Just the Right Christmas Gifts by Nina Faye Morey

And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need.

These are the sacrifices that please God.

~ Hebrews 13:16, NLT

“Christmas is almost here,” Gloria sighed, “and I haven’t bought a single gift! Everyone has everything they could ever want or need. What could I possibly give them?”

“Really!?” Nancy said to her friend. “With all those store shelves overflowing with everything imaginable, you can’t find one single gift for anyone?”

“Well,” Gloria protested, “What could I give momma? I’ve wracked my brain and can’t come up with a single thing. She has all kinds of necklaces, and bracelets, and rings. So I can’t give her jewelry. She’s got a closet full of clothes and shoes, so there’s no use buying her those. And she’s got bookshelves bursting with books she still hasn’t read. So I can’t buy her any more books. Can you see my dilemma, now?”

There was silence for a moment, while Nancy considered this.

Undeterred, Gloria continued with her rant. “Then there’s my sister, Carrie, and brother, Larry, and all my cousins. They’ll come bearing a bunch of presents Christmas day, and I haven’t the foggiest notion what to get any of them. I’ve got to get them all something! I’d like to find just the right gifts for each one, if I could just figure out what that might be. I do love receiving presents, but I sure hate giving them!” she finished in a huff.

“Well!” said Gloria’s grandmother, who’d been listening in on the girls’ conversation. “When I was your age, I was happy to get any Christmas presents. My family was going through a difficult time, and there wasn’t much money to spend on gifts. I remember getting a Christmas stocking with a single orange and a few pieces of candy, and I was perfectly happy.”

“It would be a whole lot simpler if that were my problem,” Gloria sighed, “I’ve a list full of people with more than they know what to do with, but I still have to find them a gift they’ll absolutely love.”

“Didn’t they appreciate the presents you bought them last year?” Grandma asked.

“No, I don’t really think so. At least I could tell Auntie Susy didn’t care that much for the ring I gave her. And I tried so hard to find something really nice to give her because she always buys me such a lovely present each year.”

“Well, if you want someone who’ll appreciate your efforts, I know of several needy families who’d be easy to please and delighted to receive whatever gifts you gave them.”

Nancy piped in enthusiastically “Now, that’s a wonderful idea! Don’t you think so, Gloria?”

Gloria pondered this for a minute. “Yeah, that sounds like a lot more fun and a very worthy cause, too,” she agreed. “Who are these needy people, grandma?”

“Yes, please tell us!” Nancy chimed in. “I’d love to buy them some gifts, too.”

“Well, there are families from our church who wouldn’t turn up their noses at any gifts you gave them,” Grandma said. “For instance, you know Carla, right?”

“Of course, grandma, she’s one of our friends from Sunday school.”

“Well, her father recently lost his job and her mother’s too sick to work. They barely have enough money to put food on the table, let alone buy a turkey and all the trimmings for Christmas dinner. They certainly won’t be able to afford a nice present for Carla this year.”

“Oh, no, that’s terrible!” Gloria said.

“Perhaps you girls could put together a nice Christmas hamper for them and buy a little gift for Carla?” Grandma said.

“Yes, that’s a wonderful idea, grandma,” Gloria said. “We could buy them a turkey and potatoes and canned vegetables and crackers …” Gloria counted these items off on her fingers.

“But you mentioned there were several families who could use gifts,” Nancy broke in. “Who else could we buy presents for?”

“Well, there’s a single mother with a little girl who was telling me she doesn’t know where she’ll find money to buy a tree, decorations, or presents this year. Perhaps you could purchase a small tree, a few ornaments, and some little gifts for them.”

“Oh, I’d love that, grandma!” Gloria cried. “I’ve never bought a Christmas tree before. Could we go buy one right now before they’re all picked over, please?”

“Well, hold on just a minute,” said Grandma. “If you girls go ahead and do this, will you still have enough money left over to buy some nice presents for your family?”

“Yes, I think so, Grandma,” Gloria said. “And I really, really do want to buy some nice presents for these needy people.”

“And I have quite a lot of money saved up to help out, too,” offered Nancy.

“Well, I’ve a few dollars tucked away that I could contribute to such a charitable cause,” said Grandma, “so let’s go shopping this afternoon.”

The two girls jumped up and down and clapped their hands with glee.

Grandma’s heart was gladdened by the girls’ generosity. “I’m so proud of you girls! Instead of wasting your money on extravagant and frivolous gifts, you’ll be purchasing something that’s really needed. These people will be so grateful for such gracious gifts given out of the goodness of your hearts. And I know Jesus will be very pleased, too, that you remembered the poor and needy on His birthday.”

Sentimental Silent Night - Tracy Krauss

Silent Night is probably my favourite Christmas Carol of all time. Although I also gravitate toward carols in a minor key such as What Child Is This,  or O Come O Come Emmanuel, there is something about the reverence and simplicity of Silent Night that still appeals to me even with all the newer, more modern songs to choose from.

Perhaps one of the reasons I love this song so much is the story behind it. I have heard it told in different ways, but my favourite rendition is from an illustrated children's book that goes like this. Sometime around Christmas in 1818 in the Austrian village of Oberndorf, the unthinkable happened. The church organ gave up the ghost! The minister wrote this simple song to be accompanied by guitar so that they would still have music for the Christmas Eve service.

The song grew in popularity until it has become one of the most beloved Christmas Carols of all time, having been translated into many languages the world over. There are stories of it being sung across no-man's land during WW1, in Russian prison camps, and even during the Korean War. It so beautifully and simply depicts the nativity along with the miracle of Jesus birth that it is no wonder it is such a favourite.

I think I also have a soft spot for this carol because it reminds me of my own childhood. My father was from German heritage and when I was young we used to listen to a German child star named Heintje. We had several records, but my favourite was his Christmas album, and of course his rendition of Stille Nacht. (Click to hear  Heintje singing Stille Nacht ) 

Although my dad did not speak German to us so I did not really learn a second language (one of the things that irks me to this day!) he did teach us the words to this song. My daughters and I have often sung it together (in German, of course) in multi-part harmony, either for Christmas Eve services or other occasions. Even if we don't get the opportunity to sing for others, it has become a tradition that we at least sing it for ourselves.

I love Silent Night in English or in German. It is one of those songs that brings up warm memories for me and strikes a sentimental chord no matter which version I hear.

____________________
Tracy Krauss writes from her home in northern BC and is currently serving as InScribe's president. Visit her website tracykrauss.com for more.

The Meaning of Christmas by Ruth L. Snyder

God has prepared my heart for Christmas in several ways this year. In September, a friend loaned me the Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers. The trilogy tells the story of a slave girl in the Roman empire and how she came to understand the freedom and forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ. At our InScribe Conference, I purchased a copy of Sigmund Brouwer and Hank Hanegraaf's book, The Last Disciple, which is also set in the Roman empire era. These books reminded me that Jesus Christ saves us from the power of sin, but that doesn't mean that our lives will be easy. In fact, following Jesus Christ may require that I give up my life. (This is currently happening to many brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.)

This fall, I joined the praise & worship teams at our local church. For the past two Sundays, I have had the privilege of helping choose and perform the music, based on Advent themes that our Pastor is focusing on leading up to Christmas.

On December first, we sang O Come, O Come Emmanuel.

The Jewish people were longing for a Messiah who would free them from the oppression of the Romans. Many who encountered Jesus Christ thought this deliverance would be a literal, earthly deliverance. When Jesus was crucified, some thought that meant he was not the Messiah. They missed the freedom God offered because they were looking for it in the wrong place.

Today before the service began, I was introduced to a song I had never heard before: Christmas is about the Cross.

Instead of preaching, our Pastor and his brother shared a skit about the struggle Joseph experienced regarding whether he should marry Mary or not after she told him she was pregnant. We closed the service by singing Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne. Often I forget all that Jesus gave up to come to earth!

Sometimes in North America, we focus on the wrong things at Christmas time.

• We put up Christmas lights and forget about the Light of the World.
• We sing Christmas carols that celebrate the birth of baby Jesus and forget that Jesus was born to die.
• We exchange presents and forget about the gifts of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ.
• We prepare for Christmas day and forget to prepare our hearts to receive Jesus Christ.
• We put up a Christmas tree and forget that Jesus is the one who gives us eternal life.

It's not necessarily wrong to enjoy Christmas lights, Christmas carols, Christmas presents, Christmas Day, and Christmas trees. However, we need to remember that all of the festivities, feasting, and fun point us to Jesus Christ—to his birth AND his death and resurrection. 

This December, I am remembering it's all about Jesus.

What are you focusing on this Christmas?

Drum Roll: My Favorite Christmas Carol is... by Wendy L. Macdonald

It was while homeschooling my children that I happened upon what became my favorite Christmas Carol to sing. Each week in our school year, my kids and I focused on a new hymn to learn. We sang God Save the Queen, O Canada, and the Doxology for a warm-up each morning before singing along with a hymn playing on our CD player. First, we sang the hymn we learned the previous week. And then we sang along with the new one.

A Sick Cow

There was no way we could rely on my musical inability to hit the right notes, never mind know them. I love to sing; however, I was told by a little old lady that I sound like a “sick cow.”

Well, now that I have your sympathy—if not your attention—I’ll continue with my true story (By the way, that comment about my singing was the only English that sweet Italian lady spoke to me in the couple of years I worked in the extended care hospital she lived in—who knew?).   

For a Kid's Heart

Our favorite book and CD series to use for our morning music lessons were: For a Kid’s Heart by Focus on the Family. We enjoyed using all four volumes that were available at the time. I offered my children the choice of singing contemporary praise songs, but they declined and preferred the more challenging classical hymns.  I suspect that because they turned out to have much more musical ability than I have, they needed something way above my meager musical aptitude.

I’m no longer disappointed in my lack because I love to listen to them sing or play songs. And that’s partly why I chose to write about my favorite Christmas carol today. When my kids sang as a trio, it melted my heart. And once they even sang a hymn on the stage together for our former church while they were still shorter than I am. At least one audience member besides me teared up; he was also moved by their sweetness. Anyways, that’s enough boasting. I’m hoping my musical trio not only sing hymns again one day, I’m hoping they return to a fellowship of their choosing.

Drum Roll...

Drum roll … my favorite carol is:  How Great Our Joy!

This German hymn was so much fun to sing together. And because there’s quite a bit of repetition in it, it was easy to break into parts. We loved having solos and then rejoining for the chorus parts. I’m evidence—our family is evidence—you don’t have to have a music degree or any degree of musical ability to include music in your homeschool curriculum.

Passion Paves the Way

Passion paved the way.

There’s plenty of time for your family to get real lessons once you realize there’s a genuine interest budding. (I’m now a fan of Kindermusik thanks to my grandson. Check the link if you have any little ones in your family.)

It’s funny, I had no idea at the time that my children would still be avid fans of their instruments of choice (piano, drums, electric bass-guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar) once they became adults. But they are. Now my toddler grandson has begun playing around with a harmonica. All I can say to all of this is:

 "How great our joy! Great our joy! Joy, joy, joy, joy, joy, joy! 

Praise we the Lord in heav’n on high! Praise we the Lord in heav’n on high!"

Christmas Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
 
I’m nosy-to-know if you have “taught” someone something you’re lousy at? 😊 

P.S. You're invited to join me on my blog where I share a true confessional about speeding: Thou Shalt Not Speed