Have a very Merry Christmas (Sunday, Dec 25)! Remember, YOU are the reason that Jesus came.

MEDITATION SCRIPTURE

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. – Colossians 3:12-15

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

You get to keep and enjoy only what you share and give away. - Unknown

CHRISTMAS SPENDING TIPS

As a steward of God’s money, you need to use wisdom in your spending to ensure that you are making the most of your spending dollars. While shopping, remember these tips:

A) Get Jesus a gift – after all, you’re celebrating His birth! What does the church need that you can be a part of? Let this be your first gift of the season.

B) Pray before purchasing. Ask God what He wants you to do this year and then be obedient to reap the benefits.

C) Make a realistic budget by determining what you have to spend and the best way to accommodate the people on your list. If possible, consider splitting the cost of a gift with someone or consider buying family gifts instead of a gift for each person.

D) Practice paying with cash and take a pre-determined amount of money with you to keep from overspending.

E) Be wise about credit. If you decide to use a credit card, keep up with the receipts and use a low interest rate card. Don’t use the card if you can’t pay the bill in full when it arrives.

F) Take advantage of internet coupons and free shipping offers. Use your local newspapers too to comparison shop for your desired purchase.

G) If you plan to shop online, use secure sites and pay by major credit card only. Many secure sites have an “s” after the “http:” in the URL address. Others may have a special icon to verify that the site is secure.

H) If you have to mail gifts, compare mail rates and plan enough time so that you can avoid overnight or express shipping.

I) When it comes to returns and exchanges, make sure that you understand the store’s refund the exchange policy BEFORE you purchase. Keep all receipts in case you need to return or exchange.

J) Keep the right attitude – show the love of Christ wherever you go! Even if you have a dispute the store personnel, be courteous and patient. How can you lead others to Christ when it looks like you need to be led yourself?