When A child Is born

 

“Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus!” Neal A Maxwell

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Would I Know My Savior?

written by Sally DeFord

performed by Allyse Smith Taylor

Would I know my Savior, wrapped in swaddling bands?

Lying in a manger-bed
Light of heaven round his head
Would I hear the angels bend t’ward earth to sing?
Would I know the Holy Child?
Would I know my King?

Would I know my Savior, safe in Mary’s arms?

Cradled in a lullaby

Heaven’s legions watching nigh

Would I know his goodness?
Would I feel his grace?
Would I know the Holy Child if I beheld his face?

Would I know my Savior, in a lowly stall?

Where the lowing cattle feed
Where the silver starlight leads
Where the humble shepherds seek the Holy One
Would I hear the Spirit whisper,
“This is God’s own Son.”

I think my heart would know him
Christ

The Holy One
For I can hear the Spirit whisper,
“This is God’s own Son.”

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My walk started off positively yesterday. I said a prayer of thanksgiving for the baby born in Bethlehem. As I fixed breakfast, I thought of Him. As I loaded the dishwasher, I thought of Him and tried to imagine what it would have been like to live then. My first thought was, “no toilets”, then “no washing machines”, “no cell phones” and finally “no disposable diapers!” I kept thinking about it. The Johny Mathis song, "When A Child Is Born" came into my mind. I couldn't stop singing it. "A ray of hope flickers in the sky, A tiny star lights up way up high. All across the land, dawns a brand-new morn. This comes to pass when a child is born." Jesus Christ was the ray of hope to a struggling world. Judah was a vassal state of Rome, the whole world was.

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

Thirty-seven years before the birth of Christ, Herod the Great was appointed king by Rome. He was crafty and brutal, a powerful puppet. Human life had little value.  Herod was ruthless in destroying anyone who opposed him, including his own children. The people of Palestine prayed for their promised Savior and King, not understanding that he would be born a common child who would not be a great political leader, but rather the Spiritual Liberator of all. "A ray of hope flickered in the sky, A shining star lit up way up high. All across the land, dawned a brand-new morn. That came to pass when a child was born."

I will set out nativities today and encourage each of you to do the same and to think of that child and the hope he provides to each of us. What do you hope for?  ~~ Marilee

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Every Wednesday will include games 

Elf Co-ordination Game

Everyone knows that Santa’s elves have to multitask. This game tests if you’re up to working in his warehouse. Each player is given a book, a three-foot dowel that has been painted like a candy cane, a glass of water, and a ball. After Santa says "Ready, set, go" you head for the finish line with the book on your head, a glass full of water in your left hand and the candy cane in the right. At the same time, you roll a ball with your feet. The first person across the line is the winner.

Snowball Fest

Divide your group into teams. One person on each team is the “chef”. He throws marshmallows into his fellow team member’s mouths. The team gets a point for every marshmallow that is caught.  If you want to get

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Recipe

Caramels

2 c. granulated sugar

½½ c. butter (not margarine)

3/4 c. light corn syrup

2 c. heavy whipping cream

Butter a 9 x 9 x 2 pan and set aside. Place sugar, butter, corn syrup, and 1 c of cream in a heavy 3-quart pan and bring to a rolling boil over medium heat. Slowly add second cup of cream in a slow trickle so the boiling does not stop. Stir continually. When all of the cream is added, place the thermometer in the pan. As the temperature increases, reduce the heat. Cook to 246EF for a firm caramel. Cook 2 degrees less for a softer caramel. Pour the caramel into the buttered pan. Let set at room temperature until firm, then cut with a lightly buttered knife and dip in chocolate or wrap plain.

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The Stables At Midnight: A Christmas Story

By: Anne Flyzik
extracted from :  http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/stables-midnight-christmas-story

I have a true story to tell about midnight on Christmas.

It happened in 1991 or '92. My marriage had ended, and I was leasing a farm as a boarding stable. I had around 20 horses at Christmas that year.

My son was then 5 or 6 years old and knew the Thomas Hardy poem about all the animals kneeling down at midnight on Christmas Eve. He begged and begged to go to the stable at midnight, but I put him off, not wanting to disappoint him in this year of so many disappointments.

You see, I had a lot of horses that did not like to lie down even in the wee hours of the night, including two mares whose owners told me they'd had those two for years and had yet to even see them off their feet. A number of the others would lie down, but would immediately get up when someone entered the barn or came near them.

Well, that Christmas Eve, Conor woke up at 11:30 and begged to go to the stable to see if it was true. My heart was a little heavy as we went down.

It was 11:59. We entered the barn at midnight, flashlight in hand.

EVERY horse was kneeling. We walked down one side and back up the other. Every horse was kneeling; none got up.

None were flat on their sides, not even the yearling. And the two mystery mares were also kneeling; so were the track lay-ups who always jumped to their feet when people approached: every single one of them.

It was so hushed and quiet and beautiful.

The faith of a child....

Conor is 13 now and stands 5'10. He still says to me, "Remember that Christmas Eve when we went down to the barn to see if the horses were kneeling?"

It's one of my most special lifetime memories.

Thomas Hardy's "The Oxen" (1915)

Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock,
"Now they are all on their knees,"
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.

We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.

So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years!  Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
"Come; see the oxen kneel

"In the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know,"
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so.

By Thomas Hardy

(This story was edited by Dianna Robin Dennis)
© 2002 by Anne Flyzik

I was not able to contact the author to receive permission to use her story, but there was a link at the site allowing people to e-mail it and share with others.  I’m assuming that it can be used as long as I include contact info. Here is the information given on the website I extracted it from: www.chronofhorse.com

“This Christmas story has long been a favorite on the Chronicle of the Horse Forums, and the author, Anne Flyzik, graciously gave permission to reprint it on www.chronofhorse.com.”

(Just in case you want to listen to the song, it starts about 30 seconds in.)