Christmas: What Would Jesus Do? - By Ruth L. Snyder

Christmas is a season of contrasts. Let's think about some of them:

• Christmas is a season of peace, but there is discord in many homes
• People exchange gifts, but fail to give the gift of time, friendship, and love
• Christmas is a time of celebration, but some families are grieving the loss of a dear one
• Christmas lights glow, but it takes a dark night to really make them glitter
• Families gather around tables laden with food while others sit alone on the streets of our towns and cities
• Radio stations play Christmas carols between news of accidents, crime, and greed

In the 1990's wwjd (What Would Jesus Do) bracelets were popular. During the Christmas season it is easy to get caught up in commercialism, Christmas programs, family get-togethers, and food. But what would Jesus do to celebrate Christmas? What would Jesus have me do to celebrate Christmas?

Our family participates in many of the same activities others do. However, for the past couple of years God has been focusing my attention on the needs of those caught in slavery and sex-trafficking. Unfortunately, these activities are increasing instead of decreasing. Freedom United states there are more than 40 million people caught in this terrifying web. (For more information, check out 13 Sex Trafficking Statistics That Put the Worldwide Problem into Perspective)

What would Jesus do? As I have contemplated this question, I have sought ways to help. The first action I took was to join a nightly email group. We pray for victims, traffickers, policemen, churches, and others. Last year I joined Dressember, wearing a dress every day in December to raise awareness and fundraise to help organizations working on the front lines. Others joined me and together we raised over $500. This year I have created my own version. I am still wearing a dress every day, but am aiming to raise $1,000 for the YES Initiative with SIM Canada. I have set up a fundraiser on Facebook so that friends and family from far and near can join me. So far $380.00 has been donated.

As many of you know, I recently published my devotional book, Equipped: Ephesians 6 Devotionals to Empower and Make You Victorious in Everyday Struggles. Before the book was published, I contacted John Cassells, who works with SIM and asked if I could partner with him in his ministry. Here's a video that explains some of what they do.

For December, I am donating $5.00 from the sale of every paperback copy of Equipped to the YES Initiative. (Men Ending Trafficking is involved in the YES Initiative.) I will continue to support Men Ending Trafficking as God enables me. You can purchase a copy of Equipped from Amazon, by emailing me, or asking for it in your local bookstore.

Check out the 12 Days of Christmas series I'm running on my blog until Christmas :)

I would also like to invite you to join a FREE 10-Day devotional challenge. You will receive 10 free devotionals and access to a private Facebook group to discuss the devotionals, apply them to your life, and pray.

https://equipped.lpages.co/equipped-10-day-devotional-challenge/

What does Jesus want you to do this Christmas and on into 2019? Let's share in the comments. Merry Christmas!

Ruth L. Snyder lives with her husband and five children in north eastern Alberta, Canada. She started learning lessons about being equipped from her missionary parents, became better equipped at Prairie Bible College, and continues to learn daily. She writes in a variety of genres, including devotional, memoir, and Christian romance. Connect with Ruth at ruthlsnyder.com

Equipped: How God Prepared Me to Write My Latest Book - Ruth L. Snyder

God is amazing! When was the last time you stopped and worshipped Him—not because you wanted or needed anything, but because you just enjoy fellowshipping with Him so much?

As I look back at how God prepared me to write Equipped: Ephesians 6 Devotionals to Empower and Make You Victorious in Everyday Struggles, I am amazed at His grace and mercy, and humbled that He chooses to use weak earthly vessels like me to share His glorious message.

I first heard about God, my Heavenly Father, from my earthly parents. I heard them praying when people were afraid to come to church because lightening struck the giant tree where our church members met. I watched their example of standing firm in faith against witch doctors and their curses. I experienced God's financial provision for our family.

Jesus Christ became my personal Saviour when I confessed my sin and accepted His forgiveness as a five-year-old. Four years later, I attended school five hundred miles away from where my parents were working, and the "faith of my fathers" became my own faith in practical ways. Several years after that, I was challenged to stand firm in my faith while attending a Christian school where others made fun of my devotion to Jesus. Camp ministry during my high school summers provided many opportunities to share the gospel, nurture others in their faith, and play the piano by ear. During these years a couple of high school teachers encouraged me in my writing and gave me practical experience working on the school newsletter and yearbook. After graduation, I chose to attend Prairie Bible College, where the foundation of my faith was further strengthened. I was able to experience a variety of work including cleaning, supervising, doing computer work for a college teacher, and helping teachers rewrite course syllabi. When I finished college, I enjoyed working in the Prairie Book Room, where I learned how to place orders, track stock, and deal with frustrated customers.

Then God began the training in earnest. My husband and I experienced the confusion and pain of infertility and a miscarriage. My first published article, Gifts From A Loving God, chronicled our journey through loss into the incredible and challenging world of adopting children with special needs. My writing journey continued as I took courses from The Children's Institute of Literature, joined The Word Guild and InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship, entered contests and began blogging. This led to more opportunities for publication and eventually I wrote my first set of ebooks: Learn Twitter—10 Beginning Steps and Learn Twitter—10 Intermediate Steps. When people asked for a paperback version, I learned how to self-publish on Amazon with Twitter Decoded: Tips and Tools for Authors. My spiritual journey deepened as I experienced challenges in parenting, marriage, and leadership. My writing life and spiritual journey continued to intersect. God took me through deep waters where I knew I was helpless without Him: a prodigal child, separation from my husband, and my dad's struggle with dementia. Our daughter is now happily married and the mother of our first grandson. My husband and I have been reunited and are working on our marriage. My dad's struggle with dementia makes me look forward to heaven.

When God laid on my heart that I should write a devotional on spiritual warfare, based on Ephesians 6:10-18, I resisted. However, God's still, small voice persisted. (I share more detail in my devotional in the November 2018 issue of FellowScript.) Today the manuscript is in the final edits. My goal is to have the ebook and paperback available in November.

Are you writing a book? Tell us about it and share the story behind your work!

Sheila Webster and other executive members
presented me with this cross in 2016, which
reminds me to put on the full armour of God!

Ruth L. Snyder lives in northeastern Alberta with her husband and children. She writes in a variety of genres, sharing the lessons God is teaching her about walking with God, parenting, marriage, self publishing, and healthy living. Connect with Ruth at ruthlsnyder.com.