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What Does God Want This Christmas?

Jeannie Waters7 Comments on What Does God Want This Christmas?

The brown paper sack of cornmeal was the most unusual Christmas present I’d ever received. Terry, a shy first grader, placed the unwrapped gift on my desk. I knew that his grandparents sold homemade cornmeal for a limited income, and I suspected giving a bag away was a sacrifice.

I cringed when a saucy little girl in the class wrinkled her nose, pointed to the cornmeal, and asked, “What is THAT? That’s not a Christmas present!”

Noticing Terry’s downcast eyes and slumped shoulders, I cradled the sack in my hands and responded, “It’s cornmeal that Terry’s grandpa made. Now my family can have the best cornbread in town! Thank you, Terry.” The boy’s clear blue eyes peered up at me, and a slight smile brightened his face.

That sack of cornmeal was a sacrifice, the best a family had to offer.

Terry’s package reminded me of a gift Jesus commended.

This poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.

                                                                                                    –Mark 12:43-44 NKJV*

The widow’s sacrifice, although of little monetary significance, was valuable to Jesus. Thinking about her offering  led me to consider gifts I could give that would be valuable to Him.

 After praying, “Lord, what gift do You want from me?”, I found my answer in Matthew 22:37-39.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

That’s what He wants—our love poured out to Him and to those He loves. Perhaps something on the lists below will give you an idea for intentionally expressing love to God and sharing His love with others during the Christmas season.

Ways to express love to God

  • During this busy season, designate a daily time to praise God, read Scripture, and seek His wisdom.
  • In a journal, list the daily gifts God provides such as mercy, kindness, and forgiveness, then practice extending them to others.
  • Light Advent wreath candles and read from a devotional.
  • Sing carols as worship to Immanuel.
  • Ask Him each day during Advent how you can extend love.

Christmas acts of kindness I’ve observed

  • A family of four spent every Christmas Eve singing carols with residents of personal care homes.
  • Working holiday hours for employees with out-of-state family, a senior newspaper editor gave up part of his vacation.
  • Families opened their homes to international college students who couldn’t travel to their native countries during Christmas break, while others provided food for guests in the Ronald McDonald House.
  • In a military community, groups offered fellowship for the families of deployed soldiers.
  • A family purchased gifts for a prisoner’s family.

Additional ways to share God’s love with others

  • Schedule lunch or a Christmas event with a friend who has no family close by.
  • Select an appropriate devotional for a teen.
  • Invite neighbors for coffee and distribute Christmas cards with Bible verses.
  • Give a donation to a Christ-centered ministry in honor of a friend.
  • Invite co-workers to church services and programs.
  • Give candy canes and cards to sanitation workers and the mail carrier.
  • Pray for each recipient as you wrap gifts.
  • Take an Amaryllis bulb in a ceramic container to a shut-in.

I am praying that each reader’s Christmas is filled with the joy of loving God and sharing His love with others.

Please add your ideas in the comment section below.

“Advent is focus on faith that God comes

among us bearing gifts through us.”

-Sarah Hornsby

*Scripture verses are NKJV.

When Thanksgiving’s Not the Same: Three Ways to Recover Gratitude

Jeannie Waters24 Comments on When Thanksgiving’s Not the Same: Three Ways to Recover Gratitude

Ungrateful. Unsettled. Unexcited. I’m sorry to admit that was the state of my heart when I first contemplated Thanksgiving this year. My gratitude journal reflected numerous blessings, but the thought of another holiday without my mother saddened me.

Mama was the heart of festivities for every holiday gathering. She created traditions that made Thanksgiving my favorite day of the year–decorations and flower arrangements, prayer in a circle with family holding hands, croquet games after lunch, Monopoly after supper. What I miss most is being loved by her and hugging her.

Oh, the Thanksgiving meal– the world’s best dressing, steamed cauliflower with cheese sauce, turkey, rice with giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, tiny green peas, green bean casserole, apple salad, and rolls.

Supper was my favorite though–turkey sandwiches with lettuce, light mayo, salt and pepper, and a bit of sweet pickles. Sides included chips, congealed salad, and ambrosia, followed by numerous desserts served with coffee and laughter.

As I reflected on the Thanksgiving celebration I couldn’t enjoy this year, I chose to do what my parents did. I turned to the Lord and counted my blessings.

Are holidays difficult for you? Do you lament the unwelcome changes like I sometimes do? There are many reasons special occasions are painful. Tonight, I prayed for a friend who lost her husband this week and the family of a wayward teen who recently left home. Holiday celebrations seem to sharpen the pain of hurting hearts, don’t they?

When I turned to God last week, He renewed my heart, helped me recover my gratitude, and created an excitement for this special day set aside for giving thanks. Although I’m not suffering as many are this week, I have three suggestions to help us enjoy a Thanksgiving that is “not the same.”

No, it’s not as simple as 1, 2, 3, and I’m not pretending my words could heal your heart or renew your holiday joy. However, God can transform our Ungrateful, Unsettled, and Unexcited into Grateful, Peaceful, and Joyous.

Three Ways to Recover Gratitude

1. Reflect on past joys.

Ponder sweet memories of past Thanksgivings. Write them in a journal to treasure.

If tears come, cry.

My mom spent her last Thanksgiving in bed. As my brother’s poodle trotted from her bedside to the table wondering why Mema had not joined us, my heart broke.

If funny happenings come to mind, laugh.

One year my mother used a disposable pan for the dressing. When she removed it from the oven, some of the “took-a-whole-day-to-make” delicacy flipped out onto the floor. My normally meticulous mother quickly scooped it up with a spoon, returned it to the pan, and said, “It’s okay; I just mopped this floor. But don’t tell anyone!” I never told—until now. Shhhhh!

2. Remember to “brighten someone’s day.”

That’s the tagline for my website because encouraging people toward the truths of God’s Word offers hope and comfort. Who in your circle of influence needs those blessings?

  • Is this the first Thanksgiving without a loved one for someone you know? How could you add sunshine to their day?
  • Can you call someone to say thank you for their influence in your life?
  • Is there a busy cook who would appreciate a helping hand and acknowledgment of hard work?
  • Would a restless child in a room full of relatives enjoy taking a walk or playing a game?
  • Does someone you know need to hear that Jesus offers forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life?

Brightening someone’s day will pierce your cloud with sunshine.

3. Rejoice in thanksgiving to God, the Giver of all gifts (James 1:17).

Listing our blessings changes our focus from need to gratitude. A two-year-old I know recently called, “Tank you,” to each nurse, doctor, and tech who administered care to her in the ER. Simple gratitude.

I’m praying for each reader that whether you’re experiencing grief, pain, or frustration, God will fill your hearts with joy and help you recover gratitude as you look to Him.

 Now it’s your turn

 Please share a Thanksgiving memory or a suggestion that helped you when holidays changed.

If you choose to leave a comment about your need, it will be my privilege to pray for you.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High.

                                                                                                        –Psalm 92:1 ESV

You Are Enough

Jeannie Waters8 Comments on You Are Enough

I am participating in the Writing Contest: You Are Enough, hosted by Positive Writer.  https://www.facebook.com/PositiveWriter/ Whether you’re a writer or have other gifts to share, I hope this post opens your eyes to the treasures inside of you that the world needs.

You Are Enough

 Look at you! Deep inside of you. You’re a book of treasures, a cache of jewels, a collection of valuables, a bank of riches. Yes, you. And the world needs your words.

Looking in a mirror may not yield feelings of confidence and value, but looking into God’s Word reveals the truth about who we are and how we’re made:

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

  Psalm 139:14 ESV*

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.

Genesis 1:26

The nuts and bolts of your makeup are not the result of random construction but rather a precisely-calibrated you, designed to meet needs—needs that only God knew would exist—”good works which God prepared beforehand” (Ephesians 2:10).

As no two snowflakes are alike, there is no duplicate of your God-created fingerprints—fingerprints that are left on the souls of the people God intends your message to reach.  If He calls you, you are enough.

You, my writer friend, are a book of treasures. Let’s inventory your gifts by considering the elements of a good story.

Characters

 You are you, created by God for His purposes. Your personality, values, and gifts are unique and have the mark of influences from relatives, teachers, and/or friends who inspired and supported you. Consider them all. The richness of your character development produces a wealth of words. You are enough.

 Setting

You were born in a certain country and city to a pre-selected family. You’ve become an expert on wherever you’ve lived. You’ve experienced changes and witnessed events that affected your life. Your geography and history are sufficient for creating multiple blessings with the written word, and they are enough.

Plot

The timeline of your life includes difficult days and joyous ones, and you’ve grown. Problems arose as they do in a good novel, and you found solutions to at least some of them. Each experience, from a childhood skinned knee to finding a teen-aged best friend, to selecting a career adds paragraphs to the pages of your life. How long have you lived? Multiply that number by 365 days per year, and you’ll be amazed at the generous number of events in your biography which can become writing topics. The timeline of your life is enough.

Theme

 What lessons have you learned? Perhaps God seared a verse into your heart that He uses to guide you. Those lessons will be valuable to someone else. You’re equipped to write from the words you treasure in your heart. Your life lessons are enough.

Point of view

 Your vision is unique because of your background, faith, and experience. You will write old truths in a new and fresh way that touches someone’s heart. What if you didn’t try, and someone missed the golden nugget that could have brightened their day or changed their life? Your point of view is enough.

Style and voice

When you write or minister to someone, maybe you think your story isn’t dramatic enough or as well-written as someone else’s. Maybe you’ve decided other people could serve better in a ministry you have a passion to join. You may think . . .

This isn’t anything new. The topic has been explored by countless authors.  or

 Other people have already tried this ministry.

No other writer will say it just like you do. No other person will care for another the way you would. When you write or speak to others, is your voice instructive, comforting, conversational, encouraging, or humorous? Whatever the tone, it rings true as coming from you. Readers are waiting. Your style and voice are enough.

God’s call

Consider the elements God designed to make you who you are. Thumb through the pages of your book. Are memories leaping off the page? Are there smudges in some sections and teardrops in others? Maybe joyful songs rise from some sections. Notice the illustrations of important truths. Pay attention to your perspective on various issues. Do your chapter titles indicate you’ve been changed by the people you’ve met or the places you’ve visited? What wonderful fodder for writing and ministry! You are enough.

Why did God assemble the book of your life and call you to write if not to influence others? Will you leave your book tightly shut to gather dust on the shelf? Or will you open those pages and learn to craft your words and place them in God’s hands for blessing readers?

Dedicate yourself to His call. There are conferences, critique groups, free online training, and other writers to teach you. Best of all, God equips you and promises to guide you. “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

He sees potential because He made you. The world needs your words. You are enough!

*All Scripture verses are ESV.

Please share your thoughts. 

How do you conquer self-doubt about writing or any gift God has given you?

Writing Contest: You Are Enough

Be Encouraged to Encourage

Jeannie Waters14 Comments on Be Encouraged to Encourage

by Evelyn Wells

I’m happy to introduce my first guest blogger! Evelyn Wells is my sweet cousin who recently won an award for her writing. I’m so proud of her and thankful she agreed to share encouragement with us. Her bio follows the post.

Here’s her post:

“You did a great job with your presentation.” “How beautiful your house is, all decorated for Christmas!” “Wow! Dinner is delicious. You’re a great cook.” “Thank you so much for your visit. It brightened my day.”

Don’t we all love to be appreciated? Kind words encourage us, and can make our day; we walk away with a spring in our step and a smile on our face. We have been affirmed. When someone gifts me with words of affirmation, my spirit is lifted and, as a result, I find myself looking for opportunities to affirm and encourage others.

In the Bible, God gives us a mandate to encourage one another. The Greek word for “encourage” is parakaleo, and it appears more than 100 times in the New Testament. While speaking kind words to others is a form of encouragement, another is showing support to those who need it.

There are opportunities all around us we can use to encourage others, such as:

  • Smile and speak to the person behind you in the grocery line.
  • Smile at those you meet on the street or in a hallway.
  • In heavy traffic, let a car merge in front of you.

  • Sit with a visitor in church.
  • Volunteer in a food bank.
  • Take a hand-picked bouquet to a family member who is going through a difficult time.

  • Send cards: Birthday, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day/Father’s Day, Sympathy, Encouragement, Thinking of You, etc. Or better yet, send a handwritten note.

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

                                                                                         –1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV

Encouragers are people who can relate to others in a positive way, and are able to focus on others rather than focusing on themselves. One of the greatest encouragers in the New Testament was Paul. Part of his ministry was writing letters to the churches while he was in prison, so he could encourage them in their walk with the Lord.

Likewise, encouragement is necessary to our walk of faith. When we encourage others, we give hope. This helps them through times of conflict or illness, and encouragement nurtures kindness. Even in the church we find those who desperately need to be encouraged; we may need encouragement as well. If we can encourage at least one person daily, that act of kindness may very well change that person’s life for eternity.

Please share how someone has encouraged you or how you have given hope to another person.

Meet Evelyn Wells, guest blogger

Evelyn is a contributing author to “Heart Renovation: A Construction Guide to Godly Character” (Lighthouse Bible Studies), “Glimmers of Heavenly Light,” (Faith Books & More), “Let the Earth Rejoice” (Worthy Inspired), “Breaking the Chains” (2018 Selah finalist, Lighthouse Bible Studies), and “Just Breathe” (Worthy/Ellie Claire). She is a regular writer for “Refresh Bible Study Magazine.”

Passionate about glorifying God through her writing and speaking, Evelyn enjoys spending time on short-term mission trips, both domestic and foreign. She loves attending Bible Studies and spiritual retreats, and loves having good conversation with friends over lunch or a glass of tea. She is also an avid fan of the Georgia Bulldogs and Atlanta Braves. She can be contacted by emailing her at wellsevelyn5@gmail.com or twitter.

Evelyn enjoys a good book, her two cats, traveling, and especially spending time with her children and grandson.

Holiday Prep: Take a Break First!

Jeannie Waters19 Comments on Holiday Prep: Take a Break First!

At the beginning of each month, I post ideas for meaningful gifts to help us share joy and encouragement with other people. Guess what.

This month, the gift idea is for

Please nestle into a comfy chair and accept this package, beautifully wrapped and bearing a tag with your name on it. Take a deep breath first and lay aside your to-do list for a few minutes. Yes, this present is for you. Ready?

Now pull off the ribbon. Lift the lid and move the tissue paper aside. Is that not the most beautiful gift you’ve seen in ages? What? You don’t see it? The box looks empty?

That’s the beauty of it, my friend. The box is empty by design. When I explain, you’ll love your one-size-fits-all, yet personally-designed, very-much-needed present.

It’s the gift of margins! Yes, margins. My introduction to the word came from my first-grade teacher who taught me to leave nice clean margins on my paper. They create a neat appearance and make the writing more attractive and easier to read. What about margins in our daily calendars?

Margins are bits of unfilled time—with nothing scheduled—for resting, creating, or otherwise enjoying the day. Lately, I’ve read several books, articles, and blog posts about this topic. Maybe the idea of intentionally setting margins is popular because of the fast-paced lives we tend to lead.

It’s tempting to fill the days with countless chores and opportunities and then become frustrated when tasks are left undone or when there’s no time for relaxation.

I’ll confess. I’m a calendar crammer. Even when weeks are full, I slip extra events and chores into tiny pockets of time erroneously thinking I’ll get to all of it. That practice creates stress and frustration I don’t need.

Here’s a better way.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

                                                                                                              –Colossians 3:15 ESV

As followers of Christ, our lives should be overflowing with peace and gratitude, but it’s difficult to appropriate the peace of Jesus when we’re in a frenzy from a jam-packed agenda. In addition to prayer and Bible study, we need times of rest and relaxation.

Two recent conversations led me to rethink the way I plan my time and reminded me of the need for margins as a busy time of year approaches.

My dear friend shared her holiday plan with me. “I’m going to make and freeze a pound cake ahead of time, bake fruitcake cookies, and make nut cookies before family arrives. That’s all I’m going to bake this year. Then, I’ll buy some chocolate goodies and cheese straws. I want to enjoy calm, joyful time with my family instead of being exhausted when they get here. I’m thinking ahead about when to decorate, where everyone will sleep, and which meals I can prepare and freeze the week before.” Wise lady.

Another friend confessed, “I’m dreading the holidays already! Everyone comes to my house and it’s just so much work. I want my family to come, and I’m happy to prepare for them, but I end up exhausted and grouchy.”

Sound familiar? It’s a blessing to serve our family and friends, but it’s also hard work. Thanksgiving opens the door to the Christmas season and the rush is on before we know it. Food, gifts, programs, cards, dinners, company…and the beat goes on.

What can we do to prepare for a joyous, peaceful holiday season? Look into your box again. Pull out those margins and put them into your calendar. It’s refreshing to have time to take a walk, to doodle or thumb through a magazine, to listen to music, to sketch a picture, to read. We need margins in our days, especially prior to the holiday rush. Take one more deep breath. (Surely, we have time for at least two a day, right?)

Like the margins on my first-grade papers, unscheduled time makes our lives neater and more appealing as the joy and peace of Christ fill our hearts and overflow to others. Time with Him is paramount, but adding some margins will help us smile more.

PLEASE leave a comment to help all of us.

Share the way you create margins on your schedule or how you keep Thanksgiving and Christmas full of joy and peace.