Monday- Intentional Living

 Today I found a wonderful blog post from   Joyfully Domestic on how  to enjoy an intentional Holiday at Christmas.  She really said it all so well I hope you will click on the link above to read and consider her points on celebrating a God-centered Christmas.  It is just so easy to get carried away with the trappings of Christmas., when it really is all about the birth of a very special baby.  And what His life means for us who believe.  Of course, it is our hope that as many who will yield their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ   will be saved from their sins and lead fruitful, peaceful lives.  Enjoy the article and plan for a very Merry Christmas! 

A few more ideas:

Here are 10 ways to keep Christ at the center of your Christmas celebration:

1. Read the Bible story with your family.

This is a simple way to start and the best way to remember what brought our Savior into the world. Read portions or all of the following biblical passages documenting the original Christmas:

• Matthew 1:18-2:23
• Luke 2:1-20

2. Walk through Old Testament prophecies about the birth of Christ.

There are hundreds of Old Testament prophecies documenting the coming of the Messiah. Several of these deal directly with the birth of Christ. Reading through the Old Testament prophecies about Christmas and seeing the New Testament fulfillment in Christ is a powerful way to build your faith and focus on Christ.

3. Use an advent calendar with Scripture in it.

The advent season looks forward to the coming of Christ at Christmas (advent comes from a word meaning ‘coming’) and is a time of preparation for Christmas. It also looks forward to the Second Coming of Christ.

Using an advent calendar with Scripture will provide you with a daily reminder from Scripture and help you renew your mind as Christmas day approaches.

4. Watch a Christ-focused movie.

Sadly, many “Christmas” movies do not even mention the name of Jesus. Those movies fall way short of the true meaning of Christmas.

Watching a Christ-centered movie can entertain you, provide positive family memories, and build your faith as you ponder the work of our Savior. Some recommended movies to watch at Christmastime include: The Gospel of John,The Star of Bethlehem, The Greatest Story Ever Told, The Nativity Story, and the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas.

 5. Call out wrong messages about Christmas.

Holiday movies tell us there are several meanings to Christmas: giving to others, spending time with people you love, getting good gifts, and that you can be a hero if you have “the Christmas spirit.”

All of these things fall short of the true and amazing meaning of Christmas: God sent his Son into the world, in the form of a baby, to perfectly fulfill God’s law and eventually serve as the sacrifice for the sins, saving whoever would put their faith in him (John 3:16).

6. Listen to Christ-exalting Christmas music.

So much Christmas music is meaningless fluff, lacking any mention to Christ and lacking substance. Read the words from one of the most popular Christmas songs of all-time, Bing Crosby’s White Christmas:

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas / Just like the ones I used to know / Where the tree tops glisten / And children listen / To hear sleigh bells in the snow…

Although it is a catchy song, it does a better job glorifying snow than Christ. Christ has given us so much, why would we not sing about him at Christmas time? Through him we have the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7), a new life in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), the Holy Spirit living in us (Romans 8:11), an eternal inheritance in heaven with Christ (1 Peter 1:4). Snow isn’t bad, but Christ is so much better!

Here are some lyrics from a great Christ-exalting Christmas song called “Mary Did You Know” by Mark Lowry:

Mary did you know that your baby boy would some day walk on water? / Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters? /  Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? / This child that you’ve delivered, will soon deliver you.”

Or if you are into classical music, Handel’s “Messiah” is one of the most glorious pieces of music ever written or played—and is about Christ!

7. Remember the dangers of materialism. 

Don’t let yourself or your children get sucked into the materialistic trap that exists at Christmas. If you are a parent, it is especially important that you make sure your kids understand at an early age that Christmas is not about getting presents and having more possessions.

Some practical steps for teaching and learning a biblical perspective on gifts and earthly possessions are:

1. Walk through Scriptures dealing with possessions. Matthew 6:19-34 and James 4:1-12 are good places to start.
2. Go to a garbage dump and look at all of the old things that might have been highly-coveted at one time.
3. Focus on giving at Christmas time. Jesus is the ultimate example—sacrificially giving Himself to pay the price for our sins.
4. Make your Christmas list be a list of things you are thankful for, not a list of things you want.
5. Pray that God would change your focus.

8. Give Christ-centered gifts.

Giving gifts that will build faith is an excellent way to celebrate Christ at Christmas. The Unlocking the Bible Storehas several items that would make excellent gifts:

• For the studious Christian: The ESV Study Bible
• For the new believer or non-Christian: Ten Keys for Unlocking the Bible
• For anyone wanting to get into the Word: The OneYear Unlocking the Bible Devotional

Writing a Christmas Bible verse on a Christmas card is a great way to point back to the Savior as well!

9. Make the highlight of your Christmas serving others.

Christ, himself, did not come to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45). Christmas can be a very self-centered time, and serving others provides you an opportunity to think about and meet the needs of others. Serving can happen in your church, a homeless shelter, giving a gift to the child of a prisoner, and many other ways.

Regina commented on our Facebook page on a way her family serves others during Christmas time:

We pool our Christmas money together and instead of buying gifts, we decided together on a relief organization to send it to. Our kids ask us every year what organization we can give to. We all enjoy it!

10. Share Christ with others. 

The Christmas season may be the best time to invite people to church and strike up spiritual conversations. The topic of Christmas and Jesus Christ will come up often. Take advantage of that and share the life giving truth of the gospel! Take advantage of the fact that people are not satisfied with candy canes and mistletoe and that they long for something deeper and satisfying and that Jesus Christ will satisfy all of their thirsts and longings of this life, and the life to come.

If you send out a Christmas card or letter, you have a great opportunity to share the real meaning of Christmas and the source of true Christmas cheer, Jesus Christ[P

This list was compiled by the management of  The Open Bible..     and has some good ideas.

Monday- Intentional Living

Purposeful Living

• "Intentional living means understanding your fundamental beliefs and values, and then actively living your life in line with those values.”
• For a Christian  that  would be  spiritual pursuits..  including communion with  God. Prayer is one of the most important things we do in our  Christian life.. Community with  the godhead of  the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is integral  to  bringing us  as close as we can be to  our Creator, our Savior, and our Advocate. 

  In a study I do midweek,  we have been studying  John;  chapters 13-16. In these chapters  Jesus  has travelled for three years with his disciples and they think they know Him well.  But in  chapter 14 Jesus tells the disciples that soon  He will be leaving and going to a place where they cannot go.   Now this was just a short time prior to the crucifixion.  Hearing Jesus’ words shook  the disciples world because they had been thinking all along that Jesus was going to overtake the Roman  leadership and that His kingdom would be on earth as a political  kingdom and they would  be great in that kingdom alongside  their teacher.  So in their  confusion, Jesus introduces them to one who will be coming to  be  their Advocate  once He  was gone.. the Holy Spirit, who would come and live  with them in a very personal way...  would be with them  at all times….comfort and   lead them  through the pitfalls and  successes of life.

  Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 

  Jesus was, also,  introducing them to the idea of  the Trinity..  God, the Father, also, 

  who is  sending  these helps , Jesus and the coming Holy Spirit, to be with the disciples…….  the Son, whom they know and  are  just beginning to  realize that didn't know, as well as, they thought.  …He kept saying He only did what He saw the Father doing..  and by  this  if you have seen me, you have seen the Father..   This was essentially the first time  these mortals  were learning about the Father.  they knew  there was a Father,  but to hear  about Jesus   relationship to Him and now how he would be  personally related to them,   Whew..  A lot to  take in,  but wait there is more? … and then vs 26 goes on to introduce the Advocate.  That is a huge  amount of information in a short time and it created quite a confusing, yet a slow  awakening for these simple men.

  24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

  Jesus seems to 

   be  hurriedly   introducing these  parts of Himself, but yes,   truly, time was short.  Soon  they all would be in the Garden of Gethsemane.  

  What about us? We each of us heard about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit , probably at different times of our life.  And for many, including myself, connecting the dots was not exactly  easy! You know I was raised   Methodist,  then Presbyterian.  then somewhat  charismatic  in my  mid-life years..  and it wasn't until  then that I was actually taught about the Holy Spirit.  I had known there  was  one, but knew nothing about His character , His role in my life, but suddenly my life changed  dramatically. I  became a sponge   desiring  to learn more and more.  I attended every Bible Study and  small group..  everything about what I thought I knew about Christianity  changed....my heart was ignited and I  was  transformed  from  someone  who  was  a 

  dead beat  Christian  to one that was alive and actively engaged! 

• Who is the Holy 

  Spirit? 
•  For   the full information  use this link -
• https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/371016936626613188/5422992918696285351
• 
  
• A good teaching on the HS  by Bible study tools..   and the video there is  very good..  YOU will be introduced in an easy to understand  way  and it will become life changing for you!
• 
  

• F

  or further study, get your FREE copy of The Power of the Holy Spirit: A Scripture and Prayer Guide HERE. Download and print this e-book to discover the works and power of the Holy Spirit in your own life.   Highly recommended.
  Holy Spirit you are welcome here!
  Holy Spirit You Are Welcome Here Lyrics

  There is nothing worth more
  That will ever come close
  No thing can compare You're our living hope
  Your presence Lord
  I've tasted and seen Of the sweetest of love
  When my heart becomes free And my shame is undone
  Your presence Lord
  
  Holy spirit, You are welcome here
  Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
  Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
  To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
  
  There is nothing worth more
  That will ever come close
  No thing can compare
  You're our living hope
  Your presence Lord
  I've tasted and seen
  Of the sweetest of Love
  When my heart becomes free
  And my shame is undone
  Your presence Lord
  
  Holy spirit, You are welcome here
  Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
  Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
  To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
  
  Holy spirit, You are welcome here
  Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
  Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
  To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
  
  Let us become more aware of Your presence
  Let us experience the glory of Your goodness