My church sent a prayer mobilization line request out to remind us about "World AIDS Day - December 1 is a day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of the HIV infection. On December 1 [and beyond,] we urge you to pray for all the victims of this disease and to lift in prayer those who minister to AIDS victims."
For practical ways you can help, donate, or to learn how HIV is transmitted go here. HIV/AIDS infects, affects and effects men, women and children.
The US Department of Health and Human Services has more information about HIV/AIDS and World AIDS day here.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Giving at Christmas
"Commercialization has obscured the meaning of Christmas. The commercial has become more important than the carol. What man has to sell [has become] more important than what God has given." ~ Anonymous
What is Christmas really about? It’s so easy to get caught up in giving gifts to people we like and people who are able to give gifts to us as well. What would bring Jesus the most joy this Christmas?
1) If we give gifts to those who are able to give gifts to us
or
2) if we give with anonymity and give to those who are not able to return monetary gifts to us.
Of course there is nothing wrong with giving gifts to people we love and people who give us gifts. It always brings me joy to give gifts to my children because I like to see them happy. Their enthusiasm is there regardless of the gift they receive because they like to be loved through gifts.
What are some ways we can love Jesus by loving other people this Christmas? Jake and Jessica, friends of mine have a great Christmas gift giving post so instead of trying to recreate it I'm just linking to their blog.
My health insurance, Kaiser sent out a newsletter that had some neat ideas for spending little, but loving much. To see the article, Gifts that Really Give click here.
Finally, reading together can make Christmas special. One book I checked out of our public library for my children was:The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans. It is a children's book that I recommend reading aloud with children under 10 to make sure they understand what the author is attempting to teach to those with eyes to see. The book can be read in minutes, but the discussion that follows can help your children discover the true meaning of loving as Jesus loves and loving others as if they were Jesus especially at Christmas time.
Another neat book is The Special Guest: A Christmas Story by Lee and Donna Hall - The authors wrote the book for their children, but it's a short story with a beautiful message that can be enjoyed by all ages at Christmas and throughout the year. I read the story aloud to my daughter who was capable of reading it to herself, but it was a special time for us to read it together.
If you have any unique ideas you'd like to share about how you are making Christmas special or gifts you will give to make other's life more meaningful, please share in the comments section.
Merry Christmas!
What is Christmas really about? It’s so easy to get caught up in giving gifts to people we like and people who are able to give gifts to us as well. What would bring Jesus the most joy this Christmas?
1) If we give gifts to those who are able to give gifts to us
or
2) if we give with anonymity and give to those who are not able to return monetary gifts to us.
Of course there is nothing wrong with giving gifts to people we love and people who give us gifts. It always brings me joy to give gifts to my children because I like to see them happy. Their enthusiasm is there regardless of the gift they receive because they like to be loved through gifts.
What are some ways we can love Jesus by loving other people this Christmas? Jake and Jessica, friends of mine have a great Christmas gift giving post so instead of trying to recreate it I'm just linking to their blog.
My health insurance, Kaiser sent out a newsletter that had some neat ideas for spending little, but loving much. To see the article, Gifts that Really Give click here.
Finally, reading together can make Christmas special. One book I checked out of our public library for my children was:The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans. It is a children's book that I recommend reading aloud with children under 10 to make sure they understand what the author is attempting to teach to those with eyes to see. The book can be read in minutes, but the discussion that follows can help your children discover the true meaning of loving as Jesus loves and loving others as if they were Jesus especially at Christmas time.
Another neat book is The Special Guest: A Christmas Story by Lee and Donna Hall - The authors wrote the book for their children, but it's a short story with a beautiful message that can be enjoyed by all ages at Christmas and throughout the year. I read the story aloud to my daughter who was capable of reading it to herself, but it was a special time for us to read it together.
If you have any unique ideas you'd like to share about how you are making Christmas special or gifts you will give to make other's life more meaningful, please share in the comments section.
Merry Christmas!
Friday, November 23, 2007
Advent Calendars
Since the Advent Season is upon us I thought I'd share some online Advent Calendars that I found last year.
A Christian Christmas Advent Calendar
Christmas Advent Calendar
Advent Calendar: Celebrate Meeting Jesus
Greg's Advent Calendar
Teaching Mom's Advent Calendar
A Christian Christmas Advent Calendar
Christmas Advent Calendar
Advent Calendar: Celebrate Meeting Jesus
Greg's Advent Calendar
Teaching Mom's Advent Calendar
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Thankful Thursday...
Its only two weeks until the day when most Americans find themselves sitting around a table with friends and loved ones sharing what they are thankful for...
This is to help prepare you for that day...
What are you most thankful for this year?
* If you are interested in doing a Thanksgiving study - Nancy Leigh DeMoss has written a lesson called "A Week of Thanksgiving." May God encourage your hearts as you reflect on HIS goodness to you.
This is to help prepare you for that day...
What are you most thankful for this year?
* If you are interested in doing a Thanksgiving study - Nancy Leigh DeMoss has written a lesson called "A Week of Thanksgiving." May God encourage your hearts as you reflect on HIS goodness to you.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
How Can We Serve as Jesus Would Serve?
A friend (Erin) recently asked a similar question and I thought it would be interesting to post it here to see what answers we can come up with...
Can you think of practical ways we can be Jesus in the world? It would be neat and helpful to all of us to see how many different ideas we can come up with...and then use them in our lives.
Please feel free to share ways people have served you and ways you have been served by others and even ideas that you haven't tried...
11-10-07 Edited to add:
A friend (Chelley) mentioned in her response that we can't be Jesus to others but we are to see others as Jesus and serve them as if they are Jesus. I agree with her statement and would change my initial question to - How can we serve Jesus by serving others? or How have you been served by a Christian? Or How have you served others in Jesus name?
Can you think of practical ways we can be Jesus in the world? It would be neat and helpful to all of us to see how many different ideas we can come up with...and then use them in our lives.
Please feel free to share ways people have served you and ways you have been served by others and even ideas that you haven't tried...
11-10-07 Edited to add:
A friend (Chelley) mentioned in her response that we can't be Jesus to others but we are to see others as Jesus and serve them as if they are Jesus. I agree with her statement and would change my initial question to - How can we serve Jesus by serving others? or How have you been served by a Christian? Or How have you served others in Jesus name?
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