Revisiting Inexpensive Ways to Encourage at Christmas

Two years ago, I did a series of "Encouragement Challenges" on this blog. During the Christmas season that year, I published 3 different posts that included inexpensive (or even free) ideas for encouraging others during this time of year. Today, I want to share these gift ideas with you again as we head into another Christmas season. Read the articles by clicking on each of the images below.

Write tributes to your loved ones for them to read while they are still with you.

Share positive thoughts. No money needed - just a little of your time.

Share Christmas goodies with family and friends.

I hope you enjoy this Christmas season 

by spending much of your time thinking 

about and encouraging others.

My Most Popular Blog Post So Far

Five years ago today, I wrote what is currently the most popular post of this blog. To this date, it has had the most amount of views out of any other posts. You can check it out here:

HIDE THOU ME

HYMN: Hidden Peace

Today's hymn talks about the peace we can have when we know Christ and are abiding in Him. John S. Brown wrote this hymn in 1899. It is one of two that is known to be written by him, but there is no other information.

The hymn goes along with a blog post I wrote five years ago about a woman who wanted to know, "Where is the peace Christians talk about? What would it be like if I ever did have it?" You can read that old blog post here:

OLD POST:

PEACE BE WITH YOU

Also, read through the hymn below and you will see how it coincides with that old post. 

HYMN:

HIDDEN PEACE

Words by:  John S. Brown

Music by:  L.O. Brown

I cannot tell thee whence it came,

This peace within my breast;
But this I know, there fills my soul
A strange and tranquil rest. 

Refrain 
 There’s a deep, settled peace in my soul,
There’s a deep, settled peace in my soul,
Tho’ the billows of sin near me roll,
He abides, Christ abides.

Beneath the toil and care of life,

This hidden stream flows on;
My weary soul no longer thirsts,
Nor am I sad and lone.

Refrain

I cannot tell the half of love,

Unfeigned, supreme, divine,
That caused my darkest inmost self
With beams of hope to shine.

Refrain

I cannot tell thee why He chose

To suffer and to die,
But if I suffer here with Him
I’ll reign with Him on high.

Refrain 

Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  (NIV)

HYMN: Make Me A Blessing / Be A Blessing Today

Let's go back to October 2009, five years ago. It was towards the beginning of cold and flu season, and I wrote a post that gave several suggestions on how to be a blessing to those who are not feeling well. Check out that blog post here:

BE A BLESSING TODAY

Along with that blog post, I also included a hymn that was written by Ira B. Wilson in 1905. The original title of the hymn was "Out in the Highways and Byways of Life" but it has since been changed to "Make Me A Blessing." This hymn will be our hymn of focus for this Sunday.

I wasn't able to find any information about this hymn, other than the author being a composer who was taught music at home by his sister, and later became a student at The Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.

I like the hymn because it reminds me to let my light shine so that others will see Jesus in me.

Matthew 5:16 -  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

Make Me A Blessing

(click on the title above to hear the tune)

Words by Ira B. Wilson

Music by George S. Schuler

Out in the highways and byways of life,

many are weary and sad;

Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife

making the sorrowing glad.

 

Refrain:

Make me a blessing,

Make me a blessing,

Out of my life

May Jesus shine;

Make me a blessing, O savior, I pray,

Make me a blessing to someone today.

 

Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love;

Tell of His pow'r to forgive;

Others will trust Him if only you prove

true ev'ry moment you live.

 

Refrain

 

Give as 'twas given to you in your need;

Love as the Master loved you;

Be to the helpless a helper indeed;

Unto your mission be true.

 

Refrain

HYMN: Day By Day / Does God Give Us More Than We Can Handle?

I'm going to use two of my old posts to talk about today's hymn. First, click over to this post I wrote three years ago: 

DOES GOD GIVE US MORE THAN WE CAN HANDLE?

Then, come back here to read more about the hymn below...

2 Corinthians 12:9 -  And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

DAY BY DAY

By: Karolina Sandell

 

Day by day and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,

I've no cause for worry or for fear.

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto each day what He deems best,

Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Ev'ry day the Lord Himself is near me

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,

He whose name is Counsellor and Pow'r.

The protection of His child and treasure

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

"As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,"

This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in ev'ry tribulation

So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,

That I lose not faith's sweet consolation

Offered me within Thy holy word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting;

E'er to take, as from a father's hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till I reach the promised land.

To read about the author's meaning behind this hymn, click here to another post I wrote four years ago:
 

DAY BY DAY

 

HYMN: 'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus

For today's hymn, I want to take you back to an old post I wrote four years ago. Click here to read it:

DIFFERENT PATHS IN LIFE

 

At the end of the post, you will see a video of TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS, sung by Casting Crowns. It is a beautiful hymn, written by a young missionary in 1882 who wrote the words shortly after she watched her husband die while trying to rescue a young boy from drowning. Here are the words:

 

TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS

By:  Louisa M.R. Stead

 

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

 

Refrain

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

 

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

 

Refrain

 

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

 

Refrain

 

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

 

Refrain