December 4, 2018

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through! 

~*~*~*~

RAOK: Write someone a letter

~*~*~*~

The Forgotten Carols Homeless
Composer Michael McLean
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mq-n9imiZc

Homeless, Homeless
Like the Christ child was
Homeless, Homeless
But there is hope because
He came down to earth to lead us
He vowed He'd never leave us
Homeless, Homeless
For in His love there is a home

Oh so Homeless, Homeless
Was His humble birth
He was Homeless, Homeless
And still He changed the earth
Nothing kept His heart from giving
Most of His life was living
Homeless, Homeless
He showed it's how we live,
Not where

When His homeless days on earth were done
(When His homeless days were done)
He went home to where we all came from

And He went to prepare
(He went to prepare)
A mansion for us there
(A mansion for us there)

He gave His whole life to lead us
And I know He'll never leave us
Homeless, Homeless
For in His love there is a home

(We are not Homeless, Homeless)
For in His love there is a home
(Like the Christ child was)
[repeat to end]

There is a home.

~*~*~*~

Tomato Basil Soup from Kari Mitchell

Melt 1 to 2 T of butter
Add about 1 c. chopped onions
Caramelize onions in butter-almost burned.  Exact amounts are not important-- its to taste and number of servings
Sauté tomatoes, diced
1 can tomato soup
1 can milk or half and half for more calories
Bunch of basil
Combine all ingredients. Bring to almost a boil--simmer until all flavors blend --30-40 minutes. Serve with cheese, croutons. Salt and Pepper to taste.

This recipe was created by my brother David.  I have used dried basil, but I think it tastes better with fresh basil.

~*~*~*~

Luke 9:58  And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Statistics show that there were over 550,000 people living homeless each day in the US last year.  

Food banks, homeless shelters, and soup kitchens are NOT profitable businesses, most of them depend on donations.  This Christmas consider donating your time or your surplus,  helping those in need.  Every year many tons of clothing are donated to shelters.  About 3/4 of those clothing items are too old, torn, stained or even too moldy to give to anyone.  As we teach our children and ourselves to give, make sure that we are giving new or truly usable items.  If your children or grandchildren are giving toys, don’t give away the broken toys, the ones that are beaten up or abused.  Give them toys which can be treasured.  They might be the only ones those children will ever have.  Used toys, that are in good condition are a great thing.  Remember, they CAN be used, but they need to be USABLE.  Donating food is a good thing, just make sure the food is not past the expiration date.  If you choose to serve at a shelter, realize that many of the people there -- God’s children -- are mentally ill, or suffering from alcohol or drug addiction.  Others are there because their debts became too large to handle, or their marriages were unsafe, or because they were alone and had no reason to go on.  You won’t change the lives of those in the shelter in one visit, or even two, but they will change yours.   Look at the homeless through the Savior’s eyes this year, see the good in His children and do what you can. I live in a small community which has no shelters or soup kitchens, so what can I do?  We have a food bank here.  We have a Sub For Santa Program.  They accept food donations and donation of other items such as toothpaste, shampoo and SOCKS!  The homeless need new SOCKS! ~~ Marilee

~*~*~*~

Deuteronomy 15:11  For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

~*~*~*~

The Homeless Person
Author unknown
extracted from  http://www.heavensinspirations.com/homeless-person.html

The parking lot filled rapidly on Sunday morning as members of the large church congregation filed into church. As usually happens in a church that size, each member had developed a certain comfort zone - a block of space within those four church walls that became theirs after the second or third sitting.

It was as much a part of their church experience as the recliner was to the television at home. Some of the older members had been sitting in the same row on the same side for several decades. A team of oxen could not have moved them to the opposite side of the church.

One morning a stranger stood at the edge of the parking lot near a dumpster. As families parked cars and piled out, they noticed him rummaging through the trash. "Oh no! I don't believe it," whispered a lady to her husband. "That's all we need -- a bunch of homeless people milling around here."

One worried little girl tugged on her dad's sleeve. "But Daddy..."

Daddy was busy sizing up the bearded stranger, whose baggy, outdated trousers and faded flannel shirt had dusted too many park benches.

"Don't stare at him, honey," he whispered, and hurried her inside.

Soft music filled the high-ceiling sanctuary as churchgoers settled into their usual spots. The choir sang an opening chorus, "In His presence there is comfort ... in His presence there is peace...".

Sunlight suddenly flooded the center aisle. The double doors swung open and the homeless man, sloppy and stooped, headed toward the front.

"Oh no, it's him!" somebody muttered.

"What does he think he's doing, anyway?" snapped an incredulous usher.

The stranger set his bagful of dumpster treasures on the very first pew which had been upholstered in an expensive soft teal fabric just three months ago. The music stopped. And before anyone had a chance to react, he ambled up the stairs and stood behind the fine, handcrafted oak podium, where he faced a wide-eyed congregation.

The disheveled stranger spoke haltingly at first, in a low, clear voice. Unbuttoning and removing his top layer of clothing, he described Jesus, and the love He has for all people.

"Jesus possesses a sensitivity and love that far surpasses what any of us deserves."

Stepping out of the baggy old trousers, the stranger went on to describe a forgiveness that is available to each and every one of us...without strings attached.

"Unconditionally He loves us. Unconditionally He gave His very life for us. Unconditionally and forever, we can have the peace and assurance that no matter who we are, where we've come from, or how badly we may have mistreated others or ourselves, there is hope."

"In Jesus, there is always hope."

"You see, my friends, it is never too late to change," the man continued.

"He is the Author of change, and the Provider of forgiveness. He came to bring new meaning to 'life'."

Men and women squirmed as reality hit them like an electrical current. The stranger tugged at his knotted gray beard, and removed it.

"I'm here to tell you that we are loved with a love far beyond human understanding, a love that enables us to accept and love others in return." Then tenderly he added, "Let's pray together."

That wise pastor - under the guise of a homeless "nobody" - did not preach a sermon that day, but every person left with plenty to think about.

~*~*~*~

Somehow, not only for Christmas,

But all the long year through, 

The joy that you give to others, 

Is the joy that comes back to you.

And the more you spend in blessing, 

The poor and lonely and sad, 

The more of your heart's possessing, 

Returns to you glad. 

John Greenleaf Whittier