“Best of all, Christmas means a spirit of love, a time when the love of God and the love of our fellow men should prevail over all hatred and bitterness, a time when our thoughts and deeds and the spirit of our lives manifest the presence of God.” —George F. McDougall
Go Tell it on the mountain lyrics (fun, fun video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0-jnOr_PcA
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born!
While shepherds kept their watching
O'er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born!
The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo! Above the Earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior's birth
Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born!
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
Joy to the world (joy to the world)
All the boys and girls (the boys and girls)
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Sing joy (go, tell it on the mountain)
Over the hills and everywhere
Singing joy, joy to the world
All the boys and girls (everywhere)
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Sing joy to the world
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born!
That Jesus Christ is born!
That Jesus Christ is born!
*💕*
Our Savior had the gift of self-esteem. He knew who he was - the Son of God. He knew the value of His life and His atoning sacrifice. I truly believe that He liked himself. The gift of self-esteem is ours as well, but how do we go about developing it? In Matt 18:4 we read “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” Children are innocent, Curious, accepting of others, giving, loving and they stand up each time they fall. As we age, we lose a lot of those traits in our haste to “grow up.” How many of us have heard statements like “grow up!”, and “Stop acting like a child?” In the society we live in today, kids are losing their innocence so early. We watch so many negative, sad stories on the news that we are numb to them. Not even a new terrorist attack shocks us anymore. Hold onto a little bit of your innocence. Look for good. Ask questions. Look for similarities between people rather than differences. Share your gifts and talents. Get up every time you fall down. Encourage those around you to see the good in themselves. Give them a gift of support and approval ~` Marilee
*💕*
Gift for a Friend
George MacDonald
If, instead of a gem
Or even a flower,
We could cast the gift
Of a lovely thought
Into the heart of a friend,
That would be giving
As angels give.
*💕*
Bread Bowls (I know this isn’t a soup recipe, but it’s an important part of a soup dinner).
Preheat oven to 500 degrees
2 T instant yeast
2 T sugar
2 t salt
3 c warm water
6 1/2 to 7 c flour
Mix flour, salt and yeast. Add water and mix for 3 minutes. Add remaining flour and mix for 6 minutes.
Place dough in well greased bowl. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes. Divide into 7 segments. Roll into balls and place on parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Cover and let rise for 15 minutes. Cut an x on the top of the bowls to reduce surface pressure. Spray a few squirts of water into the oven. Spray loaves with water. Bake for 2 minutes, then reduce heat to 425. Bake for 10 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 190-200 degrees.
*💕*
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE
author unknown
In a forest in the far, far East grew a great many pine trees. Most of them were tall trees, higher than the houses that we see, and with wide, strong branches. But there was one tree that was not nearly so tall as the others; in fact, it was no taller than some of the children in the kindergarten.
Now, the tall trees could see far, far out over the hilltops and into the valleys, and they could hear all the noises that went on in the world beyond the forest, but the Little Tree was so small and the other trees grew so high and thick about it that it could not see nor hear these things at all; but the other trees were very kind, and they would stoop down and tell them to the Little Tree. One night in the winter time there seemed to be something strange happening in the little town among the hills, for the trees did not go to sleep after the sun went down, but put their heads together and spoke in strange, low whispers that were full of awe and wonder. The Little Tree, from its place close down to the ground, did not understand what it was all about. It listened awhile, and then lifted its head as high as ever it could and shouted to its tall neighbor: "Will you not stoop and tell me what is happening?" And the big tree stooped down and whispered: "The shepherds out on the hilltops are telling strange stories while they watch their sheep. The air is filled with sweet music, and there is a wonderful star coming up in the east, traveling westward always, and the shepherds say that they are waiting for it to stop and shine over a humble stable in their little town. I have not heard why it is going to stop there, but I will look again and listen." So the tall tree lifted up its head again, and reached far out so that it might hear more of the wonderful story.
Bye and bye it stooped down again, and whispered to the Little Tree:
"Oh, Little Tree, listen! There are angels among the shepherds on the hills, and they are all talking together. They seem to be awaiting the birth of a little child, who will be a king among the people, and the beautiful star will shine above the stable where the little king will be laid in a manger."
The tree again raised its head to listen, and the Little Tree, much puzzled, thought within itself: "It is very strange, indeed.
* * *
Oh, how I wish that I could see it all!"
It waited a little longer, and everything grew quiet, and a great peace came upon the forest.
* * *
Then suddenly the town, and even the forest was illuminated with a strange, white light that made everything as bright as day, and the air was filled with the flutter of angels' wings, and with music such as the world had never heard before.
The people and the trees, even the stars in heaven, lifted up their voices and sang together and the whole world was filled with music and joy and love for the little Christ-child who had come to dwell upon the earth.
The Little Tree was filled with fear and wonder, for so great was the excitement that the other trees had almost forgotten it, and it could not understand the mysterious sounds; but bye and bye its tall friend said, "Listen, listen, Little Tree! Such news I have to tell! Christ has come--the King! And the whole world is singing such beautiful music. There are wise men coming from the East, bringing beautiful gifts to the Christ-child. The angels, too, are upon the earth, and they bear gifts of gold and rare, beautiful stones. Wait! I will tell you more."
The tall tree had scarcely lifted up its head when it stooped again and whispered to the Little Tree, "Look! Look! Little Tree! They are coming this way; the angels are coming here, into our forest! Lift up your head high and you will see them as they pass."
The Little Tree lifted up its head and saw the white flutter of angel robes and heard the weird, sweet voices of the heavenly host who came with precious gifts into the forest.
"Oh," said the Little Tree, "they are coming here, toward me! What shall I do?" And in fear it bent its head so low that it almost touched the ground.
But the music came nearer and nearer, and the Little Tree felt a tender hand upon its branches, and a soft, gentle voice said to it, "Arise, Little Tree, and come with us, for we have come into the forest to seek you. Yes, you, the very smallest among the trees, are to be our gift-bearer. Come; lift up your head."
In fear and trembling the Little Tree did as the angel bade it. But when it looked into the angel's face and saw the love and kindness there, all fear was gone, and it said to the angel: "Yes; make me ready. I will come with you to the little Christ-child in the manger."
So all the angels brought their gifts of precious jewels and shining gold, and fastened them upon the branches of the Little Tree. Then the leader of the angels' band took up the Little Tree from the ground and bore it, laden with its precious burden, to the feet of the Christ-child.
0 comments:
Post a Comment