THE 12th May of Christmas...Who's Your Daddy?

Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Tomorrow will be Christmas Eve. It is celebrated in nearly every nation around the world. Today people are concerned about using the terms, "Merry Christmas" thinking it may be politically incorrect and offend those who are not Christian and yet we fail to realize that we celebrate Thanksgiving but don't  find it offensive to those who are not native to this country, nor do we find Memorial Day or Veteran's Day celebrations, parades and holidays to be offensive to those who are pacifists. Why then Christmas? Maybe because it has such profound effect on many people as they get caught up in the giving spirit, celebrating spirit, grateful spirit, family spirit.

It is said, "all hearts come home on Christmas." but those who are Christian realize this world is really only a temporary home. To those who aren't believers I would suggest one activity to really do in the new year.

MAY YOU DISCOVER WHO YOUR DADDY  REALLY IS.

Not your worldly father but your spiritual Father and if you don't believe you have one then I would ask you to research broadly and discover WHY you believe there is no God, no spiritual Father who has deliberately paved a path to salvation, no reason to believe in something bigger than yourself. I encourage you to find proof by resurrecting as much key evidence as you can. After all, if you are not convinced, you can at least be specific about the reasons you remain without faith.


You see, Christians realize one thing. This series of stories and letters which is over 2,000 years old and has been translated into every language has had a profound impact on the world. It is the most read book in all the world. If it had simply been a convenient fairy tale there would be no major interest in continuing to translate it for others and few would still be using the verses and stories as practical advice for today. Something that is not real or full of holes is generally treated as a myth and read as a tall tale or fairy tale. Today it is the basis for numerous religions, is used to swear in political figures or promise truthful testimony in trial and is still the most quoted book of all time. Do you know any quotes that have sustained this type of longevity from Cinderella or Rapunzel...hardly!

Image via WikipediaSo read or look into the things you have major questions about. Go to groups where you can challenge Christians to explain why they believe. Be pro-active in your efforts to prove yourself correct, prove there is no Divine Being, no heaven and no God and perhaps if you  really go through with the effort, in your search you might discover something you little suspected...who your daddy really is.



So let's review and wrap up the 12 MAYS of CHRISTMAS  and get on with the eggnog and the caroling and the reindeer games, but not forget this did not transpire because a glass slipper did not fit or a nose grew too long or because someone's avatar was in trouble...We celebrate Christmas because over 2000 years ago a miracle happened and all because one little baby arrived.

1st May of Christmas:MAY YOU DREAM BIG AND BELIEVE ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD
2nd May of Christmas: MAY YOU FORGIVE YOURSELF AND OTHERS AND NEVER LOOK BACK  
WITH REGRET
3rd May of Christmas: MAY YOU FIND YOUR JOY AND GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO BE
BLESSED BY ITS PRESENCE ALL AROUND YOU   
4th May of Christmas: MAY YOU ALWAYS REALIZE YOUR RICHES
5th May of Christmas: MAY YOU TAKE 5 GOLDEN MINUTES A DAY JUST TO BE
6th May of Christmas: MAY YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE WITH AUTHENTICITY AND BE COMFORTABLE 
WITH WHAT YOU CHOOSE
7th May of Christmas:  MAY YOU USE THE NEXT YEAR TO SATISFY YOUR SOUL HUNGER
8th May of Christmas:  MAY YOU BE THE SUNSHINE IN SOMEONE'S STORM
9th May of Christmas:  MAY YOU GIVE UP WHAT IS NOT WORTH SAVING AND GIVE OVER TO GOD WHAT YOU REALLY HOPE TO ACHIEVE. MAY YOU LET GO OF WHATEVER YOU NEED TO LET GO OF IN ORDER TO HANG ON TOWHAT REALLY MATTERS  
10th May of Christmas: MAY YOU DEVELOP AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
11th May of Christmas: MAY YOU DARE TO SHARE
12th May of Christmas:  MAY YOU DISCOVER WHO YOUR DADDY REALLY IS...ALWAYS AND 
FOREVER.


and may you and your loved ones find this Christmas more special because you just MAY be the ONE who can make a difference today, tomorrow and for many more Christmas's to come.


Live a Great Mission...AMEN

DARE TO SHARE...on the 11th MAY OF CHRISTMAS

Your 11th May of Christmas is simple. Dare to Share. If you want to give yourself one really meaningful opportunity, open up the possibility of sharing one of your talents or one of your interests for the benefit of someone else. 

Volunteer you time, resources, energy, money and/or creativity for use where it can be the most good. Sure, maybe volunteering at a homeless shelter is not for you or maybe you don't want to get involved in certain issues. But there has to be at least ONE cause you feel passionate enough about to offer to help in some way.

If you can't roll up your sleeves and get involved in person, maybe you can helping by contacting others, stuffing envelopes, packing canned goods, shopping for specific needs, collecting necessary staples. ANY way you can be helpful without cost to an organization is significantly appreciated.

Image via WikipediaI know people who put on puppet plays for children in hospitals regularly and others who collect toys, pet food, blankets and even gift cards to pet stores for animal shelters. A good friend of mine volunteers to help mentor single mothers at an outreach program. A couple I know unload supplies and stock the shelves at a food bank weekly. Volunteering is a privilege and sharing your gifts with others blesses both of you.


Maybe you have always said that someday you wanted to help. Abandon the someday myth because no one knows if they will get another someday. Decide today what you will do it and commit to sharing your talents and excess with someone who would treasure that gift. Hospice programs and nursing homes are always looking for volunteers. Two women in Midwest wanted to make life easier for a man trying to juggle holding down jobs and raising his children while ministering to a love one with a critical illness. They began volunteering to clean his home once weekly. After just three months, more women volunteered and more houses were added and within a year there were over 40 volunteers and 26 clients whose homes were cleaned without charge by people who just saw a need and stepped up to help.
Image by Getty Images via @daylife
What you have to offer might be the only gift someone really wants. Share your resources and you will discover the amazing impact it will make. Someone or something somewhere is hoping you will make the commitment today to not let another year slip by without becoming part of a movement to give some time or energy to a cause you support. Last year I listed several volunteer opportunities and decided to once again list some because everyone can use another's gifts in some way.


Pick up the phone or email today and MAY YOU DARE TO SHARE. I promise a year from now, you will wish you had done it sooner.

Habitat for Humanity 
Nursing Homes
Big Brother Big Sister Association
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
MEALS ON WHEELS
HUMANE SOCIETY
PRISON MINISTRIES 

and a LIST OF A DOZEN MORE UNIQUE PLACES TO DARE TO SHARE 
from this time last year. You see there will always be places and causes that desperately could use what you have. It's up to you to decide no more some day...today, MAY YOU DARE TO SHARE.


"then they will ask, Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in,or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go visit you?" and the King replied, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."Matthew 25:35-40
  Image via Wikipedia

The 9th MAY... LET GO,GIVE UP, GIVE OVER,

Image by abradyb via Flickr

Whenever I began the 12 Mays of Christmas, I knew it would mean I would have to discipline myself to publish a blog for 12 days straight and at a really hectic time of year. I chose to do this similarly to last year when I offered 12 different ways to make a difference on the 12 Days Before Christmas because I really do like to write, I can use the writing "discipline" and it gets me fired up for what is in store for me in the coming year.

You see, I really do want to write more, post more blogs, read more blogs, comment on more and become more involved in this passion. When I must write regularly at first it seems like a daunting task but once I begin and continue, like most things, it becomes easier and I find it less difficult than I imagined. I guess it is much like the "do something for 21 days and it becomes a habit" type of thing.

One thing I am certain of is in order to effectively write, read and comment more, I will have to discipline myself to eliminating the distractions or diversions that negatively affect me reaching my goal. A lot of what we want to do in life is often derailed by distractions or activities that pull us in ways we might not really want to go. This includes people who often sabotage our attempts to change circumstances because it means they may have to change as well and not be able to rely on our specific responses as they once did.
People will often criticize your efforts to create change out of jealousy or fear that they may have to get comfortable with the "new you". You may have an idea or plan or goal that requires you to be more focused and to rearrange your priorities. It's often harder for those who must accept the changed person than it is on the person who wants to create something different for his or her life.
 Image by MikeRastiello via Flickr
You will need a strong will and determined spirit to pursue the life you want. You may have to give in to your needs and give up some of the things or people who consistently offer nothing positive towards achieving them. You may have to take some serious inventory of your life and determine what and who you really want to have in it and then begin to sever the ties with whatever or whoever prevents you from moving on. It may be something as simple as rearranging your schedule or something more dramatic like cutting ties with the negative individuals who offer nothing but obstacles. Seriously look at what and who takes your time, resources, energy and emotions and determine if you want to keep them or give them up. Sometimes you make the best choice when you give up the situations or individuals who consistently cause you stress and demand unreasonable expectations of you. 


Sometimes you have to let go in order to hang on.

So. on this 9th May of Christmas...perhaps you MAY want to decide what or who you must give up what or who holds you back, who or what limits your progress or even frustrates your future. 

Image by Brandon Doran via FlickrMAY YOU GIVE UP WHAT IS NOT WORTH SAVING AND GIVE OVER TO GOD WHAT YOU REALLY HOPE TO ACHIEVE. 
MAY YOU LET GO OF WHATEVER YOU NEED TO IN ORDER TO HANG ON TO WHAT REALLY MATTERS.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3

 

8th MAY OF CHRISTMAS

Image by solidether via Flickr

I can still remember that day several years ago. It was pouring down rain and I was trying to juggle my umbrella and several bags of groceries when the wind whipped the umbrella out of my hand just as I got near my car. I ended up soaked in a few brief moments and absolutely water-logged by the time the groceries were all loaded. Then I realized I had forgotten to get stamps at customer service. I was just about to forget even attempting to go back into the store, when a car parked much closer than I was parked, pulled out, making me decide if I was already soaked, I may as well go back in and complete all my transactions.

As I was about to pull into the closer space, another car pulled through and I was left searching for another place to park. I glared at the gentleman who I thought never noticed my interest in the space, parked several spaces beyond where I had hoped to and ran into the store, clothing and hair dripping all the way. I got in line behind 2 people and waited my turn but as I got up to the counter and requested a book of stamps, the gentleman who had been in front of me and was now standing off to the side smiling, stepped forward with his  credit card and asked to pay for my stamps. I was a bit overwhelmed and skeptical but before I could even protest, he volunteered, "It seems I took this young lady's parking space and she ended up without an umbrella being drenched because of it. It's no trouble to pay for the stamps." If you could see the color of my face through water dripping on it, it may have been a bright red.
I explained what had happened to the umbrella and that I had gotten soaked because of it blowing away not because he took a parking space I wanted. He smiled and said, "Well I am glad it was not all my fault, but please let me pay for this purchase as you look like you could use a little sunshine today." and he handed over his card to the clerk. I thanked him profusely apologizing for the wicked stare I had shot him out in the parking lot but all he asked was that I have a better day than I was having and that I "give some sunshine to someone else when they are having a very bad rainy day."

I never forgot his comments and I realize how often we might offer sunshine at minimal to no cost to someone who is completely overwhelmed and experiencing a day drenched in a storm. Maybe we can just offer to let someone in front of us or get someone to where they need to go. Maybe we can buy a cup of coffee for the stranger behind us or put some flowers on the porch of someone we know who is having a difficult time. Maybe we can pick up a tab for someone who looks frazzled in a restaurant or send an anonymous gift card to someone who we may not know well in our neighborhood but who we know is struggling or feeling lonely. 

Sometimes it is as simple as noticing the effort someone goes through to make your own day better. Imagine how much better a day can be for someone if they hear, "Thank you so much for taking the time to do this for me." of "Please let me have your supervisors name, I know you went out of your way to make this experience a good one." What if we truly let people know how much they are appreciated especially strangers who we often think are simply just doing their jobs. What if we told the man who packed the groceries we appreciate his care in how he packs the delicate items or mentioned to the person who collects our trash that we know they take extra time to make sure our trash cans are not in the middle of the driveway so we need not get out and move them just to get up to the garage of if we mentioned to the auto repair shop owner that a particular mechanic treats our vehicle as if it were his own.
A few days ago, I observed an older lady in a store who told a young woman with many packages and several fussy children in tow to go ahead of her, simply commenting, "I had three small children once and I know how restless they get waiting in line. Please go on ahead, I've been where you are and anyone who is a mom would understand."

It is so very easy to add sunshine to someone's day and yet often we miss the opportunity to recognize how a smile, helping hand or much needed support might be all that makes the difference. Those stamps did not set that gentleman back much but the entire way home, I hardly noticed I was cold and soaking wet because I was thinking that my comfort, happiness or ability to be a little less frazzled was important to this man and he didn't even know my name!  "Yes, I thought, Let me be mindful of when another needs some sunshine in their life." Image via Wikipedia

MAY YOU BE THE SUNSHINE IN SOMEONE'S STORM.

The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. Proverbs 4:18

ON THE 7th MAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS...HUNGRY?

Image via WikipediaHow many times each day do you think, "I'm hungry." or hear another say that to you? While our body clock often reminds us how long it has been since we have filled it, we often have another kind of hungry and often don't "feed" it nearly as much if at all.

It is as important to feed your soul as it is to feed your body. It is as important to seek what inspires you or validates you regularly. The hunger we often deny or simply ignore may be even more critical than the one that constantly gets our attention. When you have a difficult time putting your finger on just why something is not quite right, you may be experiencing a hunger that needs you to take time and discover what will really satisfy it. Sometimes it is a hunger that is asking you to be less anxious or less stressed, sometimes it is a hunger wanting you to take some time and discover what is really important. Often it is asking you to make some type of spiritual connection with something bigger than yourself. You can try and ignore it but a soul hunger will return regularly for without satisfying your soul you really will never be truly sated.


Going through rituals and routines will only take the place of whatever your soul needs to fill it for a short time. When your soul is hungry, nothing you feed your body really matters, nothing you are doing really has purpose, nothing you have makes a difference. You know you are "happy on the outside" but "empty on the inside." You could stock up on many material pleasures from food to activities to numerous possessions but still walk away hungry, questioning, "What do I really need?" "What would really satisfy me?"

Christmas is a wonderful time to search for ways to fill your soul hunger. You might want to consider a bible study, or small group reflection. Maybe you want to make time for your own personal search of what God is desperately trying to fill you with that you have never sampled and just begin to take a small bite and see if it fills the void.


On the 7th Day Before Christmas:
MAY YOU USE THE NEXT YEAR TO SATISFY YOUR SOUL HUNGER.

There are no calories you need be concerned about when you start filling your soul, no allergic reactions to the spiritual food you choose to swallow, no remorse tomorrow about over indulging today. It is not only a win/win situation, it is a win/sin situation. You can't conquer what competes for your time, your energy and your attention without some true soul food.                                                   Image by Loulair Harton via Flickr

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.   John 6:35

FIVE GOLDEN MINUTES

Image via WikipediaMaybe in the actual Twelve Days of Christmas song it was "five golden rings" but in today's world, what most people really need is 5 GOLDEN MINUTES. Certainly not the kind of minutes where you lock yourself in the bathroom just to get some sanity, although when my children were little, I easily could relate to that and not just five more minutes when you shut off the alarm and beg for just another bit of shut-eye...but GOLDEN MINUTES...minutes you would not trade for anything.

My dear friend  Bobby Petrocelli says that if people would just take 10 seconds before they made a decision to stop and think about what they are about to do or not do, many things would be different and he is right, and I think if we gave ourselves permission to take 5 Golden Minutes each day to simply DO NOTHING but be...not be more kind, more outgoing, more thrifty, more studious, more patient or more active; although all of those might be great actions, I mean, just BE, it would make a huge difference as well.."BE" somewhere where you can just close your eyes and listen to a silence you might often never seek, or feel a sense of self you might never give yourself an opportunity to know. 

Maybe in those 5 MINUTES, when you allow nothing to cross your mind, you will eventually reach a place where you can hear the Lord talk to you. It will be difficult at first as most new things are. You will be tempted to start to think of what you need to get when you go to the grocery store, or what to buy a friend for a birthday gift, or you will be thinking about whether you can pick up your dry cleaning, get a haircut and still be back home before the little ones  get off the school bus...But if you deliberately keep thinking, 
"5 GOLDEN MINUTES" and ask God to demonstrate what he wants from you and how he wants it during that time, you may be amazed at what you discover.

At first every minute might seem like an eternity, but eventually your 5 GOLDEN MINUTES will be gone so quickly that you will want more. People always say they wish they had more time but everyone has the same amount. It is how you use what you have that makes a difference and everyone needs a sweet spot in their day when all that is required is to be still and wait.

SO the 5th MAY of CHRISTMAS is simply: 

MAY YOU MAKE A RESOLUTION TO TAKE 5 GOLDEN MINUTES A DAY TO JUST BE.
Image by AbAberson via Flickr 
Be quiet. Be ready and Be...and what you learn in those 5 MINUTES may move your soul beyond anything you can imagine.

Want to really hear God's voice? The world often drowns out His attempts to call us, but in those 5 MINUTES you might finally have the conversation of your lifetime.

Be still and know that I am God...Psalm 46:10

On This 4th MAYof Christmas

Image by jennifrog via Flickr
It would only take most of us a moment to realize how amazingly wealthy we are. Oh, we may not have  millions in the bank, own several homes, a private jet and go on regularly scheduled exotic vacations, but most of us have treasures we would never give up; not even for several million dollars.

You would never give up your eyes voluntarily for money, or your ability to walk or talk yet we take advantage of having these priceless treasures every day seldom realizing how many riches we already have. If you are not trying to beat a terminal disease, or facing homelessness or trying to put your life together again after a major tragedy, you have been afforded riches. 

Image by Ed Yourdon via Flickr

It's so easy to forget how priceless our most important necessities are. We complain about our schedules or the countless errands we have to run. We are frustrated about our dwindling retirement investments and how hard we must work. We complain about the time it takes to clean our homes or the many social obligations we must handle. We forget there is someone whose social schedule is only filled with dates for chemo treatment, forget how someone who is homeless may love a home to clean, forget some would love to have a retirement account to even worry about. 


From now on, affirm one of your riches daily. It shouldn't be hard to find them. If you are not ready to turn over your speech, your health, your hearing, your ability to walk or drive or any of the other incredible riches you own, then on this 4th May of Christmas,

 MAY YOU ALWAYS REALIZE YOUR RICHES.

Image via Wikipedia

What is your most priceless possession? It most likely is not something you can buy, but when you realize all that you would never trade for any amount of money, it may be hard to pick just one that is priceless.

"Where your treasure is there your heart will be also."  Matthew 6:21

ON THE THIRD MAY OF CHRISTMAS

Image by Getty Images via @daylife
                                      Image via WikipediaFor a long time I used to believe that I had to get everything done to deserve a slice of joy. But there was so much that always needed done from laundry to cooking, working to cleaning, there were seasons of raising children, owning a business and being "on" 24/7...I had joy but I often didn't seek it out as easily as it was available. Joy was something I gave to myself wrapped in the paper of "everything else."...I loved being a wife and mother, loved a clean house, a fabulous dinner, a thriving business, a happy family and I thought my joy was in all of those things but never realized how pervasive it went.

As I got older, I realized in incidental, everyday moments, joy was readily present. I just had to accept it. There was joy in watching the baby birds hatch right outside of my windows, joy in a phone call from an old friend, joy in a good glass of wine and a great book, joy in a blissful nap, joy in petting my dog, taking a walk, sitting and just enjoying being.

Joy is never something that should be placed on hold until the time is right, or delayed until all the stars align. Joy needs to be embraced regularly and in all circumstances. We miss so very much when we fail to see all the joy around us, but remove those things from our lives and we will truly see the void.

MAY YOU SEE YOUR JOY OFTEN AND GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO BE BLESSED BY ITS PRESENCE ALL AROUND YOU.

Image via Wikipedia

I would so miss my friends and family, my health and other blessings if they were removed from my life, but I would also miss my joys; the smell of coffee on a cold morning, the first blooms on the dogwood trees every spring, the sounds of some great jazz on a summer evening, the delicious bite of a favorite dessert, watching the squirrels play outside, hearing Christmas Carols, watching shooting stars, the smell of fresh laundry, the pungent smell of lilacs or cracking open a great book are just a few of the amazing joys I get to experience.

What about you? What joys are you eliminating from your life or which go unrecognized and seldom savored because you are too busy to allow yourself a little slice of joy, especially meant for you. Everyone has their own little bits of "joy"...you were meant to claim yours.

This year, find your joy and promise to never let it go again.

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy Psalm 126:3

FORGIVE...THE SECOND MAY OF CHRISTMAS

Image by SPazzø via Flickr
When was the last time you allowed yourself to make a mistake and move on uneventfully without beating yourself up over the bad decisions or accidental errors? How long have you harbored feelings of being the one responsible for something that was long forgotten by everyone else? Sometimes the problem is not that we are not able to take the blame but that once we take it we don't give ourselves permission to forgive ourselves and move on.


Maybe you feel responsible for the marriage that dissolved or the poor relationship you have with your children. Maybe you blame yourself for a relationship with a friend that was severed, or feel you have been the one whose mistakes have led to a lifetime of "what if's". What has passed is past and the more you try to drag it into the future, the less comfortable it feels. You might easily forgive another but still have not forgiven yourself.


Life is too short to live on this side of regret or disappointment. Even if it was your fault. 


MAY YOU FORGIVE YOURSELF AND OTHERS AND NEVER LOOK BACK WITH REGRET.


Some may think it controversial to not have remorse about an action or disappointment about something you did, but any regrets that linger are bound to have more negative implications than positive ones. Stop wishing for what isn't or can never be and simply forgive yourself and leave it where it is best...over and done. Then pick up the pieces left and go into your life positively determined to learn and do better. It is a gift you absolutely must give yourself if you are ever going to leave a better legacy or commit to something larger than yourself.


Whether you need to forgive yourself or finally come to grips with forgiving someone who needs to hear your pardon, it can be amazingly exhilarating to simple say, "I forgive you." and promise to not dwell on any aspect of the issue again. 


 So simply look into the mirror or pick up the phone and say the words that will not only lift a heavy weight from you shoulders but give you wings to live your life soaring above the thing that has forever held you down.


If your heavenly Father could forgive, why can't you be as gracious?

"I WILL BLOT OUT ALL YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS AND REMEMBER YOUR SINS NO MORE."Isaiah 43:25 

What do you need to give yourself permission to forgive?

THE 12 MAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Image via WikipediaIt seems that more than ever, we run from one activity to another, barely absorbing the effects of one before moving on to another accomplishment or experience. It has become ever more apparent to me, especially this year, that life moves on despite our best efforts to preserve our youth, our hopes, our dreams and especially our goals.We may be waiting for everything to be perfect and die tomorrow. The time to live like we will die tomorrow really is now. It's not about investing, saving and planning, because while that is all essential, we must still be ready to live each day as though that were the last we are given...because someday it will be.

Given that most people tirelessly search for the perfect gift for a friend or loved one, I want to encourage you to search for your perfect gifts in making the rest of your life the best of your life. It's not selfish, not egotistical and not even a suggestion. It is a fact, that whenever you take care of yourself, you can better take care of everyone else in your path. We often forget that we need to give ourselves the permission to discover our gifts, open them and enjoy what we have been blessed with. So in these 12 days before Christmas, I invite you to share some "MAYS' that might encourage you and inspire you to make the coming year one you will be sure to feel you have lived completely and extraordinarily, the way you believe only you would have wanted to live it.

MAY YOU GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF BELIEVING...in yourself and in your God given talents to be used in a way only you can do

If you don't believe you can accomplish something why should anyone else? Believe you can do something amazing in the next year, whether it be to accomplish a life long goal, fulfill a dream, or pursue a major change. Believe you will discover the resources and logistics of how to really embrace the special traits that only you possess. Write a bucket list or goal journal and pick one that you believe you can accomplish and may you give yourself permission to go after your goal in every way, because you can and you should. You cannot expect others to give you the gift only you can find yourself so you owe it to yourself to roll up you sleeves and make this a gift you will certainly permit yourself to own...Believe you were put on this earth to accomplish a very specific task. It may not be what you do in your career, or for your hobby or even in your lifestyle, but believe that your gift is yours alone and if you haven't discovered what it might be, make this the year that you leave no stone unturned in asking God to make it very evident what HE and YOU can accomplish together.

MAY YOU DREAM BIG AND BELIEVE ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD (Matthew 19:25-27)

Return tomorrow for the 2nd MAY of CHRISTMAS