Christmas: What's It All About, Really?
Hi, Everyone -
Are you dreading all that lies before you this month—or anticipating delightful family times, meals with friends, fun Christmas shopping and reveling in hearing “O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree” for the next four weeks? No matter how you feel about the upcoming season, or where you live around the globe, we are all headed into one of the busiest times of the year. But—let’s not miss what it’s all about.
Christmas is really about something amazing, stupendous, wonderful, and life-changing. In the birth of Jesus, God says, “I care about YOU. I know who YOU are. I want a relationship with YOU. It is through my Son Jesus, that YOU can have eternal life, a life that begins now and will never end.”
Isn’t that incredible? I so hope you know this personally. And I also hope that having this life-changing relationship with God, through Christ, excites and fills you with a sense of joy and awe this Christmas season. I can’t get over the wonder of it all—and I don’t want to, but it can happen if we don’t make a conscious effort to remember what it’s all about.
For help in celebrating Christmas from the heart, check out ESPRESSO: PERK-UPS FOR YOUR SOUL and WANT TO GROW? I’m praying these thoughts and suggestions will add to your delight in the Lord this Christmas season.
Merry Christmas!
Blessings,
Let Your Light Shine
by Poppy Smith
Christmas is the season of lights—strung on trees, hung on rooftops, shining in shopping malls, and blinking in neighbor’s windows. Lights and candles add a special magic to the season, but have you ever thought that you and I are to shine also? In Matthew 5:16, Jesus said to us,
“Let YOUR light shine before men, that they may see YOUR good deeds
and praise YOUR Father in heaven.”
Most of us believe in... [read more]
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Poppy enjoying
Thanksgiving in Mexico.
What a place to be thankful! |
Soul Feast III
Tuesday, December 16, 9 – 11 a.m. Village Church, SW Murray Rd., Beaverton, OR.
If you live in the Portland area, you’re invited to join the women at my home church for a special morning focused on preparing our hearts for Christmas. I’m still praying for God’s direction for the morning but I know we’ll sing, reflect, listen and linger in His presence—giving us the time we all need to slow down and relish what the season is all about. Please contact me if you plan to come. Sorry, no child care available.
Graduation from George Fox Seminary, December 19.
The day is finally on the horizon and I am getting more and more excited. It seems unbelievable that my student days are almost over. I’ll post a photo next month of me in my graduation regalia holding my M.A. Diploma (Masters in Spiritual Formation and Direction). Can’t wait! |
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Tuesday,Dec. 16
Soul Feast III.
Village Church, SW Murray Rd., Beaverton, Oregon
9 a.m.-11 a.m.
Saturday, February 7
What Do You Want In Your Life?
International Bible Church, Singapore
9.30 a.m.-11 a.m.
February 10-14
Christian Medical Association Missionary Conference
Chiang Mai, Thailand.
February 28-March 1
Keep Growing—Keys to Growth from the Life of Abraham
Retreat: Salem Heights Evangelical Church, Oregon
March 6-8
International Development Institute
Retreat: Shenyang, China. |
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Use Christmas carols as aids to worship:
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Silent Night: Plan to be silent for ten minutes. Write several of these brief respites into your calendar. Find a quiet place, light a candle, sing quietly or simply slow down and worship. |
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Hark the Herald Angels Sing….peace on earth, goodwill to men. As you sing or mull over this carol, ask God to show you if there is someone you need to forgive and extend goodwill to—then follow through. |
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O Come, All You Faithful….come and adore Him, Christ the Lord. Reflect on this past year and see how many things you can adore the Lord for, i.e. who He is, what He has done, answers to prayers, inner strengthening or guidance given, etc. |
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O, Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining….go for a walk or look up at the night sky. Marvel at the greatness of God, the Creator of all that is. Be sure to invite family members to share this experience with you. |
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Joy to the World, the Lord has come…let earth receive her King. In the rush and stress of this season, consciously receive Jesus as king of your life, asking Him each day to rule over your spending, your time, and your focus. |
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My article "Lifelong Learning" is in this month's issue of Focus on the Family Magazine. The article is about going back to school - as adult learners. Keep checking their website since they usually put the articles online later in the month, or sign up for their complimentary magazine by clicking here. |
Do you need a great gift idea for someone on your list? Order before Dec. 15, and you can receive an autographed copy of Poppy's book
"I'm Too Young to Be This Old!".
Order 1 Book for $10
Order 2 Books for $18
Order 3 Books for $25
Click here to place your order! |
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