More Christmas Quotes

I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day. We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity of the whole year. As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year. And thus I drift along into the holidays - let them overtake me unexpectedly - waking up some find morning and suddenly saying to myself: "Why, this is Christmas Day!" ~David Grayson


A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;
It makes no noise at all,
But softly gives itself away.
~Eva Logue


Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts. ~Janice Maeditere


Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles. ~Author Unknown

Only in souls the Christ is brought to birth,
And there He lives and dies.
~Alfred Noyes


When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs? ~G.K. Chesterton


For the spirit of Christmas fulfils the greatest hunger of mankind. ~Loring A. Schuler


I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month. ~Harlan Miller

Keep your Christmas-heart open all the year round. ~Jessica Archmint

Fail not to call to mind, in the course of the twenty-fifth of this month, that the Divinest Heart that ever walked the earth was born on that day; and then smile and enjoy yourselves for the rest of it; for mirth is also of Heaven's making. ~Leigh Hunt


Great little One! whose all-embracing birth
Lifts Earth to Heaven, stoops Heaven to Earth.
~Richard Crashaw

How Big is God?

I read a story about a little girl who, on the way home from church, turned to her mother and said, "Mommy, the preacher's sermon this morning confused me."
"What was confusing?" the mother asked.
The girl thought for a moment and said, "Well, he said that God is bigger than we are, Is that true?"
"Yes, honey, that's true," the mother replied.
"He also said that God lives within us. Is that true too?"
Again the mother replied, "Yes."
Well, said the girl, "If God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn't he show through?"

Why Can't we all get along?

"Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part... Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to their individual needs." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:13-14, The Message

I think this scripture goes along with yesterday's posting about burn out. Chances are that at some point one of us is going to burn out and get weary. This scripture encourages us to take care of those that get exhausted. I find it interesting, though, that first it tells us to get along. I suppose this is because we won't be as willing to help each other if we are not getting along. Also we can become weary in not getting along. We are to pull them to their feet, be patient with them and be attentive to their needs. I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on just how you think that could be done. What specifically can we do for the exhausted? I think if we do not get specific we can let scripture pass from one ear clear through the other. first of all we need to identify the ways a person can get so weary, then brainstorm ways to help them. What better time of year to think about helping people than now at Christmas!

Don't Hold Back

"Don't hold back. throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort."
~1 Corinthians 15:58. The Message

You know, this is easier said than done. When I first started serving I was very gung-ho. I threw everything I had into the ministry. Over the years things happened and, although I didn't realize it, I let those hardships chip away at my enthusiasm. I finally reached a point of burn-out. I know that if I could have always kept my eyes on the Lord and not circumstances or hardships or even other people, I would never have experienced burn-out. But I love this scripture. It reminds us that even the smallest thing we do for Him is not a waste of time. If we clean the toilets at church or pick up a bulleting to clean the sanctuary, it is not a waste. The smallest kind word is not a waste. Showing up week after week is never a waste. We are working for the Lord, not for man, and I for one need frequent reminders of that fact. I think we should all look for ways to bless and encourage one another. But if we are not getting these things from people we still need to keep in mind that it is God whom we are out to please, not man. So learn from my mistakes and throw everything you have into serving the Lord and never loose your zeal for Him. If you are not serving Him in any way, seek God and ask where He wants you to serve. You are missing out on blessings when you do not serve. We are all a team, and if we all do our part, we can bring many into God's flock together!

You're the Man!

"If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get His help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. ~James 1:5-6. The Message

My husband is the man! Yesterday he fixed a bunch of things that needed done around the house. He is such a blessing to me! He was so fearless too as the major thing that needed fixing was electrical. He replaced a breaker and figured out how to move our electronics around so that they would not trip the breaker any longer. Messing with electrical stuff is unnerving when you aren't a trained professional. But he prayed, did his research, and jumped in with both feet. Now I can use the microwave without hesitation! You the Man!