Christmas greetings are sent to you! May your heart be filled with love this Holiday Season! May you celebrate the birth and presence of our Savior and King. May your life be filled with His hope!

Saturday around noon, I was disappointed to hear that our guest speaker was unable to attend our Celebration that evening. Michael and I had a very difficult week, both of us felt worn. I felt as if I had nothing to say, nothing to give, nothing to share! Honestly, the truth is, I never really do, as I am only His vessel. This Celebration made that knowledge completely clear and profoundly absolute. After hearing the news, I wrote an email to my sister Kristina who so generously interceded for me all day! Bless you, Friend! Soon the Holy Spirit began directing me, giving me one idea after another!!! The problems of the week vanished for the rest of the day, my physical strength was restored, and joy began to fill my heart.

At 1:30 I arrived at a Christian bookstore. Delightfully, I found an accompaniment CD of the song I sensed was to be ministered that evening! Then…my shopping experience became somewhat surreal, starting with the clerk at the Christian bookstore. I asked where I might find a life sized Baby Jesus in the manager. To me, not a strange request being that this is Christmas and I am in a Christian bookstore. The sales person informed me that this was a “specialty item”-only available upon request for order. Does this sound weird to anyone else?!? Jesus in a manger… A SPECIALTY ITEM??? However, I was informed during my purchase that I could add a Christmas teddy bear for only $7.99!!! I went from store to store-in my quest to find the Babe in the manger. There were a zillion life sized Santa’s, snowmen, reindeer and nativity sets. AND… let’s not forget the lawn sized snow globes which are available in all shapes, sizes and themes! I asked one sales representative after another, from store to store, sadly no baby Jesus.
As I observed the big screen TV’s leaving the store on large rollers, carts completely filled to overflowing with all kinds of gifts and “Frosty the Snowman” playing on the loudspeaker, I heard Jesus whisper to me; “You can’t find Me, because I am not here!”

Thankfully, I finally found the perfect “new born” baby doll. He had dark olive skin and brown eyes, the image of how Jesus may have appeared at His birth. But…what about the manger? When I got home, I looked in the barn but there was nothing there. I showed Michael the doll and immediately my precious husband said, “I think I can make a manger for the baby.” One hour before our volunteers arrived, he began to construct what turned out to be the best manger I could have ever hoped for. I quickly got what I thought to be “swaddling clothes” out of my linen closet! He looked perfect!

In our Store House, amongst the mountainous dollar store liquidation I found the remaining items necessary to complete a worship project I had envisioned earlier that day.

The atmosphere at the shelter was once again heavy, very heavy! There is the occasional woman or child who can find joy in the midst of their circumstances. These precious ones are absolutely inspirational!

I read the Christmas story from the Book of Matthew. After reading about the gifts that were offered to Jesus by the Magi, we encouraged the residents that they too could participate similarly in an act of worship. In a gesture roughly symbolic of the Wisemen, a gold star attached to a red ribbon bow was offered to each resident. The red bow symbolized His love and sacrificial life. The gold star symbolized the precious metal given to Jesus at His birth and of course, the Star of Bethlehem.” I asked the ladies and children to write one word of worship and their name on the bow. They brought “their gifts” to Jesus and laid it at the manger. Following are the words written:

The Holy ONE	Jesus	GOD
Daddy	Life	King, Savior, Trustful (from a dear child)
Lord	Jesus, Savior	Jesus
LOVE	Jesus My Strength	Jesus
Morning Star	Jehovah	Jesus
Faith	My Father, My Best Friend, My Jesus I love U	Washing
God Almighty	Worthy	The King of all Kings
Lord	God	Master
Jesus	Father	Love
Father, Father	Unconditional Love	Lord
My heart and my mind	Jesus	Master, Soldier
God	Faith	King
Leader	Almighty	Faith
Father

We also celebrate those who accepted Baby Jesus, Risen King into their hearts and made Him life Leader:

Mashell (adult)
Isaiah (child)
Samir (child)
Sunshine (adult)
Tonya (adult)

At the Cross
All quotes appear exactly as written…this includes spelling, grammatical and punctuation errors. I do this not to embarrass, I do so to protect the content of the request. For clarity, I may have personal comments written in parenthesis. For confidentiality purposes, first name initials will substitute any given names.

(On a paper bag this was written)
Jesus
Everlasting
Save
Us
Sinner(s)

“I love he is Father (given by a child with a picture drawn of God with “Lord God” written on the shirt)

“Pray for a home- and a career-a family. Pray for my mother-transportation-better job”

“I love Jesus”

“Call 1-800-???-???? “R” number”

“I still trying to find a good church home where I can grow even more in God and learn how to stay a bad relationships. I would like Gods will to be done in my life and I would God to truly be lord in my life and I pray that God would teach me how to let him lord in my life. I am in a relationship that I just found out today that this person in joys violence during sex. I never had sex with him but I like him as a person without hurting him I need God to help me to end this relationship that Im in.”

“I need strength to guide my children toward the right way and not make my mistakes.”

“T.B I’m so tired right now how cute. Watcha mean I’m so sleepy That sounds personal OMG! I still ugly I am ugly (a picture was drawn of a sad face) Bye Don’t talk to me yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah Oh my God!”

(Two notes written by children…not able to distinguish the letters/words)

“I love God” (A picture is drawn with Jesus on the cross)

“I would like Jesus to take away the hatred I have in my heart for my ex and change my heart to pray for him and to also chang his heart.” “L”, “A”, “D” “And pray for my family, “R”, “E”, “D”, “T” thank you”

“S.J.D. I love God with all my heart (A picture is drawn of a heart with a face that has tears coming from the eyes. Likely submitted by a child)”

“C” I love you god so so muc I love you (A child-has drawn a cross with I love you written inside)

“I would like for you to pray for me to get another job and an apartment and pray tha my family get closer together.”