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