Dec 11, 2008

Food For Thought

I get daily devotional emails from Crosswalk called Girlfriends in God. It is a pretty neat devotional. It is not the kind of "old fashion" stuffy & boring type of devotionals that I grew up with as a kid....this is what I received today. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did/do.

If you want the link to sign up to receive it, let me know :)

December 11, 2008

1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

With Christmas just around the corner, it is easy to get so busy with the cooking, decorating and shopping that we forget why we're doing all this in the first place.

Sometimes, the very people we love get lost in the hustle and bustle of packed schedules, holiday parties, and Christmas musicals.

This Christmas, let's keep our focus on Jesus and celebrate the reason He came.

Today, I want to share a poem that I wrote a few years ago that helps me keep a proper perspective.

1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style ©By Sharon Jaynes

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family - I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family - I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family - It profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.

3 comments:

Cindi said...

wow, awna..this is such a great post!! so true, and so easy to overlook in in the hustle and bustle. thanks for sharing.
:)

shadoob said...

How did I not know you had a blog? or how come I never came to it before? Very nice devotional...TFS

I hope your new year is one of HEALTH, happiness and many blessings!
~Cheryl

Midnitecreations - Renu said...

I love this poem. I managed to get quite a bit of time with my family this year, but I can relate to times gone by and how hectic the season becomes. Mostly because we put the stress on our selves.