Merry CHRISTmas!

Friends,
We want to wish you all a Merry CHRISTmas!

Thank you to our precious Heavenly Father for sending your Son, Jesus Christ into this world to save us.

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas to you all and may you celebrate the true reason for the season!

Blessings,
The Keepers Team

Need a Quick and Scent-sational Gift?

Did you forget someone on your Christmas list? Did you just realize that your child’s teacher, coach, or your hair dresser didn’t make your list? Or maybe you have been racking your brain trying to think of something unique and wonderful to give to your neighbors and those listed above.

I have a great idea for you and it came from our "Gift Giving 101" presentation by Irene Delano two years ago. It is still the one thing I make every year. Because of the simplicity of the gift and the way it can be used for weeks through the holidays, I am crazy about giving this as a gift. I also love using this for myself!

The first picture is what it looks like completed as a gift to give.

The second and third picture is what it looks like when you use it. I wish this computer could send a scent your way!

Copy and paste the following for the list of ingredients and easy instructions under the title of Holiday Scent. http://www.keepersofthehome.org/2009%20GG-%20online%20info..pdf

A couple of tips:
• When you buy in bulk (fruit and especially the cloves) you will save bundles of money.
• Make sure you buy REAL cinnamon sticks. The first year I unknowingly bought decorative cinnamon sticks at Wal-mart and Hobby Lobby. Needless to say that when I simmered the concoction, I didn't smell cinnamon and saw lots of paper in the water! Sorry to all those first year (2007) receivers!
• Make it personal by adding a special verse to the tag. I make the instruction tag (given at the link) and then, depending on who it is for, another tag with a special verse such as:
Merry Christmas!
We give thanks to God always for all of you,
making mention of you in our prayers;
constantly bearing in mind your work of faith
and labor of love and steadfastness of
hope in our Lord Jesus Christ…….1 Thess. 1:2-3
Steve, Lori, Josh, Jonathan & Brooke Merrill

These make great Hostess gifts for parties and Thanksgiving gifts as well.
Enjoy and have a Merry Christmas!

Are you Missing It?

I have a friend who misses 'it' all the time. What is 'it' that she misses? To me it is the important details of the messages I send her. We do ministry together and often I send emails to my ministry team about important information that I believe everyone on the team needs to know. This dear friend however has a habit of skimming emails or thinking they don't apply to her so she moves to the next thing. (We'll see if she reads this post!) How do I know this? Because often times our conversations revolve around the details of the latest email I sent. When she asks me questions that were answered in the email eventually our conversation involves this dialogue, "Did you read my email?" to which she replies, "Oh, that was in the email. I guess I didn't."

We have laughed about this bad habit of hers and our Keepers team gives her a hard time about it. Recently I sent her an E-card and knew she had not read it because the company sends a notice when it has been opened. So, knowing her habit I finally asked her, "Did you ever get the E-card I sent you?" She told me she had, however I knew she had not read it because I had not been notified. The next day I received notification that she had opened it thus I knew now that she had read it. She later explained that she thought it was a 'blanket card' that I sent to all my friends. Little did she know that I had written her a message of love and thankfulness to her from my heart.

This situation reminded me of this time of year. God sent a special message of love to you and me in the form of a baby. Not just any baby, mind you. This 'message' was God Himself in the form of a baby. Fully man and fully God. He came to this earth so that we might have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10) We needed a Savior from our sins. He sent His Son to be that for you and for me.

CHRISTMAS...are you missing the details of what this time of year is all about? Are you skimming over the most important message of this season because you have so much shopping to do, parties to attend, and food to prepare? Are you celebrating this season without really receiving the MESSAGE of love that was sent to you by God? Are you like my friend who could have missed my personal message of love to her because she skimmed over it? What a shame it would be to go through this month and never focus on the personal MESSAGE of love that God sent to you and to me. The even greater tragedy would be to never receive His gift.

Don't let this month get away from you and then realize you skimmed over the Message God sent to you; the *gift of His Son.
In His Love,
Lori

*Salvation is available to all who believe and receive. Read the following to learn how to do this.
Our Need--Romans 3:23 and 6:23a
God's Provision--Romans 5:8 and John 3:16
God's Promise--Romans 10:9-10, 13

Four Statements of the Gospel by Dennis Newkirk
1. God came to the earth in Jesus
2. Jesus suffered and died on the cross in order to receive the punishment of your sin.
3. Jesus arose from the dead to conquer both sin and death.
4. If you repent and believe this you will be saved.