Our Christmas Box
I wondered how we would feel about a Christmas Eve this year with emphasis on other’s pain and needs instead of a lot of gift giving among ourselves. Let me tell you, it really felt like Christmas!
We attended the Christmas Eve service at church and came home to a simple, but elegant supper. We collected about fifty prayer requests from family, friends and blogging buddies. I’m proud of my family’s attitude that night and their compassion to touch heaven with their prayerful hearts as we opened the beautiful gold box under the tree and read each prayer request. We began with a great a verse from Job 5:9. “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” We prayed for healing for people struggling with cancer and other diseases. Some needed a financial miracle. Several needed prodigals to return home, family members’ salvation, on and on the needs were spoken. Our hearts were full and tears fell from our eyes. One of the kids reminded us that “where two or more are gathered, Jesus is in our midst.”
God gave us a gift of faith that night and we received it believing He can do above and beyond anything that we can imagine. My daughter felt the Lord remind her as we prayed that He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
We expect to hear praises too. Already, we’ve seen the Lord’s hand in my sister’s health. She was so sick with a virus all week, she couldn’t celebrate the holidays. But God touched her mightily and she was up on Christmas Day!
One of my daughter’s co-workers requested that we pray for her for a relationship with the Lord. My daughter gave her a booklet, highlighting it with scriptures and the woman has found new life in Christ. She's been studying and couldn’t wait to share her notes and highlights because Jesus is real and speaks in His Word.
The only thing that flopped that night was my angel food cake! Hey, it didn’t look all that appetizing, but we were on such a high, we didn’t care. We put on a pot of coffee, served the cake with Dreyer’s ice cream and partied!
Spiritual Sundays is hosted by Ginger and Charlotte.
How encouraging! I loved reading about your wonderful, prayerful Christmas Eve! Thank you, Mary!
ReplyDeleteMary,
ReplyDeleteEarly this morning I read your poem "Merry Christmas from heaven" and ended this day reading this wonderful post from you! Both brought me to tears and I just am so thankful for you, your family, your prayers and the Lord moving in everyone of you! Your family is moving mountains, your prayers are changing lives and I am so blessed to be one you have prayed for! May you and yours be blessed 7 fold and I have no doubt the crowns you will receive are MANY!
I love you so very much Mary!
My Precious, Precious Friend,
ReplyDeleteI love seeing pictures of your family. What a blessed Christmas time for all of you and for those of us who all you and your beautiful family have kept in prayer. I feel honored to know you dear sister, I truly do. When God created you, He surely created a masterpiece and I thank Him for you my friend, for your dear family. You have shown me truly what Christmas is all about. I got a little lost within the last week, but I'm finding my way back onto the path again. Your prayers are surely being felt by me.
Thank you Father for such a kind, loving, compassionate woman of God. Mary...a name, face and loving human being that we have all come to know and love so much through her smiling face, heart on fire for her love for You and all mankind, for her compassionate heart, one filled with an absolute gift of intercession, praying for others...A true warrior for the souls that she prays for on this earth. Oh what an absolute treasured gift she is to all of us, but to You Father she absolutely shines brightly from this earth all the way up to the heavens.
Thank you Father for my sweet friend, my sister, my intercessor, my prayer warrior. I ask that you bless her with an over abundance of joy, peace, love, grace, prosperity and so much more. I ask that her family be blessed in all of those ways and so much more in the days to come. May your heavenly presence be felt so strongly around them at all times and may your hand of divine intervention be upon them always in Jesus precious name I pray. Amen.
I love you so much dear friend.
Big Hugs & Prayers,
Alleluiabelle
What a WONDERFUL way to celebrate the birth of our Lord. May God richly bless you all. Debbie
ReplyDeleteWOW! This is so wonderful. What a party it was I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
Ginger
Pass that wonderful cake my way!
ReplyDeleteYou are a treasured friend. I always find encouragement and love when I come here.
Blessings and hugs,
andrea
Reading your words, and reflecting just feels so uplifting, so encouraging. You've a beautiful family, a beautiful heart, Mary.
ReplyDeleteMy own life is richer for "knowing" you!
Blessings,
Myra
Sometimes the best tasting cakes are those that don't look so hot. Happy New Year, Jean!
ReplyDeleteWONDERFUL! This is an inspiring post. And I loved your pictures. Thanks for taking the time to share this with all of us.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful inspiring and uplifting post. You and your family really captured the spirit of Christmas. I'm so happy for you.
ReplyDeleteBlessings for a wonderful new year.
Charlotte
It's certainly the company that counts! I am so glad you had a wonderful time. And so good to hear from you again, Mary!
ReplyDeletehugs,
~Silver
That is just wonderful. Our God is an awesome God. Nothing is too hard for Him. Praise God for those miracles. Blessings, Cathy
ReplyDelete"Thank you" is not enough to let you know how much your prayers, your friendship and being a sister in Christ means to me! Thank you to your family as well for lifting up our requests. You weren't late when I requested prayers before I floated to another facility. I felt your prayers way ahead even before I made that request. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat happened then? The Lord did answer them! Glory to God!!!
A cake is still a cake no matter what shape. I would have done the same knowing that it's the taste that matters. "Angel" food cake...the perfect dessert for you and your family who are all angels to us, hungry for your prayer intercession! Lovely photos of your family. Your Susanna had grown so much since the last time you posted a pic! May God bless you and your whole family abundantly. I'm keeping you in my prayers, too...Love to you.
I am so glad that you had such a wonderful Christmas Eve together. Your cake looks like some of mine have turned out too. LOL I baked a cake 45 minutes past the time it was supposed to bake for Christmas Eve. Overbaked was a slight understatement. :) But a pot of coffee was a great solution for us too. It helps make anything sweet taste even better. Loved all of your pictures! thanks for sharing them!
ReplyDeleteOf the richness of Christmas, it sounds like you were blessed mightily! How fun to see your girls, and the wee one.
ReplyDeleteI know what a rugged year this has been, friend. I pray 2010 is the gateway to great joy, great peace. And maybe; just maybe ... we'll get to do that lunch too!
Blessings,
Kathleen
I have never heard of anyone doing what you and your family did on Christmas Eve and I'm so touched by your act of faith and selflessness. What a blessing to join together with such powerful prayer.
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures, too!
Your CHIRSTmas was wonderful! Enjoyed the pics very much. I'm a little late (but it's NEVER too late to pray) ... I'm having what appears to be gallbladder attacks. Help me pray for resolution and healing. Hoping to see surgeon tomorrow. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWishing you all the best as 2010 comes. May the Lord bless you abundantly. Happy New Year sister. Blessings and love to you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful family you have.
ReplyDelete