Looking in the Window: Christmas Love

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

BE SURE TO CHECK BELOW FOR CHRISTMAS FUN

GIVEAWAYS AND PRIZES

The Love of Christmas
It’s Christmas Eve in Georgia. My husband, my daughter and I are riding on deserted streets into the cold, dark night. The pots and pans in my kitchen are washed and dried. The rolls of wrapping paper are empty; the presents under the tree. We pull into the church parking lot and go inside. We find a seat in the back, where the woman beside me brushes flour from her skirt. I smile at her and settle into the peacefulness reflected by the Christmas tree glimmering at the altar. Bright green wreaths with red bows line the sanctuary filled with a congregation dressed in red and green. I listen to the Christmas story. Ushers hand out candles, lighting one on the end of each row. The overhead lights go dim. We pass the flame from one person to another while we sing “Silent Night.” All the hustle-bustle of the season leaves me. I am still. I rejoice in Jesus’ birth. We finish with, “Sleep in Heavenly peace.” The lights come on. The choir stands and the sounds of the “Hallelujah Chorus” burst forth. I look at my watch -- midnight. It’s Christmas.

When I think of Christmas, I think of love. Over the years I’ve heard several theories on its origin. Some proclaim that chemicals in the brain produce love. So far no one has isolated those elements or found a pill that stimulates defective chemicals to produce love that isn’t there. I most recently read that it’s implanted in us and already existed when we were born. Even if it did, where did it come from? It had to have a source. Scientists can’t create it. If they could, they would be selling it for a fortune.

I believe it’s a gift from God. His unconditional love is so great we can never measure up to it. But when we understand we are worthy because He loves us, even though we’re not perfect, we can tap into it. Sometimes it appears that love can be bought or forced on someone, but no one can dictate the feelings of another person’s heart. Love must be received and given.

At Christmas God gave us the greatest gift, sending his son to die for our sins. It’s up to us to accept His love and share it.

John 3: 16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

CHRISTMAS FUN, GIVEAWAYS AND PRIZES

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20TH

I’m participating in The Sweetest Romance Authors Holiday Party. Join us on Monday, December 20th. Check out our favorite holiday memories and share your own! All visitors will be entered for sweet romance giveaways. With titles such as Sabotage, Love Turns the Tide, Taking Advantage, Loyalty's Web, and Turtle Soup, you will not want to miss out on your holiday free read! Plus, we want to hear from you!What is your favorite holiday memory? Share with us.Stop by The Sweetest Romance Authors at http://thesweetestromanceauthors.blogspot.com/
Drawings will be held Monday at midnight and winners announced Tuesday morning.

CHRISTMAS EVE, DECEMBER 24TH

My blog, “When Is Christmas,” will appear on the Jingle Bell Blog Fest at Long and Short Reviews on Christmas Eve. During the Christmas season blog fest one lucky commenter will win a fifty-dollar gift certificate to Amazon or Barnes & Noble and another will win a “Bag of Books.” The link directly to the blogs is http://lasrguest.blogspot.com/

Looking Out the Window: Memories on the Heart

Several weeks ago my husband, Rick, and I ate at a restaurant we frequent fairly regularly. The cute, young waitress who usually waits on us took our orders for burgers and fries. I’ll call her Mandy. As usual Mandy’s smile and bubbly personality brightened our day. We giggled and confessed to her that we shouldn’t eat the fries, but we were going to do it just this once. She joked. “Okay, you’re being bad today.” Not long after we got our food a couple came in and sat in the booth behind us. Mandy walked up to the table with her big grin. “Hi, how are you?” she asked. The man, who had salt and pepper colored hair and a pudgy face, spoke in a harsh tone, “I want the steak.” “Sure, which one would you like?” Mandy asked. “I don’t want you to put it in the microwave. That will make it tough. Do you understand?” Mandy’s lips turned down. “Yes sir, which one do you want to order?” “I want it medium rare. I don’t want blood oozing out of it. I want it cooked right.” “Yes sir, which steak di...

Looking out the Window: Bible Study Leader Kristi Neace Says God Won't Fail Us and Introduces Us to Her New Book, Pathlight to Praise. Free Bible Study Coming Soon.

A Warm Welcome to Kristi Neace Kristi shares a devotional. She will start a new Bible study on Facebook in July. Watch for the announcement, giving the exact date and time on her Facebook Page Scriptural videos also available. See below.* In a Pit? Psalm 40:1-3‚ “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.” Can you think of a time when God helped you out of a low place? Perhaps something had caused you to spiral downward, or maybe like the Old Testament character, Jonah, you had run away from God so as not to have to do what He was asking of you. Through this passage, we see that David was experiencing this first-hand. He was in a place of despair, yet God was gracious, and after some time, placed Dav...

Looking Out the Window: Welcome Inspirational Historical Romance Writer Penny Zeller

Penny will be giving away a copy of her latest book, Hailee. To enter to win a copy leave a comment and your email address. Hi Penny, welcome. First, tell us a little about yourself . Hi Gail! Thank you for hosting me on your blog. It’s great to be here! I am a wife, mom, and author of several books and numerous magazine articles. I also write a humor blog “A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author” (www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com). I am an active volunteer in my community, serving as a women’s Bible study small-group leader and co-organizing a women’s prayer group. My passion is to use the gift of the written word to glorify God and to benefit His Kingdom. I devote my time to assisting and nurturing women and children into a closer relationship with God. However, all that being said, my greatest ministry is to, with my husband Lon, raise our two daughters for Christ. When I’m not dreaming up new characters for books, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and campin...

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