Moments With God.
Twelve Days of Christmas
Day 11
Tuesday, January 4
On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Eleven Pipers Piping
The eleven Faithful Apostles: Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James bar Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas bar James. (Matthew 6:14-16)
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Some Leftover Thoughts From Christmas.
Well, just like that, It's over. I knew it would be like that, I knew that just as fast as it came, we would be wondering how it was over so fast.
What have I learned from this Christmas? I've learned several things that I hope will serve me well in the future, and maybe by sharing them, we can learn together how our Christmases can be more meaningful.
The first thing I learned or re-learned is that our families are special gifts from God. So much of the time we take family for granted. During this season I have lived along side of families who have lost loved ones, or as is the case with some close friends, are trying to understand how such a disease as cancer can ravage the body of their 10 year old son. The best gift I received this year was in a simple 3 ring binder. It was a compilation of information and pictures about our family history. It contained facts and photographs I had never seen before. How special it is to be able to get to know those who have gone before us, and those whom we owe so much.
- Lord, Thanks for those who have come before us.
Make us aware of our heritige and our responsibilities
to those who follow us. Let them find in us
a testimony to Your love and goodness.
The second thing I learned this season is how fortunate we are. On Christmas day following the usual practice of opening gifts at our house, we quickly got around and at 11:00 showed up the the Jackson Interfaith Shelter. The shelter is for the homeless in town, and we were there to help serve Christmas dinner.
- Lord, Remind me to never again complain about what I
don't have, or to be jealous of what others have. You are
so good to us and have provided us with so much more
than we deserve. For those who are not as fortunate
as we are, I pray that they can know and experience Your
love for them, through us as we minister to them. May
they come to know You as their Savior.
The third thing I learned (or was reminded of) is that gift giving and receiving is really blown out of proportion. Honestly, I have trouble with this one every year. When is enough, enough? I enjoy seeing the kids receive gifts that they are not expecting, those things they ask for not expecting to receive. But, I buy my kids pants and socks, etc. all year long, how is it somehow in the Christmas spirit to spend hundreds of dollars just to give them more of these at Christmas time? At one of our family Christmas's my nephew got 15 pair of socks! I really wonder if this is what they had in mind when they brought gifts to baby Jesus?
- Lord, help us to keep things in perspective. You gave
us the ultimate gift. Your son was born so that we
could all experience Your love and Your forgiveness.
Help me not to be so hung up on the gift giving and
receiving each year, but to be reminded of the gift
that You've given to us.
During these days following Christmas I have reflected many times on these things, and I feel confident that I can be a better person because of these things. Sometime in the next 4 or 5 months I'm gonna see something on the shelf in a store and am going to think that it would make a great Christmas gift for someone. Sometime in the next few months I will feel like complaining because I wish I had more money in my checkbook. Sometime, and it always happens, we will be driving along and wish we had that bigger house or that newer home. Sometime in the future, we're going to lose a loved one, and wish we had taken more time to love and share with them. Then I will think back on this Christmas and remember just exactly how good God has been.
- Lord, help me to remember just how good You
treat me! I know I shouldn't need help, but I'm
human, and that's one of my weaknesses.
Thank You for caring, Thank You for being by
my side, when I'm not as close to You as I should
be. Thank You for the lessons learned during
this Christmas season.
AMEN.
Gary Swartzlander
[Psalms 66,67] [Proverbs 2:1-15] [Colossians 3:12-17]
[John 6:41-47]
or suggestions to Yvonne Edwards .
Edited: Dec. 28 8:45 a.m.
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