Monday, October 17, 2011

Untangling Christmas ~ The Significant and The Simple

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12-12

The Significant and the Simple:  the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.  Christ, the Lord, our Redeemer.

Celebrating the Significant, the Gift, during the Christmas season usually leaves us stressed rather than blessed.  Simplicity gives way to chaos and our joy can be zapped. But before the hustle and bustle gets in full swing, let's take a collective big breath...there is hope!
 
Recently, I was invited to review a book by my friends Karen Ehman and LeAnn Rice, Untangling Christmas ~ Your Go-To Guide for a Hassle-Free Holiday.  What a joy!  I loved the book AND I got a jump start to Christmas preparations!



Untangling Christmas is filled with great ideas for celebrations, gift wrapping, inexpensive presents and recipe planning.  Best of all, though, Karen and LeAnn remind us to daily keep our hearts before the Lord, who was born in the precious stable and laid in a manger, such that our hearts are truly peaceful and joyful during the Christmas season and beyond.

Love gives.  That is clear throughout God's Word.  So in the spirit of love and in excited anticipation of the Christmas season, TWO Untangling Christmas ebooks are being given away here on His Table For Two this week!

Simply leave a comment and tell us in one sentence what is most Significant for you in your Christmas traditions and celebrations.  Also, be sure to leave your contact information (if I can't reach you through a blog of your own) and mention if you would like the ebook in PDF form, Nook or Kindle version if you are a winner. 70 days until Christmas... 


Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”John 4:10  

38 comments:

  1. I enjoy being with family laughing and reminising but ultimately reflecting on Jesus' birth.
    I would like a PDF. Thanks for the giveaway!!

    jbaehrel@hvc.rr.com

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  2. Since I was a kid we always sang Happy Birthday to Jesus before we opened any presents. Now our grandchildren are carrying on the tradition; although a bit more spirited with our one grandson's "cha cha cha, ooola lah hiyah!" joyously added at the end.
    I would enjoy the Kindle version. Thank you.

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  3. Last year we started going to Christmas eve service at church. There is something so special about standing around in a circle with our church family with all our candles lit singing praises to the One born on Christmas day. I'd LOVE this book in Kindle form. :)

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  4. We love lighting the candles on our Advent wreath and reading Scriptures with them. I would love the PDF version. Thanks!!

    (nrg4god@btes.tv)

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  5. Christmas is significant to me because it envelopes our home in a birthday celebration for Jesus that lasts over a month and brings our extended family back together. My favorite part is reading the nativity story from the bible together.

    jnhc99@yahoo.com

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  6. Love this simply profound statement: Love gives.

    Perhaps that's what's most significant to my Christmas... giving time, thoughts, a small deed, kind word...

    Thanks for sharing His love with us!!

    xoxo, Sam

    (please don't enter me as I have it already : }

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  7. Unwrapping the manger!!! I have my own manger that a dear friend built me and I have quiet times there to remind me of the awesome gift we received when Jesus was born...giving thanks everyday and especially at Christmas.

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  8. We light the Advent candles each night and sing Christmas carols in preparation for Christmas Eve...then the party-ing really starts. :) I would enjoy the pdf version. Thanks.

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  9. I enjoy just having a time for unscheduled togetherness and remembering God's Gift! I would love the pdf format torresbox21@yahoo.com

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  10. Even though my children are all adults now, they still appreciate keeping traditions going. This year I have my first grandchild to also begin traditions with. There are too many to list, but one is to read a Christmas book each day of December leading up to Christmas Day when we read the REAL Christmas Story from the Gospels. There are so many beautiful Christmas books available for children!

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  11. Family is the best part of my Christmas!!! My husband and I both have divorced parents. But no matter what, family is always a priority. Sitting around, reading the Christmas story before anything else happens. Best times!!!

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  12. How easy is it to get caught up in finding that new "Elmo" toy or the latest video thingy that your kids want and miss the joy! My mom made a rule for our whole family (3 grown sisters and their families) years ago. It's simple you buy everyone 1 gift and noone's gift may cost more than $5. We have the best time - and most of all no one is dreading the expense or the searching for that prized possession - it's about sharing - we all shop year round (I'm already finished for this year) and when the season of celebration begins, there's simply no hustle and bustle - just decorating, and happiness, carols, and celebrating the birth of Jesus! (pdf)

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  13. forgot to say the PDF form would be great! not fancy enough for kindle or nook yet

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  14. I love going to the Christmas Eve service at our church. It gives us time to reflect on the true meaning of the season, away from the press of daily life, and it's so nice to have the chance to really appreciate the treasure of God's perfect gift to us.

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  15. I just love being with family. The last 3 years we have attended a Christmas Eve Service, then a light
    supper with family

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  16. Being a single mother there is not always a lot of (bought) gifts, however seeing Jesus through the eyes of my children each holiday season is a gift with NO price tag! If I should be so lucky to win I would like it PDF and my email is mrutledge79@gmail.com

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  17. I used to be a Jehovah's Witness and I wasn't allowed to celebrate Christmas!
    I accepted Christ about 3years ago.. and I now love and enjoy the Christmas season!
    I am looking for more ways to make it more meaningful for my family and I! We have 4 kids... I would like to be more traditional this year... old fashioned wrapping.. maybe string some popcorn.. etc.. God bless!
    I would love your book in pdf format.
    jaelyn4christ@aol.com

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  18. Christmas has been about family. I just lost my father and a little less than 2 years ago I lost my mother. This year I want to make a Shutterfly book for my siblings of our parents and give it to them for Christmas. I'd love the PDF form of the book. You can reach me at jbanderson@hotmail.com.

    Thank you so much!

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  19. What is most significant to me is simply rejoicing in the Lord's birth with my family close to me.

    I would love to have the book in Kindle version. I can be reached at marlosmi (at) comcast (dot) net

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  20. Also, if I win, I would like the book in Nook format. Thanks!

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  21. I love spending time with my family, as well as my church family, celebrating what Christmas is REALLY about.

    If I win, I would like the .pdf format. Thank you.

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  22. gathering, feeding, and celebrating Jesus' birthday is what I like about celebrating Christmas! I would be blessed if I won the pdf format to your book, so I can stay focused....
    thank you.
    Amy Hassett nytransplantamy@yahoo.com

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  23. The most significant thing for me during the holidays is being with my husband & kids and teaching my kids about Jesus' birth and why we celebrate Christmas truly!

    kjanusik@wi.rr.com

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  24. We host an open house each year to celebrate the adoption dates of our four children. Christmas is always a wonderful time to reflect and share with others how wonderfully blessed we are.
    Would love this in .pdf format.
    Joy (brennemans@bellsouth.net)

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  25. Each year I try to simplify life to get my family to focus on the true meaning of Christmas! We are getting closer, but still have some de-stressing to do! If I am chosen, I would like the book in PDF format.
    barrientos5@embarqmail.com

    :) Angel

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  26. Christmas is my favorite time of year. Thanking the Lord for his most precious gift of Jesus. I love spending time with family and seeing the joy of Christmas with my grandkids starting with the Christmas program at church. If I were to win this special giveaway I would like the "old fashioned" book! Thank you. cherylgrandma@hotmail.com

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  27. Reading the birth story with my family.

    I'd like the book in pdf if I win.

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  28. We started a new tradition a couple of years ago with our young granddaughters. We bake and decorate (sometimes quite elaborately) a birthday cake for Jesus. On Christmas Day it is dessert and the opportunity to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. It is so awesome to see eve a 3 year old using this as a most worshipful moment. VERY special!
    Preference is kindle.

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  29. One of my very favorite Christmas traditions is the celebration of advent through daily advent readings, singing carols and lighting candles with my children! They anticipate it every evening and it's such a wonderful preparation for celebrating Jesus!

    I would love the pdf format.
    heatherworsley4@yahoo.com

    Heather Worsley

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  30. I love having my quiet time early in the morning, before everyone is up, by the lit up Christmas tree. That is a special time of season for me personally. I try to do things that will give my sons a sense of the greatness of Jesus's birth so they can learn to focus on that instead of all the commercialism.
    If I win, I would love the pdf version.
    Heather N (jhn500@usfamily.net)

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  31. Being with my family and watching my kids on Christmas morning.

    I would like a PDF. Thank you for the give away.

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  32. I can't wait to read the book. I need to be more organized at Christmas time.

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  33. When our 3 children were young, we decided to be very intentional about playing together more during the holiday season. They still love to play games and interact, which has been reflected in how they plan events, like their own weddings. I think all 3 had some type of games at their receptions. If I was so fortunate to get your ebook, I would choose PDF.

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  34. The best part of Christmas to me is the time our family arranges to be together. Martha

    rahnmartha@bellsouth.net

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  35. My mother has always cooked for Christmas Eve and the whole family comes to eat and open presents. She always made a Happy Birthday Jesus cake and we would sing. Now that she is 93 and unable to cook it is still very important we gather at her house so I now cook everyone's favorite dish, do the cake with her caramel icing and we all still meet at her house and open presents after supper. It is important to the grandkids that we still do this so tradition carries on. I would like a Nook book.

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  36. The Christmas season, for our family, is about creating traditions where we can serve others as a family. We do other things throughout the year, but Christmas is so significant because the opportunity to share the gospel message is so apparent. "We want to show you the love of Christ and, while we're here, since you're interested in trees and gifts and hams, let us tell you about the greatest part of Christmas: Jesus Christ, himself."

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