Wall Art by PlumPixel

In the United  States we have just completed celebrating Thanksgiving... and have been trudging through Black Friday (the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season) and Cyber Monday.  Our society puts huge focus on shopping aspect of Christmas and we all want to get the best bargain we can. In order to do that, people stand in line for hours. In recent years the stores which are competing for the most money and the first customers have started having  Black Friday on Thanksgiving evening. And there have been incidents of physical violence to get those deals.

I do try to take advantage of the sales but I found most can be gotten online with free shipping.  Much easier to handle!  Though I have to say it still took me hours to find what I wanted and check out because my ordered disappeared at least twice!

Card from Ambrosium

Another major event starts right after our Thanksgiving is Advent. Though I come from a religious background that celebrates Advent, I personally have not given it much thought. Today in pondering what to write about, my thoughtlessness of Advent weighed on me.

If I am to do, whether in word or deed, everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, I should be focusing on Him daily not just in Advent.  Do I strive for that on a regular basis? Yes.  Do I achieve it? No. 

Scripture Art by KWhiteselCreations

During these next 4+ weeks I plan to commit to be thoughtful of God's incredible gift of eternal life through Jesus. During this time I put extra work into decorating my house for Christmas. I put extra care into getting the right gifts at the best prices.  Considering all that I do for the "event" of Christmas,  I want to challenge myself to put extra time into my daily Bible reading and into prayer...to challenge myself to not fret about the holiday and its trimmings but to be thoughtful to putting extra care into the heart of our Christmas blessing in Christ.

I know our CAST Team prayer list is full of many great needs but during this season my heartfelt prayer for each of you (and myself) is that the peace of God would rule your heart and that which Paul stated in Colossians 3:17:

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


God bless,
Phyllis

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