Birthday of a King

Today was the sweetest of days as we prepared for the birthday of the Christ child. It was filled with some baking, gift wrapping, running last minute errands but most important worship.

Tomorrow will be a truly blessed day as we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world. To help our little church kiddies (and parents) with the festivities I prepared small gift bags of funfetti cake mix (only .89 cents at the store!!), frosting, sprinkles, candle and noise maker. That way they can really celebrate the birthday of the King!

Merry Christmas to you all. May God be with your families as you celebrate this joyous day!

"In the little village of Bethlehem, There lay a child one day

And the sky was bright, With a holy light, O'er the place where Jesus lay.

Alleluia, O how the angels sang! Alleluia, How it rang! And the sky was bright, With a holy light. 'Twas the birthday of a King."

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

During this season, as in every day, we are faced with two choices: focus on Christ and His coming or focus on any and everything else. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the glitz and glamour of the day (Christmas, or any day for that matter) that we forget the one who it is all about.

Each and every year since the time that Jeremy and I came to know the Lord, it seems we weed out more and more 'things' from our Christmas to make room for what really matters. I need to remind myself to not waste my life on trivialities because they will suck away my time and energy for the Lord. Satan would have me spend all my time out shopping or attending any number of parties this season, anything to keep me busy and away from time in worship of Jesus. It's not easy, because the world will have you think the gifts and lights and caroling is what it's all about but that just isn't true. What is true is that we as Christians should be preparing for and anticipating Christ's return- that's what Advent is all about. We celebrate His first coming as the little babe who was born to die for the sins of the world. And we look forward to the day when He comes back as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to rule and reign on earth.

These last few days have been precious as I've studied God's word and reflected on His plan in my life and His plan in the world. We serve an amazing God who had the rescue plan for all humanity planned even before the foundations on the earth. He knew what would happen in Eden. He knew we would need a Savior. And He planned to come down to earth to save us. Christmas is merry because God loves us so much. We have been reconciled to our Holy God through His Son. I pray you too are having a merry Christmas reflecting on the Lord and anticipating His triumphal return!

"Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him" Matthew 2:2

Songs of Christmas; Songs of Truth

It has already begun; the beautiful Christmas songs playing in the stores and on the radio. I'm sure we all have our favorites but last year I realized so many of them have gospel truths smack dab in the middle of them. How cool to have them heard by so many each year!?

{Hark the Herald Angel Sing}
Those angels were harking because a baby boy was born, the baby born to die. As the 2nd verse states, He was ‘veiled in flesh – the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity’ and ‘Jesus, our Emmanuel’. According to Matthew 1:23, Emmanuel is translated ‘God with us’. Jesus Christ, our Emmanuel, the Savior of the world, left His throne and became a man. He left His heavenly home to save us from our sins, which all started in the Garden of Eden. Because that sweet baby was born we can join the triumph of the skies, we can have second birth, and we can be full of peace and joy because God and sinners have truly been reconciled because of the blood of Christ!

{Joy to the World}
I’ve shared before about my tendency to be like Martha when I know I should be more like Mary, so the ‘aha’ moment in this song is the line – “Let every heart prepare Him room”. He has come down to earth to redeem the whole world, if we will but come to Him and accept Him in our hearts. Once you have accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, daily you are relying on Him to give you His strength and wisdom. That is where the Martha syndrome comes into play. The trivialities of life often times seem like the most important things and distract us from God. Especially during Christmas time, there is a tendency to focus on the tree, the presents and the many activities. Jesus' birth is just an after thought. This should not be.. it is His birthday, after all, and you wouldn't have a birthday party for your child and leave your little one at home would you? This carol reminds us to make Jesus at home in our hearts- our first priority over all things. What a great reminder of putting Him first always!

{What Child is This?}
For an onlooker it is natural to ask- who is this child? What's all the fuss about? Scripture tells us of a coming Messiah long before He was born in a manger. There are 300+ prophecies fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ. Some of them were prophecies of things like his family lineage, where he would be born, etc.. So who exactly is He? He is the Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Creator of all things, Great High Priest, Savior of the world, The Resurrection and the life, and the righteous judge. It is inconceivable* that the Creator of the universe would come in the flesh (incarnation= in carne {meat or flesh})

"Hail, hail, the Word made flesh, the babe, the Son of Mary"

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

So now when you hear those old familiar songs playing in Safeway or other shopping center you can smile to know that the gospel is being spread for all to hear!

Rethinking Christmas Cards

I love Christmas cards; receiving and sending them! I dropped ours in the mail this afternoon so by the weekend everyone will have received them. What fun to share the joy of the birth of Jesus with others!

But I always feel bad at the end of Christmas just getting rid of them. Besides recycling them into tags or other crafts, a friend of mine from bible study shared her Christmas card tradition.

She told me that as her and her husband receive the beautiful cards in the mail, they pray over the person who sent it. They keep the cards around during the holidays and once the holidays are over, the cards stay out and at the beginning of the year they pray for them again, one card each day.

I can't tell you how excited I am for us to start this tradition too!

"..Pray for one another" -James 5:16a

'Tis the Season

This has go to be one of the best Christmases in years! No stressful trips to the mall. No waiting in enormous lines to ship packages. Just enjoying the festivities and plays that celebrate our Savior.

It has truly been a blessed Christmas. This is me signing off until after the holidays when I can finally show you my Christmas crafting creations (say that 5 times fast). Merry Christmas everyone and God bless!

{Come Let Us Adore Him}

"How silently, how silently,

The wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of his heaven.

No ear may hear his coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him, still

The dear Christ enters in." -Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

Christmas time is such a blessing. The parties, the treats, and most importantly the celebration of the birth of our Savior. I have to admit that in past Christmases (and even during the rest of the year) I can be distracted with all the fun and merry making that I neglect the very One that this season is all about!

In recent months I have really been convicted of how I get so distracted with the little things of life and the cares of this world that He is left with what little time and energy I have remaining.

In the story about Mary and Martha, Jesus tells Martha essentially to not worry about all the tasks or projects or other things that seemed so important at the time. What was important was spending time with the Lord and listening to His word.

This Christmas I have made an attempt to not get distracted with all the extra little things of life. Although they may be fun distractions, they are still just that, distractions that eat up our interest, time and strength. Courtney over at Women Living Well, is hosting a 'Peace on Earth' December Challenge, to help us refocus on the real important things in life.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." - John 14:27

Gift with Purchase

Since becoming a Christian, Christmas is more meaningful because we get to remember and celebrate the incarnation of Christ. Jesus Christ came on a rescue mission to save us. He came to live the life that we couldn’t and die the death we should. Because of this wonderful news, Christians get to live lives redeemed by Jesus to reflect His glory to the world

In recent months, God has spoken in my heart and told me that we should celebrate Christmas a little differently. Not that giving gifts is wrong, but we can't miss the actual reason for the season. One way to glorify God and bring the focus back on Him this holiday season is to give a gift with purchase. What that means is you give an ornament to the cashier who waits on you, with a bible verse attached to it. In the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, it's easy to forget or neglect those people. This is sure to bring a smile on some checker's face when you give them a gift.

"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." -Isaiah 55:11

Try this new tradition and I know you will enjoy truly celebrating the reason for the season!

'Christmas in July' Week: Freebie Gift Tags

What kind of a 'Christmas in July' blogger would I be if I didn't leave you with any presents?

Now I'm not that talented, but the good people at Eat Drink Chic are, and they have some awesome Christmas gift tag and goodie bag downloads that you can easily print and add to the presents you give to others. And your friends and family will think you are so talented when they see their nicely wrapped gift. Nice trade off, huh!?

Holiday Jumbo Gift Tag

Holiday Mail Stripes Gift Tag

Holiday Reindeer Gift Tag

Holiday Treat Bag

Get to printing because Christmas will be here before you know it!

'Christmas in July' Week: Ball of yarn ornaments

I know, so random, huh!? Our local christian radio station had an add for the Michael W. Smith Christmas show coming here in December so it got me thinking. Then I started humming some festive Christmas tunes (who doesn't love doing that, even in July!?)

Some time ago while blog surfing I stumbled upon these adorable yarn ball ornaments. So while on the topic of the most wonderful time of the year, I made this little tutorial. You can never be too prepared so why not get a jump start on the holidays? :)



Funny side note; since it is July and not December and we don't have a Christmas tree in our house right now, I had to go outside to take pictures on one of the evergreens at the local park. No wonder the other park goers looked at me funny!