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Why the Grinch Gave Back Christmas – Cindy Scinto
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Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength! Nehemiah 8:10 NLT

Remember How the Grinch Stole Christmas, one of the fondest Christmas movies there is? The Grinch was miserable, angry, bitter, and determined to make everyone around him the same. He was wrapped up in the affairs of the world and knew nothing of joy. But when the Whos in Whoville got up Christmas morning and celebrated, even though the Grinch had stolen all their gifts and festivities, he realized true joy is found only in your heart.

Right now, the stores are swamped, traffic is thick, bargains are being paraded in front of weary shoppers, money is being depleted that may be needed elsewhere, and many people will spend Christmas in a state of despair and depression. This is one holiday each year that can be filled with awe and merriment, but beleaguered with sadness and pain.

Nehemiah, through opposition and with extreme faith, enlisted the people to rebuild Jerusalem and was able to provide all that they needed. Each group of families repaired a section of the wall until it was complete. After, they celebrated with much merriment. But the people were told to give gifts to those in need so they, too, could join in. Celebration was not to be self-centered; it was to be connected with giving. When we celebrate and give to others, we are strengthened spiritually and filled with the true joy of Jesus.

This Christmas, give tangibly to someone in need—not someone you know, but someone you’d not thought of before. Be like the Grinch, who turned his heart back to the true spirit of the season.

Cindy Scinto, author and speaker, writes full-time since 54 operations, three near death experiences, a heart transplant, and cancer took away her ability to work. “My friends and family don’t think writers work,” she giggles after recounting her busy schedule. Cindy now shares hope and encouragement through her writing and speaking ministry. Her husband John’s emotional and spiritual support, along with his love and devotion, make it possible for her to pursue God’s vision and will for her life. Cindy has one child, her son, Jonathan, who is attending college. Cindy is Editor of www.iBegat.com .The Scinto family lives in Spokane, Washington and you can visit Cindy’s website at www.cindyscinto.com. Be sure to pick up a copy of her first book, A Heart Like Mine, Finding God’s Will for Your Life. Book two, A Heart Like Yours, Understanding God’s Will for Your Life, will be available in 2011. There will be a third book in the Heart Like Mine Series, A Heart Like His, Living God’s Will for Your Life. Read Cindy’s devotions.
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Measuring Up – Cindy Scinto
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This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 NIV

The cold metal tickled the end of my nose. I was groggy and irritable. Who dared to wake me up? As I peered out from under the blankets, what I saw infuriated me.

“What are you doing?” I demanded of my husband.

There he stood—measuring tape in hand, extended as he held the end of it to my sleepy, crinkled face.

“I knew you were cranky this morning so I wanted to keep my distance.” He laughed while retracting the metallic, yellow tape.

“Don’t you ever wake me up with a measuring tape again,” I growled as I got out of bed and marched to the kitchen for a morning jolt of caffeine.

My husband’s gracious disposition went unaffected by my bad attitude as he poured me a steaming hot cup of coffee. He’s an early bird and instead of celebrating the new day with him, I chose to be cranky, using the excuse that I wasn’t a morning person.

Justifying my anger and furious reaction caused me to remain captive to my right to be grouchy. After my husband’s comical “measuring tape” tactic, I realized something had to change—the condition of my heart.

It’s a conscious choice to have a happy heart and thus a happy countenance. In the Gospels, Luke recounts Jesus’ story of a tree and its fruit. While you wouldn’t expect good trees to bear bad fruit, or a bad tree to bear good fruit, you also can’t expect joyfulness from an angry heart.

Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

Now, how do I now measure up? I wake up in the morning and the first thing I do is think of how good the Lord is to me. I resolve to be pleasant and I look into my husband’s smiling face, knowing he can count on me to share the new day with him—joyfully.

Cindy Scinto, author and speaker, writes full-time since 54 operations, three near death experiences, a heart transplant, and cancer took away her ability to work. “My friends and family don’t think writers work,” she giggles after recounting her busy schedule. Cindy now shares hope and encouragement through her writing and speaking ministry. Her husband John’s emotional and spiritual support, along with his love and devotion, make it possible for her to pursue God’s vision and will for her life. Cindy has one child, her son, Jonathan, who is attending college. Cindy is the editor of www.iBegat.com .The Scinto family lives in Spokane, Washington and you can visit Cindy’s website at www.cindyscinto.com. Be sure to pick up a copy of her first book, A Heart Like Mine, Finding God’s Will for Your Life. Book two, A Heart Like Yours, Understanding God’s Will for Your Life, will be available in 2011. There will be a third book in the Heart Like Mine Series, A Heart Like His, Living God’s Will for Your Life. Read Cindy’s devotions
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Light of the World – Cindy Scinto
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I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. John 12:46 NIV

The weary traveler placed his luggage on the hotel bed. He clicked the TV remote, bringing the darkened screen to life; its stream of drivel serving to break the lonely silence.

As he began to unpack, he noticed a sheet of blue construction paper folded between his clothes. “I love Dad” was scribbled in his son’s crayoned writing with whimsical pictures of the whole family. Love grabbed at his heart.

The traveler glanced at the local news on the TV. He saw the figure of a small boy among crowds of people at the capitol building in downtown Denver. Nine-year-old Zachary Brunetti would join the mayor to throw the giant red switch bringing to life more than 20,000 Christmas lights.

In 1914, David Jonathan Sturgeon, lay in his bed, too ill to partake in Christmas festivities. Only ten years old, it would be his last Christmas. His grandfather, D.D. Sturgeon, one of Denver’s renowned pioneer electricians, wanted to brighten the boy’s holiday. He took ordinary light bulbs, dipped them in red and green paint and decorated a pine tree outside David’s bedroom window.

Not anticipating his effect on the city, Sturgeon watched as night after night, people either walked or came by horse and buggy to see the lights.

In 1919, John Malpiede, Denver’s city electrician, spurred-on an impressive Christmas display by decorating the downtown area with similar red and green lights. A grandfather’s desire to bring joy to his dying grandson developed into the “World’s Largest Christmas Lighting Display.”

The weary traveler’s eyes filled with tears as he watched the little boy pull the switch. Zachary was different from the traveler’s son at home—Zachary was blind.

He thought of his own son and how he had the gift of sight. It changed his heart from sadness to joy, remembering God’s grace; the unmerited favor He lays upon our tattered souls. It is grace freely given by God that allows us to sing with joy in the face of tragedy.

Little Zachary, in his childlike innocence, reflected this grace. He had the honor of lighting up the world that surrounded him in utter darkness. With a big grin he sang out, “I liked it. It was cool!”

His happiness reflected love that fuels our ability to turn on the light in a darkened world. Be—the light of the world.

Merry Christmas!

Cindy Scinto, author and speaker, writes full-time since 54 operations, three near death experiences, a heart transplant, and cancer took away her ability to work. “My friends and family don’t think writers work,” she giggles after recounting her busy schedule. Cindy now shares hope and encouragement through her writing and speaking ministry. Her husband John’s emotional and spiritual support, along with his love and devotion, make it possible for her to pursue God’s vision and will for her life. Cindy has one child, her son, Jonathan, who is attending college. The Scinto family lives in Spokane, Washington and you can visit Cindy’s website at www.cindyscinto.com. Be sure to pick up a copy of her first book, A Heart Like Mine, Finding God’s Will for Your Life. Book two, A Heart Like Yours, Understanding God’s Will for Your Life, will be available in 2011. There will be a third book in the Heart Like Mine Series, A Heart Like His, Living God’s Will for Your Life. Read Cindy’s devotions