Wow,

It has been so long since my last blog. 

We have had such a good time getting ready for Christmas.  A friend of mine had been praying about how to make Christmas extra special this year for her kids,  how to focus more on His birth and serving others...Well, you know how creative God is...He woke her up in the middle of the night during late November...at first like most of us she tried to go back to sleep and tossed and turned...but, God is patient and persistent...she finally got up around 3:00 a.m. and opened up her bible to Luke 2, the Christmas Story.  As she read verses 1-20 the Holy Spirit revealed verse by verse applications she could do with her family.  She shared this wonderful application with a few of her friends, me included, and it has been awesome.

If you go back and read Luke 2:1-20 - the first thing you see is "the census" - we can also take of census of those around us in our neighborhoods, communities, churches, etc. who need a touch from the Lord this Christmas season.  Ex:  widows, widowers, rest home residents,  the lonely, the lost, you name it.  Who do you know in your town or community who needs Jesus, or a helping hand this season?  Me and my kids are going to a rest home tommorrow and deliver gift bags to residents who never get a visit or a present.  We will do this secretly (We call ourselves the undercover angels). 

In the following verses Joseph has to go back to the place of his birth....

Who back in your hometown needs a card or letter from you.  Maybe that is something you could do. 

As the story goes on...Mary is getting ready to deliver the baby Jesus...Who do you know that is pregnant?  or just had a baby?  Maybe you could take buy a gift or cook a meal for that famly.  What single moms do you know who could use a night out?  offer to babysit and get the children bathed and to bed for her.   

She delivers the baby and wraps Him in swaddling cloths.  Who needs a warm coat or hat and mittens this winter?  Is there a family that needs help clothing their famly this winter? 

As you can see the possibilities are endless.  We have had a great time so far and we are not finished. 

I just wanted to pass this along.  My friend has named her idea Christmas Capers.  They have even done some ring and runs - ex:  the kids made pretty ornaments out of candy canes hotglued together to make a heart and put the verse John 3:16 on it.  They then put the ornament on the porch and ring and run. 

However you decide to celebrate Christmas this year, don't forget the real "Reason for the Season".

Merry CHRISTmas,

Renee