Hi Moms! Are you enjoying the holiday season? I hope you are! My prayer for you is that you can slow down a little this year, and truly enjoy your family and get to the heart of what Christmas is all about!
This past week at my MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting, we had a guest speaker come and talk about how her family of 7 makes the most of the holiday season each year. I want to share with you some of her ideas, in the hope that it will inspire you to make similar decisions in your own family!
This mother of 5 shared with us that they never had money around Christmas time, so they tried to find cheap or free activities that they could do each night in December to spend more time together and discover the true meaning of Christmas as a family. She encouraged all of us to (literally) "wrap up our T.V." for the whole month of December and make our own advent calendars. Each year, her family gets out the wrapping paper and covers over the T.V! Instead of watching the tube in December, they spend each night doing something fun & free (or cheap) as a family.
I encourage each of you to consider doing the same this year. Wrap up your television (or at least extremely limit time spent in front of the t.v.) and make a simple plan for each night in December. Here are some of the ideas that were shared: make a gingerbread house (we made ours with graham crackers and peanut butter!), go out for a lights tour with hot cocoa and popcorn in the car, camp out under the Christmas tree, dig up all of the lose change in your house and take it to various salvation army buckets around town, make a list of all the things you are thankful for, make and decorate homeade cards and goodies to give away!
Let this year be about giving instead of getting!!
Here's what its all about:
"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" Luke 2: 10-11
My friend Shara, of www.mommyperks.com has written a great article called "A non materialistic entrepreneur's Christmas?" about the balance between giving and receiving gifts...with the focus on what's most important in life! I hope you will take a minute to read it!
Blessings to each of you this Christmas season!
Love,
MariLee
Today's Giveaway:
Click HERE to enter for the E-Mealz Giveaway!
Showing posts with label Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christ. Show all posts
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Gearing up for Christmas!
Here is an excerpt from the inside cover:
"Dear Friends,
As many of you do, I love Christmas! From the Thanksgiving Day Parade all the way to New Year’s Day, I love everything about the
Christmas season! To me, Christmas isn’t just one day to prepare for, and it certainly isn’t just for children, as we so often hear. Christmas is an entire season of hope and love and joy! As Christians, we should be living out the spirit of Christmas every day of the year. However, we often get caught up in the hustle and bustle, and before you know it, Christmas is over and we end up stressed and tired with a pile of bills hanging over our heads. Many of us are guilty of trying too hard to plan the perfect Christmas. This year, why not strive to spend more time together as a family, reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas rather than worrying over organizing a flawless holiday? "
You can purchase this book of devotions, recipes & stress-free tips on my website: www.reallyworkingfromhome.com
We'll aslo have recipes, stress-free tips, holiday ideas and our Online Christmas Boutique featuring $5, $10, $20 gifts and stocking stuffers (shipping is INCLUDED in all prices!!)
My mission is to help Moms save and make money from home and I'll be working overtime to help you look forward to the holiday season with joy in your heart and a little extra cash in your pocket!
Be sure to join us everyday starting November 15th!!
Also, my friend Shiloah over at "The Homemaking Cottage" is having a Christmas Extravaganza beginning November 1st! I've written an article for her and sent many of my original recipes for her Christmas features! It's going to be wonderful! Don't forget to check it out beginning Sunday November, 1st!!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Centered...
Hi Everyone!
I felt prompted today to post specifically about my relationship with God. Let me tell you a little about the Creator of the Universe...who loves me unconditionally (and you, too) and desires a personal relationship with me (and you, too)!
For a while I had things mixed up. I kept trying to put God at the top of my "to-do" list and was constantly frustrated when I wasn't able to check off that box each day. I desired to have God be a part of my life for as long as I can remember...but I wasn't really "getting it." All the while, though, the power of Christ was working to draw me to Him...and He showed me that He wants to be the very center of my life...not just at the top of my list of priorities.
All of us are messed up in one way or another. We're just not perfect, no matter how many boxes we check off on our list, or how many PTA meetings we participate in, or how many lasagna's we make for friends in need. We all have "stuff." So God sent his Son to pay the price for our mess...for our sin. The creator of the Universe loves US!. Me...and YOU! The Bible puts it this way:
"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' Acts 17: 24-28
We either accept it, or we don't. But he is never far from each one of us!
You've probably heard this one:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17
If you've never asked the Lord to remove your sins and become the very center of your life, will you do that now? It's just between you and God.
It's not an easy road, I'll tell ya. But allowing Christ to be the very center of my home, my family and my heart has brought me peace that transcends all understanding! I'm not saying I don't have bad days and hard times, but true peace isn't the absence of all of those things....it's the presence of God DURING all of those things!
I'm praying for you now as you read these words and I would be thrilled to talk with you further about any of this!!
Blessings,
MariLee
So....as an addendum to this post, I was actually selling some things on ebay including an audio book of "Experiencing God" I always go to Amazon.com to use the "review information" when I'm selling something and I came across an amazing review of this book, by some guy I do not know...but his thoughts truly inspired and blessed me. Here is what he has to say:
"This book made me get on my needs and pray to God that I would never try to do anything for him again, that's right. You see when I got out of grad school I thought I was going to be this super missionary and save the world of everything, including poverty and hate. Needless say it made me realize that much of my attitude was based on pride and arrogance, not realizing that the only thing my creator wanted from me was intimate love and devotion...not my "skills & plans". I literally cried and prayed with my Savior after my brother in Christ, Blackaby, helped me realize this…it was a very illuminating and personal experience for me. And yes, from my personal love relationship with God, I do have a strong desire to be apart of His Kingdom on earth and share in its work - which sure beats trying to do things for Him that I think he wants. David H. Squires"
What an awesome insight! Thanks David...whoever you are! :-)
I felt prompted today to post specifically about my relationship with God. Let me tell you a little about the Creator of the Universe...who loves me unconditionally (and you, too) and desires a personal relationship with me (and you, too)!
For a while I had things mixed up. I kept trying to put God at the top of my "to-do" list and was constantly frustrated when I wasn't able to check off that box each day. I desired to have God be a part of my life for as long as I can remember...but I wasn't really "getting it." All the while, though, the power of Christ was working to draw me to Him...and He showed me that He wants to be the very center of my life...not just at the top of my list of priorities.
All of us are messed up in one way or another. We're just not perfect, no matter how many boxes we check off on our list, or how many PTA meetings we participate in, or how many lasagna's we make for friends in need. We all have "stuff." So God sent his Son to pay the price for our mess...for our sin. The creator of the Universe loves US!. Me...and YOU! The Bible puts it this way:
"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' Acts 17: 24-28
We either accept it, or we don't. But he is never far from each one of us!
You've probably heard this one:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17
If you've never asked the Lord to remove your sins and become the very center of your life, will you do that now? It's just between you and God.
It's not an easy road, I'll tell ya. But allowing Christ to be the very center of my home, my family and my heart has brought me peace that transcends all understanding! I'm not saying I don't have bad days and hard times, but true peace isn't the absence of all of those things....it's the presence of God DURING all of those things!
I'm praying for you now as you read these words and I would be thrilled to talk with you further about any of this!!
Blessings,
MariLee
So....as an addendum to this post, I was actually selling some things on ebay including an audio book of "Experiencing God" I always go to Amazon.com to use the "review information" when I'm selling something and I came across an amazing review of this book, by some guy I do not know...but his thoughts truly inspired and blessed me. Here is what he has to say:
"This book made me get on my needs and pray to God that I would never try to do anything for him again, that's right. You see when I got out of grad school I thought I was going to be this super missionary and save the world of everything, including poverty and hate. Needless say it made me realize that much of my attitude was based on pride and arrogance, not realizing that the only thing my creator wanted from me was intimate love and devotion...not my "skills & plans". I literally cried and prayed with my Savior after my brother in Christ, Blackaby, helped me realize this…it was a very illuminating and personal experience for me. And yes, from my personal love relationship with God, I do have a strong desire to be apart of His Kingdom on earth and share in its work - which sure beats trying to do things for Him that I think he wants. David H. Squires"
What an awesome insight! Thanks David...whoever you are! :-)
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