Blessing the Homeless

There are so many, many more homeless people in Hawaii now and the numbers of women are increasingly visible.  This past week I created a little gift for some of them just to help spread the joy and to help them remember it's Jesus' birthday.  I don't have a lot to spend but know that they have nothing so I created from my heart.

Someone said recently of Christmas that it seems like the whole world is spending all this money and time and energy to throw a huge party and forgot to invite the guest of honor..... I didn't want to have heard that and not do my part to hep people remember.

One of the men in our church faithfully and regularly take PBJ sandwiches and soup every single week to those hanging out the Institute for Human Services.  One couple makes the many sandwiches every week and another lady makes a big pot of soup.  I added my little gift to them this week.  These are photos of what I created.

So sorry!!  I don't know how to rotate this photo within this post.  The thing is I tried to share the origin of the candy cane by this poem I found.  I forgot to take a photo of the 2 candy canes inserted into the package as  "J" to go with the meaning of the poem.

I pray you all had a glorious Christmas and took the time to remember the true meaning for all the celebrations!

For unto us a Child is born!!

Isaiah 9:6

Merry CHRISTmas !
Someone said:  "Christmas has become a time when everyone spends a ton of money to throw a gigantic party and forgot to invite the guest of honor!"  Yes, it's as if we make all these preparations for a birthday party and forgot to invite the birthday boy!!  Let's remember that JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!

I follow a blog called The Enchanting Rose and this morning she posted a wonderful message about the reason she loves Christmas.  I'm adding her comments here because it says so beautifully my exact feelings about this holiday:

But these aren't the only reasons I love Christmas,

my number one reason for loving this holiday so much

is being able to celebrate the greatest gift the world received -

Jesus Christ! 

I am so thankful that Jesus Christ came to earth to be born of a virgin

so that I and all man-kind could receive Him as Lord and Savior!
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people from their sins.
Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son,
and they shall call his name Emmanuel,
which being interpreted is, God with us."
Matthew 1:21,23

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called
Wonderful,
Counselor,
The Mighty God,
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6

I am truly in awe of the love God has shown us by sending His Son
to come to earth to die upon the cross at Calvary for the entire world.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved."
John 3:16,17
"In this was manifested the love of God toward us,
because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world,
that we might live through him."
1 John 4:9

So my main reason for loving Christmas - celebrating my Savior's birth.
I do love the other joy's of Christmas and I enjoy each one,
but nothing can compare to the humble birth of Lord and Savior.
I hope you, dear friends, are celebrating the real reason for this lovely season.

* * * * * * * *

I pray for all of you who read this that you will seriously make Jesus your Lord and Savior and 

that you will have an even more blessed holiday because of that.

Happy Birthday Jesus!!

A Moment to Pray

In the rush of this Christmas season when we should be joyfully celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we need to humbly stop and pray for the incredible losses taking place around the world.  The storms that are continuing to devastate different areas around the world and more so, up front and close is the terrible, senseless, and shocking loss of the faculty and children in Connecticut and today the loss of our beloved Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii.

If anyone is still visiting this blog, I ask that you join me and please pause and pray for God's tender mercies and His loving arms to wrap around all those who are hurting, grieving, depressed at this present moment.

Take the time to tell those you love that you love them.  Set aside the petty differences and silly arguments.  See the bigger picture - Life is so fragile and we can be doing everything right but that doesn't guarantee any of us another dawn.

May God richly bless those whose hearts hurt at the same things that hurt the heart of God and therefore pray daily for a better world.