A Heart Wide Open Christmas

October 4, 2014

Welcome! If you’ve landed here without a clue as to what’s going on, you can read all about A Heart Wide Open Christmas here.

For those of you ready to kick off our journey together, I’m about to bust to get started, but first a reminder. Beginning tomorrow morning, our Advent Invitation will blog hop! Here’s the breakdown. Tricia Goyer will have December 1st-5th, Dr. Joneal Kirby will have December 6th-10th, Marybeth Whalen will have December 11th-15tth, Mary Synder will have December 16th-20th, and the blog hop will conclude with December 21st-25th right back here. Don’t worry! Each author will keep you informed on where to go next. Blessings, y’all. I feel God’s pleasure with our desire to celebrate His Son well this season! Now, let’s get to it!

A Heart Wide Open Christmas – Day One

Scripture: I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statues. I will not forget your word. Psalm 119: 15,16

Thought: I don’t know when you generally decorate, but for me, once Thanksgiving is over, it’s time to deck these halls! Here’s a wild, freeing thought: whenever we choose to decorate, we don’t have to drag out every single Christmas decoration we own and we don’t have to buy the latest bauble. If we choose to use less, they may mean more. This year, let’s use only those decorations that have true meaning for us, and as we place our treasures around our homes, let’s think about intentionally valuing God’s word in our hearts.

Action: Consider donating some of your decorations to a local senior citizen center, hospital, or nursing home.

day1screenshot

As surely as we get to choose what to collect & value in our homes, we get to choose what we collect & value in our hearts. #HeartWideOpen

Click for A Christmas Heart Wide Open Printable, Day One

Comments

Ruby

November 30, 2014

When I click on the FB tab I also go to the Antique Motorcycle FB page. I can’t get the download printable to work either. I will just be persistent and maybe the cyber glitch will disappear.
- Shellie Rushing Tomlinson
  
  November 30, 2014
  
  Ruby, what Facebook link exactly are you speaking of? And are you clicking the big bold letters above for the printable? It’s working for me. 🙂
Denise

November 30, 2014

I started pulling back a few Christmases ago and not putting out every single decoration I have for the house. I like the simpler, more meaningful things, too!
- Shellie Rushing Tomlinson
  
  November 30, 2014
  
  Happy to have you on the journey, Denise. Let’s look past it ALL and worship Him. 🙂
michelle welch

November 21, 2014

I clicked on the Facebook link from your blog page and was taken twice to an antiques FB page with motorcycles on it. Puzzling. Is that a broken or glitchy link? How do I connect and get the daily advent readings?
Michelle
- Shellie Rushing Tomlinson
  
  November 22, 2014
  
  Michelle, I have no idea what’s happening with that link but will investigate. In the meantime, do know that I’ve got you in the database with us! 🙂
- Shellie Rushing Tomlinson
  
  November 30, 2014
  
  Michelle, I still can’t trace this problem. What Facebook link are you talking about exactly? And to follow the Advent Invitation, just follow the links here. Tomorrow, Tricia Goyer will start her week! 🙂
Ellen Steele

October 20, 2014

Will the Heart Wide Open Christmas devotional come to us by e-mail each day!
Looking forward to it!!
- Shellie Rushing Tomlinson
  
  November 30, 2014
  
  Hello Ellen! It won’t come to your inbox. Just follow the hop from here. For instance, tomorrow, Tricia Goyer will begin her week’s worth. The link to her page is above. 🙂 Blessings~
Pat Delaune

October 6, 2014

Our Loft Ladies Bible Study at Jefferson Street Methdist Church in Natchez, Ms, is having a wonderfully uplifting experience studying Heart Wide Open. My chance encounter with you, Shellie, at your book signing at Turning Pages has turned into a joyful blessing. Thank you for sharing your spiritual journey with us.
- Shellie Rushing Tomlinson
  
  November 22, 2014
  
  Hello Pat! I’m just now finding your note– and at a most delightful “God timing” moment. 🙂 THANK YOU! I’m so glad y’all are enjoying Heart Wide Open. Let’s seek Jesus together, forever!
Kristy Woodson Harvey

October 5, 2014

Hey Shellie! I met you at SIBA and am so glad to find your amazing blog! Love it! I look forward to keeping up with you here. Have a wonderful week!
- admin
  
  October 6, 2014
  
  Thank you, Kristy! I remember you! It’s so nice of you to look me up. I hope you’ll do the Advent Invitation with us here, too!