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M O MS ’
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From My Heart Dear Readers, It’s the time of the year to celebrate the birth of the most generous Giver of all times, Jesus Christ. God’s generosity never ceases. But sometimes we fail to see His gifts when bad things happen to us and we question God’s motives. A mother and her son share their experiences of when their house in Manila was burned down. No sooner had they started rebuilding, when their farmhouse in the province was hit by a typhoon. Let’s find out what kept them going and how they were able to start anew. A teacher who loves to shop relates her story about how she changed her spending lifestyle and saved money. A mother talks about giving gifts from the heart. There’s an essay on where our Christmas practices came from, and other articles that are helpful for the holiday celebrations. This coming year, let us continue to hold on to God’s promises. He said in Psalm 84:11, “For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” Merry Christmas! Evelyn Damian, Editor
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Chicka-Chicka
Celebrating Christ in Christmas
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What Kids Think about Christmas
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Money-money
Giving with the Heart
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Saving Money is Your Decision
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Fire, Typhoon, and a Faithful God
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FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING
Decorating Your Home Inexpensively for Christmas
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Recipes
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Answers TO YOUR QUESTIONS
Just Asking
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What the Bible Says about ...
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MOMS
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To Start a Relationship with Christ Admit you have sinned. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
MOMS Editorial Staff (L-R): Patrick, Alvin, Evelyn, Kim & Johnson.
MOMS EDITORIAL STAFF Chief Editor Kimberly Snider Editor, MOMS Evelyn Damian Editor, MIP Alvin Tud Distribution Johnson Li Cover & Layout Patrick Tan
Thank you for your financial help! • • • • • • •
Dakila ang Diyos Christian Ministry-Calamba, Laguna UEC-General Santos City Come to Jesus Community Church Emilio Julian Gem Viana A friend from North Fairview Park Subdivision Kasibu Christian Fellowship
We need a little help from our friends... MOMS has no subscription price; it is supported completely through contributions. We distribute 58,000 copies each quarter for free. To help support this publication, send cash or check made payable to: Asia Pacific Media Ministries FAO MOMS. To make a direct deposit, use our BPI, C/A #2431-0042-27. All contributions are used entirely for the outreach of this publication. Thank you!
Believe in Jesus. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish; but have eternal life.” John 3:16b Confess and leave your sin behind. Stop sinning. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 To continue growing in your relationship with Christ, fellowship with other believers, read the Bible and pray!
MOMS/MIP Creative Team 2014: Top row (L-R): Nathan, Joshua, Jesse, Revo. Second row: Jeanne, A.M., Rikka, Grace, Baby. Not in the picture: Hazel and Gem.
Published quarterly by Asia Pacific Media Ministries. Unit 2608 Raffles Corporate Center, Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center, 1605 Pasig City, Philippines. Telephone: 914-9767. E-mail: moms@apmedia.org. Reproduction of photos and articles is prohibited without permission. ASIA PACIFIC
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C HI C KA - C HI C KA
Celebrating Christ in Christmas by A.M. Bernal-Dela Rosa
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e have a colorful and unique Christmas season in the Philippines; we celebrate this holiday longer than any other country in the world. Among the many distinctly Filipino Christmas traditions is the Simbang Gabi or the dawn masses attended by churchgoers for the nine mornings before December 25. Cultural historian and former Education Secretary, Alejandro Roces, noted the pre-colonial origins of this practice in his book, Fiesta. He reported that December was a time of harvest for our rural fellows back then, and since they had to harvest in the morning, Simbang Gabi was held during the same time to accommodate the harvesters. Today we see people diligently rising before dawn just to complete the series of masses. Christmas light displays are also traditional in parks, malls and even throughout entire neighborhoods. This practice started long ago when Filipinos made simple lanterns to represent the star that guided the Magi on their way to see the Baby Jesus. Another exciting tradition especially for the children is giving gifts or cash bonuses. This spirit of giving is one of the things that brings joy at Christmas time. Its origins are said to come from the Spanish era when employers gave bonuses to their employees. or
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Filipinos, financially
whether struggling,
well-off prepare
something special to eat during the Christmas Eve feast. Again, this can be traced to the abundance of the harvest time during the pre-colonial period. The food prepared was even given to “harvest spirits and gods” that our predecessors believed in. Filipino families today take the holiday as an opportunity to gather and celebrate together. Roces wrote, “Our Christmas celebrations have echoes of our pagan past.” But the world looks at us, a Christian country, and how we overwhelmingly celebrate Christmas. CNN noted in an article how our Christian faith is an “intrinsic part of the celebrations.” Since this is so, while we enjoy the cheer of Filipino traditions, we must not forget the center of Christmas, which is the Lord Jesus Christ. J. Hampton Keathley III of the Moody Bible Institute exhorted the believers to make sure we “understand the historical roots and use these things to teach the truth behind the traditions.” If we want to feel the real Spirit of Christmas, let us check to see if everything we do points to our Lord Jesus—whether we follow traditions, celebrate in a unique way, or choose to have an austere holiday.
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“Masaya dahil may regalo.” Angelito, 6 years old
“Birthday of Jesus and gifts.” - Jayashri, 6 years old
“Masaya kasi magkakapera po.” - Mary Joy, 5 years old
“Natutuwa po sa blessings ni God.” - Jenny, 9 years old
“May regalo galing kay ninong.” - Nicole, 7 years old, “May mga regalo, magkakaroon ng pera.” - Angela, 8 years old “Masaya dahil po maraming natatanggap na regalo.” - Carlo, 10 years old “Natutuwa po kasi may regalo.” - Melanie, 9 years old “Nagbibigay si God ng blessings gaya ng regalo, pagkain at iba pa.” - Mary Rose, 11 years old “Kapanganakan ni Jesus, regalo, maraming pagkain.” Mikaella, 12 years old
“Si Jesus po ang naiisip ko kapag Pasko.” - Chin-Chin, 7 years old “Naiisip ko po kapanganakan ni Jesus.” - Christine, 12 years old “Masaya dahil maraming nangangaroling saka marami po ang namamasko.” - John Mark, 13 years old “Si Santa Claus po ay dadating.” - James Castrence, 3 years old “Di ko alam, eh, ewan ko po.” - Jelo, 3 years old
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M O N EY - M O NE Y
Giving with the Heart by Rose Osete-Lee ifts never fail to put a smile on my face. It is just so exciting to open them and discover what’s inside. Gifts are synonymous with the holiday season. In the past, I gave gifts because it was expected of me. I attended the wedding of a business friend a few years ago, and I gave cash as gift. I had difficulty deciding on the amount because I felt obliged to give a certain amount due to our business relationship. I was concerned about what my friend would think about me, and so, I gave a five-figure cash gift. I know my friend was pleased. However, it would have been more meaningful to me if I had given for the right reason. It was not until I personally experienced being in need that I felt the essence of giving with the heart. I realized then that I am only an instrument, blessed to be a blessing to others. From that time on, I have considered gifts of any form as a blessing from God.
Now, I pray before I give. I try to understand the need of the person and I listen to God in my prayer. It also helps to ask my receivers about their particular need. I am sensitive to changing events in their lives and their prayer requests. The vocation, profession and passion of the receivers also indicate their needs.
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I did not expect anything in return but God blessed me and my family in a lot of ways.
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Last year, I gave my time as a gift to a friend in need. I voluntarily offered my consulting services for three months. I did not expect anything in return but God blessed me and my family in a lot of ways. As a receiver, I felt so amazed each time I received the gifts that I need without me ever mentioning my need– a reading lamp, a coffee mug, a traveler’s notebook, a devotional book, and many more things that I wished for in my heart. The Lord loves a cheerful giver and the act of giving is not based on the value of the gift, but on the sincerity of the heart. I am reminded that whatever I do for my brethren, I am doing it for the Lord. Whatever form of gift that you give, whether it be cash or in kind, let it be given with the heart.
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Saving Money is Your Decision Myrna Celada-Goseso has been a teacher for many years. An article in “MOMS” helped her change her spending habits. Here is what she told us…
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made only a small salary in the private school where I was teaching, nevertheless, my co-teachers and I frequently went shopping at the mall. I was an impulsive buyer. I bought branded clothes, shoes and bags because I wanted to look good when I met my students’ parents.
Myrna at her school.
A few years ago, my husband quit his job as an aircon technician to take care of our children. We had enough money to meet our basic needs, but we didn’t have savings or any plan for investment. One day, I read an article in Moms magazine about saving money. It made an impact on my life. It said even if our income was small, we should save 10% and live on what’s left. I thought to myself, “It’s not too late, I can still do it!” I talked to my husband about setting financial goals. We started to build our savings. My husband kept me on track. It also helped when I got a new job at a different school. I couldn’t get any of the teachers there to go with me to the mall. We made adjustments in the way we spent our money. We ate in restaurants only when there were important family gatherings. We only bought what our children needed. We added a major part of my 13th month pay and bonus to our savings. The more our savings grew, the more I didn’t want to spend unnecessarily. Soon we were able to open a sari-sari store. When an opportunity came for us to buy a lot in a subdivision, we used part of our savings to pay for the down payment. We have started teaching our children about money. They now help in the store at certain times. We show them how thick the stack of money is that we use to pay their tuition so that they will have a sense of responsibility and study hard. It is very difficult to manage finances well but if you are convinced you want to change your spending lifestyle, it can be done.”
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Every so often, we hear news about typhoons hitting our country, damaging property, or fires that leave people homeless. Florencia Manalo and her family experienced both within a year. Florencia and her 2nd son, Jay-R tell their story of faith and hope amidst their distressful experiences. Tell us something about yourself. Mommy: Taga-Ormoc, Leyte ako pero edad 9 pa lang, dahil sa hirap ng buhay, sumama ako sa tiyahin ko para mamasukan sa Maynila. Dito na ako nakapag-asawa at nagkaroon kami ng apat na anak. Taong 1984 ng niyaya akong mag-Bible study ng aking boss noon na missionary at isang araw, tinanggap ko si Hesucristo sa aking buhay. Mula noon, nag-iba ang takbo ng aking buhay. Pati ‘yung timing na nawalan ng trabaho ang asawa ko, si Herman, doon naman siya naimbitahan sa Bible study at noon niya ibinigay ang buhay niya kay Hesus. Noong pauwi
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na kami, nangako siya na hindi na siya babalik sa buhay niya na puro bisyo. Tapos nagkaroon siya ulit ng trabaho bilang driver. Iba talaga mag-ayos ng buhay si Lord! Jay-R: Very strong ang faith ng tatay ko kay God. Nag-open kami ng Bible study sa bahay. We invited our neighbors, pati mga bata. Mommy: Merong mga nagagalit at me nagsabi pa na wala daw karapatan ang asawa ko na mangaral dahil dayo lang siya at dating manginginom. Sa isang pagtitipon, dumating ang oras na nakakilala rin ang taong ‘yon kay Hesus. Mula noon, maaga pa lang ay sinasabihan na niya ang mga kapitbahay namin na, “Makinig kayo kay Herman. Tama ang sinasabi niya.” Alam namin na iba kumilos ang Diyos kaya kapag meron kaming mga kamag-anak na galing sa probinsiya, sa amin sila tumutuloy at dun namin sila nababahagian ng salita ng Diyos.
nalo Photos by Jay-R Ma
Mommy Flor
Jay-R
Paminsan-minsan may pagsubok pero faithful si Lord.
para sa Sunday school, sa prayer meeting, worship service.
Ano po ‘yung ilan sa mga pagsubok na naranasan ninyo?
Mommy: Nanghinayang talaga ako kasi ang dami naming gamit na nasunog pero ang sabi naman ng Diyos, eh, huwag tayong mabahala tsaka sabi Niya ‘yung mga ibon nga daw hindi Niya pinabayaan eh, tayo pa kaya.
Jay-R: Etong April lang, nasunog ang bahay namin and recently, tinamaan naman ng bagyong Glenda ang bahay namin at ng aming mga kamag-anak sa Quezon Province. Ano po ang initial reaction ninyo noong nasunog ang house ninyo? Jay-R: Actually, nasunugan na kami dati, noong 2004. I was still in college noon. I can say na ‘yun ‘yung times na medyo rebellious kaming magkakapatid. For me, ‘yun ang wake up call sa amin ng Lord. Dun kami naging serious na magkakapatid sa commitment namin kay Lord. Tingin ko ‘yun ang purpose kaya God allowed our house na masunog. After that, 2005 na kami nakagpatayo ng bahay. Lots of people helped us build the house as a ministry center. Every floor talaga ginagamit namin sa ministry,
Jay-R: So after 10 years, nasunog na naman ang bahay namin. From the first sunog, nakabangon na kami, nakagraduate na kami sa school, may mga trabaho na kaming magkakapatid, nakapag-ipon na ng mga gamit. Nakalimutan na namin ‘yung nangyaring sunog tapos eto na naman, nasunog na naman bahay namin. ‘Yung 2004 na sunog, alam ko the Lord allowed it para magbalik-loob kami sa Kanya. But this one, hindi ko alam kung anong dahilan ng Panginoon, parang mas mabigat for us as a family, kasi confident ka eh, na this place is safe. Continued on the next page
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DI F F E R EN CE
Dito nagtitipon ‘yung “church,” tapos isang iglap nasunog. Nag-alala din kami sa iisipin ng mga tao, ah, house of God ‘yan, bakit nasunog lang ng ganyan. Nung una, medyo positive pa ako eh. Makakabangon din kami. Kaya natin yan. Madami ng nangyari sa family natin these past few years. Sunog lang ‘yan. Nag-sink in lang talaga sa akin ‘nung sinabi ng tatay ko na nanghihinayang siya sa nangyari kasi halos siya lahat ang gumawa nung bahay, nagkarpentero, pati mga cabinets, mga kama, ganun. For me, ang bigat sa puso na marinig mo ‘yun sa tatay mo. More than the house, ‘yung sentimental value since siya mismo ang gumawa ‘nun. ‘Yung recent na sunog, lahat din ng gamit ng church katulad ng projector, mga computer, lahat nasunog so mas nakakapanghinayang talaga kasi back to zero ka na naman. Hindi mo alam kung anong nangyari, saan patungo, saan ka dadalhin ng Panginoon. My younger brother is the pastor of the church. Gumagawa rin siya ng evangelism materials. After nagkasunog, parang gusto na niya mag-quit sa gawain. Lahat kami, pati mga parents namin, parang walang kayang mag-encourage sa kanya na magiging maayos ulit kasi sobrang down din kami. I remember when I went to work three days after the sunog, akala ko kaya ko na magtrabaho. Hindi pa pala kasi parang dun pa lang nag-sink in na totoo palang wala na kaming bahay. Nakita ko sa parents ko, my mom, she was also sad but still, she didn’t cry. Nakikita ko lang mabigat sa kanya ‘yung pinagdadaanan namin as a family. Wala kaming nai-save na mga gamit, mga damit lang. Kahit ganun, sinabi nila,
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ina-upgrade lang tayo ng Lord. Mommy: Iiyak ka talaga kasi siyempre ilang taon bago namin naipundar ‘yung mga gamit tapos nasunog. Siyempre sa umpisa, mag-aalala ka pero maaalala mo naman ‘yung pangako ni Lord na hindi ka Niya pababayaan, hindi ka iiwan.
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Natutunan ko mula ng maging Christian na kami, ‘pag meron kang pangangailangan, sa Panginoon mo dapat hilingin. Kasi dati, didiskarte ka eh, didiskarte ng didiskarte pero wala parin.
Hindi ba kayo nagtampo kay Lord? Mommy: Hindi ko inisip magtampo kay Lord kasi ang dami ng tinugon ng Lord sa aming buhay, ito pa kaya ang hindi Niya matutugunan? Alam ko may purpose si Lord kaya nangyari ‘yun. Marami na Siyang ginawang pagbabago sa buhay namin. Dati nga walang-wala kami, kahit tirahan nga wala eh, tapos ang Panginoon ang nag-provide. Pag nakita ko nga lang ‘yung mga semento eh, sabi ko, aba ang laki talaga ng ginawa ng Diyos sa buhay namin! Biruin mo namasukan kami ni Herman noon, ang hirap ‘nun. Ang nakikita ko, ibang-iba ang ginawa ng Panginoon sa buhay namin. Ayaw na ayaw din namin na magka-utang kahit inaalok kami sa mga tindahan ng mga kapitbahay. Kung ano lang ang ibigay ni Lord, ‘yun lang ang gagastusin namin.
Photo by Jay-R Manalo
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salita ng Diyos. Nakaka-encourage kasi nakikita mo that there’s a big need to continue God’s work in our area. Ngayon itinatayo ulit ‘yung bahay namin, mas maayos, mas maganda, mas malaki ‘yung area sa rooftop kasi I can see it is an upgrade from the Lord. Sa lahat ng ito, naramdaman namin na tapat ang Panginoon sa amin.
Evelyn interviewing Mommy Flor
Kaya alam kong kaya ng Lord ayusin ‘yun. Natutunan ko mula ng maging Christian na kami, ‘pag meron kang pangangailangan, sa Panginoon mo na talaga dapat hihilingin. Kasi dati, didiskarte ka eh, didiskarte ng didiskarte pero wala pa rin. Hindi pala ganun. Awa ng Diyos, hindi talaga Niya kami pinabayaan. Laging may pagkain, ‘yung mga anak namin, nakapagtapos sila lahat ng pag-aaral. Paano kayo bumangon? Ano ‘yung nakatulong sa inyo to go on everyday? Jay-R: Our parents were the ones who encouraged us. Actually, malakas ‘yung faith nila na makaka-recover kami. Kung titignan mo, wala naman kaming pangpatayo ng bahay pero makikita mo sa kanila eh, may conviction na alam nila the Lord will provide. Ako, alam ko ‘yun pero sa mga panahon na down ka, mahirap intindihin. In reality tinitimbang mo lahat ng bagay eh. Mahirap siyang intindihin. Nakakatuwa din ‘yung mga tao kasi nagtitipon pa rin sila sa amin every Sunday. ‘Yung mga kids nagtatanong kung kailan daw magre-resume ‘yung Sunday School. Sabik pa rin silang makarinig ng
Marami kayong naging pagsubok at malapit na ang Pasko, how will you celebrate? Jay-R: Last year, magpapasko rin when Yolanda hit Leyte where our closest relatives on my mother’s side live pero hindi kami nag-focus sa tragedy. Although merong mga nangyaring ganyan, focus pa rin tayo sa Panginoon at sa ginawa Niya para sa atin. Ngayon, binagyo naman ‘yung bahay namin sa Quezon Province. Napaisip din ako, kami na naman? Wala na bang iba? Pag-inisip mo lahat ng nangyayaring problema sa buhay nyo, baka mabaliw ka lang pero pag inisip mo “God is our refuge,” makakayanan mo. Mommy: Sa Quezon Province kami nagse-celebrate. Iniimbitahan namin ‘yung mga kamag-anak ni Herman para sa konting handaan tapos ‘yung anak kong pastor ang nagbibigay ng mensahe. May gift giving, kahit lang nga balde ang pang-exchange gift mo, masaya na sila. Jay-R: Christmas this year will be challenging. It has been a tough year for our family. Kung mag-focus ka na ang rason is Jesus Christ, it will all be better. If you look at it that way, that the Lord saved us, the Lord sustained us, then the hope is always there.
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F I G U RA TI V E L Y
S P E AKI N G
Decorating Your Home Inexpensively for Christmas Article and recipe by Niña Sheryll Palad
C
reating a Christmas-y theme and seeing it come to fruition in our homes are easy if we have a huge living space and a budget to go with our ideas. However, for us who are working on either a tight budget or none at all, and a living area that would explode at the hint of one more ornament, transforming our space to match the season can be a major challenge. Before I go on, however, allow me to digress on two things we already know: first, Christmas isn’t about the decorations and second, handling our finances wisely during this season is an indication of good stewardship. Having mentioned these two, there’s no harm in splashing our homes with hints of Christmas. So how do we combine practicality and creativity? 1.
Say goodbye to that imitation pine tree and go for a pine tree wall decal instead. Pinterest offers a lot of great examples on how you may execute this on your own wall. The only rule is to choose a blank wall where you would like to work on your wall decal. For materials, you may use anything on hand, from colored paper to a roll of green string, to spray-painted twigs. Another fun thing to do is to create the tree shape using family pictures or handmade crafts from your children. The fun thing about this project is that your entire family can participate.
2. If your children are old enough to enjoy drawing or painting, ask them to draw their Christmas ideas on paper, then hang these pieces of art in strategic locations all over your house. Alternatively, you may paste this art on any bare space on your walls. Not only will your children have a grand time doing this project, but their finished products can also serve as a springboard for meaningful conversations later. Christmas should be a season of reflection and celebration, not a source of stress or meaningless expenses. We hope the two suggestions above will get you started on your own decoration ideas even if you have a small space and minimal budget. Cheers to having a stress-free Christmas this year!
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MOMS
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Christmas Fruit-on-a-Stick
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ey, Moms! Bring out the colors of Christmas with this delicious yet affordable dessert. The best part about this is it will not create a dent in your wallet. Plus, you and your kids will have a lot of fun preparing this. All of the fruit you’ll need for this healthy dessert can be found in local supermarkets. Here’s what you’ll need: •
a bunch of sticks—such as bbq sticks
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honeydew melon (cut into small cubes)
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pineapple (cut into small triangular pieces)
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melon slices (cut into small cubes)
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watermelon slices (cut into small cubes)
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a bunch of grapes (just to accentuate the top part of your fruit stick, no need to cut each piece)
How much you need of each fruit depends on how many fruit sticks you would like to prepare. First, determine the color pattern you would like to achieve. Then, pierce each fruit slice on the stick to form the color pattern you chose. The grape pieces will serve as accents on top of each stick. The last step for this dessert is to arrange the sticks for presentation. You can either lay out the sticks on a long plate or create a bouquet by piercing the sticks on the remaining block of watermelon. There you have it, your very own Christmas fruit-on-sticks. Enjoy!
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A N S W E R S
T O
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Q U ESTIO N S
Just Asking with Peter Banzon
Q:
Every Christmas, I buy my children new clothes and toys. This year, our Christmas will be difficult because my husband was laid off, and has just taken a new job. How can I lift my kids’ spirits and help them not to be ashamed of not having new things this Christmas?
A:
Since your children are used to having new things during Christmas, they will be disappointed because this year will be different. However, you can use these circumstances to teach your kids valuable life lessons that will help them grow to be strong and mature. Here are three things you can teach them: •
•
•
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ocus on what they have, not on F what they do not have. Help them develop an attitude of gratitude. Help them make a simple inventory of their clothes, shoes and toys. Encourage them to be thankful for all the blessings they have received so far. God is pleased with those who thank Him even when times are hard. earn the power of contentment. L When your children realize they can’t have what they want right away and learn to wait patiently for it, they will develop contentment. Delayed gratification helps develop strength of character. The Bible says, “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.” (1 Timothy 6:6) NLT nderstand the real meaning of U Christmas. Christmas is about receiving God’s greatest gift – Jesus Christ. Read with them about the birth of Christ from the gospel of Luke chapter 2: 1-20 and allow them to share their insights about the reason for the season…Jesus Christ.
What the Bible says about Jesus... “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” ( John 1:14, NLT) “But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.” ( John 20:31, NLT) “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” (Isaiah 9:6-7, NLT)
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