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Last night I watched a special presentation by Feed The Children. It was The Oak Ridge Boys and Manheim Steamroller performing as a Feed The Children fundraiser. Oak Ridge Boy, Joseph Bonsall, wrote a book and song An Inconvenient Christmas 
about a family that had several inconvenient things interrupt their Christmas.
This year of ups and down has offered many inconveniences for me. Back pain has escalated to bring much of my daily activities to a halt on several occasions for weeks at a time. Air conditioner and furnace needed replaced. Hubby got laid off before Thanksgiving. It’s Christmas and hubby is still unemployed.
This is unfortunate. You think it’s bad? Well, it’s inconvenient. The most inconvenient Christmas ever was was the first.
It’s hard being a teenager. Can you imagine trying to tell your mom and fiance you are pregnant and also explaining that you have not yet had sex? Then it nears time to deliver and her husband takes her on a long journey. They arrive and he hadn’t called ahead to make motel arrangements. Now there is no place to stay. She lays down in a barn and delivers the child. With no crib she lays him down in a pile of hay. The king hears of this boy and fears he may try to take the throne so he orders the destruction of this child. No THAT is inconvenient.
May you have a blessed Christmas filled with God’s love no matter what inconveniences you are struggling with. Merry Christmas.
…the light from heaven is about to break upon us…. Luke 1:78
While frantically knitting and crocheting to complete some Christmas gifts I have watched several “Christmas movies”. You know the kind, a person is too busy for love and family then learns the “true meaning” when they admit they quit believing in Santa Claus because they asked Santa for something that they never got so they went on to just get everything themselves. In the end, of course, they find a girlfriend or boyfriend and determine santa is real so this is Christmas spirit.
I got to thinking how often we go to God with our prayers and when we don’t get what we want decide that must mean there is no God, no Jesus, no hope. Unless we get what we want there can be no God.
Part of the fun of Christmas comes in opening a gift from someone. You don’t know what it is, the anticipation of what this person felt would be a wonderful gift especially for you is exciting. What if you never opened the gift? What if you just accepted the package and set it on the table, never opening the present? Like the teddy bear in front of my house, you look at the gift, admire the packaging, but never accept the gift inside.
Romans 6:23 tells us of a gift God has for us. It is “the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ”. This gift is available to “all who call on the name of the Lord” (Romans 10:13).
The gift if made available to all, but not all will accept it. Accepting the gift does not mean you will get everything you want. It means you will be “adopted into God’s family” (Romans 8:15). “Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlesslessly into God’s presence, assured of his glad welcome” (Ephesians 3:12). No waiting in line to get to his lap, no disappointment he has stepped away for a break.
More important than material gifts, remember the gift of life given to us through Jesus Christ. Like the gifts we place under our trees, this gift is free for you. Don’t leave Jesus in the manger or under your tree. Invite Him into your life and accept His gift of love and salvation never-ending.
Wishing you a beary Merry Christmas
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Eph 6:11
Several years ago I was studying the “Armor of God” and set out to make it a fun and crafting experience. Using a small sized teddy bear I had (many of the TY bears are similar in size) I created a plastic canvas pattern. Each piece is worked and the scripture studied. It makes a wonderful sharing time for mother and daughter, father and daughter, friends, mother and son… you get the idea.
I posted the pattern for free on the website asking that anyone who made it please let me know their thoughts. Recently I received this email.
When I first saw this, after hours of searching for new plastic canvas patterns, I just had to make this. It was easy and fun to make. It is one of my favorite bible lessons. I am hoping to pass it on to church for use in teaching children the lesson I so love. Thank you for making the pattern free for all to use it was a joy to make. Have a blessed day. Sincerely, Jennifer
If you are looking for a last minute gift you can put together, how about making the kit by printing the pattern and adding the supplies. Set a time with the recipient to work on it together. (Click here to view website.)
