The Word that is Enough

This is what all the employees say on the TV show, Undercover Boss, when the boss reveals his true identity and gives them the desires of their heart.

“I don’t know what to say…but thanks.”

Now if a few thousand dollars can bring out that response in a person, what words should the care and love of God create in our mouths…?

I’m speechless.

Aren’t you?

Maybe all we can say is what they say.

Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. (1 Chronicles 29:13, NIV)

Prayer- Dear God, we don’t know what to say…but… thanks, God. Thanks. Amen

New Year’s Blessing for You


May you know nothing but Christ from this day forward.

May you speak warm words and have a warm heart.

May health and long life be your blessing.

May the Lord keep you in his hand yet never squeeze his fist too tightly.

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12, NIV)

Prayer- Father God, thank you that the strength of three (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) travels with us as we journey through life. Amen.

Prayer on Christmas Day

Christmas Day Prayer


I salute you!

There is nothing I can give you which you have not; but there is much that while I cannot give, you can take.

No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in it today. Take Heaven.

No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present instant. Take Peace.

The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet within our reach, is joy.  Take joy.

And so at this Christmas time, I greet you, with the prayer that for, now and forever, the day breaks and the shadows flee away. –Fra. Giovanni, A.D. 1513

Amen

A Difficult Christmas

Christmas is a difficult time for the grieving. Let them grieve in their own way, but let them know you are willing to help them with things like decorating or baking. Take them shopping. Invite them to your holiday functions. Volunteer together at a food bank, collect for a charity or help in a soup kitchen.

Do not tell them to ‘get over it.’ Be willing to sit with them when they cry. Let them talk about their loved one. Send cards or letters. Phone or text often.

Why? Just because you can represent the loving care of Christ to someone who needs it.

My eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you. (Psalm 88:9, NIV)

Prayer-Father, help us help others through their pain, for so often, you have done the same for us. In Christ, Amen.

Kim Says….

A Christmas contest. Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate and Virtual Basket Full of Goodies. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

a-christmas-gift by Petr Kratovich

A Family & Faith Matters Christmas Give-Away!

Enter the Rafflecopter draw below to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card, along with a virtual basket full of goodies:

christmas-gift-tag-red-1by Karen ArnoldLiving Life – One Word at a Time by Janis Cox An e-book with four devotionals followed by questions to help you journal your thoughts (in either PDF, Kindle or e-reader format)

JPG high quality print of a watercolour squirrel by Janis Cox that is in the above ebook – as a .jpg

squirrelweb-ready
Squirrel storing nuts for the winter by Janis Cox. In watercolour.

christmas-gift-tag-green-by Karen ArnoldHeartfelt – 366 Devotions for Common Sense Living by Brenda Wood After losing her husband to cancer, Brenda began to chronicle her thoughts and experiences of what she was going through. She begins with the statement, “By the end of this month, I expect to know my own name.” This sets the tone of the book and guides the reader along with the author on her journey to self-discovery. The result is a book that will bring much comfort to anyone who has lost a spouse – widow or widower.

christmas-gift-tag-blue-by Karen ArnoldWhere Family Meets Faith devotional ebook by Kimberley Payne Written and compiled especially for families, Where Family Meets Faith is a collection of devotionals that show the similarities between the challenges of raising a family and building a relationship with God.

 

Draw ends Monday Dec 23rd at midnight EST.

Click on the link below to go to the Rafflecopter Contest:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Merry Christmas!

About the Authors

Brenda WoodBrenda Wood calls herself the ABC girl because she’s survived the alphabet biggies of abuse, bulimia, and cancer.

Right now she’s working her way through the D’s,  recovering from the loss of her husband. She expecst to conquer the entire alphabet in her life time with the help of her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

She started to write seriously when she learned that journaling could help a person overcome sexual abuse.  Some of those devotionals became the book, Heartfelt Devotionals-366 devotions for common sense living.

Her devotionals appear regularly at http://everydaychristian.com / and http://presbycan.ca /

janiscox-photo2Janis Cox is a wife, mother, grandmother, a sister and friend. She has been married for almost 41 years to a wonderful, caring and patient husband – they have three grown children who are married; they have 5 grandchildren and a new one on the way.

She is a writer, watercolour artist and person who always is involved in doing something. She has her fingers in many pies – but all of them are delicious. A friend once told her that she saw a vision of her – with a whole bunch of coloured balloons and she tried to capture each one of them.

As a former public school teacher she loved to write poems for her kids. With this background she has now published her first illustrated children’s book, Tadeo Turtle.

She runs a group blog Under the Cover of Prayer. She is a member of The Word Guild and Inscribe. You can find her at her website.

Kimberley PayneKimberley Payne is a former college teacher and lover of Jesus and Mr. Sketch scented markers. She combines her teaching experience and her love of writing to create educational materials for children.

Kimberley lives in a village east of Toronto, Ontario Canada where she hikes the trails and writes about family, fitness and faith.

Visit her website and her store on Amazon

FYI


In no particular order, here are some Christmas facts:

  1. Christmas is a blending of the words “Christ” and “Mass”.
  2. X-mas comes from the Greek X which means Christ.
  3. The first Christmas card was created in 1843 England.
  4. “It’s a Wonderful Life” is the most popular Christmas movie.
  5. Christmas didn’t become a national holiday in the U.S. until after the Civil War.
  6. The needles of Christmas trees (pines, firs and spruces) are an excellent source of vitamin C (but I do not suggest you eat any!)
  7. The most popular Christmas ballet is “The Nutcracker”.
  8. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12, NIV)

Now which one is more important?

Prayer- Lord, help us concentrate on the Christmas fact No. 8, the Christ Child. Amen.