Dec. 7, 2022

“Christmas is a season which almost all Christians observe in one way or another. Some keep it as a religious season. Some keep it as a holiday. But all over the world, wherever there are Christians, in one way or another Christmas is kept.” —J. C. Ryle

 

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BarlowGirl - Hallelujah (Light Has Come) [Official Music Video HD] Lyrics,Subtitulado,Tradução

Hmmm my baby

Heaven sent you to me

All the worlds been praying

Who will save?

But who am I

That here tonight

I hold the one

Who'll bring us life

Hallelujah, we've been found

A child is born to save us now

Hallelujah, light has come

A Savior who will set us free

A Promise for those who believe

Do you hear the Angels (Angels)

Sing for you my baby

Men and kings have come to

Bow to you

But here in my arms

So close to me

The son of God

Now all can see

Hallelujah, We've been found

A child is born to save us now, Jesus

Hallelujah, light has come

A savior set us free

So praise to God on high

He has heard our cry

So praise to God on high

He has heard our cry

Hallelujah, We've been found

Hallelujah, We've been found

A child is born to save us now, Jesus

Hallelujah, light has come

A Savior who will set us free

A Promise for those who believe

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Chicken Skillet Stew

⅓ flour

½ t. Salt

Dash pepper

1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken cut into 1” pieces

3 T butter

1 medium onion sliced

3 stalks celery, sliced

2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into ¾” cubes

3 medium carrots cut into 1/4” slices

1 cup chicken broth

½ t dried thyme

1 T ketchup

1 T. cornstarch

In a large shallow dish, combine the flour, salt and pepper. Add chicken, a few pieces at a time, and turn to coat.  In a large skillet, melt butter; cook chicken until juices are clear. Add onion and celery; cook for 3 minutes. Stir in potatoes and carrots.  In a small bowl, combine the broth, thyme, ketchup and cornstarch; stir into skillet. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

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Decorating tip:

I was always concerned about hanging stockings on the mantel by our free-standing stove, so I came up with an idea:  Put your Christmas stockings on the chairs at your table.  Secure them with pretty ribbon and industrial strength tape.

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The Christmas Candle (2013)

Last night Dean and I watched the Christmas Candle.   The critics were not kind to this movie, but we both enjoyed it.  It is 1890, and “deep in the heart of the English countryside lies the enchanting village of Gladbury. Legend has it every twenty-five years an angel visits the village candlemaker and touches a single candle. Whoever lights this candle and prays before it receives a miracle on Christmas Eve, but in 1890, at the dawn of the electric age, this centuries old legend may come to an end. When David Richmond, a progressive young minister, arrives in Gladbury, the villagers discover a new formula for miracles: good deeds and acts of kindness.” (excerpt from The Christmas Candle (2013) - IMDb). The minister did not believe in miracles, and he wanted the people of Gladbury to realize that we make our own miracles by reaching out and helping each other. I loved the service they rendered to each other. By the end of the movie, they all changed.  People saw the positive difference that can be made through service, while the minister came to believe in miracles and the power of prayer.

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Another gift from our Savior is the gift of seeing the best in other people. He sees us. He knows us. He loves us. My mother always used to say that I look at the world through “rose-colored" glasses and that someday someone would knock them right off of me. Those glasses might have been jostled a time or 2 over the years, but I have discovered that when we expect people to respond in a positive manner, they usually do. Each one of us is unique. The world would be a boring place, if everyone was just like “me”. So:

1) Choose to look for the good.

2) Look for the things you have in common

3) Keep your sense of humor. The sound of laughter is universally understood. It’s the language of happiness and the underlying spirit of humanity – joy.  Laughter is light, and while there is much darkness in this world, it’s easier to see the best in people when we smile, laugh and welcome those around us. ~~ Marilee

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John Westall lived from 1816 to 1890. He was a book illustrator, as well as a poet.

“O How Shall I Keep My Christmas?” by John Westall

O, how shall I keep my Christmas?

My heart whispered softly to me,

For I had been reading the story

Of the Lord’s nativity;

And slowly and clearly before me

The words like pictures rise,

And the scenes appear in the beauty

Of the starry Syrian skies.

O cradled He was in a manger!

For lowly and poor was He,

Whose throne is the splendors of heaven

Whose power is infinity;

And He bore His cross to save us,

To save us from death and sin,

And He trod all alone the winepress

To make us pure and clean.

In glory, the hosts of the angels

Came singing His song of praise,

And filling the heav’ns with their music

In those wonderful old days;

Singing Glory to God in the highest!

And peace upon earth,

And the mighty chorus of voices

Pealed forth goodwill to all.

O, how shall I keep my Christmas?

As they keep it in heaven above;

O keep it with peace and thanksgiving,

And kindliest deed of love

And share with the poor and needy

The joys which the Lord gives thee;

And thy heart shall keep with the angels

The Lord’s nativity.