As Christian men and women, we know the true meaning of Christmas in our hearts, but how many of us proclaim this fact to the world around us during the holidays? We can gently challenge those who would see Christmas as a time for commercialism and greed by letting our actions speak for themselves.

Pass it on. Want to give a special gift to a friend or coworker? Give them the gift of the Word. Share the Christmas story, and I don’t mean “’Twas the Night before Christmas”. Pre-printed leaflets recounting the miracle of Jesus’ birth can be purchased from a Christian bookseller. Or, add that personal touch and create a booklet of your own. A small item, such as a candle, can be included too. Fill a weary heart with God’s message.

Share His love. When someone invites a person to their house, it signifies that they wish to share their good fortune with them. When we accept Christ into our lives, his home becomes our home. Invite a friend or coworker to God’s house for an Advent service or a Christmas program. They will be glad they came.

Get involved. For people living on the fringes of society, life gets a little bit harder around the Christmas holidays. Suicide rates increase. Those in urgent need, like the poor and destitute, become more so due to the weather conditions that time of year. God cries out for us to show His love.

Volunteers are a welcomed sight at holiday time. Soup kitchens and food banks seek extra people to prepare and serve hot meals and help with food box deliveries. The social services agency can provide particulars on families in the area that want to be “adopted” for Christmas. As a church body, everyone can pitch in and provide gifts and other necessary items. Providing gifts for orphaned children can also be a church project or one taken on by individual families within the congregation. If you see a need that has yet to be met, begin your own program to provide it.

Don’t be afraid to say “Merry Christmas”. In this day of being politically correct, many companies and individuals are trying to make it unpopular to say “Merry Christmas” – rather, we are told we need to say “Happy Holidays”. Please take time to wish anyone you meet a very, Merry Christmas with a great big smile on your face! You may just brighten someone’s day and give them an opportunity to respond in kind.

The object here is to let Christ’s light shine in the life of another. During his lifetime, Jesus met each person at their level of need. Someone whose belly has been filled with food you helped to provide will be ready to hear more about the God you serve.

A commitment to Christ is a commitment to communicate his life and love to others. If Christ is number one in our lives, our actions should let everyone know it. As Christians, we have a unique opportunity to bring to the world, a true understanding of the Christmas season.

Originally posted 2008-12-01 16:49:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The Cinnamon Bear is an old time radio program produced by Transco (Transcription Company of America). The series was specifically designed to be listened to six days a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  It was first broadcast between Friday, November 26 and Saturday December 25, 1937.

The story focuses on Judy and Jimmy Barton who go to the enchanted world of Maybeland to recover their missing Silver Star that belongs on their Christmas tree. Helping on the search is the Cinnamon Bear, a stuffed bear with shoe-button eyes and a green scarf. They meet other memorable characters during their quest, including the Crazy Quilt Dragon (who repeatedly tries to take the star for himself), the Wintergreen Witch, Fe Fo the Giant, and Santa Claus.

Kelly’s Christmas Shop will have one episode a day between November 29th and December 24th.  Come back each day and listen to a new chapter with your children!

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Chapter 1: Paddy O’Cinnamon

The Barton twins, Judy and Jimmy discover the silver Star, which goes on the top of their Christmas tree, is missing. It is recalled that Uncle Ned took some of the holiday decorations up to, the attic last year and, after some pleading with Mother, the twins are permitted to go up to search for it. They don’t find the star but they do discover a number of other interesting things, including a tiny, 4-inch-tall teddy bear with a green ribbon around his neck. Jimmy looks through an old seaman’s telescope and sees the little bear move. He introduces himself with his own song “I’m the Cinnamon Bear with the Shoe Button eyes.” Paddy O’Cinnamon, for that is his proper name, tells the children their star has been stolen by the Crazy Quilt Dragon and offers to help them get it back.

Originally posted 2008-11-29 01:16:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

It’s time for the next episode of The Cinnamon Bear!

I sure hope you are enjoying these classic stories.  It’s nice to hear something decent for for both children and adults at Christmas time!  So grab the kids, some nice hot chocolate, and settle down for this next installment.

Today:  Chapter 4: The Inkaboos

Jimmy, Judy, Paddy, and Crazy are approached by a most peculiar group of people. They are the Inkaboos, the blotter people who are a bit touchy about their boundary lines. After a brief struggle, Crazy Quilt escapes but our three friends are made prisoners. They are taken before King Blotto and charged with trespassing, the penalty for which is to be thrown into the Immense Inkwell.

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Chapter 4: The Inkaboos

Originally posted 2008-12-02 22:14:04. Republished by Blog Post Promoter