If you have everything
but JESUS,
You have nothing at all.
If you have nothing
but JESUS,
you have everything...
You have
the greatest
GIFT
of all!!!
6 hours ago
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
A GIFT FOR ALL SEASONS
I NEED to go shopping!!!!!!!!! I have not finished my CHRISTmas shopping yet and I MUST go soon!!!!!! I have my list. I'm checking it twice. Some people are SO easy. I have more things to buy than my budget will allow. Others I will be racking my brain over til the last minute, searching aisle after aisle, hoping that just the "right" gift will jump out at me.
Now don't get me wrong. As I've stated before, I LOVE CHRISTmas shopping. I LOVE buying for my family. But time is slipping away and I know that if I don't hurry that I will not be able to find all the things on my list.
But there is one gift we will not have to search for this CHRISTmas.
It is readily available every day.
You do not even have to leave home to get it.
You don't have to have money to BUY it...in fact, you can't.
You don't have to be a member of a club to obtain it.
You don't have to be a certain age.
You don't have to be a certain race.
You don't have to live in a certain neighborhood.
One size fits all!
What is this wonderful gift????????????????
Now don't get me wrong. As I've stated before, I LOVE CHRISTmas shopping. I LOVE buying for my family. But time is slipping away and I know that if I don't hurry that I will not be able to find all the things on my list.
But there is one gift we will not have to search for this CHRISTmas.
It is readily available every day.
You do not even have to leave home to get it.
You don't have to have money to BUY it...in fact, you can't.
You don't have to be a member of a club to obtain it.
You don't have to be a certain age.
You don't have to be a certain race.
You don't have to live in a certain neighborhood.
One size fits all!
What is this wonderful gift????????????????
JESUS!!
In these days of economic woes, Jesus says "Come to me all ye that are heavy ladened, and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28)
If you feel excluded because you are not rich enough, pretty enough, the right race, the right nationality, the right income bracket, Jesus says "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son that ______________ (insert YOUR name) should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
If you think you have lived such a horrible life that no one could ever love or accept you, Jesus says "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
Yes, Jesus is the ultimate gift for all people, for all seasons. He is always a perfect fit. He is the best gift you could ever receive. And...the only way you receive Him is by grace. "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is ithe GIFT OF GOD, not of works lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2: 8,9)
Today, December 6, 2008, you can receive the best gift you have ever received. Just place your faith and trust in Jesus and receive His gift of eternal life. Want to know more? Please follow this link:
Friday, December 5, 2008
A GIFT FOR ALL SEASONS
A baby is a precious gift. There is NOTHING on earth quite as special as a new baby! A new baby is a miracle.
We have a new baby in our family. Her name is Bailey Grace and she was born just a little over a week ago to our son and his wife. This is our second granddaughter, and as with the first, it is one of the most special moments of our life. A new life, so perfect in every way. Pure innocence.
I could just look at her and look at her and not get enough of that sweet face. As a sign in her room says "So much of God's grace in one little face"!!!!!!!!! How perfect!
Holding a new baby is to hold a miracle in your hands. The Bible says babies are "fearfully and wonderfully made". Indeed they are! Every baby is a miracle. Every baby is special. Every baby is a gift from God.
How much more was Mary's baby boy. She not only had given birth to a precious baby boy, she had given birth to the very Son of God. I cannot begin to fathom how she must have felt to know that she was holding the King of Kings and Lord of Lords each time she held Jesus. Although He came to be her Savior, she knew him first and foremost as her little baby.
I love how scripture captures the essence of the awesomeness of the moment as Luke 2:19 records for us that "Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart."
What things were Mary pondering?
I believe for all of her life she would remember the night she gave birth.... the sound of his first cry, the memory of looking into those little eyes for the first time, the feel of his skin next to hers, how she felt the first time she nursed him. I believe that she yearned to hold onto every memory, as most mothers do, but even more so because she did not fully know what the future would hold for her son, but she knew that it was not going to be an ordinary life. She knew that He was God's son and He did not fully belong to her. So it was that she clung to those special moments with him when he was so dependent on her as his mother, knowing that her time with him would be short. For now, He was her special, Heaven sent gift, and she wanted to treasure every single moment she could.
Jesus was not only Mary's Heaven sent gift though. He was also ours. Today, why not spend some time pondering how much that gift has meant to you???
We have a new baby in our family. Her name is Bailey Grace and she was born just a little over a week ago to our son and his wife. This is our second granddaughter, and as with the first, it is one of the most special moments of our life. A new life, so perfect in every way. Pure innocence.
I could just look at her and look at her and not get enough of that sweet face. As a sign in her room says "So much of God's grace in one little face"!!!!!!!!! How perfect!
Holding a new baby is to hold a miracle in your hands. The Bible says babies are "fearfully and wonderfully made". Indeed they are! Every baby is a miracle. Every baby is special. Every baby is a gift from God.
How much more was Mary's baby boy. She not only had given birth to a precious baby boy, she had given birth to the very Son of God. I cannot begin to fathom how she must have felt to know that she was holding the King of Kings and Lord of Lords each time she held Jesus. Although He came to be her Savior, she knew him first and foremost as her little baby.
I love how scripture captures the essence of the awesomeness of the moment as Luke 2:19 records for us that "Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart."
What things were Mary pondering?
I believe for all of her life she would remember the night she gave birth.... the sound of his first cry, the memory of looking into those little eyes for the first time, the feel of his skin next to hers, how she felt the first time she nursed him. I believe that she yearned to hold onto every memory, as most mothers do, but even more so because she did not fully know what the future would hold for her son, but she knew that it was not going to be an ordinary life. She knew that He was God's son and He did not fully belong to her. So it was that she clung to those special moments with him when he was so dependent on her as his mother, knowing that her time with him would be short. For now, He was her special, Heaven sent gift, and she wanted to treasure every single moment she could.
Jesus was not only Mary's Heaven sent gift though. He was also ours. Today, why not spend some time pondering how much that gift has meant to you???
Thursday, December 4, 2008
A GIFT FOR ALL SEASONS
The CHRISTMAS tree is a universal symbol of CHRISTmas. Most every home has at least one, many have more than one. Decorating the tree is an annual tradition that most families enjoy sharing together.
For me, I have a very traditional tree, one that is filled with ornaments collected through 35 years of marriage and 2 children. It has Hallmark ornaments that I've collected, one for each year of our married life. It has photos of my kids as they were growing up plus handmade ornaments each of them made. (Yes, I still put those paper ornaments on my tree!) When my children were growing up I cross stitched them an ornament each year, with the plan that when they married they would take those ornaments to start their own tree with. However, 20+ years later neither of them wanted them, so I've continued to use them. Each year now I give each member of our family a personal ornament selected just for them. I've also collected many ornaments related to the birth of our Savior.
Year before last, my mother gave me a very special gift. A set of 25 ornaments from Love Worth Finding that had a special devotional that corresponded to each one of the symbols or characteristics of CHRISTmas. An ornament is added each day culminating on CHRISTmas day with a single ornament bearing the name of JESUS. It is one of my most treasured set of ornaments and a treasured gift as well.
Many may see the CHRISTmas tree as a non-Christian symbol of CHRISTmas. However, I would like to offer a different view. Several years ago when my son was in high school, I accompanied his youth group to Albequerque, New Mexico. While there we stayed in different homes. A friend and I had the privilege of staying with a precious couple, Truett and Margie Gill. Knowing them even for that short week was a special gift from the Lord to me. They blessed my life in countless ways and I will never forget them!
Shortly after that trip, I received a CHRISTmas card from them with the following poem that Truett had written for their CHRISTmas musical program. I was so touched by this poem that I have displayed it every year since by a small ceramic CHRISTmas tree my mother-in-law made for us. It is another reminder of the TRUE meaning of CHRISTmas as well as a reminder of a special gift from a very special lady in our lives. Truett has now gone to be with the Lord, but I know he would be delighted for me to share his poem with you. It was a gift to be shared and treasured.
Jesus
was a car-
penter most of
His life, and trees
were an important
part of His daily life.
Trees were the means of
putting food on the table
And for providing the other
needs of daily life. It is likely
that Jesus lovingly shaped trees into
objects of beauty and usefulness. It
was among the olive trees that He was
especially close to God the Father. At
the end of His ministry a cross was formed
from a tree, and this tree supported Jesus
in death, even as trees had supported Him in
other ways during His life. Perhaps it is not
an accident that through the years a Christmas
tree has emerged as the symbol and centerpiece of
the world’s celebration of the earthly birthday of the
Heavenly King. The "Living Christmas Tree" filled
with children of God singing praises to the King means
much more than a single story of traditional beauty of
Christmas trees and Christmas music. It is an expression
of praise for the miracle birth of His life, the marvel of the
Cross and the
Triumph
Of the resurrection.
---Truett Gill
For me, I have a very traditional tree, one that is filled with ornaments collected through 35 years of marriage and 2 children. It has Hallmark ornaments that I've collected, one for each year of our married life. It has photos of my kids as they were growing up plus handmade ornaments each of them made. (Yes, I still put those paper ornaments on my tree!) When my children were growing up I cross stitched them an ornament each year, with the plan that when they married they would take those ornaments to start their own tree with. However, 20+ years later neither of them wanted them, so I've continued to use them. Each year now I give each member of our family a personal ornament selected just for them. I've also collected many ornaments related to the birth of our Savior.
Year before last, my mother gave me a very special gift. A set of 25 ornaments from Love Worth Finding that had a special devotional that corresponded to each one of the symbols or characteristics of CHRISTmas. An ornament is added each day culminating on CHRISTmas day with a single ornament bearing the name of JESUS. It is one of my most treasured set of ornaments and a treasured gift as well.
Many may see the CHRISTmas tree as a non-Christian symbol of CHRISTmas. However, I would like to offer a different view. Several years ago when my son was in high school, I accompanied his youth group to Albequerque, New Mexico. While there we stayed in different homes. A friend and I had the privilege of staying with a precious couple, Truett and Margie Gill. Knowing them even for that short week was a special gift from the Lord to me. They blessed my life in countless ways and I will never forget them!
Shortly after that trip, I received a CHRISTmas card from them with the following poem that Truett had written for their CHRISTmas musical program. I was so touched by this poem that I have displayed it every year since by a small ceramic CHRISTmas tree my mother-in-law made for us. It is another reminder of the TRUE meaning of CHRISTmas as well as a reminder of a special gift from a very special lady in our lives. Truett has now gone to be with the Lord, but I know he would be delighted for me to share his poem with you. It was a gift to be shared and treasured.
Jesus
was a car-
penter most of
His life, and trees
were an important
part of His daily life.
Trees were the means of
putting food on the table
And for providing the other
needs of daily life. It is likely
that Jesus lovingly shaped trees into
objects of beauty and usefulness. It
was among the olive trees that He was
especially close to God the Father. At
the end of His ministry a cross was formed
from a tree, and this tree supported Jesus
in death, even as trees had supported Him in
other ways during His life. Perhaps it is not
an accident that through the years a Christmas
tree has emerged as the symbol and centerpiece of
the world’s celebration of the earthly birthday of the
Heavenly King. The "Living Christmas Tree" filled
with children of God singing praises to the King means
much more than a single story of traditional beauty of
Christmas trees and Christmas music. It is an expression
of praise for the miracle birth of His life, the marvel of the
Cross and the
Triumph
Of the resurrection.
---Truett Gill
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
A GIFT FOR ALL SEASONS
Dec. 3, 2008
I received the following story yesterday via email. I don’t know if it is true or not, but I can see this playing out for real somewhere. This story is about choices. Hope it blesses you as much as it did me.
Two Choices
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:
'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where it the natural order of things in my son?
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'
Then he told the following story:
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they’ll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'
Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.
Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all teammates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!
Run to first!'
Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.
He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.
He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!Shay, run to third!'
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.
'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
The first choice that was made in this story is not highlighted. It is the choice these parents made to have Shay. They could have chosen to terminate the pregnancy and not have brought this "handicapped child" into the world. But, thankfully they did not. Instead they received a priceless gift in Shay. Though the world would term their son "handicapped", they would without a doubt call him a priceless gift!
The young men on these two teams each made choices that day. Probably the first one who allowed him to play set in motion the reaction of the rest of the team. What if that young man the father approached had scorned Shay with his obvious disabilities, and said "No way!" That would have been the end of the story. But, because this young man had a heart, he chose to take a risk and let Shay play. By his example of selflessness, the others were challenged to do the same. And that day, a young life was forever changed. Doubtless there were many lives touched that day by what took place on that field.
Shay’s presence precipitated a lesson in the gift of love. I Corinthians 13 says:
"Love suffers long and is kind. Love envies not. Love does not put itself on display nor is it puffed up. Love does not seek its own way."
Jesus was our perfect example of love. He lived out that description every day he walked on this earth. God gave to us the gift of Love when He gave us JESUS CHRIST! Who can you share that love gift with today?
I received the following story yesterday via email. I don’t know if it is true or not, but I can see this playing out for real somewhere. This story is about choices. Hope it blesses you as much as it did me.
Two Choices
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:
'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where it the natural order of things in my son?
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'
Then he told the following story:
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they’ll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'
Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.
Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all teammates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!
Run to first!'
Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.
He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.
He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!Shay, run to third!'
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.
'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
The first choice that was made in this story is not highlighted. It is the choice these parents made to have Shay. They could have chosen to terminate the pregnancy and not have brought this "handicapped child" into the world. But, thankfully they did not. Instead they received a priceless gift in Shay. Though the world would term their son "handicapped", they would without a doubt call him a priceless gift!
The young men on these two teams each made choices that day. Probably the first one who allowed him to play set in motion the reaction of the rest of the team. What if that young man the father approached had scorned Shay with his obvious disabilities, and said "No way!" That would have been the end of the story. But, because this young man had a heart, he chose to take a risk and let Shay play. By his example of selflessness, the others were challenged to do the same. And that day, a young life was forever changed. Doubtless there were many lives touched that day by what took place on that field.
Shay’s presence precipitated a lesson in the gift of love. I Corinthians 13 says:
"Love suffers long and is kind. Love envies not. Love does not put itself on display nor is it puffed up. Love does not seek its own way."
Jesus was our perfect example of love. He lived out that description every day he walked on this earth. God gave to us the gift of Love when He gave us JESUS CHRIST! Who can you share that love gift with today?
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
A GIFT FOR ALL SEASONS
I have always loved beautifully wrapped packages...be it for CHRISTmas, birthdays, showers or whatever. The invention of wire-edged ribbon has allowed even people like me to be able to wrap a lovely package. And if you happen to be one of those talented people like my son-in-love who can do wonders with ribbon, well, you can certainly create a masterpiece!
What is it about the pretty wrappings that draw us to a gift? If you were to place 2 gifts under a tree....one wrapped with ordinary paper and curly ribbon and one wrapped in elegant paper with an ornately tied, beautiful ribbon........which do you think the majority of people would choose if given the opportunity? I know which one I would pick...the pretty one! Of course, the pretty one might hold some tube socks and the plain one a diamond bracelet, so outer beauty does not really give insight to what lies inside.
For years the Jews had been awaiting a king...the messiah. Prophets had foretold that he would come and they were waiting. But, they were looking for someone in kingly robes with all the splendor of a king. They were not looking for a tiny baby born to a peasant girl. They certainly were not expecting their king to be born in a smelly cave with the animals. Yet that night in Bethlehem with the stars shining bright, God's gift to the world was born. He did not come with the fanfare of a king. He did not come dressed in robes of purple. He came in human flesh, in the package of a baby who cried and nursed and slept in the company of shepherds. Yet he was KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS!
This CHRISTmas, do not miss the best gift of all amidst the outer trappings of CHRISTmas. Do not get so caught up in CHRISTmas trees, beautiful packages, and your TO DO list, that you miss the greatest gift of all.........JESUS CHRIST!
What is it about the pretty wrappings that draw us to a gift? If you were to place 2 gifts under a tree....one wrapped with ordinary paper and curly ribbon and one wrapped in elegant paper with an ornately tied, beautiful ribbon........which do you think the majority of people would choose if given the opportunity? I know which one I would pick...the pretty one! Of course, the pretty one might hold some tube socks and the plain one a diamond bracelet, so outer beauty does not really give insight to what lies inside.
For years the Jews had been awaiting a king...the messiah. Prophets had foretold that he would come and they were waiting. But, they were looking for someone in kingly robes with all the splendor of a king. They were not looking for a tiny baby born to a peasant girl. They certainly were not expecting their king to be born in a smelly cave with the animals. Yet that night in Bethlehem with the stars shining bright, God's gift to the world was born. He did not come with the fanfare of a king. He did not come dressed in robes of purple. He came in human flesh, in the package of a baby who cried and nursed and slept in the company of shepherds. Yet he was KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS!
This CHRISTmas, do not miss the best gift of all amidst the outer trappings of CHRISTmas. Do not get so caught up in CHRISTmas trees, beautiful packages, and your TO DO list, that you miss the greatest gift of all.........JESUS CHRIST!
Monday, December 1, 2008
A GIFT FOR ALL SEASONS
I LOVE CHRISTmas shopping!! I am one of those nuts who looks forward to BLACK FRIDAY, as the day after Thanksgiving is now called. I don’t mind fighting the crowds, driving through traffic or even waiting in line, if it is not too long. I am shopping for those I love, and very little brings me more pleasure than that!! And, when I can get those gifts at a bargain, so much the better, because then I can stretch my CHRISTmas budget farther and get them more.
We think of CHRISTmas as the season of giving, and truly it is. Everyone is scurrying around, shopping for the perfect gift for that special someone on their list. Some people on our list are easier to shop for than others. For instance, I have NO problem shopping for my two granddaughters! I can see a million things I’d love to buy them. But my 94 year old mother-in-law is a different story. What do you buy someone who is 94 years old?!!!!!!!!!!!
We search for just the right gift, something that will be useful or something that will make the recipient jump for joy or will be cherished for a very long time. Aren’t there gifts that you’ve received in the past that you will just NEVER forget?! I think we all have those that will long remain one of our most remembered gifts…whether for CHRISTmas or a birthday or an anniversary.
I will never forget several CHRISTmases ago when our daughter’s boyfriend failed to give her a gift on CHRISTmas day. He told her that something had gone wrong with the gift he was giving her and she would have to wait a day or so. At first she was patient, then she began to become suspicious and little peeved. Finally, in an attempt to take her mind off of it, he took her to the riverfront to see the sunset. It was then that he gave her her gift…a proposal of marriage and an engagement ring! It was TOTALLY unexpected and quite a shock, but if you could have seen her face when she returned, it said it all! I’ve never seen more joy on one face in all my life than I did that night………..until this week. I saw that same unspeakable joy in the face of our son when his daughter was born. She was a gift of immeasurable worth.
2000 years ago, we received a gift of immeasurable worth, too. He came wrapped in swaddling clothes, born in a manger of a lowly peasant girl. He was the Son of God.
As we enter this CHRISTmas season, shopping and trimming the tree will be uppermost in our minds. But, let us not forget the ‘reason for the season’…the ultimate GIFT….JESUS CHRIST.
We think of CHRISTmas as the season of giving, and truly it is. Everyone is scurrying around, shopping for the perfect gift for that special someone on their list. Some people on our list are easier to shop for than others. For instance, I have NO problem shopping for my two granddaughters! I can see a million things I’d love to buy them. But my 94 year old mother-in-law is a different story. What do you buy someone who is 94 years old?!!!!!!!!!!!
We search for just the right gift, something that will be useful or something that will make the recipient jump for joy or will be cherished for a very long time. Aren’t there gifts that you’ve received in the past that you will just NEVER forget?! I think we all have those that will long remain one of our most remembered gifts…whether for CHRISTmas or a birthday or an anniversary.
I will never forget several CHRISTmases ago when our daughter’s boyfriend failed to give her a gift on CHRISTmas day. He told her that something had gone wrong with the gift he was giving her and she would have to wait a day or so. At first she was patient, then she began to become suspicious and little peeved. Finally, in an attempt to take her mind off of it, he took her to the riverfront to see the sunset. It was then that he gave her her gift…a proposal of marriage and an engagement ring! It was TOTALLY unexpected and quite a shock, but if you could have seen her face when she returned, it said it all! I’ve never seen more joy on one face in all my life than I did that night………..until this week. I saw that same unspeakable joy in the face of our son when his daughter was born. She was a gift of immeasurable worth.
2000 years ago, we received a gift of immeasurable worth, too. He came wrapped in swaddling clothes, born in a manger of a lowly peasant girl. He was the Son of God.
As we enter this CHRISTmas season, shopping and trimming the tree will be uppermost in our minds. But, let us not forget the ‘reason for the season’…the ultimate GIFT….JESUS CHRIST.
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