Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: The Reason for the Season of Christmas (12/04/08)
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TITLE: Is A Christmas Card a Christmas Card | Previous Challenge Entry
By Annie Glasel
12/07/08 -
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I don't mean if it has "Merry Christmas" written somewhere. I mean is my card more about me showing off me or is it about reaching out to those who needs the love of Christ.
I sub-divide my list into four categories - the saved, the unsaved family, the unsaved friends, the unsaved business associates. Then I debate how to write to the last three categories.
I find myself not wanting to write up a testimony of God's work in my life for the past 12 months. I find myself wanting to just have a nice photo card with a generic message so that they can see my best and politically correct self. But really, aren't these the people who truly need the message of Christ? Isn't this the most opportune time of the year to testify?
For three years, I have not sent out one REAL Christmas card. My thought is to wait until God miraculously changes my circumstances to that of a pauper to a prince, and then testify of the triumph.
Perhaps the reason for me not wanting to write is that I don't have any concrete details. I can't write about any real "Christ-like" activities such as going on a mission, building houses for the poor, feeding the hungry or any other hundreds of hands-on-ministry type of reports. No, all I can offer is sweat and tear equity, the travails of my heart and the humbling of my spirit.
All I have to offer is God’s work in my family so that our victory is not in material wealth (for we have none) but that we have finally come to grips that “He is the source of everything.” How do I explain that for the past year all I have been doing is grappling with the first half of the big concept: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and ….” How do I share the transformation of having the “joy of my salvation” restored unto me.
I have no idea. All I know is that this year, I am going to proclaim Christ in each of my Christmas card.
I am starting off by writing “God is good, all the time.” And then tell the truth about making so little money that even the government wants to give me tax credit instead of taxing me. Next I will celebrate as to how our complete lack of funds has caused one hospital to cancel our medical bill, another to reduce it and three credit card companies to settle with us for 50 cents on the dollar. I will share that how the first half of my three-year marriage is marked with constant bickering about poverty and how the second half is a constant praise of God’s provision, despite the actual dollar amount in the bank account. I will testify of the peace that I have in my household and the unity I share with my husband.
In the end, I give all the honor and glory and praise to Christ my Lord and Savior, without whom I would not be sitting here writing, with joy for any season or for any reason. In my own way, I am living my own “Wonderful Life,” with the house physically falling apart, threadbare clothing but none able to silence the song in my heart bellowing “Merry Christmas for Christ is born.”
And I pray that the unsaved may see Christ in my Christmas card testimony.
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