Day 29-

Black Friday is here and many people are preparing for Christmas. What to buy our family and friends, what decorations to get, and where is the best deal is the main focus. Some stores opened at three in the morning- yikes! In this series of articles I am going to be addressing preparing our hearts for Christmas. I won't have any ideas for presents except what present we can give Jesus and what presents he gives us. Here are the reflection questions for today.

What does Christmas mean to me spiritually?

For me it means a new awareness and new birth within me which will help me be more aware of the presence of Jesus and how I can bring his love to birth in my life. Celebrating not only his glorious birth many years ago but how he is alive today! How incredible it was that he was born on earth. I always am in awe of that fact. He was here physically!

How am I going to prepare to grow in faith this Christmas?

I am still reflecting on this for myself. In my faith we call this time advent. I am thinking I may set a specific time each day to reflect and pray. I haven't really thought much more than that. I will be discerning that today.

Prayer

Jesus, we long

 to prepare for

a new birth within us

Just as Mary

was preparing for

your birth

We will ponder

how this will be

a Christmas of faith

Our culture says

buy more and

don't mention Christmas

We use the word

holidays and its

as if we don't even acknowledge you

We need to go

deeper than what

our culture promotes

We know what

Christmas is really about

and want to be like the Little Drummer Boy

We want to give

our best to you

We want to play our drum of faith

We begin this day

by knowing you will

show us something new

You will provide a new

birth and together we

will sing of your presence today on Christmas morning!

Amen