The True Christmas Spirit

"The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity- hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory- because at the Father's will Jesus Christ became poor and was born in a stable so that thirty years later he might hang on a cross. It is the most wonderful message that the world has ever heard, or will hear.

We talk glibly of the "Christmas spirit," rarely meaning more by this than sentimental jollity on a family basis. But what we have said makes it clear that the phrase should in fact carry a tremendous weight of meaning. It ought to mean the reproducing in human lives of the temper of him who for our sakes became poor at the first Christmas. And the Christmas spirit itself ought to be the mark of every Christian all the year round.

It is our shame and disgrace today that so many Christians- I will be more specific: so many of the soundest and most orthodox Christians- go through this world in the spirit of the priest and the Levite in our Lord's parable, seeing human needs all around them, but (after a pious wish, and perhaps a prayer, that God might meet those needs) averting their eyes and passing by on the other side. That is not the Christmas spirit. Nor is it the spirit of those Christians- alas, they are many- whose ambition in life seems limited to building a nice middle-class Christian home, and making nice middle-class Christian friends, and bringing up their children in nice middle-class Christian ways, and who leave the submiddle-class sections of the community, Christian and non-Christian, to get on by themselves.

The Christmas spirit does not shine out in the Christian snob. For the Christmas spirit is the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor- spending and being spend- to enrich their fellow humans, giving time, trouble, care and concern, to do good to others-and not just their own friends-in whatever way there seems need. "

- J. I . Packer, "God Incarnate," Knowing God

Card Catalog Calendar

It's that sentimental time of year. With Christmas right around the corner and the end of the year fast approaching there is a lot to reflect on. With that in mind I love this idea from Design Sponge for recording the thoughts and happenings of each day. While I love journaling, finding the time to do that every day is a challenge. This card catalog calendar is the perfect (and pretty) place to jot down little reminders of significant events (and sometimes the not so significant events too) so that later on you can look back on all that was happening in life. Love it!

Advent & Christmas Cards

It's probably no surprise that I love Christmas. Over the last few years though my love for this time of year has increased as we started observing Advent. I love the longing and expectation for our risen Savior that is wrapped up in the observance and remembrance of His first coming. While the rest of our house is decked out in all the trimmings of the season, the simplicity of the advent wreath that sits on our dining room table is a reminder to me to not be distracted for the true reason we celebrate.

And another favorite part of the season? Christmas Cards! We got our first cards from friends this weekend, and I'm itching to get ours ready to send out. I'll confess I've been thinking about them since before Thanksgiving and planning out the perfect picture/card combo. Typically we have a snow picture from our time in NH the previous year to use, but this year we didn't have one that I deemed "Christmas card worthy."
So instead, on Thanksgiving day my sister graciously braved the cold and the wind to take our picture up at Wagon Hill. (Thanks Megly!). Now all that is to be done is to find the perfect card. This year we are using shutterfly, and I'll admit that with all they have to offer I'm having a hard time deciding. . .
I love the ones that open like a traditional card and leave space for a greeting inside, like this one.
And then of course, I have to decide if I want the traditional Christmas colors or the blues and browns that seems to be popular this year. (ohh, too many decisions!)
Ultimately, I think I have decided that I like the ones that scroll the greeting across the bottom. But which will we choose? I guess you'll just have to check your mailbox to find out!