“Peace I leave

 

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

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God never gives someone a gift they are not capable of receiving. If He gives us the gift of Christmas, it is because we all have the ability to understand and receive it.” — Pope Francis

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Through Heaven’s Eyes

performed by Brian Stokes Mitchell

Through Heaven's Eyes Brian Stokes Mitchell with the Mormon Taberancle Choir - YouTube

A single thread in a tapestry-
Though its color brightly shine-  
Can never see its purpose
In the pattern of the grand design.

And the stone that sits on the very top
Of the mountain's mighty face-
Does it think it's more important
Than the stones that form the base?

So how can you see what your life is worth
Or where your value lies?
You can never see through the eyes of man
You must look at your life,
Look at your life through heaven's eyes.
Lai-la-lai...

A lake of gold in the desert sand
Is less than a cool fresh spring-
And to one lost sheep, a shepherd boy
Is greater than the richest king.
If a man lose ev'rything he owns,
Has he truly lost his worth?
Or is it the beginning
Of a new and brighter birth?

So how do you measure the worth of a man-
In wealth or strength or size?
In how much he gained or how much he gave?
The answer will come,
The answer will come to him who tries
To look at his life through heaven's eyes.

And that's why we share all we have with you,
Though there's little to be found.
When all you've got is nothing,
There's a lot to go around.

No life can escape being blown about
By the winds of change and chance,

And though you never know all the steps,
You must learn to join the dance-
You must learn to join the dance.

Lai-la-lai...

So how do you judge what a man is worth?
By what he builds or buys?

You can never see with your eyes on earth-
Look through heaven's eyes.
Look at your life,
Look at your life,
Look at your life through heaven's eyes!

This was performed during the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert in 2008. While “The Prince of Egypt” is the story of Moses, the song talks about looking at our life through Heaven’s eyes (our Savior’s eyes). “So how do you judge what a man is worth? By what he builds or buys?... You can never see with your eyes on earth-Look through heaven's eyes.” I've asked the questions myself..."what am I worth? Have I been a builder, and made a difference in this world or just an occupant?" For the answers to those questions which all of us ask at one time or another, "Look at your life through heaven's eyes!"

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 Cheddar cheese Soup

from Julie

4 R butter

¼ c onion, diced

3 or 4 carrots, diced

5 or 6 T flour

2 cans chicken brother-in-law

3 c. grated cheddar cheese

2/3 c. milk

¼ t each salt and peppermint chopped parsley

croutons

Cook vegetables in 3 quart covered pan for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, stir in flour. Mix well. Cook 1 minute; add broth and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Gradually stir in cheese. Add milk, salt and pepper and heat, don’t boil. Serve with parsley and croutons or serve plain.

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The Final Pickle Legend

In the late 1800s, F.W. Woolworth Co. stores started selling glass ornaments in the United States, imported from Germany. Some of them came in the shapes of fruits and vegetables. When pickles were imported, it might very well be possible, that the company had an excess of pickle ornaments. A crafty salesman dreamed up a European Christmas tradition story to help them do better.

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Hanakkuh started yesterday at sunset.  It seems appropriate when talking about light, to talk about the festival of lights.  In 1993, a group of white supremacists moved into Billings, Montana. They wanted to make the region “safe” from gays, blacks, Jews and all other groups which did not fit into their “perfect reality.” They began covering Native American and African American gathering places and churches with vitriolic graffiti. The people of Billings came together to wash windows, walls and help restore the buildings/areas. The hate continued.

Isaac Schnitzer, a 5-year-old Jewish boy hung a drawing of a Hanukkah menorah in his window, and a brick was thrown through into his bedroom. His mother reported the incident to the local paper. The paper reported the story and printed a paper menorah along with an editorial requesting people of all faith to display them in their windows.

The population of Billings, Montana was then and still is predominantly white and Christian. Their personal safety was not under threat, their humanity was not under assault. Something much bigger was at stake.

People all over the community displayed the paper menorahs in their windows. Some churches and christian homes had their windows broken, but in the end, eventually, the violence abated.

The people came together and light replaced darkness in their community.

In the United States today, many Jewish people are afraid to light their menorahs. The story of Billings stands as a symbol to all of us of the power of light. Safety pins have come to represent resistance to hate. I’ll wear a safety pin on my clothing and put a paper menorah in my window. Fill your communities with light, so that no one need be afraid.  ~~ Marilee

Here is a link to the song Let There Be Peace On Earth

Wintley Phipps - Let There Be Peace on Earth (youtube.com)

beautiful voice, beautiful song

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There’s More to Christmas…

Author Unknown

There’s more, much more to Christmas

Than candlelight and cheer;

It’s the spirit of sweet friendship

That brightens all the year;

It’s thoughtfulness and kindness,

It’s hope reborn again,

For peace, for understanding,

For goodwill to men!

That First Christmas Day

There were no Christmas stockings hung

on that first Christmas day,

Just a lonely manger

and a lowly bed of hay.

There was no jovial Santa Claus

with toys and gifts galore,

But shepherds came from out of fields

to worship and adore.

There was no Christmas tree that day

bedecked with tinsel bright,

But in the East there was a star

that dazzled with its light.

There were no Christmas carolers

to serenade with song,

But hosts of angels gathered 'round

to watch the whole night long.

No fast last-minute shopping

and no Christmas cards to send,

But hope was born in one small Child

for new life without end!