what present are you looking for this Christmas?

Well, here we go again! another sermon!
Nope! just some thoughts I had this morning that I would like to share with you- I think that so many of the things I've received from the Lord, are very simplistic but have had alot of impact on my life, and especially, on my kids and now grand kids.
Little lessons. I was going to write a book once for Moms and their children and label it "Simple Truths". For truly, simple truth is what we need.
So, I thought this a.m. How can 'I' bring more of Christ into this Christmas? Our pastor has asked us that same question lately.

Well, maybe I could write this, or that, etc. Now I'm thinking of a title 'what present are you looking for this Christmas?'

You know, as a child I was always wondering what would be under that tree of ours. I remember one Christmas being heartily disappointed, for I found the key that unlocked the door to a storage room in our garage. That room held the presents to go under our tree. My Christmas was ruined one year, from my snooping, and if I hadn't of lied to my Mom, hers would have been as well.

Our Mother loved surprises and she loved to surprise us on Christmas. Christmas was the time we would get the things we needed. Pajamas, winter shoes, coats, slippers. We received a doll or toys, but mainly, we received the things we needed. Mine were all in blue- my younger sister's in pink, and the race was on Christmas day to see who could open their present first.
Anyway, this was definitely the favorite time of the year in our home.

Our home didn't always reflect the love of Christ, but it seems that Christmas certainly brought with it more of the Lord's love to our family.

Santa Claus was a very important figure in our home. My dad gave my mom a new Santa Claus every year to add to her collection. So, he was indeed a jolly old man that filled our 'wish list', or so we thought. Santa's an ok guy. Alot of fun, but
I know that my mother, a Christian, valued something more at Christmas. Christ.

We kids learned the true Christmas story. We came to know just why we were supposed to celebrate Christmas. As we grew up, we saw that some did not value the significance paid to Christ's birth as our family did, but, that was ok. The seed had been planted and grown in us, and no one would steal this present away.
Christmas trees- holly- manger sets- angels- all the lovely lights and Christian music were the norm for us growing up. Never did we think of it as a 'pagan holiday'. The love of Jesus was certainly poured down upon our family. Thoughts of despair, ingratitude, unthankfulness, unforgiveness, malice, self-pity, were all driven away. It was a special time of the year to pay homage to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. My mom even had my dad make a huge display
for her yard. It was an opened Bible with the words "For unto us a Savior is born, which is Christ the Lord." My dad also made three choir boys standing near the Bible and mom played Christmas music. It was very effective. So my point is, that although we received presents and enjoyed Santa Claus, we knew that receiving what the Lord was giving us kids was much more satisfying.
Our home was a home of peace during that special season. Love was shown in so many ways.
My dad at that time, was not serving the Lord. My mom was trying as best she could to bring down Christ's love to my dad and of course, all her family. She witnessed the love of Christ to all she knew until she passed away at 92 last January.
This will be our first Christmas without her, but I know that her children will know that the most important gift we can receive this Christmas will not be under the tree. The best gift we will receive is having our Lord's name close.
Maybe that's why so many do not want to and even refuse to say the name Christmas.
More of Christ, the Christmas tree,"Merry Christmas", all point to our risen Lord.
How can we glorify Him by saying 'happy holidays' at this special time of the year?
We have been given the best gift anyone could ever receive. God's love. His Son Jesus Christ making a way for us to receive forgiveness for our sins, and have eternal life with our Lord on High. Who knows how much longer we can celebrate this special season?
We need to share this with our children, for who knows what they might encounter as they grow? Will they experience the true gift of this special time of the year? Will they be able to know and understand and receive it for themselves? Will they be able to pass it on to their families?

"Father in Heaven, thank you. Thank you that although our family had much conflict and disappointment through many years of our lives, one of the tools you used to minister Christ to us was Christmas. I believe that Father. I believe that in this weary world of ours, to have a time set aside to remember the birth of your Son Jesus into this sinful world, is so important.
We should spend quality time with you each day of our lives Lord, but sometimes we get so busy with other things. Other demands. Christmas is one of those special seasons that makes us think about your son. Or so it should be.
If people take out the name 'Christmas' and celebrate all the commercialism of it, what would be the value of it all? Buying gifts we cannot afford?
Lord, please, keep your name above all others in our lives. Keep your name alive in our hearts, and help Christmas to be a special celebration in our homes. I thank you for the gift of your son Jesus Christ. The most important gift we
could ever receive. Thank you for giving it to me, and for my mother passing down her gift of faith in you, to our family. Of all the presents she could have wrapped and given to us kids, the love of Christ freely given, was the most important one of all. Thank you Lord."

Psalms 75: "We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your NAME is near,
Men tell of your wonderful deeds."
Psalms 77: "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds."
Luke 8:16: (Christ's words) "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light....whoever has will be given more, whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."

by the way...my Agnostic father...came to know and love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ the
last twenty something years of his life.
" MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!"




while looking for photos of nativity scenes, i found this article
Washington State Capital Allows Anti-Christian Sign Next To Nativity Scene
Atheist in Olympia, Washington have unveiled an anti-Christian placard in the state Capitol next to a Christian Nativity scene. The placard, sponsored by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, says – in part – “There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”
Since the Nativity scene is only a symbol with no written explanation, some are asking why the Atheists were allowed to display a placard attacking religious belief in writing. Many are justly offended by the blatant attack on their faith.
FOX News reports:
“On Monday, the Nativity scene and atheist sign were installed alongside each other in a hallway between the state Senate and House chambers, separated by a large bust of the state’s namesake, George Washington. . . .”
It is interesting that the two displays are separated by a bust of George Washington. Perhaps we might glean some insight into how he would understand this conflict from his personal writings. Here is a portion of one of Washington’s personal prayers:
“O Most Glorious God, in Jesus Christ, my merciful and loving Father; I acknowledge and confess my guilt in the weak and imperfect performance of the duties of this day. I have called on Thee for pardon and forgiveness of my sins, but so coldly and carelessly that my prayers are become my sin, and they stand in need of pardon.
“I have sinned against heaven and before Thee in thought, word, and deed. I have contemned Thy majesty and holy laws. I have likewise sinned by omitting what I ought to have done and committing what I ought not. I have rebelled against the light, despising Thy mercies and judgment, and broken my vows and promise. I have neglected the better things. My iniquities are multiplied and my sins are very great. I confess them, O Lord, with shame and sorrow, detestation and loathing and desire to be vile in my own eyes as I have rendered myself vile in Thine. I humbly beseech Thee to be merciful to me in the free pardon of my sins for the sake of Thy dear Son and only Savior Jesus Christ who came to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Thou gavest Thy Son to die for me.
“Make me to know what is acceptable in Thy sight, and therein to delight, open the eyes of my understanding, and help me thoroughly to examine myself concerning my knowledge, faith, and repentance, increase my faith, and direct me to the true object, Jesus Christ the Way, the Truth, and the Life. . . .” (from a 24 page authentic handwritten manuscript book dated April 21-23, 1752)