~pondering in the heart~

Checklist:

1) decorations in place

2) gift list made

3) menu planning

4) calendar dates filled in

5) shopping

6) attend Christmas musical

7) watch favorite Christmas movies

8) view Christmas lights around area

9) shopping

10) wrapping

11) groceries to be bought

12) baking

13) packing

14) last minute shopping & stocking stuffers

***

Your list may look similiar to my list

but if not

Preparations are being made for Christmas.

But, when all is checked off

and December 26th dawns

will I have satisfying & heart-warming memories

for 2010?

Excitement seems to diminsh with the years.

The children have grown, no grandchildren in our household,

and our traditions are having to be altered.

I do not do well with change.

~just a traditional~

red & green

girl

I have pondered alot lately,  like Mary.

Asking deep questions to

the Only One

who can answer these.

How do I capture the excitement once again?

When did it leave?

Why did Christmas become filled with Heartache

instead of

being filled with Hallelujah?

I share my answers with you, only hoping if you've experienced

some of the same, may these give light to yours.

Ponderings & More Questions

What warm & heart-filling moments of the true meaning of Christmas do I remember?

~~~

Since moving here to MS, we were invited to one of the

 small community churches

for a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.

Our family went as a whole shared a bench with friends,

who had extended the invitation.

It was very cold, hardly any heat in the building

but the warmness was felt as we joined hands & hearts

and sang Silent Night, while holding the flickering candles.

The familiar words from Luke chapter 2

came to life

"For there is born to you this day

 in the city of David a Savior,

 who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

memories are vivid for sounds of

laughter from friends and music shared

from house to house

while Christmas caroling.

"Hark, the Herald Angels Sang"

&

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

were sang from our hearts.

These two fond memories share a

 common thread

"the heart of Christmas".

~Preparing my Heart for a Christmas filled with changes~

I can remember as a child being so amazed with

 the sights, sounds & smells

of Christmas.

  Amazement could be accomplished through the simplest.

This is such a reminder of the way Our Saviour came to us,

no fancy birthing room, just a humble arrival.

Am I still being amazed by the simple?

I was the child who would be listening & looking

for the slightest hints or catch someone

 trying to hide a gift or wrap a gift.

Am I still looking?

Gratitude is born by a heart that is looking.

I need to remember the minor is meant

to be counted as major,

when numbering blessings.

What a perfect reminder of how to prepare our hearts.

Gifts are given to us each day.

As a child Christmas was so exciting

opening that special gift,

 for some it may have been small,

but, it still made our eyes glow.

Luke 6:38

"Give, and it will be given to you:

 good measure, pressed down, shaken together,

 and running over will be put into your bosom.

 For with the same measure that you use,

 it will be measured back to you."

Our hearts are blessed when we give.

My "perfect gift" has reminded me this week

of the ultimate gift that He gave.

He was born and laid in a manger,

grew and became a carpenter

and then gave us the most

wonderful gift

the greatest gift

of all

Salvation.

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world,

 that He gave His only Son, (Jesus Christ),

that whoever believes in Him,

will not perish, but will have eternal life.

I pray your heart and my heart is being prepared this Christmas,

to share in the true meaning of Christmas.

"Family & Friends"

these two

are what make

Christmas meaningful.

if you have room at your family table

or under your tree,

there are many who are in need

 to be remembered