Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Merry Giftmas?

I absolutely love the holidays, all holidays!  I think Christmas is probably my favorite of the holidays.  Over the weekend we were listening to the Christmas radio station and a commercial came on, they said Merry Giftmas.  What?  It hurt my heart so much.  Is that really what Christmas has become?  Have we ignored the true meaning so much that it isn't even Christmas anymore?

Growing up in the church and now raising my children in the church, we always knew and celebrated the true meaning... Christ's birth.  But this year I really just want to dig deeper.  I want, for my kids and myself, to really press in and celebrate Christ.   I have been determined to find new ways to show my kids that it is all about Christ.

Today I wanted to share some different ways that you can put Christ in Christmas.  Some of these are things my family will be doing and some are things my sweet sisters have mentioned doing.
  1. Take communion before your big Christmas day dinner.
  2. Volunteer for the Salvation Army red kettle program or a shelter.
  3. Make a box or stocking for Jesus and have each family member place a note inside telling of something they want to do to enrich their relationship with Christ.  Read them aloud on Christmas Eve.
  4. Let the kids send balloons (helium filled) up to Jesus with a scripture or prayer attached to it.  It is a gift to Jesus and when it comes down, it can be a witness to someone.  Be sure to pray over them before sending them to Jesus!
  5. Pray about adopting a family to bless with a dinner and/or Christmas gifts.
  6. Visit a nursing home.  They love having visitors.  You could even go caroling there!
  7. Pray for our military men and women and their families who are apart.  Pray about blessing the children of a military family with a gift.
  8. If you give Christmas cards out to the mailman, teller at the bank, neighbor or others, add a scripture and let them know you are praying for them.  Be sure to follow through with your prayers.
  9. The holidays can be hard for some who may have lost a loved one or are alone.  Invite them over for a special dinner, even if not on Christmas day.  Let them know you are thinking of them.
  10. If you know a single parent, offer to babysit so they can go Christmas shopping.
Remember that when we do for others, we are blessing Christ. 

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"  Matthew 25:40

These are just a few ideas.  Please comment below with how you keep Christ in Christmas.  Let's make Christ our number one this holiday season.

Sweet Blessings~
 

10 comments:

  1. These are amazing ideas. I am so thankful that we raised you and your sisters & brother to really know WHO Christ is! Christmas was NEVER about what but always about Who! God is so special and I am ever thankful that He is my Lord & Savior! Let's do everything we can to keep Christ in CHRISTmas!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Amen Jenifer! You and I are very much on the same page where it comes to how much of society is trying to focus on the commercial aspect of this Blessed Celebration, instead of on the Holy Birth of our Savior! This was a wonderful list of ideas, and thank you so much for posting them. Have a Blessed Day!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What wonderful suggestions. Just doing one of these would bless the Lord but just think what two or three would do. I have made a cake or bought one that says Happy Birthday, Jesus. Even though this isn't doing something for someone else it is telling Him it is a day of celebration for him as every day should be. Blessings to you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  4. We need to make it a point to keep our eyes on Jesus all the time. He is the reason we celebrate anything. I want to keep Christ as the center of Christmas. I think my 13 year old son and I are going to get gifts for teenagers who normally wouldn't get anything for Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow I love those suggestions! I really like the stocking with everyone putting a note to Jesus! Thanks for that! I agree when I listen to the secular radio stations that continue to make it all about us... I want to be in awe of God, stunned by the manger and amazed at what happened in the manager this year...
    Great post!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. PS...all your favorite books listed in your library are my all time favorites too!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kelli, that is awesome that we like the same books. :) I cannot wait for Lysa TerKeurst's Made to Crave comes out next month.

    Lisa, I know I told you before but I LOVE that idea! Teens in the foster care system, through the salvation army and other programs, always get left out. That is a great way to bless others!

    ReplyDelete
  8. "Merry Giftmas"... I'm still hung up on the fact that all we hear now is "Happy Holidays!" Or... when someone writes x-mas. Ugh! Thank you for sharing the great ideas for keeping Christ in Christmas!
    Blessings,
    Heidi

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love these ideas, specifically the one about the stocking for Jesus! I've heard of some families only giving three gifts to their children because that is how many Jesus recieved.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I really love these ideas,I never thought of communion at home with my family- how wonderful to share this together!
    Thank you for your post,
    hugs
    In His Joy,
    C

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by and leaving your thoughts, I love hearing from you.