Keeping Christ in Christmas

My friend Felicia got me thinking about the things I am passing down to my children during the Christmas season today. We have a few Christmas traditions that we observe, but I am wondering what you do to help keep Christ the focus of your Christmas celebration? I'd love to incorporate new ideas as my kids grow older. Please leave a comment and let me know what your family does. I'll share a few of mine:

1. We have a wooden nativity set that the kids are allowed to play with.
2. We have at least 10 books with the story retold of the Nativity.
3. Christmas Eve Service
4. Reading from the Bible about the Christmas story
5. Helping others in need

Thanks for sharing your ideas too!

Day 26 of 26 Days of Thanks

Day 26:

Thanks to everyone who has participated in the 26 Days of Thanks..whether publically or through quietly recognizing God's goodness. When we take the time to reflect intentionally it certainly takes the focus off us and all the less than pleasant things that happen around us and to us.

I am thankful for a God who knows my heart, the real emotions that no one else sees or knows. I'm thankful for real fellowship with believers. I'm overwhelmingly thankful for the family I've been gifted and above all for the relationship that I have with Christ. My list could go on and on...these 26 days have taught me to take time to think about the goodness of the Lord...meditating on His goodness cures a multitude of bad attitudes, discouragements and mood swings!

Thanks for joining in!

Day 25 of 26 Days of Thanks

Day 25:

Today I am thankful for my in-laws.

After some pretty terrible health issues 4 years ago, my mother-in-law is as strong as ever. Battling breast cancer isn't for the weak and I am so glad God gave her the strength to fight so hard.

My father in law keeps us informed of our towns goings on. With one eye on the newspaper and an ear turned to the scanner, we can always be sure to know what's going on!

My in-laws are great grandparents. My kids love to go to their house and shop in Jo's store "without" money. They bundle their bargains up and bring them home to brag. They are making lots of fun memories with them.

My sister in law has been a lifesaver. She's scheduled a date night once a week with them, takes them to fun community events and goes to walmart any time they want to browse down the toy aisle.

I'm blessed to have this kind of help so close now. Thankful for the family I married in to!

Day 24 of 26 Days of Thanks

Day 24

Today I want to testify of the overwhelming generous provisions that God has made for us over the last 6 months. When Bruce resigned as senior pastor, without having a firm lead on a new job at the time, I admit, I was anxious to see how God was going to work all this out....and boy has He....the glory and thanks go to HIM, it's nothing we have done, just the sweetness of a loving Father God taking care of His kids.

Here's a list of things:

1. Through the generousity of a very kind person, we were able to eliminate almost all our credit card and medical debt. This was such an incredible gift. I can't go into all the details, but suffice it to say, that the amount we were gifted was so close to the amount we owed it can only be attributed to God.

2. God provided a steady job for Bruce within days of his unemployment.

3. God provided an UNEXPECTED new ministry job for us within 2 months....we thought it would be much longer....but He had different plans.

4. He provided free housing (albeit an RV) while we waited for our home to sell in Gunter

5. He provided a new home for us to buy while we still owned our home in Gunter

6. He has provided renters for our home in Gunter who are willing to live there, take care of the place and it still be on the market to sell.

7. He provided us with a generous church family who recently pounded us with an enormous kitchen pounding....in fact we are still receiving things....3 bags came in yesterday!

8. He provided us with fresh meat.

9. He provided someone to repair our car for only the cost of parts

He is good! I don't want to take these blessings for granted. I want to have a heart of thanksgiving every day.

Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gifts!

Day 23 of 26 Days of Thanks

Today I am thankful for the wonderful preschool Tucker (son, age almost 4) attends. Kids Central is a place that I know Tucker is safe, cared for, loved and taught the same values and morals that Bruce and I teach him at home. For three hours, twice a week, he makes crafts, learns numbers and letters, nursery rhymes, Bible verses and songs in an environment that is monitored and directed by the most beautiful servant teachers I have ever met in my life. EVER.

Tucker's teacher is an encourager. When I talk to her I don't worry about whether or not she cares about T-man. It oozes out of her. She's concerned for him, his wellbeing, his education and even whether or not he's having fun.

Thanks to CBC for supporting the ministry of Kids Central. Thanks to Terri for having a huge heart for the children that cross the threshold of the preschool wing Monday thru Friday. Thanks to the teachers who genuinely love and care for their students.

It helps this mom feel good about sending Tucker to school.

22 of 26 Days of Thanks

Day 22:

Today I am extremely thankful for my friends (for those who know me...you know I've been cautious with this word the past few years...but I think I can finally use it again!). In God's Word it says so much about the benefits of friendship. After a very painful end to a friendship a few years ago, I swore off friendships, their benefits and anything else positive that might be associated with them. Guess what that got me? A pretty lonely existence, a life hidden behind shallow and surface relationships and a lot of anger. Over the last six months I've done some soul searching, a self examination that revealed some ugly stuff and I've learned a few things through God's Word about myself and the few solid relationships that I have in my life. I'm understanding friendship a little better and I am not only learning how to be a better friend, but also how to let people be friends with me.

I'm thankful for a few good friends who have stuck with me through the years. I treasure these relationships  and now, through facebook, I have the blessing of renewed friendships from childhood. I am also thankful for the blessing of new friendships with those at my new church. I am looking forward to seeing what God does there. I am thankful too, for you faithful bloggy friends who return here day after day to read the crazy rantings of the Journaling Gina. I wish I knew who you all were (you could help me by clicking "follow" in the column to your right...hint, hint)!

Most of all I am thankful for the friend who sticks closer than any other. He has all the attributes that I would aspire to have as a friend.....Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

Day 21 of 26 Days of Thanks

Day 26:

Thankful for all the things I'm not normally thankful for today....like:

Dirty Laundry

Dirty Dishes

Yard Work

Unpacking

Washing Cars

Picking up toys

Because, each indicates the presence of blessings like...

Family to dirty these items

and material things God has give me..

Too often I complain and not often enough do I stop and think about the

blessings that come from these messes.