May the Lord bless you this holiday season.
I’ve always felt a bit frustrated with how early Christmas starts for retailers.
We celebrate Advent and put our tree up the weekend before Christmas. We also celebrate the 10 days of Christmas which goes to Epiphany so we try to leave our tree up until then. We usually cut our own so it often stays fresh until then.
I use the children’s Christmas stockings to give them each a small gift each day of the 10 days of Christmas so that makes it fun long after the official gift opening.
Then I received this email from Heather Hart from Books, Faith, and coffee.
I love Thanksgiving. Partly because I love turkey, partly because I get to spend time with family, and partly because it’s the gateway to Christmas.
I have family coming in this week and am looking forward to Thanksgiving day, but in the back of my mind I know that Christmas is coming.
The last couple of years the holiday season has come and gone so quickly that I almost missed it. It was New Year’s Eve and I wasn’t even ready for Thanksgiving. This year I want it to be different.
I want to celebrate this season to the fullest. And part of that came from not holding Christmas at bay until Thanksgiving was gone. It came from learning to look at Thanksgiving as the gateway to Christmas. Yes, it is its own holiday, but it’s the start of such a wonderful season.
Thanksgiving prepares our hearts (and our homes) for the holiday season. It shifts us from our self-focus that lasts most of the year, to an attitude of gratitude. To be thankful for all that we have.
Our town is already sprinkled with Christmas lights. The stores are filled with holiday cheer. And one of the things I am most thankful for is Christmas. I am so thankful that God sent His Son to be born in a manger.
I’d never thought of Thanksgiving as the gateway to Christmas before. It was a wonderful thought as I considered all believers giving thanks as they enter into Advent and all the way up to Christmas.
My heart has been changed. In fact, we are putting our tree up today! And decorating! And I’ve already done some shopping.
You can see the heart change from the article I wrote recently – Can You Believe…Christmas Planning Before Thanksgiving?
Thank you, Heather, for opening my heart to a new way of looking at this.
And now for our Christmas Blessing giveaway of $420.
Participating bloggers
Woman to Woman Ministries
Elizabeth Stewart, Just Following Jesus
Phyllis Sather, Write the Vision
Learning Grace Through Motherhood
Rules:
Giveaway rules: No purchase necessary. Must be 18 to enter. Void where prohibited by law. Open to US and Canada residents only. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or associated by Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest. By entering this giveaway, you agree to release Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Woman to Woman Ministries and all participating bloggers of all liability. Contest ends at 11:59PM CST on December 11, 2017. Winner is randomly chosen by Rafflecopter and will be emailed.
34 Comments
Judith Martinez
An extra $420 would mean that we could get our car fixed.
Cindy A.
I would use it to help pay for family Christmas gifts and make up gift bags for our local nursing homes. We have two nursing homes in my little town and I would love to be able to make up just 10 bags for each facility. Most of the patients have family members who look after them, but there are a few who don’t have anybody. I can’t stand the thoughts of them not getting something for Christmas.
Lisa Ogle
I have really had a tough year, I would stock up on necessities and pay my overdue electric bill.
Amber Terry
I would pay a bill and buy my mother something for Christmas 😀
Thank you for the chance to win!!!
Rebecca L Jones
I would use it to bless someone who really needs a blessing, or give a lot of little blessings to those I know doing their best to serve Christ.
Sara
I would buy gifts for those I usually can’t afford to buy gifts for.
Lisa Joy Starr
There’s so much that I could do with $420, but putting it towards good literature and favorite book series for my high school sons is at the top of my list.
Lisa Joy Starr
Steve P
It will go towards the perfect gifts for my wonderful family!
Danielle
Thank you for this AMAZING opportunity!!
If we are fortunate enough to be chosen with this gift, we would most definitely be filling the oil tank first and foremost.
We would then use what is left to get something for our daughters and our granddaughter.
Merry Christmas & Best Holidays to everyone.
Sincerely,
Danielle
Debbie Welchert
I would put it toward much needed groceries.
Jennifer Boehme
I want to do something for the twentysomething year old young lady with 1 1/2 yr old little girl at church. She has nothing, her husband left her and she needs to smile. She has epilepsy and can’t even drive. I have been trying giveaways to get her toys and things she will need.
Jennifer Vasquez
With the $420 we would pay off my dental procedure from July and pay for our January dental cleaning. Doing that would free us up to get our girls a couple of gifts off their wishlist that we are not able to buy.
Cynthia Nagy
$420…I will be buying the headphones and other supplies my classroom needs.
Jessica Thompson
I would put the money toward my ccildren’s Curriculum
Sara L
I’d love to invest $420 in the little home projects that always fall under the “it can wait” category.
Maureen Keim
I would love to give half of this money to a needy family in our church,and use the rest to buy christmas gifts for our 8 children!
donna
Use it bless a few families in need 🙂
Rachael Kuhaneck
This will help us out tremendously!!! We just moved 3 months ago, so money is really tight this year for Christmas!
Jenifer
What a beautiful way to look at the beginning of the season!
Thank you for joining us, Phyllis! God bless!
Terri S
I would use it towards Christmas presents and the extra groceries for the holiday.
Julie B
I’ll buy a desk. I need a new computer desk.
alicia gordon
I can buy christmas presents for my family if i won this paypal cash(:
Crystal Abel
I would get more gifts for my friends and family. They deserve so much more and this would bless us so very much!
Betsy Barnes
If I won, I would be able to pay bills and have a few extra gifts under the tree for my family!
Karen
I would put the money toward a house project that would bless our whole family.
Jenniffer
I would buy my husband his dream grill so he can pursue his passion/hobby and cook healthier dinners for us!
Barrie
I would use the $420 to purchase gifts for the Salvation Army tree as well as Christmas dinner for us! I also haven’t purchased stockings so would use a little money for that too!
Babette
I will use some of it for my twins’ graduation and gifts for Christmas!!
Apolonia Sanchez
I will use it to help fix up our home from Harvey. We have 10 weeks left for baby number 9 to be born. I have not brought her anything.
Apolonia Sanchez
I would use it to help fix my house up from Harvey. We still have along way to go, and baby number 9 on the way in 10 weeks.
Heather Hart
Oh, and if I won the gift card, we would use it for bills and groceries. My husband is having back surgery this month and will be off work for 6-8 weeks. He will get short term disability, but that’s only half his regular paycheck. This would go a long way to helping fill the gap.
Phyllis Sather
I didn’t know that! We pray for the winner so lets see what the Lord is going to do.
Heather Hart
I’m so glad God was able to use my words in your life, Phyllis. He’s been teaching me a lot about Christmas this year and that just bubbled out of me one day. God is so good isn’t He? To Him be the glory.
Phyllis Sather
Your words just opened my heart. I have one daughter who would celebrate Christmas year around. She is delighted to be able to decorate so early.