New Testament Bibles & Bible Covers Instructions

I saw these sweet little

New Testament Bibles

and bought a few.

Then, I came up with the idea 

that they would make 

nice little

American Girl Doll Bibles!

 So - I made cute little

covers for them.

 I cut a strip of material just 

wider than the Bible

and hemmed the ends.

 Then I wrapped the fabric around

the Bible like this....

and slid the Bible out.

 Then I added double folded bias

tape to the ends and sewed it on

and slipped it over the cover 

of the Bible.

 And tied some remaining bias 

tape around the front

to make a bow.

They turned out so cute,

I kept making them.

I think they would make great 

little purse Bibles, so I may 

use them for stocking stuffers for 

the grown up girls, too.

And - they were super inexpensive.

I spend $1.00 each on the Bibles

and $7 and some change at Hobby Lobby

for sewing supplies.

I made 14 Bibles, so my approxamate

cost was only $1.43 each.

The Stable

The Stable

Twas a night that showed no sign

Of being any different from a hundred

nights before,

And peace was not the order of the day.

It was a long, exhausting trip, 

But little choice was given when it came

To matters of tax to pay.

The winding road had been a crowded

thoroughfare

And little courtesy was shown the two

young travelers

Who often fell behind the pace,

And when at last the many paths converged

Outside the city gate,

Exhaustion and the pain of pending birth

Showed all too clearly on the woman's face.

A room - a place of rest and solitude -

Was all that mattered now.

All else would hold

A few more hours before the secret they

had shared.

These many months would in the very sky

be told.

But with each knock, each door that closed

The truth became more clear.

There was no room, Dear God, no room.

The young man hid his growing fear.

As in that moment doubt that seemed

So, long ago resolved

Cast shadows on his face,

He thought, "If this is really

God's own Son,

Why is there not reserved a place?"

"A place" - the words cut through

his doubt.

"Behind the inn - a barn."

It was the keeper's voice.

One look at Mary's face dispelled

all other thoughts;

He knew it was the only choice.

The only choice? Nay, God's own plan,

That in this way His own Son came,

Twas no misfortune, for in stooping

from His throne.

He knew the world would never be the same.

As in that humble stall God's presence

Came to dwell that night,

The hay, the stable smells,

The beasts themselves

Turned somehow gentle in that light.

So from the stable that same Light

still shines

Across all time and years,

And sheds a glow that even

in the darkness

Calms our fears.

Where we too find a refuge and can lay

Our earthly cares aside,

As in that humbleness of heart

God sends, still now

His presence to abide.

It is a world that shows no sign

Of being any different from

2,000 years before.

While it seeks peace through conflict,

May you seek - peace -

And find it - at the stable door.

Written by Judith C. Braddy

Submitted by Debbie Thompson

Dear Precious Jesus

 My dear precious Jesus, 

I did not mean to take your place,
I only bring toys and things 

and you bring love and grace.
People give me lists of wishes 

and hope that they came true;
But you hear prayers of the heart 

and promise your will to do.
Children try to be good and not to cry 

when I am coming to town;
But you love them unconditionally 

and that love will abound.
I leave only a bag of toys 

and temporary joy for a season;
But you leave a heart of love, 

full of purpose and reasons.
I have a lot of believers 

and what one might call fame;
But I never healed the blind 

or tried to help the lame.
I have rosy cheeks 

and a voice full of laughter;
But no nail—scarred hands 

or a promise of the hereafter.
You may find several of me 

in town or at a mall;
But there is only one omnipotent you, 

to answer a sinner’s call.
And so, my dear precious Jesus, 

I kneel here to pray;
To worship and adore you 

on this, your holy birthday.

Author Unknown

Submitted by Lori Phalange

Use Every Opportunity You Have To Share God's Love

We should use every opportunity

we can to share God's love!

Look for opportunities!

I just love how 

scripturecandy.com

is making it easy to share

God's word!

 

 It's a little late for ordering

this for CHRISTmas!

 But - they have similar

items for Valentine's Day,

Easter..... and just every day!

 And they're very affordable!

 I just love the idea of planting

a little seed when handing out a treat!

If there is anything our world 

needs right now, it is most 

definately JESUS!

Without Him, we have no hope!

Without Him, others have no hope!

Without Him, salvation is impossible!

So - if you have an opportunity

to share His love with

someone - do it!

Shine His light into the

darkness of this world.

Nativity Nuggets

 These Nativity Nuggets

make adorable Stocking Stuffers!

 And - they will remind the recipient

what CHRISTmas is all about.

 I made several!

And - this kit contains two sizes.

The large ones are perfect for stuffing

in a stocking - and the smaller

version is perfect for a 

classroom treat.

You could use these for School,

Sunday School or table favors

for CHRISTmas Parties and 

CHRISTmas Dinners.

I got the printable kit here.

Instructions are included!

"Ready for Christmas"

As we get closer and closer

to December 25th

we're going to hear

the question again and again.

Are you "Ready for Christmas?"

But - what does,

"Ready for Christmas"

really mean?

To many it means,

Have you got your shopping done?

Gifts wrapped? Stockings hung?

But - to the author of this poem

I think it meant something 

else entirely.

Ready for Christmas

"Ready for Christmas," she said with a sigh

As she gave the last touch to the gifts piled high...

Then wearily sat for a moment and read

Till soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.
 

Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream,

"Ready for Christmas, what do you mean?"
 

She woke with a start and a cry of despair.

There's so little time, and I've still to prepare.
 

Oh, Father, forgive me, I see what you mean!

Yes, more than giving of gifts and a tree,

It's the heart swept clean that He wanted to see,
 

A heart that is free from bitterness and sin.

So ready for Christmas.... and ready for Him.

Author Unknown

It's Not What You Know - It's Who You Know

Last Sunday, I was out of town visiting my daughter 

and her family and I attended Sunday School 

and church with them. 

Normally, I love their Sunday School class.

I love hearing what their Sunday School 

teacher, Dan, presents to us. 

It always seems to be thought provoking and 

either relevant to what I have been studying myself, or

it's something I need to hear. And I'm meaning something I

need to hear - as in -  something that speaks to my heart 

and convicts me of an area in which I need

to change, not something that soothes me and makes

me comfortable exactly where I am.

Last Sunday was different.

Dan was not there.

There was a substitute. 

This substitute was a very sharply dressed man.

His suit looked to be custom made, his shoes were shiny

and his shirt was professionally pressed. He was sharp!

He looked sharp! And when he spoke it was

obvious that his message was well prepared and 

he knew what he was talking about. 

He talked about Jesus as our 

high priest and how he was an advocate who 

could speak to God on our behalf.

The man was an eloquent speaker and the

message was well delivered.

But - I was disappointed!

Why? 

Because, as a mere human being if I were 

to go and speak to a priest, I would

feel the need to get up, get dressed, fix my 

hair and put some make up on. 

I would have to make myself presentable!

And I see Jesus as much more than that.

Jesus - the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords,

is sooooo much more than our high priest!

Yes - he is our high priest and our advocate.

But - he is also our BROTHER and FRIEND.

When we become children of God,

we become joint heirs with Jesus. 

He's our BROTHER. 

Our BROTHER is THE KING!

We can be comfortable talking to him,

as our brother, while wearing pajamas. 

We are SIBLINGS!

Siblings are often required to 

work together..... to clean a room....

to muck a stall.... to clean the yard..... 

clean the garage.... or even

to minister to those in need!

As they work together, they get dirty.

They sweat! They become unpresentable.

AND

Jesus is much more approachable than 

a high priest. He's a FRIEND. And as our

friend, we can come to him AS WE ARE

 and he will help us become who we

were meant to be. 

This eloquent speaker.... this important, 

well dressed man, failed to present 

that part of the message.

However, had Dan been teaching,

that is exactly what I would have

expected to hear.

Because Dan doesn't just teach us about

what he knows. He teaches us

about who he knows.

And it's WHO you know

that matters.

And while this is a true story about my own experience, Dan could 

be anybody. I actually cannot even remember what Dan looks like. I don't know

if he wears jeans or slacks or if his shirt is wrinkled or pressed.  I can't even tell you 

the color of  his hair..... or if he has hair!

All I know is that when I walk away from that classroom after 

hearing Dan teach - I am thinking of Jesus.

And I think that's how it should be.