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25 days of simple christmas

25 days of simple christmas, Simply...Living For Him, the gift of jesus

Celebrate the GIFT!

an oldie… but goodie…Repost from 2013



Celebrate HIS Gift. His Indescribable GIFT.

For many, many years…I heard about Christ, but my with my ears only.

My heart was not penetrated.

I heard the Gospel, went to church, lived life…

Then, I strayed from it all for awhile…because the Truth had not yet set me free… (You can read more of my story here)

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John8:32

But one day, it hit me.


Christ was BORN, LIVED, and DIED for MY sins.

When the truth finally went from my ears to my heart… to my soul…

it all changed.

I truly received the gift.  I truly understood the depths of it.


The Truth.

 

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

 

That without Him, I would not spend eternity with Him in Heaven.


That the Bible speaks the truth of life to us all.

All of my questions began to be answered in the Bible.
He speaks to us there.
If we listen, and truly hear it.


So it was no longer words, it was life.
It was no longer words, but it was Truth.
It was no longer dark, it was LIGHT.

When I truly received the gift and didn’t just say with words that I believed, I was blown away by God.


And I continue to be each day.

I was reading the story yesterday, of Jesus appearing to His disciples after His resurrection:

“As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;  but they were kept from recognizing him.
He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
 
They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”…
 
…” When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.  They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

  They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together  and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”  Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.”

 

After I read this, I had goosebumps. I realized that was me. And it is so true of so many!

The disciples had Jesus right in front of them! He walked with them, talked with them and they did not recognize Him.

Oh…that was me. 
Was it you?
Is it you?

He was walking right next to me…even into the pits of life at some points.
HE was there,
But I did not recognize Him!
He went with me into the pits.
He went with me everywhere.


But I did not recognize him.



“Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him,”

I woke up. I saw Him. It all became clear.

Without HIM there is no life. No eternity, no heaven…


I can hardly stand the thought of anyone I know perishing without accepting that truth.

So this Christmas I am praying, with all my might, that all would recognize Him.
Let the Truth penetrate their ears, and fill up their hearts, and awaken them to new life.

 There is NO GREATER GIFT!



That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9

Do you believe? Do you trust to let the Truth set you free?

Humbly admit you can NOT earn salvation without Him.  Not one of us is good enough. Repent. Ask Him into your heart, and let it be changed.


It is the greatest gift!

I Wish You a Very Merry Christmas

You are ALL a GIFT to me.

I never expected to be in this place with my blog….but I am so blessed to be.


I love you all and pray for a Christmas full of love and JOY for each one of you!

Thank you for reading, and I look forward to a new year of more encouraging, fellowship, and authentic relationships…

 
Celebrate the GIFT you have received!

© copyright 2012 – All rights reserved

SimplyLivingforHim

December 12, 2016 by
25 days of simple christmas, christmas memories, fun, simple memories

25 Days of Simple Christmas-Make Memories!

Welcome to the 25 Days of Simple Christmas!  Each day I will be posting an idea about keeping the holidays simple- so that we can focus on Christ and the real meaning of Christmas!

While Christmas is such a special day, so much of the joy gets lost in the busyness.  

Each day I will be writing about a simple way to celebrate the season.  To focus on family, joy, and memories, without the elaborate extras that can bring added stress. Simple can be more meaningful if it gives us more time to focus on the huge GIFT we are awaiting-Jesus Christ, our Savior.



One thing to keep in mind during Christmas season is that you are making memories.  Things that will be ingrained in your child’s mind for a very long time.

Think back to your favorite Christmas memories.  I bet most of them did not involve material things.

My fondest memories were of time with my family-cousins, grandparents, and relatives.  Laughing and joking…always having a fun time at holiday parties.

This cookie tin was my grandmother’s.  Every year I remember chocolate chip cookies filling that tin.  And that tin was there when Christmas came, or whatever special occasion it was…

I can’t pull that tin out without thinking about those memories.


And when I fill it with cookies, it makes me feel warm…

I try to remember that what I am doing each moment matters-
Do I want my kids remembering mommy always stressing about the housecleaning, or mommy running around outside playing soccer? (and boy am I terrible at it-always gives them a laugh)

Do I want them to remember me on the computer or in the Bible (self-convicting here)

Do I want them to remember me be stressed over finances and Christmas gifts? Or surrendering it ALL to the Lord and trusting Him to provide? Remembering me on my knees, faithful.


*Disclaimer-I am working on these things.  It is not easy!

Yet…
What we do matters.

Our children are a gift and have such a short time with us, that we must make the most of it.

I pray for making memories that will last and ones that will be pleasant.

Children will remember feeling safe and loved, and having fun.

God’s love will be refleceted.

So amidst the busyness, take time to slow down and create memories.

Last year we made a gingerbread house.  We had one of those kits, and we set out for a family night to put it together.

Well, half way through we got crazy– my husband starting taking the icing and painting mustaches on the kids faces, and taking pictures.


We were laughing so hard.


So that year, did we end up with a beautiful decorated gingerbread house? No way…but we DID have memories.

These are the things that shape children-feeling secure in the family and loved.

Simple memories.



 Please Join These Bloggers in
their 25 Days of Christmas Series:

25 Days of Christmas: Home for the Holidays @ Graceful Abandon 

25 Days of Easy Christmas Crafts for Toddlers & Preschoolers @ Sidetracked Sarah 

25 Days of Christmas Traditions @ Sharing the Journey 

© copyright 2012 – All rights reserved

SimplyLivingforHim

December 23, 2011 by
25 days of simple christmas

25 Days of Simple Christmas-

Welcome to the 25 Days of Simple Christmas!  Each day I will be posting an idea about keeping the holidays simple- so that we can focus on Christ and the real meaning of Christmas!

While Christmas is such a special day, so much of the joy gets lost in the busyness.  

Each day I will be writing about a simple way to celebrate the season.  To focus on family, joy, and memories, without the elaborate extras that can bring added stress. Simple can be more meaningful if it gives us more time to focus on the huge GIFT we are awaiting-Jesus Christ, our Savior.



Simple prayer for Christmas…

During the Christmas season, it is best to remember among all of the busy times, as well as all of the decor, shopping, and stuff…that the most important gift anyone can receive, is to know of God’s greatest gift.





Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. 2 Corinthians 9:15

I pray my home is a place where that is felt. Where the love of God permeates every corner…

So while we may have humble decor, and modest trimmings…
Our hearts are HUGE and bursting with love.

It is a place where people can stop over {unannounced} and will be welcomed in, offered refreshments, and conversation.

Where my agenda takes second place to making someone feel welcomed.

It is a place where I have no pricey things to boast…
Only to boast in the treasures within…my family…

We don’t have a huge light display outside…but we have the true light that shines in our home…
and may that light point others to Him…

We aren’t shopping for the latest gadgets or big ticket items.  We are giving out homemade gifts, and sending up lots of prayers every day for our loved ones.

We have not the neatest, most organized home on the block…or the fanciest…

But we have fun and creativity in each room.  There is always someone creating something in the kitchen- or  working on a craft…or writing and drawing.

We have fun, we live…

but most of all, we love.

I pray for my home to be a gift to all who enter, whether it be at Christmas or any time of year.
It is a place to feel love-the love we have to give, because it was so freely given to us.


I thank God for bringing me out of the dark and into the light.

May my home be filled with that light this season.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
John 8:12 (KJV)


 Please Join These Bloggers in
their 25 Days of Christmas Series:

25 Days of Christmas: Home for the Holidays @ Graceful Abandon 

25 Days of Easy Christmas Crafts for Toddlers & Preschoolers @ Sidetracked Sarah 

25 Days of Christmas Traditions @ Sharing the Journey 

© copyright 2012 – All rights reserved

SimplyLivingforHim

December 22, 2011 by
25 days of simple christmas, chocolate covered oreos, chocolate homemade gifts

25 Days of Simple Christmas-Cover it in Chocolate!

Welcome to the 25 Days of Simple Christmas!  Each day I will be posting an idea about keeping the holidays simple- so that we can focus on Christ and the real meaning of Christmas!

While Christmas is such a special day, so much of the joy gets lost in the busyness.  

Each day I will be writing about a simple way to celebrate the season.  To focus on family, joy, and memories, without the elaborate extras that can bring added stress. Simple can be more meaningful if it gives us more time to focus on the huge GIFT we are awaiting-Jesus Christ, our Savior.

OK, today we are going to talk about a simple but delicious way to make holiday treats!



Cover it in chocolate!

So, my good friend Arrie,  {and fellow Pinterest obsessor friend} came over this week to catch up, and she being the craftiest, and most creative baker, brought us some yummy treats.

One of my very favorites were chocolate covered mint Oreos! Yum!  She also made some adorable chocolate covered marshmallows on a stick with candy cane topping, and packed them in very cute little gift bags.

So today, the kids and I set out to copy, make treats, just like Arrie!

Arrie told me her motto is, “if it doesn’t move, cover it in chocolate!”
Seriously, what a simple way to make homemade treats-and they are delicious and beautiful.  There isn’t necessarily the time and ingredients of baking cookies, and they are creative and different.

Today we made chocolate covered Oreos (mint Oreos). We covered some in white chocolate and drizzled them with dark chocolate, and then we made some covered in dark chocolate and drizzled them with white chocolate.  For a festive look, you can add food coloring to the white chocolate for drizzling and drizzle red and green as well!

We also covered marshmallows.  We covered some in white chocolate and then rolled in crushed candy cane. We covered some in dark chocolate and rolled in crushed Heath toffee crunch. We also covered some in milk chocolate and rolled in crushed graham crakers. Like s’mores on a stick!

Other ideas can be pretzels…again, you can roll them in toppings, drizzle with opposite chocolate, etc. The possibilities are endless.

Package them up in pretty gift bags, and you have a great gift.

Today we delivered some on a Christmas plate to our neighbor. We also had some unexpected friends stop over this afternoon, and I had some bags pre-made, so I was able to send them home with some treats!


I love that about this time of year. Sharing treats, and they don’t have to be elaborate. 

And besides, everyone loves chocolate!



 Please Join These Bloggers in
their 25 Days of Christmas Series:

25 Days of Christmas: Home for the Holidays @ Graceful Abandon 

25 Days of Easy Christmas Crafts for Toddlers & Preschoolers @ Sidetracked Sarah 

25 Days of Christmas Traditions @ Sharing the Journey 

© copyright 2012 – All rights reserved

SimplyLivingforHim

December 21, 2011 by