Black Friday marks the official start of the holiday season! Aren't you so excited? I am---today we are going to have a special breakfast complete with cinnamon rolls and cocoa and decorate our home. I am having my older daughter head up the decorating along with her siblings so she can have some practice and sharpen her decorating skills
This year I want to challenge everyone to give your family the priceless and valuable gift of the memories of learning to SERVE and BLESS others at this special time.
There are only a few weeks until Christmas....if we plan accordingly there are many things we can think of doing to give our children a special legacy that they will remember for their entire life and teach your grandchildren as well.
Here are some ideas:
1. Give your children less gifts. Less materialism, less clutter, less money spent, less self-centeredness, more appreciation for what they do receive. What is not great about this idea?The gift of your love and time is way more valuable.
2. Serve at a homeless shelter. One of my favorite memories is going to a radio broadcasting center in Chicagoand with my family to help pass out a meal to needy people and giving gifts to their children. I felt so blessed being able to be on the giving end instead of the receiving.
3. Touch lives at a nursing home. We like to go with a homeschool group and go caroling while walking through the halls. The elderly there enjoy it and we are allowed to give them cards. My children LOVE this and have are glowing after we do this.
4. Donate to Samaritan's Purse. Samaritan's Purse has an entire catalog/website of how to send money for food, water, homes, Bibles, medical care,etc. SP is headed by Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham. Have your children pore over the catalog and select something you could contribute to.This is highly educational as they learn that families around the world do not have the basic necessities that they need.
5. Toys for Tots--these boxes are available in many stores. You can have your children 'earn' some money by doing jobs around the house and then take them shopping to pick something special to give away.
6. Care for a widow.Is there a widow that you know that could use some company, a warm meal, leaves raked, snow shoveled or help putting up their tree?
7. Make a meal for someone in need.
8. Help a needy family. Times are tough now and many people have lost jobs, homes and are barely getting by. Single moms are another good source of families to give a loving hand to as well.
9. Christmas tree mitten--start a Christmas tree at your church of mittens and scarves so people can hang them on when they donate. When full, collect them and donate.
10. Work with a women's shelter to help provide gifts to them and their children.
11. Work with Salvation army to distribute goods to needy families.
12. Bake cookies for unsaved neighbors/friends and attach the message of Christ's birth and gospel.
13. Visit those in the hospital and bring them a special gift or a tree to brighten up their room.
14. Bring the gospel to others who haven't heard it. Our church likes to go caroling at Wal-Mart. Our pastor works with the manager and our children dressup like the nativity scene in the middle of the store. We sing songs about Christ's birth and pass out candy canes with the gospel attached and our church information to pass out.
15. Start a new tradition--read a Christmas devotional every night leading up to Christmas Day. There are many books out there to help. You can light a candle at night and snuggle by the fire and read a short story to keep everyone's heart reflecting on what the true season is about.
16. Pray for more ways to decorate keeping Christ the focus. I know many people who instead of putting up a tree invest in a nice or large nativity scene instead. I have seen people use Christmas decorations that exalt God and bring more meaning to their celebration. I am not saying you have to do this entirely but it helps the children and ourselves to remember the real meaning. Our family likes to do a mix of both.
17. Visit a live nativity event. There is a church near us that does a Journey to Bethlehem every other year and it is an amazing thing to be a part of. They have a live market place, and scenes acted out from the Bible. At the end they give the gospel--what a great way for a church to reach out to the lost!
18. Open your home and heart. If you are in a season where you need to stay home more and/or just want to be anchored there instead of rushing around--open your doors and show some love to people who are in need. Remember, one of the most valuable gifts we can give others is our time and love.
The holidays don't have to be only filled with parties, cookie exchanges and shopping. We can make the holidays a meaningful time by emphasizing helping others and remembering those that are needy.
The list above are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing,-- but don't feel pressured or feel bad if you can't do them, just pray for the Lord to show you what He want you to do and then listen to Him.
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share."
-----1 Timothy 6:17-8
And most importantly, remember to serve with your family all the time---not just once a year!
**What acts of service or traditions do you do or are thinking about doing during the holiday season?**
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