Dear Friend,
When the holiday pressure mounts,
and it will,
and you feel overwhelmed,
and you might,
just watch again and again
and He won’t
be lost in the crush of this CHRISTmas.
May I join you in viewing this must see video, again and again, every week from now until December 25th?
It’s worth revisiting… so Jesus is tuly celebrated this Christmas.
(To view this must-see video online)
(Feel free to pause the music in the sidebar– my humble apologies)
Our story of finding courage to leave the gifts and give so much more, from the archives…
It began, as twists in life’s road often do, with an innocent question. A child’s question at bedtime, the moon looming large outside the window. A question that rang in our ears, pierced our hearts, and lingered long after the moon swung away.
“What does Jesus get for His birthday?”
The words hung.
I scrambled. A cake? Our love? Yes, well and good.
But the question echoed, penetrated. And the child rolled over again on his pillow and probed, “If we get wrapped presents for our birthdays, real sacrifices from people who love us …. than why don’t we do that for Jesus?”
Did Jesus deserve less of a birthday celebration? No… more, much more.
So that is where it began, the kernel that grew in our hearts, the beginning of the curve in our road. For us, we came to see Christmas as simply Jesus’ birthday. The children (with birthday celebrations of their own, and small gifts to celebrate God’s grace of a New Year) insisted: the birthday gifts are all for Him.
During the last two weeks of Advent, we gather daily, anticipating, excited, keen, to select gifts for our King.
“Anyone think we should get a pair of rabbits today?”
“I was thinking mosquito nets. Two. I wouldn’t want to die of malaria.”
“If we buy a seed packet for a family, our gift is tripled. Did you read the story on page 25 about what a difference it makes for an orphan family to have seeds? The little girl said, ‘Life is much better with food.’”
“Why are you crying, Mama?”
“Oh, just thinking how life really is much better with food…”
When we give to the least of these…. we are giving to you, Jesus.
Happy, happy birthday, sweet Baby.
Thinking of birthday gifts for Jesus?
Harvest of Hope –with Partner’s International
World Vision Gift Catalogue
Gospel for Asia Gift Catalogue
Samaritan’s Purse Gift Catalogue
Our family would love to join yours over at The Advent Conspiracy: give Presence this year.
Woship fully. Spend Less. Give More. Love All.
(video HT: thoughtful Teena, quote HT: Tonia)
Photo:Our manger straw growing for the Birthday Babe
