How many of you feel like that? I know I have. For over a week now, and have less barley half my shopping done. I was so stressed about what to get who. So much so I couldn’t think properly and I was getting sick from lack of sleep. On top of that, I knew I should write something. But I didn’t know what until now.

Today I was reminded it is not how much do we do, how much we spend, or how much time we put in to the season and gifts. It is why we do it that matters. It is for the end result that we go thought all the effort of the tasks we do.

The season in the U.S.A. normally starts the day after Thanksgiving. What a wonderful holiday that was.. Most of us cooked, threw a party, attended a party, or went out to dinner. All in order to give thanks (to the Lord) and remembered all the things we are Thankful for. That was nice, was it not. And most of us had started our giving with food. What a great start into such a wonderful season, yes?

It was a nice October and November! The weather has been cool or cold, the air and leaves changed. And then Thanksgiving was over and………………………………………………….

The sales stared! And off we went! As did the stress! We get so caught up in the “Perfect Gifts” wanting to buy just the right thing to my everyone happy, even when it costs more then we can afford. I know not EVERYONE is like this but this season just about every one I know is going though this stress. To top it all off your normal life is still going on. So while your looking for the perfect gift your having to go to work, and run the standard errands, plus the special “pre-cleaning” – “Out with the old to make room for the new” is happening. And that builds the pressure until it gets to be too much. So when Christmas comes: your like a dried up, burnt piece of toast. Your burnt up in energy, trying to make it the perfect day, while pieces of you fall off, and your to dry to absorb anything that’s is going on around you. How many of these Christmas’s have you experienced? Or any holidays for that matter.

Don’t let your self forget why we go thought all the perorations and planning for this special day. We do it because we LOVE those around us. Because we care enough to show others we appreciate them, even if we do not like them at all times. This is the time of year that is all about Giving, and we give because – God gave to us! He gave us His ONLY begotten son. (Begotten – Unique – one of a kind.) (The most precious gift any of us could ever hope for!!!) So that who ever believes in him shall have everlasting life. – John 3:16

Not only that, but are our sins forgiven! Jesus died on the Cross for us. We are washed clean by his spilled blood.. Consecutively: so that we may come in to our everlasting life. To me that is almost too good to be true. But I believe, the Bible proves it to be true.

*Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

*Psalm-85:2
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin.

We are so blessed that we do not have to go thought gory sacrifices of animals and or our crops like they did before Jesus came. And that we do not have to go thought others to be forgiven.

*Psalm-32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

*Leviticus-4:35
And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.

All we have to do is receive Jesus, the ultimate Christmas gift. It is better then that TV. , DVD, iPod, Laptop, Car, ect……. And once we remember the reason for the season. While your doing your last minuet shopping and you’re decorating, take a some time each morning to talk to God and have some praise and worship time, read your Bible. The stress will let up and we can find joy and peace in the giving and the receiving even more then last year. Because it is about the Price Jesus paid for us. It is about the blessed Birth that is and was to save our lives from eternal damnation.

With that thought you should also reach out and save some one’s life with a kind word and the message of God’s Love. And I know their Christmas will be a wonderful one too. Don’t force it on anyone, just plant the seed. Those who plant are not always those who water and grow the harvest. Remember to pray for the person though. That’s the best we can do for anyone and it is priceless c ompared to worldly goods.

Once I remembered why I was “spending all my money” on “the perfect gifts” The shopping task became fun and exciting and less like a chore. And once I relaxed, I realized what would be best to get everyone.

*Hebrews-12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

*Mark-2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee

*Mark-6:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

*2-Corinthians-13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.