Thanksgiving is over, which means it is officially the start of Christmas celebration! I am so very excited to begin listening to Christmas music, decorating, and giving gifts! For weeks I have been thinking of ways to make this Christmas very special and hopefully begin some traditions of our own.
It is your birthday! We are so excited to celebrate that we've taken extra time to get everything prepared. You see, we look forward to your birthday all year. It always passes too quickly, so sometimes we start getting ready a little early. We decorate by putting up lights all around the city. It really is a beautiful thing. There are so many songs that honor your birthday, with new ones being written every year. Young children dress up nice and perform those songs in front of an audience of parents. Each family has their own unique traditions. But there is one tradition that most people agree on: the giving of gifts! Even though we may not admit it, we love receiving gifts as well. Because we love you so much, we spend lots of time and money to give the best gifts. We give these gifts to each other, because it is your birthday. I just feel like maybe we have forgotten something...
Please remember to honor Jesus this year by giving more than material gifts. Don't forget to honor him by reserving the best gifts for Jesus alone. How can we give gifts to Jesus?
The King will answer and say to them 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' (Matt 25:40)
For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. (Matt 25:35,36)
There are so many ways to give to Jesus! Here are a few suggestions:
- Make or buy goodies for your local service men and women
- Pay for the meal or drink for someone at the drive through, a cashier at the store, anyone really
- Sponsor a wish list or single gift for children in need in your area
- Sponsor gifts for elderly people in your community
- Volunteer wrapping or sorting presents through a local organization
- Volunteer at a homeless shelter or food kitchen
- Send animals or monetary gifts to children in need in other countries
- Contribute to a community to provide clean water
- Sponsor a child in need
Some websites to visit are the following:
For you: A giveaway! Leave a comment saying what you have given to Jesus this year for His birthday, and you will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 Target gift card. There is no need to be specific. (I.e. gave to a child in need; volunteered locally; made treats to give away, etc.)The winner will be drawn January 1st, 2014.
This post is not sponsored. There is no purchase necessary to be entered into the drawing, just be creative with how you give. Immediate family members are not eligible to win. Each person will only be entered once. Anonymous comments are welcome, but I need to know your name to put into the drawing (private message, if needed). If you would like to add to the giveaway by providing a prize, awesome! Message me.
