Knowledge

 

“The word of God is very important to Christmas. For unto us a child was born, and we should be reminded of how Christ’s amazing journey came to be.” —Monica Johnson

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Candlelight Carol (audio only -- beautiful carol)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4GNDUD-YEc

How do you capture the wind on the water?

How do you count all the stars in the sky?

How can you measure the love of a mother?

Or how can you write down a baby's first cry?

Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star-glow

Shine on his cradle 'til breaking of dawn

Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo!

Angels are singing "The Christ child is born"

Shepherds and wise men will kneel and adore him

Seraphim 'round him, their vigil will keep

Nations proclaim him their Lord and their saviour

But Mary will hold him and sing him to sleep

Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star-glow

Shine on his cradle 'til breaking of dawn

Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo!

Angels are singing "The Christ child is born"

Find him in Bethlehem laid in a manger

Christ our redeemer, asleep in the hay

Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation

A child with his mother that first Christmas Day

Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star-glow

Shine on his cradle 'til breaking of dawn

Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo!

Angels are singing "The Christ child is born"

 

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THE FIRST CHRISTMAS

 

The earth was bathed in clean, pure light,

As heavenward the star burned bright.

A sign from God to man on earth

To tell the world of Jesus' birth.

 

As angel choirs sang "Gloria",

Mary hummed a lullaby,

Rocked and hushed her tiny child.

While Joseph watched o'er both and smiled.

 

Ye shepherds, wisemen homage bring,

Come kneel before the tiny king.

See love, God's greatest gift to all,

Personified in lowly stall.

 

As angel choirs sang "Gloria",

Mary hummed a lullaby,

Rocked and hushed her tiny child.

While Joseph watched o'er both and smiled.

 

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Cheesy Potato Soup

2 T butter

1 cup diced onion

2 ½ cups peeled and diced potatoes

3 cup chicken broth

1 cup heavy cream

1 ¾ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

¼ t dried dill weed

⅛ t. Ground cayenne pepper

In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Cook onion in butter until softened. Stir in potatoes and broth, bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat and simmer from 15 to 20 minutes, until potatoes are tender.  Puree potato mixture in a blender or food processor or using an immersion blender; return to pot over medium heat. Stir in cream, cheese, dill, pepper, salt and cayenne. Bring to a low boil and cook, stirring, until thickened, 5 minutes.  

 

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Our Savior presented to each of us the gift of knowledge.  To me, this gift of knowledge means that we are given talents and abilities to develop so that we can grow into the best “us” that we can be.  Each of us has different talents and abilities.  At Christmas time, we can share the gift of knowledge by incorporating educational activities with others.  Some of us are great cooks, we can have fun “cooking” classes with our family, friends, or co-workers.  Some of us love science and can donate magazines or supplies to the schools or perform fun experiments with children.  Great readers can spend time reading in schools, at home, or at care centers.  I remember going to a “service” auction at our church.  Each person was supposed to share a talent or special ability of theirs, while the other participants bid for the items.  Loaves of bread were auctioned off, dinners, babysitting, crocheted blankets, quilts, they all found homes.  Then they pulled the next service out and the note said, “I will be your friend.”  Everyone quieted down immediately while we wondered who would put their friendship up for bid, and how much it would sell for. What price would you pay for a true friend?  The bidding went up and up.  Finally, it was over and the person who donated her friendship was a young special needs girl from our area.  She knew the worth of friendship.  Find a way to share knowledge with those around you~~ Marilee

 

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"'The Little Drummer Boy'"

Extracted from 'The Little Drummer Boy' | HowStuffWorks

©Publications International, Ltd.

 

David grew up in the kitchen of the inn. His father was the innkeeper.

His mother cooked the food. David's older sisters cleaned the rooms, and his older brother swept the stable. David loved to sing. He would sing to his mother as she cooked the food. David made up songs and banged on pots and bowls as he sang to her. David's mother smiled at him. "Someday you will sing in the temple, my son," his mother said. David grinned at his mother. "Tem-ple," David said very carefully.

David's father came into the kitchen. "How is my big boy?" David's father asked as he swung David onto his shoulders. "Pum Pum Pum! Tem-ple come!"

David sang as he drummed on his father's head with a wooden spoon.

David's father smiled as his son kept on drumming. "We must find this boy a drum or my poor head will not survive!" said David's father, with a laugh.

A few years later David got a small drum for his birthday. Soon he was beating rhythms on his drum wherever he went. Pat-a-rum, pat-a-rum, pat-a-rum, David drummed to copy the donkeys on the road.

Swish-click-click-tum, swish-click-click-tum, went David's drumming to copy his brother sweeping straw in the stable.

One day David's father said to his family, "We are going to be very busy.

Caesar Augustus has ordered a count of all the families in all the towns." "Pum Pum. Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum. I counted six of us!" David sang.

"Why does this make us busy?" "Because people will come to Bethlehem to be counted with their families," said David's father. "They will need a place to stay. They will stay with us, and we will be very busy."

David loved to beat his drum to the sound of donkeys strolling along the road.

David's mother cooked more food. David's sisters cleaned the rooms. David's brother swept out the stable and put new hay and pots of water in the stalls. David's father greeted the people as they came into town. Soon the inn was very full. David played his drum and sang his songs for the people.

Late one night there was a knock at the door. David peeked around his father at the young man and his wife, who was on a donkey. They had no room for these people! What could they do? David's father was a kind man. "You can stay in the stable," he said. "It is warm and dry there. I can send food out to you." The young man thanked David's father and walked the donkey to the stable.

David helped his mother carry bread and cheese out to the young couple.

His mother told him the woman was going to have a baby soon. The next day there was a lot of excitement. "The young woman who stayed in the stable last night had her baby," David's mother told him. "The baby is the King of Kings, they say!" said David's father.

David could not see the baby because of the crowd around the stable.

David stood at the back of the crowd and began to make up a song for the baby: "Come, they told me, our newborn king to see. Our finest gifts we bring to lay before the king. So to honor him when we come."

The crowd began to part when they heard David's beautiful singing: "Baby Jesus, I am a poor boy, too. I have no gift to bring that's fit to give a king. Shall I play for you on my drum?"

 

David stepped closer to Mary, Joseph, and their son. Baby Jesus smiled at David, reached out, and patted his drum.

Love, spirit, and the beat of his drum brought one little boy closer to the infant Jesus.

©2007 Publications International, Ltd.

David gave the gift of song to Baby Jesus.