What if Jesus wrote a Christmas letter?

I stumbled across this on another blog and it resonated with me......hope it does the same for you.  What if Jesus wrote a Christmas letter?  It might go something like this:

Dear child,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking my name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate my birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered any time.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate my birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Now, having said that, let me go on.  If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting my birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all my followers did that, there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a "holiday tree" instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can and may remember me any time you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish. I actually spoke of that one in a teaching explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks was. If you have forgotten it, look up John 15: 1-8.

If you want to give me a present in remembrance of my birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way my birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know. They tell me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing Fred complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... it will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of my birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that's hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile. It could make the difference.  Also, you might consider supporting the local hotline. They talk with people like that every day.

7. Instead of nitpicking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day, they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary, especially one who takes my love and good news to those who have never heard my name. You may already know someone like that.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Marines, the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in me. They will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in my presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget - I am God and can take care of myself. Just love me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work. Time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love. 

And remember,

I love you,
Jesus

FREE class and some more goodness...

OK...they say the first step in dealing with an addiction is admitting you have one.  Here goes:  I am addicted to digi-scrapping and all things Jessica Sprague.  There.  I said it.  Somehow I feel slightly giddy instead of like I need an intervention.

With that thought in mind....I got the chance to play with Liv Esteban's magical new creations - scrumptious digi papers with fun paint splatters and textured paint swashes.  Here's the first of many  LOs I'll be making with these awesome backgrounds:

Papers: LivE Designs - Painted Play Splats & Painted Paper Swishes
Template: JSprague 1.10
Font: Century Gothic

So....you want some fun paint stuff to play with, too?  Then click HERE to get yours - they'll be available first thing Monday - enjoy!

Don't forget about the awesome new FREE CLASS taught by the divine Ms. Jessica Sprague herself - join us at the Spraground on November 29 for a class on Inspiration.  Jes' classes are not to be missed.  Run, don't walk, to sign up for this class....it's FREE - what do you have to lose??  You can learn all about the class HERE and sign up while you're there.

Hope you all have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving - I know that I certainly have a lot to be grateful for!  See you back here soon....

Yummy $1 goodness and a FREE class - woot!

Ok - things have been crazy around here - I've been meeting with 4-5 contractors a day since last Friday and I think my brain is turning to mush.  There are dirty dishes in my sink, clean dishes in the dishwasher, my kids are running out of underwear, and I may need a back hoe to get the crud out from under the kitchen table.  Just go ahead and send your Mom-of-the-Year nominations my way.

I am learning (the hard way) that it is just not possible to do 17 things at once and do them all well....or heck, do them at all!  You'd think that a relatively intelligent woman would have figured this out before her 40's....I blame the blonde hair - it attacks me sometimes.

But - there is a light at the end of the tunnel....let's just hope it's not an oncoming train!

So- who wants some free and almost free stuff?  I thought so.

Go to may favorite website in the world, JessicaSprague.com and scroll down to check out my über-cool layout about books.....as you're scrolling, keep in mind that all those nifty products are only $1 today!

Bookplates by LivE Designs

Then, after you're done picking out your $1 goodies, reward your thriftiness by signing up for a FREE class taught by the amazing Ms. J herself - Inspiration Everywhere - your holiday goodness starts now.  

You can thank me later.