Letter from Jesus

I just googled "Christmas" to find a picture to go with my last blog post, and I had to scroll half way down, through several hundred pictures before I came to one with Jesus in it. Hello? Well, I won't go writing a letter to anyone, as I think my efforts could be better spent. Someone else apparently thought so, too, and they wrote it up as a letter from Jesus, which I really like. See what you think:

Letter from Jesus about Christmas

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks
are taking My name out of the season.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most
easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children
of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to
celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town
in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just
get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity
scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there
wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because
there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a
holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees.
You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape
vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining
who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If
you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth
here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My
birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to
soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely
this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know
them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording
on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and
tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year.
Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford
and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of
My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them
in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their
own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless?
Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you
meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls
the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them
a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish
you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them
one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make
so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees
spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a
missionary -- especially one who takes My love and Good News to
those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in
your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither
will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know
them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation
Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make
the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in
and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things
in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know
by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just
love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of
all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is
short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do
have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember:

I Love You,
Jesus

Getting Ready for Christmas

     

I'm trying some new things for Christmas this year.  I started back in October reading Christmas stories to get myself in the mood.  For the past several years, I've gone into this holiday feeling like a bit of a Grinch or a Scrooge, because the closer we got to the holiday season, the more stressed I got, realizing that in a few months we were going to have to spend a lot of money on a lot more stuff to bring into our already over-stuffed house.  It almost gives me the shakes to think about it.  I decided that this year was going to be different, though, and I set about looking for ways to make it enjoyable for both my family and myself, and to help us enjoy the true spirit of the season.
I've never been one to be over-stressed with parties and decorating so I didn't have much to change in that area.  This year, though, I came up with a decorating theme that I can't wait to start on.  The idea came from a new book out by Emily Freeman, entitled "A Christ-Centered Christmas."  It's a variation on the advent books that many of us have used over the years, with a little devotional for each day of December until Christmas.  This idea uses the main characters of the Nativity: Mary, Joseph, the angel, shepherds, wise men, a lamb, and the baby Jesus as the focus of 7 devotionals.  She has a chapter on each character, and at the end of each chapter, there is a short devotional idea that can be used to present this piece to the nativity set, as well as an assignment (if they choose to do it) for them to do, or something for them to think about before the next devotional.  So you talk about the person, people, or animal, and then put it into the nativity scene.  I bought a Precious Moments Nativity on ebay for 1/2 price that will be the one we'll use for this.  I am clearing all the flat spaces in my living room, and I'm going to cover them with some burgundy velvety fabric, and then put nativity scenes around the room.  The top of the piano will be for the special one, which will be added during the month as we do the devotionals.
      We've also decided that we will not be spending a lot of money on gifts this year, but will save the money and take a trip next summer when our two missionaries come home.  We want to start building memories rather than add to the piles of clutter.
      Which brings up another thing I've already started on, and that is to work my way through the clutter in our house, with the goal of having it cleared out by the end of the year, or maybe even by Christmas, so we can start to enjoy living in the amount of space we have.  The family's help will be enlisted and it will be a gift we give to ourselves this year.
We will be talking about things we can do to celebrate Christ's birth in a way that might please Him.  It is, after all, His birthday, not ours.  The children in the family have a gift exchange and we'll be encouraging them to take the time to think about the person whose name they have and really try to come up with a gift from the heart that they would appreciate.  Maybe a book of service ideas that the giver could do for them.  Or really see what they like to do and find a gift that compliments their likes.  If the gift is to be purchased (which I am not encouraging) then the idea is to already know ahead of time what they want to give, rather than just go through the store browsing the shelves, just to pick something.  I really want to encourage us to make the gifts mean something.  I'll also be encouraging us to look for service opportunities in the neighborhood that no one has to know about  but us.  Maybe going around and picking up the trash, or shoveling snow, or whatever we can find that could be of help to someone.
      It's a lofty idea, but I've been talking about it little by little with my husband and the children, and they do seem open to it, even though it will mean that they don't get to make up Christmas lists and think about themselves all month.  This time of year should be a time of giving, not of taking, and that's what I'd like to encourage in my home.  Wish me luck! :)

A life that makes music. . . . .

Well, I'm a failure as a blogger. I'm too busy living my life to write it all down for the world to read, though I do keep a very detailed journal that gets updated every few days. Just no time to put stuff here, until today. I've discovered a new favorite author, and her first book isn't even going to be available for purchase until some time in January. The waiting might kill me, but I'm trying to be patient. Her name is Ann Voscamp, and I've subscribed to her blog to get my weekly transfusion until the book arrives. Her blog is here: http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/11/hearing-the-symphony/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HolyExperience+%28Holy+Experience%29 This link will take you to today's amazing post. Here are a couple of my favorite quotes from it, but do yourself a favor and read the whole thing.

"I want a life that makes music — not just practices the piano.

I want the moments enough to let go of the mirages. I want the now, the space that doesn’t hurry, and joy’s the only next thing. I want here with it’s doing because that means living; I don’t need to get there, with it’s getting it all done — because that’s only when it’s all over and you die."

I WANT A LIFE THE MAKES MUSIC -- NOT JUST PRACTICES THE PIANO! Isn't that awesome? When I remember back on my years of half-hearted piano practicing and the drudgery and how much I hated it, but then think on how much joy that skill brings me now, when I can just sit and play beautiful music (to my untrained ear, and only on the songs I've practiced), that quote rings true to the very depths of my soul. That's what I've found Ann's writings do to me every day. Don't you love it when those who say it well, do say it so the rest of us can enjoy it? I do.

LET'S MAKE SOME MUSIC!

Have a wonderful day!