At this Christmas when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart?  Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving the others with God's own love and concern.  ~~ Monica Johnson

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Be Born In Me

Francesca Battistelli

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsXOP7aQeqQ

Everything inside me cries for order

Everything inside me wants to hide

Is this shadow of an angel or a warrior?

If God is pleased with me, why am I so terrified?

Someone tell me I am only dreaming

Someone help me see with Heaven's eyes

And before my head agrees, my heart is on its knees.

Holy is He, blessed am I

Be born in me, be born in me, trembling heart,

Somehow, I believe that you chose me.

I'll hold you in the beginning, you will hold me in the end,

Every moment in the middle, 

Make my heart your Bethlehem.

Be born in me.

All this time we've waited for the promise,

All this time you've waited for my arms

Did you wrap yourself inside the unexpected

So we might know that Love would go far?

Be born in me, be born in me, trembling heart,

Somehow, I believe that you chose me.

I'll hold you in the beginning, you will hold me in the end,

Every moment in the middle, 

Make my heart your Bethlehem.

Be born in me.

I am not brave, I'll never be

the only thing my heart can offer is a vacancy.

I'm just a girl, nothing more,

I am willing, I am yours.

oh, woah oh ... oh oh

Be born in me, be born in me

I hold you in the beginning, you will hold me in the end,

Every moment in the middle, 

Make my heart your Bethlehem.

Be born in Me

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I love red beans and rice.  Just thinking of that southern comfort food makes me smile.  I also love Red Beans and Rice Soup.  This crock pot recipe makes it super easy.

1 small yellow onion, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

1 pound ham hock

1 pound dry red kidney beans (I like to soak mine ahead of time, but you don't have to)

4 cups water

1 T chicken base (or 4 chicken bouillon cubes)

1 T salt (or to taste)

1/2 T minced garlic

2 t. Creole seasoning

1/2 c. butter, divided

3 c. cooked rice, for serving

6 andouille sausages, cooked, for serving (I don't usually put these in)

Melt 2 T butter in medium skillet.  Add onion, green pepper, and celery.  Saute until soft (about 2-3 minutes).  Spay the inside of crock pot with cooking spray or grease with neutral cooking oil (I use grapeseed).  Add ham hocks, red beans, onion, peppers, celery, and water to the pot.  Stir in base, salt, garlic, and Creole seasoning.  

Cover slow cooker with lid and cook on high for 3 1/2 to 4 hours until beans are soft. 

Add remaining butter and rice.  Cook with the lid off until desired consistency is reached.  Ladle into bowl, and add sausage, if desired.

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Each of us have received a great gift from God.  Time.  In our busy world we hear the words, "I don't have time" constantly.  I know that I am guilty of wondering where the minutes have gone and bemoaning the fact that there are never enough.  Well, God gave us all 1,440 minutes each day.  Henry David Thoreau said, "It's not enough to be busy, so are the ants.  The question is, 'What are we busy about?'"  This Christmas, think of what's important, and allocate your time accordingly.  What matters to you?  Family?  Cooking?  Shopping?  Decorating?  Pulling your hair out? (Not serious on that one.)  Give a gift of time this Christmas.  Make your own coupons for things like "Good for one ice cream cone with Grandma", "Good for an evening of babysitting", "Good for a dog walking", "Good for a car wash", "Good for a phone call" or "You have just received 120 minutes as my time to do with as you please".  Extending a helping hand by using your time well and freeing up time for others is a great Christmas idea.  Our Father always has time for us, tell him thank you.  This Christmas, let us: 

Take Time (author unknown)

Take time to pray

            it helps to bring God near and washes the dirt of earth from your eyes

Take time for friends    

            they are the source of happiness.

Take time for work

            it is the price of success

Take time to think

            it is the source of power

Take time to read

            it is the foundation of knowledge,

Take time to laugh

            it is the singing that helps with life's loads.

Take time to love

            it is the one sacrament of life.

Take time to dream

            it hitches the soul to the stars.

Take time to play

            it is the secret of youth

Take time to worship

            it is the highway to reverence.

~

There's just enough time for a cute story -- LOL

A Warm Witty Short Christmas Story

It was the day after Christmas at St Peter and St Paul's church in Borden, Kent, England. Father John, the vicar, was looking at the nativity scene outside when he noticed the baby Jesus was missing from the figures.

Immediately, Father John's thoughts turned to calling in the local policeman but as he was about to do so, he saw little Nathan with a red wagon, and in the wagon was the figure of the little infant, Jesus.

Father John approached Nathan and asked him, 'Well, Nathan, where did you get the little infant?'

Nathan looked up, smiled and replied, 'I took him from the church.'

'And why did you take him?'

With a sheepish grin, Nathan said, 'Well, Father John, about a week before Christmas I prayed to Lord Jesus. I told him if he would bring me a red wagon for Christmas, I would give him a ride around the block in it.'