Every Day Life: All I Want For Christmas...

By Beth M

People constantly ask me what I want for Christmas, here are a few things I tell them:

All I want for Christmas is a day off, seriously, this whole working full time, being a grown-up is overrated.

All I want for Christmas is for my car to last the winter, that's all, just until I can save for a new-to-me one.

All I want for Christmas is a husband, but not really, I'm way too independent for that. How about just someone to go to movies with and snuggle with on the couch? I know…..

…..All I want for Christmas is a puppy! Oh, wait, you can't take them to the movies. Never mind.

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One Word At A Time: Fellowship

By Ginny (MAD21)

I suppose it's a little like cheating. It's kind of like getting to see the test before having to take it yourself. You'll have to allow me to indulge in this tiny bit of defiance. I could come up with all kinds of good justifications as to why my posts are published the day after Bridget's carnival goes up on her site. Would you believe it's because the timing works better for my blog? Yes, that actually is the real reason.

Honestly, I've come to enjoy reading others' posts before I have published my own, sometimes even before I have finished writing it. Mostly because it makes me think deeper. Sometimes writing for blogs feels like having to complete an assignment. I really don't want it to turn into that here. I've come to enjoy reading the other posts first because then writing mine feels more like a conversation. It feels more... complete. After reading several other posts in the past day, I also realized that it feels more like... Fellowship.

We are all talking about Fellowship over at Bridget's place this week. Fellow blogger Kely over at Dangerous Breeze wrote about fellowship being the church. Amy Sorrells wrote about companionship and communion. These posts came so close to what I was going to write about myself, but then I read Glynn's post over at Faith, Fiction and Friends that I felt went one step further and really hit the nail on the head for me. In his post, "It's not Coffee Talk," he says that, "...Fellowship may be more akin to what Jesus had with the “good thief” on the cross on Golgotha than anything we define it as today."

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A Gift of Time Well Spent

By Pat

Well, another Christmas season has arrived. It seems like each one comes faster than the one before, and I find myself, as usual, worrying about what to buy, when to decorate, and how much to bake. I will fret over what to get grandchildren who need nothing. I will make myself crazy.

Somehow, I don't think this is what Jesus wants as we prepare to celebrate his birth. I remember the little drummer boy, and how the gift of music he gave to baby Jesus made Him smile. I remember that, in Matthew 19: 16-23, Jesus tells the story of the rich young man, and how distressed he was when Jesus told him to give all his riches to the poor. I remember that Jesus defines riches and gifts much differently than the world does...and I like it.

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Jonah and Second Chances

Ginny (MAD21)

A good friend of mine sent me a link to this video. I have to say it's the best rendition I have ever heard of the story of Jonah. It's just more proof that God can work through people, no matter what age they are. This little girl is truly blessed with the ability to tell a story. I pray that she can continue to share the love of Christ all throughout her life. With a voice like that, people will listen.

The story of Jonah from Corinth Baptist Church on Vimeo.

"...and a little child shall lead them." (Isaiah 11:6)

OCC Shoe Box Impact Stories: Zimbabwe

Abigail, age 13

Thank you for the gift box I received. I'm talented in drawing. When my parents told me that they could not afford the drawing equipment I needed for exams I nearly killed myself without telling anyone. The next Sunday I received my gift box and was shocked; exactly the drawing equipment I needed was inside. Because Jesus loves me, He stopped me from killing myself by providing the drawing equipment I needed. Today I have joy and I understand that Jesus is my provider.

[Editor's Note: During this week of Thanksgiving I thought it would be nice to share some stories from kids and their families receiving shoe boxes from Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child. My friend Stacey Wilson from SP OCC, who has written for this blog before, was kind enough to send them to me. Even though last week was the official collection week for the shoe boxes, the organization collects and delivers them all year long. I want to encourage you to keep Samaritan's Purse, as well as all the children who receive these boxes in your prayers. That children all around the world will be led to the feet of Christ, one shoe box at a time.]