Jesus' Birthday

Last year around this time, I read a post by Ann at A Holy Experience that changed the way we do Christmas.

It made perfect sense to me. On my birthday, we don't all exchange gifts. Do you? So I wonder why we exchange gifts on Jesus' birthday.

I read the story to the kids and it made perfect sense to them as well.

Of course, we couldn't wrap presents and put them under the tree for Jesus to physically open Christmas morning. So what could we do?

Jesus said that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him.

So to give to Jesus, we gave to others...and it was the best Christmas ever yet!

You may think of other ways to give and serve others this month but these were our birthday gifts last year (some to be repeated this year and new ones to be added).

We put together hygiene kits for the men at the Coalition which we then had the privilege of handing out on Christmas morning.

We memorized the Christmas story from Luke 2 to recite to the residents of a local local nursing home followed by Christmas carols.

We saved our coins and donated the money we collected to Wycliffe Bible Translators. There is also an option of going through their Gift Catalog to specify where the money is used.

And we let the kids pick gifts from Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog.

There are so many ways to serve others not just at Christmas but throughout the year. Keep your eyes and ears open. Give and it will change your Christmas. Keep giving and it will change your life.

Our focus was so different last year. Getting wasn't what was important. We experienced in spades that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

P.S. We still exchanged gifts with our families because this is our conviction not theirs.

And we decided that because Thanksgiving is about the abundance of blessings God gives us and being thankful for each other, we will give our gifts to each other at Thanksgiving. At the first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims gave gifts to the Native Americans and vice-versa. So this will be our time to exchange presents with each other.

Blessings for Blessings

Luke 6:38 Jesus said,

"Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

I almost cried when we got the mail yesterday. Emma received a package and Jay an envelope. When they were opened they revealed blessings for their blessings.

Some one of you sweet people blessed Emma with a brand new, never before opened Bible. Just like the one she worked so hard for and gave away.

And Jay's wallet is full again with money (more than he gave) that was wrapped in a sweet note which read,

"Jackson, God bless you for helping the children of Haiti." and was signed, "A friend of God's."

Makes me want to cry again. Truly you are a friend of God's!

Thank you!

Two Stories of Giving Hearts...

aka Proud Mama Bragging...

HIS STORY

This week at VBS the kids are bringing money to help children in Haiti. To make it more exciting and inviting the leaders make it a competition between the boys and the girls. The girls won Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday.

Yesterday morning as Emma came into the bathroom she told me Jay was going to bring $28 (all the money he has) to VBS. He had said this the day before but didn't mention it again.

So I went into the office to make sure that he was giving the money for the right reasons. I said, "Jay, are you giving your money today so the boys will win?"

Without a second thought he sincerely said, "No, it's for the kids in Haiti."

So off he went with a pocketful of birthday and allowance money. I told him how special it was that he would give so much and how proud I was of him for helping other kids.

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HER STORY

For 13 or 14 weeks the children's ministry put an emphasis on the kids having personal devotions every day. Each week they gave a tri-fold devotion guide called Treasure Quest, made up by one of the children's leaders, for the kids to follow each day of the week. It was so great for the kids to have this simple guide that they could follow themselves.

Of course, as an incentive there would be prizes at the end of the 13-14 weeks depending on the points earned for devotions completed, verses memorized, bonus questions answered, etc.

Emma had a goal! The highest level of points won a brand new Bible. She has had her Bible for almost 4 years and it is falling apart.

When the awards Sunday finally came (May 24) Emma was one of only a few (out of a couple hundred or more kids) that made it to the top level. She was so excited. She received a t-shirt, pencil, private party at Monkey Joe's with other level winners, and of course her new Bible!

Fast forward to last Saturday. Tina (who lives a couple houses over behind us) was babysitting another friend's daughter, Dominique, for a few days. Her kids and Dominique had come over to play. Emma had never met her before but at some point during their time together she goes upstairs, brings down her NEW Bible and gives it to this girl!! She said she didn't think the girl had a Bible so she gave her hers!

When she told me later that night I hugged her so tight and kissed and kissed her sweet little head!

I told both she and Jackson that they had special rewards in heaven for their sacrificial giving!