my favorite. Amazingly enough, they were all different!
Noah told Becca the stories he remembered, I told the stories he forgot and Becca made up some of her own (which she is really good at). After about a half hour the boxes were empty and the branches were bending at the weight of all the ornaments. My heart was full of reasons to love Christmas and I was thankful for all the blessing in our lives. God gave us the best gift ever in His Son, Jesus Christ. A gift money could never buy.
Maybe we’ll start a new tradition this year…no presents beneath the tree. I know our family will give us and send us presents, but I really don’t want that to be the focus for the whole month. Our tree can be a beautiful reminder every day in December of the good times, good friends and fun trips we have had. After all, it’s the memories that remind us of others love, not the presents they give.
I think I’m starting to like our little tree. The holes are filled in nicely with ornaments and it really doesn’t smell so bad…
So tonight Jeff and I pulled in the Christmas tree bag. We opened the windows to get rid of the musty smell as we started assembling it. And then the elves came to help. The oldest,6 years, is very helpful. The youngest, 3 years, is eager. Everyone had a job and with only half a dozen missing branches and needles all over the floor, the tree made it up.
I sighed as I dug for the ornaments, as it’s hard to think about Christmas when the bills need to be paid. How can we justify presents when we can hardly pay for food we do need? I was thinking how there would not be many presents underneath it this year, even if the job comes tomorrow. There’s still insurance to pay and loans to pay off. We just can’t afford Christmas this year, I thought to myself.
The children eagerly opened the boxes of ornaments and started putting them on. As my son hung the first ornament, he said words that melted my heart.
“You know the best thing about decorating the tree? It’s remembering all the people that gave you the ornaments and where they came from.”
I smiled, for I remember telling him that the past several years. Every ornament has a story, whom it’s from or what trip we got it on. It’s the memories on the tree, not the presents under it, which make the difference.
As I turned on the Christmas music I heard Rebecca yell, “There’s a Tigger one!” Thirty seconds later she called “Another Tigger one!” I laughed, remembering the year every friend gave me a Tigger ornament because they knew he was my favorite. Amazingly enough, they were all different!
Noah told Becca the stories he remembered, I told the stories he forgot and Becca made up some of her own (which she is really good at). After about a half hour the boxes were empty and the branches were bending at the weight of all the ornaments. My heart was full of reasons to love Christmas and I was thankful for all the blessing in our lives. God gave us the best gift ever in His Son, Jesus Christ. A gift money could never buy.
Maybe we’ll start a new tradition this year…no presents beneath the tree. I know our family will give us and send us presents, but I really don’t want that to be the focus for the whole month. Our tree can be a beautiful reminder every day in December of the good times, good friends and fun trips we have had. After all, it’s the memories that remind us of others love, not the presents they give.
I think I’m starting to like our little tree. The holes are filled in nicely with ornaments and it really doesn’t smell so bad…
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