This saddens my heart... because I spent a few years buying and filling presents under the tree for my children. I also told the lie of santa. When I became a born again Christian, I had new glasses on..new eyes to see.. The Lord touched my heart and spoke, Santa is fake but there is a real and true miracle: JESUS! HE ALONE is WORTHY TO CELEBRATE!
Things have changed in my home especially during Christmas.. we went from buying tons of gifts to only a few from 2nd hand stores. We wanted our children to appreciate a gift and not something in a pretty box that was overpriced. This year we decided to just pick 1 gift for each child..I was thinking a dart board for my oldest, a sewing kit for my daughter and my youngest some toy cars that he would like. But this plan has changed...
First I would like to say that when I became a Christian there has been 1 main prayer the Holy Spirit has put on my heart:
Lord Jesus, give my children a passion to serve you, show them how to serve you Lord!
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
My heart is heavy for my children to grow with a passion for others.. to love to give, that it is a gift in itself. I want my children to be a servant for Jesus! I will never forget hearing the man from Gospel for Asia say these words: Esther was not placed in a palace to enjoy luxury but to save her people.. we are also not placed in a rich, country to enjoy luxury...but to save God's people! how true!!
He who gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes [from their want] will have many a curse. Proverbs 28: 27
I came to know GOSPEL FOR ASIA through my church and I love this ministry. We recieved their Christmas catalog and my children and I love looking thru it and reading the stories.. how thankful the people are to recieve chickens or a cow. How these gifts are sharing CHRIST LOVE! There are so many people who do not know who Jesus is.. can you imagine?
As we looked at the catalog my children said, "we do not want our gift.. lets send chickens and rabbits and maybe a mosquito net!!!!" {these nets keep families safe from malaria carrying mosquitos}
Lets burden our childrens hearts for others! Send a gift that can change a family...that could win souls!!! Plant seeds in our children to serve, give and to impact the world!
The enemy cannot stand people who give and deny self, like our King!
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you. Deuteronomy 16: 17
Please take a few moments and watch this short video:
Jesus answered him, If you would be perfect [that is, have that spiritual maturity which accompanies self-sacrificing character], go and sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; and come, be My disciple. Matthew 19: 21
request a catalog or view it online.
Watch videos, show them to your children..
P R A Y with your family!
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2 comments:
I really appreciate the organizations that allow our family to give livestock, etc. to families in need. Thank you for mentioning another good one to research and support.
I also wanted though, to put in a plug for the real St. Nicholas - he did exist and was a godly man and a leader in his church. It is not along the lines of Santa-comes-down-the-chimney but our modern-day recognition of him is in his memory. In our church (Orthodox Christian), we remember him primarily on December 6th each year. Here is a blog post about the real man:
http://tillieisms.blogspot.com/2010/12/ive-mentioned-once-before-that-i.html
Thank you Tillie~I do want to research more about him and teach the history to my children.. :)
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