December 3, 2018

I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. ~Charles Dickens

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RAOK: Let the person behind you at the checkout go ahead of you.

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Sidewalk Prophets - Hope Is Born This Night
video slide show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4-WB8xZkJU


"Hope Was Born This Night"

Tonight I can see a star shine
And its splendor fills up the sky
It's the same that appeared and the wise men revered
When hope was born this night

Out upon the snowy fields
There's a silent peace that heals
And it echoes the grace of our Savior's embrace
Because hope was born this night

Glory to God in the highest
Peace on Earth, good will to all men
Let all of the world sing the chorus of joy
Because hope was born this night

I can hear the Christmas bells ring
As softly as a church choir sings
It's the song used to praise the ancient of days
When hope was born this night

There are angels in this place
And my heart resounds with the praise
Like a shepherd so scared, I'll rejoice and declare
That hope was born this night

Glory to God in the highest
Peace on Earth, good will to all men
Let all of the world sing the chorus of joy
Because hope was born this night

Gloria, Gloria
Gloria, Gloria
Oh Gloria

Gloria, Gloria
Oh Gloria
Gloria, Gloria

Glory to God in the highest
Peace on Earth, good will to all men
Let all the world sing the chorus of joy
Because hope was born this night

Glory to God in the highest
Peace on Earth, good will to all men
Let all the world sing the chorus of joy
Because hope was born this night

I know hope was born this night
Because Christ was born this night

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Decorating idea:
Keep a Camera handy and snap family and friends as they enter, or pose near the tree. Post pictures on a bulletin board that is covered with pretty gift-wrap. 

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Peach  Cobbler Dump Cake

2 - 16 oz cans peaches
1 - 18 oz. box yellow cake mix
2/3 c. cold butter
½ t. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Empty 1 can of peach into each of two 8" square cake pans.  Divide cake mix in half and sprinkle into each pan. Press firmly. Shred 1/3 c. butter evenly over each pan.  Sprinkle 1/4 r. cinnamon over top of each cake.  Bake for 40 minutes or until done.  Serve while still warm with ice cream.

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There was a woman at the pool this morning.  She looked like she got dressed in the dark, forgot how to use a brush and didn't even have shoes on -- only socks!  Well, from what I understand, 6:30 came really early this morning.  She got out of bed, stumbled over to her dresser and grabbed a pair of pants without looking at them.  Then she went to the closet and grabbed a shirt (in the dark), put on her swimming suit, pants and coat and headed to the pool.  After water walking for about an hour and a half, she got out, went to the dressing room and opened her bag only to find that the shirt she grabbed was bright florescent orange and the pants were pink.  Her socks didn't match, and her shoes had holes in them. She had an appointment with the Physical Therapist and had to go.  There was no time to go home and change.    She  had to go to the store after that, and got some pretty strange stares.  She could have been laughed at, or mocked, but instead she had doors opened for her and people smiled and said hello. It is very easy to judge others, to look down on them because of what they do or what they wear or the color of their skin.  The people this morning didn't do that.  They treated her with kindness.  The Savior loves all of His children.  We need to make a special effort not to judge others at any time, but especially not at Christmas.  I'm sure that you've figured out by now that I was that lady.  This Christmas, let us love one another. ~~ Marilee

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Samuel 16:7  But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

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"The Invitation" by Bob Perks
"Excuse me sir," the man said softly as he tried to stop a passerby.
But no one would stop to talk with him.
"I'm a stranger here in town. Could you help me find this place?," he said to one kind looking woman.
She passed him by, but stopped and turned around.
"What is it you are looking for?" she asked while keeping her distance.
"I received this invitation for a Christmas day feast. I'm new in town, you see. I don't know where this is."
She took the paper from his hand and then began to laugh.
"Oh, this!" she said and shook her head. "I wouldn't waste my time. It's in a part of town..." she paused for moment and giving the man a quick glance, continued.
"Sir, a man of your quality should not go there."
This man was a well dressed man. Although not wealthy, he gave the appearance of success.
She quickly pointed down the street and told him where to turn. "You'll know you're there when the houses look like run down shacks. Just past that mess, at the farthest end of the road you'll find him."
Just then a friend of hers came walking by. "Is everything okay?" he asked.
"Yes. He got one of old man Hanson's Christmas invitations and he wanted to know how to get there," she said.
"Oh, no! That's a joke." he said.
"Why, sir would you say that? I found it to be a wonderful, kind thing to do. I'm new here in town and I have no one to spend Christmas with this year."
"Well, I'd rather spend it alone then in that house. He passes them out every year and no one ever goes. You'd have to be desperate!" he said laughing and then dropped the invitation on the ground as they walked away.
"I am, I am alone in a town full of strangers for Christmas" replied the man as he reached down to retrieve the paper.
Reading it again out loud:
"Dear friend,
You are cordially invited to a feast. It begins at noon on Christmas Day.
Dress is casual and you are to bring nothing but your kind heart and gentle spirit.
There are no strangers. Just friends I haven't met."
222 Shady Brook Road
Your friend,
Jed Hanson"
The man set out, invitation in hand, to take part in a grand and glorious feast.
He walked past the old shacks the woman spoke about. Within each window were handmade decorations and the warmth and spirit of the day spilled out into the streets with the laughter of the neighborhood children.
There, at the end of the road, was a house not much better than the ones he passed.
He carefully stepped onto the porch and knocked gently on the door. Waiting another minute he tapped on window pane hoping to get someone's attention.
"I must be early. Where is everyone?" he said as he peeked through the window curtains.
Suddenly the door opened wide.
"Yes, my friend you are here for the feast?" the old man asked.
There standing in the doorway was Mr. Jed Hanson. He was dressed in an old carefully patched sweater, faded blue dress pants, white shirt and old neck tie. He motioned for him to enter.
"I'm sorry, I must be early."
"Not at all, my friend. Please come in it is about to begin."
Turning toward the adjacent room he saw a magnificent table laid out before him filled with all kinds of food and festive goodies for the holiday.
"There is so much. How many people attend this feast?"
"You are the first and only one, my friend."
"I can't believe that. With all of this, it is more than I even imagined. Why wouldn't you have hundreds of people here?"
"It is a sad fact. It is all based on their perception of me. I am a simple man, dressed in simple clothes. By today's standards I look poor and unworthy of anyone's attention. My home is old and worn, too. So no one chooses to enter," he said. Then pulling out the chair at the head of the table, he motioned to the man to sit.
"Once you learn the true value of this experience your life changes forever."
"What is the lesson here?"
"Every human being is like this house. Although on the outside we may look tattered and torn, it is what is on the inside that makes the difference. You accepted my invitation even after seeing me. You saw something inside of me that no one else did. Then upon seeing the home in which I reside, you did not turn away."
"I saw you as no different than I. Although your clothing gave the impression of a troubled soul, the spirit of your invitation told me you were sincere. When I saw your house, I thought nothing of it because I was focused on the feast within."
"There, my good friend, is the lesson. Every human being has value. Every situation in life, good or bad, has within it a valuable lesson."
My friend, life is a banquet and God has already given you, "The Invitation."
Won't you join us? "I believe in you!" Bob Perks
Bob@BobPerks.com
Please don't remove my name and contact info!
If you are about to copy this story to share with your friends, please leave my name, email address. It is a copyrighted story and cannot be edited in any manner. Thanks!
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Thank you, Bob for giving permission to use your story ~~ Marilee
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