Day 6 of 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways (with Ruth Chou Simons)

Join us for the 12th Annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways at karenehman.com.

*Give Away has Ended*

I don’t have six geese a-laying for you today but I am sure our giveaway guest could paint a lovely water-color picture of them if I did! It is Day Six of my 12th annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways and the talented artist and author Ruth Chou Simons is joining us with a fabulous prize. If you’re just joining in, be sure to start at Day 1 here.

But first, here is another Christmastime idea for you!

Day 6: No More Christmas Without Christ

Christmas without CHrist? It happens all the time.

How odd it must seem to God to see a world “celebrating” the birth of His son, even going so far as to put his name in the title, when in reality, he is absent from much of the hoopla. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I love me some hoopla! I would never want Christmas to be serious and stuffy; more funeral-like than fun. But isn’t much of the hoopla all about the trivial? It results in nothing more than a glorified celebration of winter. Or retail shopping. Or a few guilt-easing coins tossed into the red metal bucket with a clink.

Then it is back to “Me, me, ME!!!!!”

What’s a gal to do?

In the midst of the “me-ism” (that even we moms can get caught up in—” Hint, hint dear family: I sure would love that new piece of jewelry!”) I try to remember two goals of Christmas:

Make it about Christ.

Do it for Christ.

Make it about Christ.

If you look carefully, He is all around.

And secondly, do it for Christ.

Are there lonely, left-out, sick or sad people that cross your path? Do something for them.

  •       Shovel a driveway after a heavy snowfall.
  •       Go help decorate or address Christmas cards for a shut-in.
  •       Serve in a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or house for battered women.
  •       Make snowmen outside the windows of nursing home patients or on the lawn of a children’s hospital.
  •       Scrape random windshields at the grocery store on a snowy and busy shopping day.
  •       Take a child whose parents have recently divorced to buy a gift for his mom or dad if you fear the ex-spouse will not do so this year.

Our family has done all of the above, and more. We’ve made it such an aim of our holidays to “do” rather than to “get”, that now our kids know no different.

Now, lest you think we are wonder family, let me assure you right now that the above activities haven’t always been done with a cheerful and cooperative attitude (parents included!) but when you are consistent, something happens.

Your kids will miss it terribly if you stop.

So as this season rolls on, remember…

Make it about Christ.

Do it for Christ.

And don’t forget to throw in a boatload of fun. Jesus’ birthday party should be a blast!

Day 6 Giveaway

My guest today is Ruth Chou Simons of Gracelaced. She’s giving away her beautiful Practicing Praise: A Year in the Psalms 2020 Calendar. Each month is adorned with a watercolor painting + a portion of a verse of truth that is worthy of rehearsing over and over again. As each month ends you can cut out the print + scripture memory card.

Ruth Chou Simons \\ Day 6 of 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways at karenehman.com.

Giveaway rules are listed below. Enjoy!

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Ruth Chou Simons

Ruth Chou Simons is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and speaker. She shares her journey of God’s grace intersecting daily life with word and paintbrush through an online shoppe at GraceLaced.com, an art and lifestyle brand that adorns the gospel through collectible, meaningful, and truth-filled products. Ruth and her husband, Troy, are grateful parents to six boys—their greatest adventure. Ruth’s first book, GraceLaced, won a 2018 Christian Book Award. Connect with Ruth here on Instagram.

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12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Rules

  1. U.S. Addresses only please.
  2. You can comment on all 12 days (once per person) up until midnight Pacific time, Sunday, December 22. Each day will be linked below for easy reference.
  3. One daily winner will be chosen from each day’s comments.
  4. To enter to win the Grand Prize (worth over $150 and includes a $75 Amazon gift card, and two admission tickets (with meet-and-greet) to a concert with award-winning country music artist, Granger Smith, comment on, and share all 12 posts. You can use the share buttons below or repost and share on Instagram (my fave!) and tag me @karenehman.
  5. All winners (including Grand Prize) will be announced here on the blog on Monday, December 23, and contacted via email. Please allow 4-6 weeks to receive your prizes. 
  6. If you’re not already subscribed, click HERE and you’ll receive an email notification each day of our series, plus my Bless Don’t Stress devotional.

DAY 6 GIVEAWAY QUESTION:

What is one act of kindness you’d like to try at this time of year?

Let us know in the comments and you’ll be entered in today’s giveaway. Remember, if you want to enter to win the grand prize, you must comment on and share all twelve days.

Affiliate links may be included. We only recommend products we know our readers will love!

Day 1 with Candace Cameron Bure

Day 2 with Alena Pitts

Day 3 with Jackie Drew/RadJoy

Day 4 with Courtney Joseph

Day 5 with Trillia Newbell

Day 7 with Phylicia Masonheimer

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398 Comments

  1. I would like to give the mail carrier cookies and give my neighbors a gift for helping us clear the snow from our driveway.

  2. I’m not much of a snow or winter outdoor person, but building a snowman outside a nursing home or children hospital seems like a fun way to cheer up those inside. Now, once it snows again I will have to get out and do it.

  3. I volunteer to ring the bell for the Salvation Army. Our church sponsors children off the angel Tree and I purchase for that. I love going caroling with our church. We go to our Senior Saint homes that can’t get out as much and sing carols for them. I believe spreading the love of Christ helps me get more out of Christmas. For the last couple of years I have looked for more ways to help.

  4. My employer provides gift cards to pay-it-forward. I’ve given mune to a local group that assists moms/children who are victims of domestic violence.

  5. Adopting a family in need has always been something I love to do! My passion for this actually started when I was in high school for FBLA and NHS!

  6. I try to remember to take some fruit along when I go to the city and I hand it out to the panhandlers at the traffic lights.

  7. Our church puts together Christmas boxes for the children of a migrant camp nearby every year. It started small and is now a grand site to see all the wrapped boxes.

  8. I’d like to spend quality time with both of my grandmas. Both are struggling in different ways including mental and physical health.. I know just being with them and hopefully sharing Jesus’s love with them could make a huge impact during this season.

  9. I love to sing, and I used to go Christmas caroling with my sisters to the neighbors. This year (some 40 years later) I’d like to pick up my guitar and go out caroling to the neighborhood again!

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