SAINTS OF CHRISTIAN HALLS! Through the years!

Through the years I have become acquainted with some men and women who were much older than myself. Some were in Bible Studies; some in Sunday School; some at Church and some in the workplace. I want to share a little bit about these dear ones through some letters and thoughts they have shared with me along with just memories. Perhaps it will inspire you to share with those who have crossed your paths and remember what you have learned from each other. Perhaps it will give you a different outlook as to what Christmas can mean to those who have been either forgotten by their families, or don't have any family left. Perhaps it will help to put the spirit of Christmas more into perspective instead of worrying about how the world views Christmas. Perhaps you will realize how God helps you to help others financially and cheerfully without it hurting your budget and giving you the warm Christmas feeling that we all want.

Apparently we have forgotten that God is God and we don't have to defend Him; explain Him or clarify His reasons. The latest of the insults to the Christian's Christmas is that the President wants a "holiday tree" at the White House instead of a "Christmas Tree." Seems ironic how political correctness can stand out like a sore thumb, but in itself is pure foolishness. A tree is a tree is a tree when it is standing in the forest, in our front yards or is decorated to the hilt inside our houses. At least it still has the ring of holiness; The word holiday as in holiday tree stands for Holy day! A baby step but a step all the same. Keeping in mind, God made all trees!

I remember a time when it was suggested that you use a tumble weed and place only a manger under it. I loved that idea but couldn't get my Mom to go for it. I keep thinking in the back of my mind that my sister Janice and her family did something like that because they were going to Clarence's family for Christmas. The idea is to put the Christ first within your Christmas celebration. No matter how we try to decorate we will never outdo God and His magnificent Angels in the sky; the Shepherds watching in the fields; The magnificent Choir singing; "Glory to God in the Highest and on earth, peace among men with whom He is pleased!" Luke 2:14 How about those Wise Men from the East? We know that God set the world on fire that night!

We all have made a mockery of the celebration of the birth of Jesus, but we want to celebrate it. We all have welcomed some of the creative, worldly ways like; Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer; the giving and receiving of gifts, not to mention the way our economy focuses on how our shopping, shopping, shopping keeps the retailer in business and lifts the fallen dollar to continue being a player in the game.

I love Christmas! I love decorating! I love baking! I love doing the 12 days of Christmas! Jennifer, my daughter bakes! Twelve days before Christmas Jim and I would take a Christmas plate with Jennifer's freshly baked goodies to a home inhabited by an elderly couple, a widow or widower. We visit; talk about their Christmas pasts and have prayer with them. We haven't done this since we moved to Klamath Falls but are planning to do it again this year.

Don't let your neighbor, your Community or even our Federal Government cause you to skip a beat with your Christmas celebration. Don't worry about how the world celebrates; God knew these things would happen. I use this scripture often but it is worth repeating; "Prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world." Philippians 2:15 Hang your Christmas lights outside and put your Christmas tree in the window for all your neighbors to see. Letting the light of Jesus Christ shine from you is most important! This glow must follow you wherever you go! I love the glow of Christmas and right now our home is looking a lot like the Christmas, I feel inside of me. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 11/29/09