Merry Christmas, dolls and their moms (or owners)! ;) I made Taryn hold fire so I could get some candlelight and Christmas light bokeh shots. XD
My brother and I were scared I was going to set Taryn on fire, so we had water nearby and he stayed outside with me the majority of the time to make sure. XD
Now, if you’re anything like me, you put an importance on making God #1 in your life. I’ve been so focused this year on funding money for our missionaries in Iraq, Pakistan, and Peru through DWOD ads that I didn’t even give a first thought to what I wanted for Christmas. No list or anything.
Like, dude. On Black Friday, my parents had to FORCE me to sit down at the computer and pick some Etsy doll clothes out for Christmas. XD I still couldn’t find much I wanted, so I gave half the money budgeted for my presents to feed and provide for three families of the last surviving Christians in Iraq.
So if you’re like me, around Christmastime, there’s nothing you want more than making sure you’ve given God first place amidst the festivities. I mean, you just had to be forced to decide what you wanted for presents!
But what does it even mean to “celebrate the birth of Jesus”, anyway? Listen to your parents read the Christmas story and try to convince yourself you’re more excited about Jesus as a baby in a manger than you are the presents you’re dying to open?
Nope! That’s not what it means. That’s never what it’s meant. And I’ve pondered on this for a long time.
This Christmas, I had it in my heart to give Jesus a Christmas present. It is, after all, His birthday!
But what is it Jesus wants for His birthday? What could we possibly give Him?
God sent Jesus to earth so He could fulfill God’s will; reconciling us to Him, tearing the veil of sin, and restoring the relationship between God and man.
Yes, Jesus came as a baby, so He could be fully man and fully God and completely be the adequate Sacrifice. But I hate to break it to you… Jesus ain’t a baby anymore!
So what gift could we give Jesus?
Here’s a clue. What did He come to earth and die for?
You.
To restore the relationship between you and God.
This Christmas day, I’m going to set the stress and worry about my upcoming novel, blog posts, and terrifying new parent-made 2018 schedules aside and focus on Him. I encourage you to do the same! Spend time with God.
One of my favorite songs goes like this:
Lord I give You my heart
I give You my soul
I live for You alone
Every breath that I take
Every moment I’m awake
Lord have Your way in me
Give Jesus your heart and soul in worship today. Carve out time dedicated just for Him!
Jesus gave His life, kicked death’s butt, and rose again so a priest wouldn’t have to do it for you. Read a couple of your favorite Bible chapters, crank up your favorite praise and worship, and thank God for being nothing less than the Almighty, all-powerful, all-knowing, awe-inspiring, incredible, amazing, magnificent, completely mind-blowingly epically *pants and gasps* AWESOME God He is!
Merry Christmas, my awesome friends! I love you guys. I’m praying for you every day!
Wow, Madi. This is so inspiring!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I GOT A NEW DOLL. I’M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But we all still need to remember the true Reason for the season like you said! ? AND YAY TARYN DIDN’T BURN UP. XDDD
Aww, thanks so much!! EEEEK YAY!! Indeed! ? HEHE YAY. XDD
This is amazing Madi! I love what you wrote, and Taryn holding the candle looks amazing too. Have a very Merry Christmas!
Aww, thank you so much, Mia! I’m so glad you like it! I hope you had a Merry Christmas!
AMEN! *pumps fist* Thank you for this beautiful reminder, Madi. <3 Oh, and lovely pictures of Taryn!
Merry Christmas to all of you at DWOD! I hope you all have an absolutely wonderful Christmas Day. <3
Awww, thank you SO much, Rebekah! <3
I hope you had an amazing Christmas, Rebekah! Thank you so much. <3
Oh Madi, that was so so amazing! Btw, I’m glad Taryn didn’t catch on fire! XD XD
Aw, thank you so much, Hannah! HAHAHA ME TOO. XD
Yes! Amen to that!
Aww yeahhh! ?
This is so well said, Madi! NO PRESENTS???!!!! XDD That is OK. I was actually concerned through the screen that you were going to set Taryn on fire. XD ARE YOU GOING TO EMAIL ME!!!!??? XDDD
Thank you so much, Kaylyn! XDDD I did get presents, but not as many. And I actually still got a lot anyway! God was really good to us. DON’T WORRY TARYN DIDN’T CATCH ON FIRE. XD Yes, I am! I’m so sorry, I have a ton of other emails to reply to as well, it’s taking a while to get to yours!!
You’re welcome! OK, that is so good! THAT IS GOOD CAUSE I DON’T WANT HER TO CATCH ON FIRE!!!!! That is OK! I have over 1,00 emails in my inbox….
Such pretty pictures and a great post!! Have a blessed Christmas, Madi!
~Gracie
Thank you so much, Gracie!! I hope you had an awesome Christmas!
That is such an amazing post Maddie! Thank you, you really made me think about Christmas some more. And what it really means. Merry Christmas to you!
M&M-
Awww, thanks so much!! I’m so glad, that means so much. <3 Merry belated Christmas!
Madi, you are so amazing. Like, seriously. YOU ARE AMAZING. You gave your Christmas budget money to Christians in Iraq?????? God is very proud of you. :)
Awwww, you’re the sweetest!! That means so much. <3 <3 Jesus is amazing!
YES HE IS!!!!
What a beautiful post, Madi! You are so inspiring, this is what we all need to hear this Christmas! I love Taryn’s pictures too, I’m so glad she didn’t catch on fire! :o Merry Chirstmas, my favorite and very epic Madi! :D
Aww, thank you so much, Livy! That means so much! Hehe, me too! :o Merry Christmas, dearest Livy!
You better set aside that stress girl, you’re gonna be old by twenty!
And beautiful photos! Very pretty ❤️?❤️
Merry Christmas!
Most crazily, ~Olive
That’s what my parents are saying. ?
Thank you so much, Olive! Merry belated Christmas!
Merry Christmas to all the dolls, and doll moms/owners!! :D
And the same to you!! :D
WOW Madi!! I don’t even know what to say. When you said: “Listen to your parents read the Christmas story and try to convince yourself you’re more excited about Jesus as a baby in a manger than you are the presents you’re dying to open?” That got me. I often struggle with putting my excitement about presents on the back burner but it’s WAY harder than it sounds. I sure need to work on that. Your heart for God and willingness to serve is beyond even adult faith. That takes a special kind of person. And I guarantee that God has a HUGE plan for you!! Heck, your already starting to unfold it!! ♥
Awww, I’m so glad that was relatable! That’s something I’ve struggled with too. And I believe it’s okay to be excited about presents as long as we make focused time for God, too.
AWWWW, you’re the sweetest, Analise! That means so much to me! You’re awesome. <3
♥♥
What a beautifully true article. Madi, this is amazing.
Awww, thank you so much, Leanne!
:) I love that you did this post today, Jesus did something so special for us, He gave us the greatest gift of all and we should always remember that. Merry Christmas Madi! I hope you had a wonderful day :D
– Katie :)
Amen!! So true. Thank you so much, Katie! Merry belated Christmas!
This was great!!! I loved it ☺
Aww, thank you so much, Zoe!! :D
❤?????
Cayla (owner): Yay! So epic! Nice candle light, I hope she was okay! I am so Happy! I am in Kentucky by myself, well, with my older sister and some friends, but I am having so much fun! Hope you had a good Christmas!
A. J. : Dude, Del! I heard what happened this Christmas… It was all over the place! I got nothing so far for Christmas and haven’t been touched, yes, touched, for like 4 days! I want to meet you because we would have SO much fun on 4 Wheelers and pranks and sports and rapping and reading DWOD posts! Talk soon. Peace out.
Hope: Hello, Emiliy! Have you seen the new Star Wars movie? Cayla won’t ever see it, but it’s supercalafragicexpiladosis! (Is that how you spell it?) BTW are you a Nerdy Geek or a Geeky Nerd? Or just a Nerd or Geek? I’d say I’m a Geeky Nerd… GTG, goodbye!
Tori: Hello, Jossy! I’m Tori from MML, and I adore your blog! I’mso sad you live in Florida BC we might not ever see each other… I had a dream I meet you and it was Awesome! So what are some things you hate? Love? Cassidy wants to say hi so I have to go, Until next time!
Cassidy: Howdy Tayren! How y’all doing? My BIO parents live in Kentucky so I am at their house. Modest My Life Adoption Center is a nice place. I really don’t know what to talk about… Please reply back… Goodbye?
P. S. Sorry for such a long message… Hehehe… I’m on some one else’s phone so I don’t have link to my website! Sorry…
Thank you so much, Cayla! I’m so glad you had a fun Christmas!
Del: Dude, 4 days? That’s crazy! And YES, that would be so much fun. Peace!
Emelie: Hi, Hope! I have not, but it sounds very interesting! Hmm, I am not sure. Hehe! Goodbye!
Josie: Aww, thank you, Tori! Aw, that’s so sad! Hope we can meet one day. I hate people being cruel to innocent people, it breaks my heart! Bye, Cassidy!
Taryn: Hey, Cassidy! XD Your message made me laugh. Bye!
P.S. LOL, no problem! I love long comments!
Merry Christmas, Madi! :) I love how you clarified that Christmas isn’t about gifts, it’s about Jesus!
Merry belated Christmas, Kaitlyn! Amen. :D
What a wonderful post. Girl, if everyone celebrated Christmas the way you do, the world would be an amazing place :D
Glad you didn’t set Taryn on fire either :O
Merry Christmas!
Tess
Aww, thanks so much, Tess! <3 <3
What a post that would be! ?
Merry belated Christmas!
MERRY CHRISTMAS MADIII! I GOT (A) NEW DOLL(S)!
MERRY BELATED CHRISTMAS! AHHHH REALLY?? WOAH! CONGRATS!
Yep! I did my post of what my dolls got! Simone and I are doing a haul, I’ll post it a little later. I also might go to Luciana’s release!
Ooh, I can’t wait to see! GASP, that’s awesome! Will you be taking pictures of the release if you go?
Absolutely!
So Madi-when in your profile you say you are a young minister, does that mean you were made a minister? Or are you simply saying that you are telling others about Jesus and what He did for you? I am a born again Christian, and I just didn’t know what you meant by minister.
~justAG
I can’t receive a minister’s license or ordination until I’m 17, which just means I can’t legally marry couples or do a funeral service right now. But I believe in being a minister of the Gospel at whatever age, and that every born again Christian is called to the ministry of reconciliation; telling others about Jesus and bringing them to Him!
So you believe that female pastors are biblical? I am just curious as to what you believe, please don’t think I’m trying to be unkind. I totally agree with your second sentence though. :)
The Bible says that women shouldn’t rule over men, but it doesn’t put an outright ban on female pastors. I look up to strong female ministers like Joyce Meyer, but you’ll notice even Joyce has her husband as the CEO of her ministry, so she isn’t completely dominate. Female ministers are actually probably likely to do more for God because (most) women are more submissive!
Of course I don’t think you’re trying to be unkind! I appreciate your curiosity. And I like answering questions. Hehe.
But what about 1 Timothy 2:11-14? Or is that what you are referring to? Have you read verses 8 and 9? The context of that passage is when the church is assembled.
Yep, that’s the passage I was referring to! Back then, the early church was assembled with men and women on separate sides of the building. Paul ordered women to be silent because when they “taught”, they shouted across the room to ask their husbands questions, and created a noisy church service. XD
I believe there’s more research online you can find about that from different theologians, but that’s what the verse is talking about, not restricting female ministers. At least, God hasn’t struck me down with lightning for wanting to be a licensed minister yet. XD
Sorry to butt in. Let no man despise thy youth! ;)
–K
I love that verse! ;)
ME TOO I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE IT’S AT!
XDD It’s 1 Timothy 4:12!
Beautiful photo of Lea! Hope you had a Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much, Bella! Same to you!
Of course, Madi! Thanks!
Merry belated Christmas! XD
P.S. Whatever happened to the free CYO AG doll giveaway? Who won?
You too! XDD
The results are right here!
Thanks! For some reason, I didn’t get notified about the post. If I’m ever famous (or rich) enough to do a giveaway, I think I might steal your dot-spamming idea lol.
–K
P.S. Visit my blog? Pretty please?
That’s so weird! My blog sometimes has issues with people subscribing, I’m so sorry about that. HAHA, it’s open to be stolen!
And heh heh, that rhymed.P.S. I’ve actually tried to visit your blog, but I couldn’t find the link. The closest I got was an error page saying your blog didn’t exist. Would you mind giving me the link so I can visit it?
Sure! Just type kirstyntodd.com but if that doesn’t work, try https://kirstyntodd.com
If you’re ever bored, just read the I Don’t Even Know Where This Came From… post. You’ll probably laugh so hard.
I just followed your blog!
AHH THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! You have no idea how much that means to me!
Aww, you are SO welcome! I love your blog!
Really? Thanks!