When they saw

 Matthew 2:10-11

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, frankincense and myrrh.

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Wise Men seek Him still

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The Annie Moses Band is a family of Nashville raised and New York trained performers. Genre-defying and unforgettable, the group has been thrilling audiences for over a decade with a sweeping virtuosity and musical spirit that is both fresh and poignant. These are true musicians of the highest caliber drawn together by the bonds of family, faith, and love for their audience. I love their beautiful music. This video is a mix of instrumental and vocal music.

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I Heard The Bells - The Annie Moses Band (Official Music Video)

…

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men."

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Slo Cooker Fajitas

        1 each medium green, sweet red and yellow peppers, cut into 1/2-inch strips

1 sweet onion, cut into 1/2-inch strips

2 pounds beef top sirloin steaks, cut into thin strips

3/4 cup water

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

8 flour tortillas (8 inches), warmed

1/2 cup salsa

1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese

*8 teaspoons fresh cilantro leaves (My husband doesn’t are for cilantro so I leave it out)

Place peppers and onion in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Top with beef. Combine water, vinegar, lime juice and seasonings; pour over meat. Cover and cook on low until meat is tender, 8-10 hours. Using a slotted spoon, place about 3/4 cup meat mixture down the center of each tortilla. Top with salsa, cheese and cilantro; roll up.

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It's often a fact that the best way we can find joy at Christmastime is by helping others find joy. I went to Physical Therapy this afternoon and found a sign at the front desk stating that they are doing a Christmas project to benefit Veterans and their families. I went to another office and they are gathering things for the Sub for Santa program. I heard an ad on the radio for the food banks. There are too many children who are food insecure. We can change that. Everywhere around us there is need, both for cash or donated items. Many organizations are looking for extra volunteers as well. However we donate or give volunteer hours, whether it is through our churches, our area schools, our senior centers or care centers, we have the power to bring joy to others. Joy comes from having food in once bare cupboards, warm clothes, a personally delivered Christmas card, a soft cuddly toy, smile, a "Merry Christmas". We all have the power to make a difference and bring joy to others, to follow the promptings of the spirit and the footsteps of Our Savior. Joy is contagious, let's spread it everywhere. ~~ Marilee

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The Joy of Giving

by John Greenleaf Whittier

Somehow, not only for Christmas,

But all the long year through,

The joy that you give to others

Is the joy that comes back to you;

And the more you spend in blessing

The poor and lonely and sad,

The more of you heart's possessing

Returns to make you glad.

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Christmas Loaves and Fishes

by Ranier Maharaj

Toronto, Canada

(Summary:“Christmas Loaves and Fishes” recounts a heartwarming tale of a group of young people who, dressed as Santa Claus, visited a hospital to spread holiday cheer. Over the years, their charitable efforts expanded to include poor children in the neighborhood. One Christmas Eve, they discovered a large group of children waiting for Santa in a squatters’ area. Despite running out of toys, miraculously, each child received a gift. The story, shared by the narrator, who played Santa, serves as a testament to the unexpected generosity and magic of the Christmas season.)

On a Christmas Eve in homes everywhere there is a quiet excitement. The festive feeling and the warmth of having family members near brings to mind a Christmas tale I love to relate each year. It’s a true story, even though it might sound unbelievable. And it’s proof that miracles do happen.

A long time ago there was a group of young people who decided to spread some Christmas cheer. They had discovered that there were several children who would be spending the festive holiday in a community hospital nearby. So one of the friends dressed as Santa Claus, they bought nice presents, wrapped them, and armed with guitars and sweet voices, they dropped in unexpectedly at the hospital on Christmas Eve.

The children were overjoyed at seeing Santa, and by the time the group was finished handing out presents and singing Christmas carols, there were tears in everyone’s eyes. From then on, it was decided they would play Santa every year.

The following Christmas Eve, other patients were included in the rounds, and by the third year the celebration was expanded to embrace some of the poor children in the neighborhood.

On the fourth Christmas Eve, however, after all the rounds were made, Santa Claus looked into his bag and discovered there were a few extra toys left. So the friends mulled it over, trying to figure out what to do with them. Somebody mentioned that there were a few squatters’ shacks nearby in which a couple of desperately poor families lived.

So the group decided to go there, thinking that there were perhaps three families at most. But as they drove over the crest of the hill into this lonely area—it was around midnight now—the shocked group saw a large number of people standing at the side of the street.

Much to their surprise, they were children—more than 30 of them. Behind them were not three shacks but rows and rows of shabby squatters’ dwellings. As the cars drew to a stop, the children came running up, shouting with joy. It turned out they had been waiting patiently all night for Santa Claus. Somebody—no one could remember who—had told them he was coming, although our Santa had decided to go there only moments before.

Everyone was stunned, except Santa. He was in a panic. He knew he didn’t have enough toys for all these kids. Eventually, however, not wanting to disappoint the children, he decided to give whatever toys he had only to the youngest, smallest children. When the presents ran out, he’d just have to explain to the bigger kids what had happened.

So moments later he found himself perched on top of a car’s hood as these 30 or more sparkling clean children, dressed in their best clothes, lined up in order of height, with the smallest first, for their moment with him. As each anxious child approached, Santa dipped into his bag, his heart heavy with dread, hoping to find at least one more toy. And by some miracle, he found one each time he dipped. And as the last of the children received a present, Santa looked into the now deflated bag. It was empty—empty as it should have been 24 children ago.

With a sigh of relief, he let out a hearty “ho-ho-ho” and bade the kids farewell. But as he was about to enter one of the cars (the reindeer, apparently, had the day off), he heard a child scream: “Santa! Santa! Wait!” And out of the bushes rushed two little children, a boy and a girl. They had been asleep.

Santa’s heart sank. This time he knew for sure he had no more toys. The bag was empty. He had seen it himself. But as the out-of-breath kids approached, he summoned up some extra courage and dipped into the bag one more time. And—lo and behold—there were indeed two more presents in the bag.

That group of friends, now all grown adults, still talk about this miracle on Christmas morning. They still have no explanation for it, other than the fact that it happened. How do I know so much about this? Well, I was the one playing Santa.

originally published in Family Circle magazine

extracted from Christmas Loaves and Fishes – Christmas Stories