Living and Giving (Up)

Sometimes you get to live the dream... 

sometimes you give up the dream and pass it on to another...

Today, when I transport my friend to the beauty salon,

I will pack these two books

to give to her hairdresser

who I've come to learn lives in an old house in the country.

As much as I have enjoyed the "dream",

I realize it is not realistic at this stage of my life.

And so, I pass on the "fuel" to another.

***

This is a HUGE life lesson for me.

Something that I am slowly learning

and beginning to put into motion

in quiet, simple ways.

Cut and Fold

Rather than slipping the gift card into a greeting card,

I recycled a greeting card to make a box to fit the gift card.

(I've seen one before, but I'm not sure I've tried my hand at one until now.)

I googled to find a pattern and found it delightfully easy to construct!
***
I was doubly pleased when I turned the box top over
and found the Christ Child in its center--
as though I'd made an effort to place Him there...
I hadn't.
But I AM determined to keep Him as the focus
in my personal life and celebrations this season.
I am well aware that it doesn't just "happen"
as easily as it did with the box top!
 

Advent - The Lookout

"Be on the lookout for a little something at your door soon." 

I was so surprised by this message from a blogger friend!

As I thought about the message,
a verse from the Bible came to my mind--words of Jesus:

"Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, 

and I will give to each person according to what they have done." ( Rev. 22:12)

ADVENT!

Be on the lookout.

He IS coming soon!

***

It DID come.  A pillow! 

I had selected this design in a give-away my friend had sponsored.

I was NOT the winner.  I have NO idea what prompted my friend to gift me,

which reminded me of Elizabeth's words 

when Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus, visited her:   

"But why am I so favored...."  (Luke 1:43)

And that pretty much sums up another major biblical concept.

GRACE!

Friends, be on the lookout for a little something at YOUR door.  Soon!

Christmas Eve

 I received a sweet and very thoughtful gift this afternoon...

 I'm humbled with the careful selection by a special friend 

 who combined three elements that bring me so much pleasure: pottery,  blue hue,
and a Nativity theme.

After an early Candlelight and Carol Service at our church this evening

we'll return home for a quiet night together.

Tomorrow we'll celebrate Christmas with my parents.

Our children will come later this week for the BIG family celebrations...

Merry Christmas to all who enter this post.

Leave and Live with a Christmas Heart.

To Give is Happier...

"... remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” 

(Acts 20:35)

"You'll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, 'You're far happier giving than getting.'" (Acts 20:35, The Message)

A year ago, I thought keeping all my wrapping paper in this (thrift-store-bought) shopping cart would be a nifty idea.  I envisioned myself wheeling it out and around to wherever I decided to wrap.  Now I see it's hard to keep all the rolls inside it tidy.  I need to find a different storage system (or sew a liner for the cart -- not likely to happen).  Anyhow, I've pulled out the rolls of wrapping paper and wall paper  that I think will "work" for Christmas wrapping this year.  I'll retrieve the gifts from the trunk of my car (where I've been stashing 'em), check the scotch tape supply,  light the candles, play some carols, and experience as I wrap that:

"To give IS happier than to receive". 
(Acts 20:35, J.B. Phillips translation)

One down...and miles to go before I sleep!

Wrapped Up in Love

Let me be clear. 

I have not wrapped ONE Christmas gift yet.

But when it comes to wrapping, 

I'm pretty sure I'll use one or more of the ideas

that I saw HERE this morning--
very likely one involving plain brown paper.

 I recommend this post highly if you need some gift-wrapping inspiration!

And now, the words to a song--one of my favorite Christmas ones...

Do YOU remember Evie singing it years ago?  

I have a Christmas birthday, and I would like this Christmas song

sung or played at my funeral (if Jesus doesn't come before I die)...
Just look at the last 8 lines!  And look at Him!  Worship and Honor Him today!

Special Delivery
♥ click on title to hear it ♥

Never was anyone like Him, 

never will one be the same
Tiny babe, an Infant King, Savior, 

we worship and honor the power of His name.

Chorus:

He came special delivery, wrapped up in love, 

bound by a promise, sealed by a dove
And filled with the spirit, carried by grace, 

you knew where He was goin', by the look on His face

Where He went, Love was there also, 

where He was, Love showed the way
Those who saw, knew He was holy, 

and I see what they saw to this very day

And when I'm called I will go gladly, 

I will not grieve for the past
For I know where I'll be going, 

and I will be going to see Him at last.

I'm goin' special delivery, wrapped up in love, 

bound by a promise, sealed by a dove
And filled with the spirit, carried by grace, 

you know where I am goin', by the look on my face.

L: http://able2know.org/topic/90631-1

Above and Beyond

The stack may not look so big compared to what some churches have collected,

but to me, this is a miracle.  I really didn't think our goal was realistic.

It represents almost 1 shoebox for every 2 people who attend our church (children included)!

Several in our small congregation are currently unemployed...

but not only was the goal met, it was surpassed!

Operation Christmas Child is a project that will place gifts into the hands of children

who may not receive another gift at Christmas-time.  These gifts will be accompanied by a gospel message and a link to Christians in their communities.

What did I learn as gifts were collected in our church?

• My faith is too small
• God WILL supply all our needs
• Little is much when God is in it
• Think bigger
• Expect more
• Give a little bit more than seems feasible
• I belong to an incredible community of faith, locally and world-wide
• and SO much more! 

"And God will generously provide all you need. 
Then you will always have everything you need

and plenty left over to share with others."  (2 Corinthians 9:8)

How Reassuring Is THIS?

The will of God will never take you,
  where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,
  where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
  where the army of God cannot protect you,
  where the hands of God cannot mold you.

The will of God will never take you,
  where the love of God cannot enfold you,
  where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,
  where the peace of God cannot calm your fears
  where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.

The will of God will never take you,
  where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
  where the Word of God cannot feed you,
  where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
  where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.

This morning, I needed some reassuring.  

Current circumstances don't support this, but I know it's true

I'm banking my LIFE on it!  On Him, actually.

(Try reading it aloud, substituting "me" for "you"!)

I'm sorry that I copied this without copying the source.

Let me know if you know its origins, please.

Some people may regard my recent "finds" at my favorite thrift stores
as small, but I consider them very real and personal tokens
of the mercy and kindness of God to me. 
Some of them will find their way into "friendship gifts"
-- tied to a jar of honey or holding some mini-muffins.

Good and Perfect Gifts

A special friend stopped in to give me this Christmas gift.  I was doubly happy to receive it because it was painted by her mother!

When our outdoor temperature rises a bit, I plan to take a walk around the house and outbuildings to find the "perfect" spot for it.






I love every single DETAIL in the scene!  I have it propped up in a prominent INDOOR spot where I can just sit and smile at it for awhile...

I confess to listening to Rush Limbaugh occasionally. I always chuckle when I hear him say "with talent on loan from God". The fact is, that is true!  Our talents ARE God-given and are "on loan" from Him!







I celebrate the talent God has given my friend's mother and the generosity of my friend. I'm renewed in my desire to use the talents I have been given to bring pleasure to others as theirs have done to me.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no fickleness, neither shadow of turning.

(James 1:17)

My Brother, My Friend

We celebrated his 60th birthday yesterday--all my siblings & their spouses, my father and mother.  The  celebration lasted all day.  A meal at noon was "bookended" by lots of conversation, a few games and unlimited snacks!

This is the only picture I have to prove there WERE women in attendance--my sister-in-law whom I had not met until I showed up to participate as a bridesmaid in their wedding over 35 years ago!  How weird is that?

I like this picture taken early in the day.  I noticed all the men have their hands in their pockets as they listen to my brother, typically engaged in an explanation of a concept or adventure... By the way, one seldom sees ANY of these men with their hands in their pockets!  All of them are creative, active, hands-on men.

In lieu of a birthday card, I compiled a list of 60 memories I had of my brother.   Explanations and much laughter surrounded the public reading, and many MORE memories surfaced.  I could easily produce another list for his 100th birthday!  He said it was the best gift he received.

What ideas have YOU come up with to appropriately 
(and inexpensively) "gift" a person on their birthday? 

Can You Keep a Secret?

"Merry Christmas from your South Scipio Church Family" reads the gift tag.  Individual candy canes will be handed out to all the children after their Christmas program this Sunday morning. (Can you believe the variety that is available!?)

The gifts are simple and inexpensive this year.

Does YOUR church or parish distribute gifts to the children?  Is there a traditional gift, or what types of gifts have been given in the past?