December 1, 2018

Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance–a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.  Augusta E. Randel

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Christmas is a time when we find our way back home, whether in person or in our hearts. It's a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, relive childhood memories, continue cherished traditions, and share hospitality and good will with others. It is a privilege for me to share my love of Jesus Christ with you.

“Our world is full of unrest... people strike out in anger and rage, hatred seems everywhere. It’s “us” whoever “us” is, versus “them.”  Each letter this year will include ideas to help us serve each other, to help move past the “usses” and “thems”.  We must not let the influence of evil overpower the influence of good. Eleanor Roosevelt said, “It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.  Do those words sound  familiar?  I wrote them several years ago” --

It was 2001 to be exact, then I repeated them last year, and find them even more appropriate now.   This past year, we have experienced acts of violence and terrorism against innocents, as well as devastating hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and fires.  We need the peace only Our Savior can bring.  We need love this Christmas.  Mahatma Ghandi told us to be the change we want to see in this world.   Let us begin changing our world with acts of service and kindness.  The National Random Act Of Kindness Day is celebrated on Feb 17 in the US.  This year we, the readers of this blog,  are going to have a National Month of Kindness in December.  There will be Random Act of Kindness suggestions daily.  They are simple easy things, use them, or come up with your own.  Hopefully the more we do, the more positive our surroundings will be, and the more those around us will reach out and touch others. Positivity is contagious!  The gift of peace will enter our lives (and the lives of those around us) as we follow the Master.  

Throughout the month of December, I will be sending easy recipes, and decorating and craft ideas.  Many of these will be linked directly to pinterest, or other similar sites.  With very few exceptions, they are all projects which children can help make.  There will be stories, poems, scriptures and thoughts about Christmas.  This year’s music (found on youtube) represents my favorites from the past 20 years (Can you believe that I’ve been doing this that long?)  There are a few from years long past, so the style of music is a different.  There are  wonderful videos with some of them and they will be marked as video.  Others will be marked as audio recordings or lyric recordings (which have the words included with the video.)  Happy December, my friends ~~ Marilee

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The Touch of The Master's Hand 
by Myra Brooks Welch
extracted from https://allpoetry.com/The-Touch-of-the-Master's-Hand

'Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
      Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
      But held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
    "Who'll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar. Then two! Only two?
      Two dollars, and who'll make it three?"

"Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
      Going for three…" But no,
From the room, far back, a grey-haired man
      Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
      And tightening the loosened strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
      As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
      With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: "What am I bid for the old violin?"
      And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
      Two thousand! And who'll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice,
    And going and gone," said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
    "We do not quite understand.
What changed its worth?" Swift came the reply:
    "The touch of the Master's hand."
And many a man with life out of tune,
      And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
      Much like the old violin.

A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine,
    A game — and he travels on.
He is "going" once, and "going" twice,
    He's "going" and almost "gone."
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
    Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
    By the touch of the Master's hand.

Myra Welch would say that she heard a speaker address a group of students on the power of God to bring out the best in people. She said she herself became filled with light and that “Touch of the Master’s Hand” was written in 30 minutes!.
The finished poem was sent anonymously to the editor of her local church news bulletin. She felt it was a gift from God and didn’t need her name on it.

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Random Act of Kindness (hereafter abbreviated as RAOK):  Smile at someone you see on the street or in store.  It’s a simple thing to do, but for someone in need, it can make their day.

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Craft Idea:
Mason Jar Christmas Tree
https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/tips/g2132/mason-jar-christmas-crafts/?slide=4

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Matthew 6:11  Give us this day our daily bread.

This December, I want to bake more bread.  I love the smell of baking bread--the way it fills every corner of the house.  I love that moment when you take that crusty, golden loaf from the oven, cool it a little and then gently tip it out of the pan.  I slather the loaf with melted butter, then it’s  “Oh, what a feast!".  Bread is something to savor and share.  Fresh bread never lasts long in our house, even with the kids gone. We gobble it up.

I imagine that Mary made bread, and that Jesus grew up loving it, the same way that my children did.  Bread was very important to him.  He referenced it often.  John 6:51  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.  In the Lord’s prayer, we read “Give us this day our daily bread.” John 6:35 reads, “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” And in Matthew 26:26 we read ¶ And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.  

Bread is the symbol, not just of life, but of eternal life.

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When Joseph Went To Bethlehem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QW0nNB5Px8&list=RD7QW0nNB5Px8&start_radio=1

When Joseph went to Bethlehem
I think he took great care
To place his tools and close his shop
And leave no shavings there.
He urged the donkey forward,
Then, with Mary on its back,
And carried bread and goat cheese
In a little linen sack.

I think there at the busy inn
That he was meek and mild
And awed to be the guardian
Of Mary's sacred Child.
Perhaps all through the chilly hours
He smoothed the swaddling bands,
And Jesus felt the quiet strength of
Joseph's gentle hands.

And close beside the manger bed
He dimmed the lantern's light,
And held the little Jesus close upon
That holy night.

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Easy Artesan Bread Recipe
1 T active dry yeast
1 T sugar
1 T salt (I actually cut the salt back by about half)
2 c warm water 
5 1/2 to 6 cups All-Purpose Flour
cornmeal or flour for dusting cookie sheet
boiling water
I have a Kitchen Aid mixer which I make the dough in, but am including instructions for those who make it by hand.
In a large bowl mix together the yeast, sugar, salt and water. Let this stand until the yeast is dissolved. Gradually add the flour, one cup at a time to the liquid and mix thoroughly until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface to knead.
Knead the bread for 5 minutes sprinkling only enough flour to prevent sticking.  Let the dough rest for a few minutes, then knead it for 3 - 5 minutes more. Place the bread in a well greased bowl and turn it over once to grease the top.  Cover with a damp towel and keep warm until the bread doubles in bulk ( about 1 ½ to 2 hours)  
Return the dough to the bowl and turn it over once to grease the top. Cover bowl with a damp towel and keep warm until the dough doubles in bulk, about 1 to 2 hours.
Punch down the dough and briefly knead out any air bubbles. Cut the dough in half and shape 2 round or oval loaves.  Place the loaves on a cookie sheet generously sprinkled with cornmeal. Let the loaves rest for 5 minutes. Lightly slash the tops of the loaves 3 or more times diagonally and brush with cold water.  Slide loaves onto baking stone in a cold oven. Bake at 400°F for 35 to 45 minutes, until the loaves are golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.  Bake to internal temperature of 190 degrees.