Thursday, December 14, 2006

December 14


   


Good morning!  It's Val the helper-elf here again this morning!  I hope everyone is well on their way to having a happy and safe and fun Christmas!  I do hope this journal is providing you with a lot of ways to make your Christmas richer and more enjoyable!  Today I wanted to talk about something that is very near and dear to my heart every year.  We have eleven days left until Christmas Day.  Most of us have all or at least most of our shopping done.  I was wondering WHO you have left on your Christmas list and am going to challenge you to put someone very special on the top of this list... JESUS!  Every year I put Jesus on my Christmas list.  How do you give to Jesus you ask?  Well, in the Bible Jesus says when you give to others you are giving to Him.  When you give even a glass of water to someone who is thirsty you are giving him something to drink.  I find this concept very amazing!!  It has made giving for me much richer over the past years as I have realized this.  I know some of you already put Jesus on your list as I have heard from you.  Many like to keep this gift anonymous - between just them and God.  I was going to keep my Jesus gift anonymous, but for the sake of this entry, I will give you a glimpse of what I am doing this year for my gift for Him.  My boyfriend and I have befriended an elderly gentleman in my neighborhood who has no living relatives.  It appears he has not many friends and will have no Christmas.  He is 80 or 81, I believe.  We are going to visit him on Christmas Eve and bring him a few small things and make sure he knows he is loved.  One can do something so small as to try to smile more than usual, put money in an expired parking meter, bring food to a food drive, donate clothes, or decide to make it more personal just between them and Jesus and no one else.  The possibilities are endless!  Imagine if everyone did this!

There are other ways to keep Jesus the focus of Christmas.  When my children were small we used to make a birthday cake for Jesus and sing Him "Happy Birthday".   We also set a place at the table for Jesus at Christmas dinner.  It is a tangible way to help the little ones understand the meaning of the day.  Do you have any traditions like these?  If you do, share them with us in the comments section!  If you would like to share some ways that you have put Jesus on your Christmas list, too, we would love to hear from you!

 
Poll:  Christmas Isn't Christmas Without...

game:  A Christmas Puzzle

Gospel reading:  Matthew 11:11-15

                                  
                                        

11 comments:

  1. This was good!  Thanks!

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  2. I enjoyed the graphic of the manger of baby Jesus.    Did I tell you that the word manger means:  A container ( usually in a barn or stable )  from which cattle or horses feed ?      The is very considerate of you and your boyfriend to think of the elderly gentleman and that you are going to visit him on Christmas Eve.    It will certainly be something he will appreciate greatly.    I will remember what you have said about helping someone and my next door neighbor is about 84 and needs to be looked in on.     Years ago it was about 15 degrees below zero and the electricity went out.    I had my woodburner going so I had good heat.   I knew he only had an electric heater and I went over and got him at 2 a.m. and let him sleep on my bed and I slept on the floor.     mark

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  3. Val~Great entry! I so needed this as I have been praying to stop obsessing about presents I can't afford to buy. I know I want the focus to be on Jesus' birthday, but it's not always easy to do. Listening to Christian Christmas music keeps me focused and if I can make it I love to go to Christmas Eve service. In the past I have bought a toy or two and wrapped it for a child on a Giving Tree wishlist. I will think about what to do this year. Again thanks for this wonderful entry; made me tear-up~ xox Deb

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  4. Val, this is a great entry.  I can't leave the house to shop right now.  I let the wedding take first over all.  I had no idea I would be sick like this.  Val, your ideas are inspirational and if nothing else.  Jesus will have a place at my table.  I once made a Terranium (or something like that) just for advent and did special candels for advent around it for the church we then went to.....that's yr. ago before we moved.  Bless you for your heartfelt spiritual work, Valerie.  Love, Merry

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  5. This was a beautiful entry Val!
    Missie

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  6. ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((VAL)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))That is a great idea.Never had thought of that one,but,I am sure my Sister and my family in London has done that.I never even thought of this.But I have thought of sevral things I can do.One thing,I am going to do is sit down and write some Christmas cards to the Soliders,even if it gets there late and I was even thinking about putting a Christmsa card in the mail for the people at the post office.They do alot for us to.There is so many things you can do.thanks for sharing this with us.HAve a ncie day.

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  7. I love when someone goes and makes a special effort for the elderly. Children are usually remembered at Christmas but the elderly are too often forgotten. God bless you and he's already blessed that man.....He will have a Jesus visitor on Christmas.

    Angela



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  8. wonderful entry!  i like giving to the angel tree...or even picking out a couple of little angels to shop for.  there is so much that we can do.
    gina

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  9. wow...this is a very wonderful entry. A great reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. I did an Angel tree this year for the first time..and I loved it. After reading this entry, I think I'd like to give to HIM thru Angel Tree every year from now on.
    [This entry just earned a spot on my private fav entries links.] :-)

    Thanks Val.
    Happy Holidays,
    Gem :-)

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  10. You are so right when you say giving to others is giving to Jesus!  -  Barbara

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  11. These ideas are truly inspirational. It gives me reason to pause and reflect.

    ((hugs))
    --Tom

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