[Faith-talk] Good Night Message for Saturday, December 8 2012

[Paul]

Hello and good morning, afternoon or evening to all of you, wherever you happen to live.  I hope that your day went well or is going well.  As for me, I'm thankful that the bank issued a temporary credit card to the undersigned until hopefully I get my new permanent one.  Now I can use it to hopefully have repairs done to the exterior part of my house, specifically my front outside door, among other things.

For our Christmas season article for this evening, we turn to the pen of Audrey Carli, a writer who lives in Michigan, with her article entitled "Christmas Meditation," rendered as follows:

Dear God, another Christmas is around the corner, so please help me keep in mind what is the most precious gift to share with my family and friends.

May the first Christmas in Bethlehem stay in my thoughts during prayer and worship times--that the stable with its simple surroundings were made magnificent with the birth of Your Son, Jesus!

In the giving of heartfelt gifts, Lord, help me to be patient while in crowded stores.  Help me to keep cheerful even if squeezed in the long checkout line.

Assist me to enjoy peace while baking bread and cookies to share with family, friends and those we visit in nursing homes or in their lonely apartments.

Guide my thoughts as I write cards that include personal, caring words so that each card becomes a visit to share the season's joy.

Please aid me from becoming too entranced with the merchandise displays so I may focus instead on the joy of loving and worshiping You, Lord.

Guide me too, Lord, to not give my children more than they can humanly appreciate even if an unexpected check arrives with bonus funds.  May we share those dollars with those who might not otherwise experience Your kind of love, Lord--for I still recall the lean years with gifts created with hands and love made a Christmas filled with spirit.

Gifts from the heart can be priceless whether costly or not as they convey love between the giver and the recipient.  And that the precious gift in today's hectic world is the giving of time and self for others' benefits in the name of love.

And let me remember Your words from Acts 20:35: "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

May each twinkling tree light remind us of the star that guided the wise men so long ago. Amen.

And there you have Sister Audrey's meditative and contemplative type of prayer.  May it minister to you as it did to me.

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, throughout this night or day and especially in these last days in which we live.  I also pray that those of you in Australia and New Zealand had a wonderful Lord's Day today, Sunday, and that we in Europe or the UK will have the same.  Your Christian brother and friend, Paul