Quote from Forum Archives on December 11, 2002, 1:17 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Today's message comes from the weekly Sowing Seeds of Faith
devotional series authored by my friend Larry Davies.

As I first mentioned a week or so ago, this is the season of
preparation, and it's called Advent for that reason. We're
preparing ourselves to receive Christ in our hearts, either for
the first time, or we are renewing our minds, and remembering all
that Christ has done for us.

Today's message is about the real reason for the season. It is
a continuation - part three - of the message Larry started a
few weeks ago. This series continues that discussion. We have
already discussed what we know about Advent - it's all about
Christ. Larry's series, though, takes a slightly different
slant. He describes our role, our response, as we consider the
things that Christ has done for us.

MY PRAYER...
Holy God and Righteous Father, give me a passion for Jesus
and a heart that knows Him in every way, in word, deed, and
concern. I ask that you would use this series of messages to
help us respond to You and to one another in appropriate ways
that honor you completely. In Christ I pray. Amen.

Your Brother in Christ, Brian

____________________________________________________________
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Sowing Seeds of Faith...

Part Three: "And the Real Reason for the Season
Is...?" Larry Davies

To read part one and two click here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/ChristmasGiving.htm

Two weeks ago, I shared a plea from a family asking for help.
Christmas can be a visible reminder of who receives generously
and who gets little or nothing! Christmas was never meant to be
that way. Last week we shared a few ideas on how to keep Christ
in Christmas. We began a "Christmas Child" fund which enabled
Sowing Seeds Ministry subscribers to provide Christmas for four
families in need.

That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the
village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of
the Lord appeared among them and the radiance of the Lord's
glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened but the
angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you
good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior--yes, the
Messiah, the Lord--has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city
of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find
a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!"
(Luke 2:8-12)

+ "There were times when I got caught up with the madness of
Christmas, the lights, presents, getting into debt, trying to
buy everybody a gift. But I have gotten older and the true
meaning of Christmas has changed. I don't worry about not having
a gift to buy. With so much uncertainly today, we should
concentrate more on giving, and less on receiving." -- Cynthia

+ "I grew up in a rather large and famous church around here.
So, I called and asked if there was a family that could use some
help and fellowship. They had no idea what I was talking about
but connected me with the pastor in charge of "that type of
thing" and his office didn't know of one single family, student,
or elderly person that fit the bill either. Something is wrong
with that picture. I know there are companies working their
employees one week on and then a week off. That makes for tight
times. I know others have lost their job completely and still
others have health problems, or are widows... I still can't
believe that a church the size of mine could not help. Have we
forgotten how hard the holidays can be on folks?" -- Rebecca

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others--the
armies of heaven--praising God: "Glory to God in the highest
heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors." (13-14)

+ "We do food baskets at our church and get toys for children
and give them to the needy in our area. I am frequently
reminding folks that 'Jesus is the Reason for the Season.'"
Margaret

+ "We sponsor a family each year and buy gifts for the children.
We want to help." Buz

When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each
other, "Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful
thing that happened, which the Lord told us about." They ran to
the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby,
lying in the manger. (15-16)

+ One church met with community leaders several years ago and
organized "Christmas Parents" which honors "above and beyond"
parents and receives donations and presents throughout the
county providing Christmas for over 500 children every year.

+ Another church solicits names of needy children from area
elementary schools then matches, those names with families from
their congregation who include those children as part of their
Christmas shopping. This church provides Christmas to sixty to
seventy children every year.

Then the shepherds told everyone what happened and what the
angel said about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story
were astonished but Mary quietly treasured these things in her
heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to
their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what
the angels told them and because they had seen the child, just
as the angel said. (17-20)

+ A family from Virginia read our devotion several weeks ago
about a family in Ohio asking for help and is now in the process
of providing Christmas for both the children and parents.

+ A man from Kuwait sent a donation to "Sowing Seeds Ministry"
which we used to help two families in different parts of the
United States. You also can contribute to the "Christmas Child"
fund which will be used to provide help for families in need
during the holiday season.

The third verse from the hymn, "Away in a Manger" says it best:
"Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay, close by me
forever, and love me, I pray; bless all the dear children in thy
tender care, and fit us for heaven to live with thee there."
What better way to put Christ in your Christmas this year then
by helping a child in need? God will bless you for it. Have a
Merry Christmas.

----------------------------------------

We set up a fund on our web site shopping cart named "Christmas
Child" so you may contribute toward providing Christmas for a
family in need. Three families have already been helped by your
generosity. Click here:
sowingseedsoffaith.com/s-cart/form.phtml?g_intCatID=1 or
you can mail a contribution to "Christmas Child Fund" care of
Sowing Seeds Ministry, 47 Greenwell Ct., Lynchburg, VA 24502.

----------------------------------------

One letter not included in the devotions but touched my heart
shared a creative way of decorating a Christmas tree and using
the ornaments to tell a story. I've included her letter as a
special bonus this week. Thank you Linda for sharing with us.

My grandchildren and I decorate a Christmas tree with handmade
ornaments that tell a Christmas story.... The ornaments each
have a meaning. The children are assigned to find a Bible verse
for each ornament. We then unveil the tree to the family. I read
the meaning of the ornament and the child reads the verse. The
tree continues to be a reminder of Jesus for the holiday season.
Linda

Here's last year's Red & White theme tree:

1) Candles - Jesus is the Light of the World - White paper cover
toilet paper rolls wrapped with red ribbon and red tissue paper
pulled through the top for the flame

2) Snowflakes - His people, alike but different - Snowflakes cut
from white folded paper

3) Candy Canes - the story of the candy maker - White paper with
red stripe colored on it, then rolled up and curved at the top.

4) Name Scrolls - The wondrous names of our Lord - Draw scrolls
on white paper with red marked, print a Name for Jesus in the
center, cut out and trim with red ribbon ties

5) Paper Chain - Christians united in Christ's love - Paper
Chain: one red, one white, one red....

6) Star Topper - His birth - Cut 2 stars from white poster
board, glue around the edges and slip over top branch

7) Tree Skirt - His blood - Cover the base of the tree with red
tissue paper

This year's theme is the THREE WISEMEN!!! We are already making
the ornaments. Linda

If you like this devotion you will love the book: "Breaking the
Peanut Butter Habit: Following God's Recipe for a Better Life"
now on sale only through this website. Click here for more
information: www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm

Join our prayer ministry by clicking here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/sign-up.htm

Jesus said: "You are the light of the world--like a city on a
mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your
light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it
shine for all." (Matthew 5:14-15)

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=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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