12 Day of Christmas with Sheila Mangum
It is the final day of our 5th annual 12 Days of Christmas.
Oh how I have loved featuring just a few of my Proverbs 31 sisters here each day.
Even though this is the last day, remember that you can comment on all 12 posts until midnight EST Sunday. One grand prize winner will be chosen who comments on all 12 posts. (prize show below)
Up today, the fabulous Speaker Services Coordinator
Carrying a Gift to the Throne
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:10-11
Merry Christmas to all of Karen Ehman’s bloggers! I am Karen’s friend Sheila. (I adore her so! Don’t you?) I work on staff at Proverbs 31 and am blessed beyond measure.
I love Christmas. My heart is happy-happy-happy when I hear Christmas music especially songs from the “olden days” by Bing Cosby and Andy Williams. IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEARRRRRR!
The song “Mary Did You Know” brings me to tears and to my knees ever year. I savor the smell of our Christmas tree and the sound of cutting wrapping paper to wrap a gift I know will thrill the receiver’s heart! Many memories and family Christmas traditions are treasured in my heart always and forever.
My favorite Christmas memory happened during Praise and Worship at our Christmas Eve service one year. The worship leader said to our congregation, “Let’s just close our eyes, worship, and wait on God’s presence.” My husband and I stood with our two little angels (Brittany and Stevie) to do just that. Wait on God’s presence.
With my eyes closed and my heart focused on the goodness of God, we were entering worship, when I was interrupted by a tug on my shirt.
I opened one eye and looked down at one of my little angels. Stevie wanted to whisper something in my ear. I bent down to listen, as he spoke in the softest loudest whisper he could muster up, “Mom! Mom! When is God coming with all the presents?” Out of the mouth of babes! (Psalm 8:2)
My answer to my little angel that sweet Christmas Eve was that God was on His way.
God is the ultimate gift giver.
He gave His only Son that we might live.
He continues to give by answering prayers and the deepest cries of hearts exceedingly and abundantly with His grace, mercy, love, and goodness.
And what you do not see today, know God’s provision is on its way, because God is the giver of all good things. He loves and gives well.
He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all- how will he not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:32
Every good and perfect gift is from above.
James 1:17
Have you ever wondered what present you could give back? This Christmas walk into the throne room of God’s presence and gift him with the gift of loving others well.
Love Anyway.
Give Big.
Forgive.
Give Grace.
Give Time.
Give Words of Life!
When you love His children, you gift Him. Just wrap a note in a beautifully wrapped box gifting God that you will love others well this year.
Will you do that? Oh, how His heart will be thrilled! O Come Let Us Adore Him!
Blessings and Loveeeee to you all and Merry, Merry Christmas from Proverbs 31,
Sheila
P.S Oh, and as for my little Stevie, he opened a few presents the next morning that thrilled his heart! I thank God for that provision and the privilege to love him.
Love Big!
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Now for Sheila’s giveaway: Comment what you are going to “gift” Jesus this Christmas and qualify to win the giveaway of both books by Elevation Church’s Pastor Steven Furtick Greater and Sun Stand Still and a bouquet of Candy Canes!
Remember, you have until Sunday midnight EST December 16th to comment on all the posts. One grand prize winner will be chosen from among the gals who post on all 12 days! The grand prize is:
A unique advent candle display depicting Bethlehem, Mary and Jesus, with votive holders and candles nestled inside. A $50 retail value. And, along with it, a copy of my new book LET. IT. GO. How to Stop Running the Show & Start Walking in Faith.
Love and share anyway – even when it hurts to tell your loved one what they need to know
Love anyway – loving my children even though they can really frustrate and disappoint me.
I want to continue to grow in listening for the quiet voice of God, and then act on what He says to me. I’m just so amazed at how God speaks to us, but we have to be listening or we don’t recognize Him.
giving him my ALL….the cares of this world (which can be SO scary at times)….my praise and thanks for ALL He has done for me….more patience and tolerance for those in my sphere of influence….a newly fueled desire to change and grow and become what Christ created me to be! (I could go on, but that’s enough for now) ;)
I am choosing to give Jesus the best me I can be, with his love wrapped around me and guiding me. I am trying to continue to be bolder in my faith and be more Christ-like. And the days where I am a complete failure.. I ask for forgiveness and a new day to do better. This site has been a blessing this Christmas season. It has brought calm, peace and a focus on God’s best for us. :) Thanks Proverb’s 31 gals! So glad I found you this year. And it was all because I went to Renee Swope’s visit to Tampa. Blessings to all the women who write their replies. May we all give our best to Jesus. :)
Have you read the Sparkle Box?!?!? I am our children’s ministries outreach coordinator and so we have been giving our hearts out since September…when I started and are able to focus on Matthew 25 and giving unto the least of these you have given unto me! We have three ministries that we have given cans of fruit to (they said they always get vegetables but not fruit!, lots of bags of pasta and rice, then all kinds of toiletries and this month boxed meals! What a joy!
my problems, concerns and fears – it doesn’t sound like a great gift but He asks us to cast our cares upon Him so instead of carrying them myself, I choose to give them to Him!
Spending more time so His love to others.
Spending more time with him in daily devotions and really work on my sharing His precious love with others.
“love anyway”
I want to be spend more time in God’s word this coming year. And keep my focus on him and trust him!
I want to give him more of my time and to show others more of his love through me.
Consistent quiet time
Time
my gift to God this year is to be in a state of thankfulness and try to quiet my constant competing mind and stop the negative feelings of not being the best at everything and trying to love with all my heart the way my God and Saviour loves me ….
Grace as big as that which has been given to me.
My gift to Jesus this year is to shine for him in my relationships with others.
Being more willing to receive his gift of grace and extending grace to others.
I’ll give Jesus my heart and more time spent with Him. I always enjoy spending time with my friends and Jesus is my friend who always has time for me.
O I think day 12 is my favorite post in this series!! I’ve heard the word love on many occasions throughout the year, not fully understanding its meaning. God is so Patient and Gentle. He has given me bits and pieces of information with such awesome timing! My response or gift to Him is obedience to love anyway. I am so excited!! Thank you for this post!!
More time and attention
After today’s tragedy, another big reminder for me to give words of life to my kindergarten class of children that God has placed in my care.
Read the Bible daily and pray for others more!!
I’d like to spend more time with my daughter sharing and studying God’s word together.
We’re taking blankets, clothing, and toys to a shelter next week.