I did not realize the song would not post. Let me try this link and see if it works. It's such a perfect song ~~Marilee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKSU9Dbxvrw
When Love Was Born
"What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past,
courage for the present, hope for the future." Agnes M. Pharo
~*~*~*~
When Love Was Born
performed by Mark Schultz
Star light shines, the night is still,
Shepherds watch from a hill
I close my eyes and see the night
When love was born
Shepherds watch from a hill
I close my eyes and see the night
When love was born
A perfect child gently waits
A mother bends to kiss God’s face
I close my eyes and see the night
When love was born
A mother bends to kiss God’s face
I close my eyes and see the night
When love was born
They sing,
Hallelujah, He is Christ,
Our King
Love come down for you and me
Heaven’s gift, the Holy spark
to light the way inside our hearts
came the hope we’ve waited for
The world was changed for evermore
When love was born
When love was born
I woke up early this morning and thought about following
Christ’s pathway of light, and I thought “wow, I don’t think I’m ready for
this. Not yet, anyway”. I went into the computer room and closed all of the
windows so that no outside light could enter. I unplugged or turned off all
light sources, even the little one on my phone charger, and sat in absolute
darkness. My mind went back to yesterday’s walk and I found myself on the same
path in the same forest and realized that I knew where I was. In Central Idaho,
there is a lake called Stanley Lake. It’s beautiful. I love to go there to the
bird watching bench and sit and watch the birds flying over the lake and the
trees. It’s so serene and peaceful. I imagined sitting there totally content,
when the skies darkened. It grew cold, the winds blew and it started to rain.
Everything was black, and then the lightening started. (I hate lightening
storms and being outside in one is about the most frightening thing
imaginable). It shook the earth and I tried to find somewhere to go, something
to protect me, but I couldn’t move. The storm raged on until it finally passed
and beams of light pierced the clouds. Warmth filled me and drove all
of my fears away. This past year has been a dark one for our country:
political unrest, violence, hatred, Covid-related issues – so much darkness. The storms we are experiencing, in this life right now, can only be calmed by the
light and love of Jesus Christ.
Tomorrow, we’ll take a baby step, let’s find 5 scriptures
about light and Christ and include our favorite on our Christmas cards. It’s
time to make them out, right? I think I already know mine. ~~ Marilee
John 8:12
He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the
light of life."
~*~*~*~
NoBake Peanut Butter Cookies
1 c. sugar
1 c. light corn syrup
1 - 12 oz. jar peanut butter
6 c. corn flakes
Combine sugar and corn syrup in a saucepan and bring to a
boil. Remove from the heat and stir in peanut butter. Pour mixture over the
corn flakes and stir to coat. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper and chill
until set.
~*~*~*~
The Little Christmas Star
-
by Pedro Pablo Sacristan
Of all the stars that shine in the sky, there had always
been one that was brighter and more beautiful than the others. The whole sky's
planets and stars looked on in admiration, wondering what could be the
important mission that this star was to carry out. And the star itself did
exactly the same, aware of its own incomparable beauty.
The speculation ended when a group of angels came to the
star:
"Hurry. Your time has arrived, the Lord calls upon you
to carry out an important mission."
And the star went as fast as she could and found out that her
mission was to show where the most important event in history would take place.
The star was filled with pride, and dressed herself in her
most beautiful costume of glint and bedazzlement. She proceeded to follow the
angels, who would show her the right place. The star shone with such strength
and beauty that she was seen from all parts of the World, and so much so that a
group of wise men decided to follow her, knowing that she must be pointing to
something important.
For days, the star followed the angels, showing the way, and
she was eager to discover what place she was going to illuminate. However, when
the angels stopped, and with great joy said "Here it is!" the star
could not believe it. There were no palaces, no castles or mansions, no gold or
jewels. Only a small, half-abandoned, dirty, smelly stable.
"Oh, no! Not that! I can not waste my shine and beauty
lighting up a place like this! I was born for something greater than
this!"
And though the angels tried to calm her, the star's fury
grew and grew, and so much pride and arrogance bubbled up inside her that she
began to burn. And thus she consumed herself and disappeared.
Well, what a problem! There were only a few days left before
the big moment, and they were without a star. The angels, in a panic, ran to
Heaven to tell God what had happened. After thinking for a moment, God said:
"In that case, search for the smallest, most humble
and joyful of all the stars you can find and bring it here."
Surprised by the order, but unquestioning, because the Lord
often did this kind of thing, the angels flew through the heavens in search of
the smallest, most joyful star. It was a tiny star, as small as a grain of
sand. He knew so little that he gave no importance to his brightness, and he
spent his whole time laughing and chatting with his friends, the biggest stars.
When this star was brought to the Lord, he was told:
"The most perfect star in creation, the most wonderful,
the most brilliant has failed due to its pride. I thought that you, the most
humble and joyful of all the stars, should be the one chosen to take its place
and light up the most important event in history: the birth of baby Jesus in
Bethlehem."
The star was filled with so much emotion and joy that he had
already arrived over Bethlehem, led by the angels, before he realized that his
brilliance was negligible and that, however much he tried, he could not
illuminate things much better than a firefly could.
"Ok," he said to himself.
-"How come I didn't think before accepting this
assignment? I'm the smallest star there is! It is totally impossible for me to
do as well as that great shining star ... The shame of it! I'm going to mess up
an opportunity that all the stars in the heavens would have loved to have had
..."
Then he thought again, "all the stars in the
heavens." Of course they would love to take part in something like this!
And without hesitation, the start took to the skies with a message for all his
friends:
"On December 25th , at midnight, I want to share with
you all the greatest glory that can exist for a star: to light up the birth of
God! I will await you in the little town of Bethlehem, by a small stable."
And indeed, none of the stars rejected this generous
invitation. So many stars joined together, that they formed the most beautiful
Star of Christmas that would ever be seen, even though the little star couldn't
even be seen amid all the brilliance. And happy at his excellent service, and
as a reward for his humility and generosity, God transformed this little
messenger into a beautiful shooting star, and gave him the gift of granting
wishes every time his beautiful trail gleaming in the night sky was seen.
Extracted from The Little Christmas Star - Short Story(bestshortstories.com)
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