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The Gift Of Forgiveness

This is part of the series The Gifts Of The Holidays: Celebrating Thanksgiving And Christmas. Read more from the series!

One of the most overlooked gifts of Christmas is the gift of forgiveness.

The Gifts of Christmas

It’s too easy to get caught up in the commercialization of Christmas is America:

  • The presents.
  • The shopping.
  • The parties.
  • The expectations.
  • The credit card bills.
  • The food.
  • The decorations.
  • The family.

We have managed to turn the focus of Christmas away from Christ and onto ourselves. We’ve made it all about us. What we want. What we want to give. Where we want to go. How we want to celebrate.

But that is not the reason to celebrate.

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Memorize The Sermon On The Mount – Week 45

This week’s passage concludes the section we started last week on the wise and foolish builders.

Jesus has equated wisdom with listening to and obeying his words.

Take a look at the passage in Matthew 7:26-27.

Matthew 7:26-27

 

Last week, we looked at the positive side of the equation, the wise homeowner. This week, we are memorizing the opposite side of the coin, the foolish man.

I’ve had moments where I know I’ve made decisions that fall into this negative category. My goal is to make this happen less and less.

And the key is to be listening to and applying the words of Christ into my life.

Simple.

What areas do you find yourself struggling to listen to Christ? Let me know in the comments.

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The Gift Of Acceptance

This is part of the series The Gifts Of The Holidays: Celebrating Thanksgiving And Christmas. Read more from the series!

Perhaps one of the most craved gifts of Christmas is acceptance.

The Gifts of Christmas

We have such a difficult time with this one, don’t we?

It’s easy to accept those who…

  • Are like us.
  • Have similar interests.
  • Exist in similar circles.
  • We want to be like.
  • Like us.

Fortunately for us, that’s not how God operates.

Imagine if he came to earth to save only the people he liked. Those he didn’t like would have no hope. Those who hated him would be destined for hell. Those who sinned would be out of luck.

That includes you and me.

That’s a hard scenario to imagine, but really, in God’s perfect justice, he would have the right to do just that if he wanted.

Thankfully, he chose to be loving and accepting instead.

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Our Tradition: Family Advent Nights

This is part of the series The Gifts Of The Holidays: Celebrating Thanksgiving And Christmas. Read more from the series!

This year, we’ve started a new tradition: Family Advent Nights.

So far, we’ve done this three times, and my kids love it! I have to admit, I do too…

The Gifts of Christmas

Let me tell you up front that this is not my idea originally. Although we’ve made a few changes that fit our family better, I discovered this idea on the Familyman Ministry blog. This site is an incredible resource for men who want to be the best dads and husbands that they can be. I suggest you check it out.

Here’s the concept. Once a week, for the four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we gather as a family after dinner. We start off with a simple craft. Our first week, the kids crafted a simple woven placemat. The next week, we made wreath ornaments out of buttons and pipe cleaners. This week, we colored gift bags. The crafts are simple, yet fun. I ordered a kit with all four crafts in it from Familyman Ministries. It was extremely inexpensive. See the kit here.

After the craft session, we head out into the living room for some deeper family togetherness. We start off by lighting a candle (or more) on our Advent wreath. While this is burning, we read a passage from the Bible coinciding with the week of Advent we are in. Again, the Familyman website has specific details. My older kids take turns reading parts of the passage, and then we pray.

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The Gift Of Hope

This is part of the series The Gifts Of The Holidays: Celebrating Thanksgiving And Christmas. Read more from the series!

Another gift that God gives to us is the gift of hope.

The Gifts Of Christmas

Hope has always been kind of a vague concept for me. I decided to look it up. Here are a few of the definitions found on dictionary.com:

  • The feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.
  • A person or thing in which expectations are centered.
  • Something that is hoped for.
  • To look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.
  • To believe, desire, or trust.

The first and third definitions don’t really convey much meaning. But the other three really speak to our faith, don’t they?

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The Gift Of Joy

This is part of the series The Gifts Of The Holidays: Celebrating Thanksgiving And Christmas. Read more from the series!

Let’s take a look at another gift that God desires to give us: the gift of joy.

The Gifts Of Christmas

Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness is an emotion; and it comes and goes. Joy is an action. Joy is something that remains steady, no matter what life throws at us.

The angels proclaimed the birth of Jesus to be “good news of great joy” when they announced his birth to the shepherds:

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

The rest of the New Testament gives us a much broader definition of what joy is. Here are a few characteristics:

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Memorize The Sermon On The Mount – Week 44

December is a busy month. Last week was so full that I didn’t even realize that I’d forgotten to schedule this post!

This passage, along with next week, is probably my favorite part of the Sermon on the Mount.

I’m a student. I desire to learn continually. That’s why I read. And that’s why I write. So this passage really speaks to me.

Take a look at the passage in Matthew 7:24-25.

Matthew 7:24-25

As one who is striving to continually learn, when passages speak of wisdom, I tend to perk up.

Like Psalm 111:10:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

Jesus makes a similar statement here. He equates wisdom with obedience to his words.

Knowing this helps to keep exposing my life to his Word a top priority. How about you?

How’s your foundation? Let me know in the comments.