The
most amazing thing about the Christmas story is its relevance. It is
at home in every age and fits into every mood of life. It is not
simply a lovely tale once told, but eternally contemporary. It is the
voice crying out in every wilderness. It is as meaningful in our time
as in that long-ago night when shepherds followed the light of the
star to the manger of Bethlehem. —Joseph
R. Sizoo
🎄🎄🎄
John 12:46 I
am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should
not abide in darkness.
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"Mary's
Boy Child" (Official Music Video) | GENTRI (feat. Rise Up
Children's Choir & Lyceum Phil.) - YouTube
Long time ago in
Bethlehem
So the Holy bible
say
Mary’s boy child,
Jesus Christ,
Was born on
Christmas Day
While shepherds
watched their flocks by night
They saw a bright
new shining star.
They heard a choir
from heaven sing
The music came from
afar
Hark now, hear the
angels sing
A new king born
today
And we will live
forever more
Because of Christmas
Day
Now Joseph and his
wife Mary
Come to Bethlehem
that night
They found no place
to bear her child
Not a single room
was in sight
Hark now, hear the
angels sing
A new king born
today
And we will live
forever more
Because of Christmas
Day
Trumpets sound and
angels sing
Listen to what they
say
That man will live
forevermore
Because of Christmas
Day
Gloria in excelsis
deo
A new king born
today
(glorias)
Mary’s boy child,
Jesus Christ,
Was born on
Christmas Day
Hark now, hear the
angels sing
A new king born
today
And we will live
forever more
Because of Christmas
Day
By and by they find
a little nook
In a stable all
forlorn
And in a manger cold
and dark
Mary’s little boy
was born
Long time ago in
Bethlehem
So the Holy bible
say
Mary’s boy child,
Jesus Christ,
Was born on
Christmas Day
Hark now, hear the
angels sing
A new king born
today
And we will live
forever more
Because of Christmas
Day
Trumpets sound and
angels sing
Listen to what they
say
That we will live
forevermore
That we will live
forevermore
That we will live
forevermore
Because of Christmas
Day
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TRADITION
Let
me tell you a story about a family. Every year, they went through
town and looked at the Christmas lights. Their tour always ended
at a local church which sponsored a live nativity. All of the
children were thrilled by the animals and giggled
and laughed
as they watched
them romp
around, even when one goat chewed on one of the children’s coats.
Young parents who
were members of that church took
turns each year playing Mary and Joseph. One
child stopped
and carefully
studied
the nativity, the manger, the baby. Her grandmother said, “Isn’t
that beautiful? Look at all the animals, at
Mary,
Joseph and the baby Jesus.” “It’s
beautiful,
Grandma. It is really nice. But
isn’t Jesus
ever going to grow up… he’s the same size as
last year1”
How many of our children really understand that there is more to
Jesus than just his birth? For a possible new tradition this year,
let’s include stories of the baby, the boy and the grown up Jesus.
Without Christmas there would be no Easter, and without Easter, there
would be no need for Christmas. His life is one circle.
I tried to think of a way to tie them altogether and thought a
game might work. My children were all very competitive and loved
games.
Here are some trivia questions to use in a game. For the youngest
children, you might need to make these multiple choice. Here are a
few I’ve come up with. Make up your own questions, let older
children make them up and be in charge. Take the opportunity to tell
the whole story. ~~ Marilee
Where did Mary and Joseph live before Jesus was born?
Was Jesus born in Jerusalem or Bethlehem?
Where did Jesus sleep when he was a new baby?
What animals does the bible tell us were in the stable?
How many wisemen say does the bible say came to visit Jesus?
What was special about Mary?
Who warned Mary and Joseph to leave Bethlehem?
Where did they go?
Who was Jesus’ true father?
Where did Jesus go when he turned 12?
What did he do there?
Were his parents worried about him?
What was Jesus first miracle?
Jesus said to ________
How long was his ministry?
How old was he when he died?
Why did he die?
Where is he today?
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20 years ago, Joan and I were in a yahoo group together. We shared many stories. This is one of hers
THE
LAMB AND THE LIGHT
A Christmas Story by
Joan Goble, 2004
Marney was so
excited! Her little heart was beating in anxious delight as she was
helping her mother trim the tree and decorate the house. She held the
figure of a little lamb tightly in her fingers so she wouldn’t drop
it.
“Don’t squeeze
the lamb so hard dear, it is very delicate and you might crush it,
put it by the baby Jesus. “
“Ok, Mommy,” she
said, and reluctantly she placed the figure of the little lamb in the
Crèche under the tree.
“The little lamb
also has a meaning, dear. It is the symbol of our Lord Jesus, who was
called the ‘Lamb of God’. He was called the lamb, because in the
ancient days the Prophets looked forward to his coming, and lambs
were sacrificed as a remembrance of the Lord Jesus who would be born,
and who would die for us so that we would be able to go back to live
with our Heavenly Father someday. We take the sacrament for the same
reason now, dear.”
Marney didn’t
understand much of what Mommy was talking about, she just knew that
every time she said her prayers that she had a warm feeling inside
that told her that Jesus loved her. She bent over the Crèche,
touching each figure of the manger scene, ever so gently with her
pudgy finger. She let her finger linger for a while longer on the
baby Jesus, and then back to the little lamb.
“Lambs are a lot
like babies, Marney,” said Mommy. “They are very helpless and
small and need a lot of watching and care. Jesus called us his lambs
and his sheep, and he also said that he was the Good Shepherd.”
“Oh, Mommy, Jesus
is just a little tiny baby. These are the shepherds. You tell funny
jokes sometimes.”
“Yes dear, Jesus
was born a tiny baby in a manger, just like you see in the Crèche.
But he grew up to be our Lord and Savior. Just like your daddy was
once a little baby and grew up to be your daddy.”
When you are four
years old, big words like “Lord and Savior and symbol” are a
little confusing, but Marney still was happy and excited about
getting ready for Christmas, and she was feeling a warm glow in her
heart that told her that Mommy was telling the truth and sometime she
would understand more.
Mommy was standing
on a step stool, placing a glowing star right up on top. “Why do we
put a star on top of the tree, Mommy?”
“Long ago the
prophets said that Heavenly Father would send a new, bright star to
tell people that the Lord Jesus had been born. The new bright star
appeared in the sky, just like the prophets said it would. It was a
sign that Jesus is the Light of the World. It guided the Wisemen to
see the baby Jesus; they had been watching the sky for it to appear.”
“Did the baby
Jesus shine like a star, Mommy?”
“Let me explain it
to you, dear. Do you remember a while ago when I plugged in the
string of lights, and look at them to see if any were burned out and
needed to be replaced?” Marney nodded her head thoughtfully.
“Well, come over here and touch the light bulbs, now that the
lights have been unplugged.” Marney wrapped her fingers around
some of the bulbs.
“They feel kind of
warm,” she said.
“How did you feel
in your heart at Home Night when Daddy told you how much he loves
Jesus and that he knows He is real?”
“I felt warm in my
heart and my tummy. I felt like laughing and crying at the same
time,” said Marney.
“Well, Marney. We
can’t see the light on the Christmas bulbs anymore, but we can feel
that they are warm. You can’t see the light in your heart, but you
can feel it is warm. That is the light of the Spirit of the Lord.
That is your heart light, dear. Jesus is the Light of the World
because his spirit shines in our hearts. The Lord Jesus sends His
Spirit to us, because He can’t be with us in person like He was
when He came as a little baby. When the shepherds came to see the
little baby Jesus, they could feel the light of His spirit shining in
their hearts, too.”.
“If Jesus came and
stood here, you would see that He shines like the sun, Marney dear.
But He can’t stand here with us right now, so He sends us His
spirit to light up your heart light.”
Mommy finished
putting the long string of lights on the tree, and then she plugged
it in. Marney looked at the sparkling lights in awe. “They look
just like a zillion sparkling stars!” squealed Marney.
“When you look at
all the beautiful Christmas lights, Marney, think about the Christmas
Star that Heavenly Father sent us to tell us that the baby Jesus was
born, and that He is the Light of the World. And think about your
heart-light-- the warm feeling you have inside you that is His Holy
Spirit shining in your heart and soul.”
* * * * * * * *
Marney was standing
and looking at the newly decorated tree, holding her newborn baby
girl and watching as Ken was plugging in the lights, and the tree
blazed into holiday glory. She remembered back to that day she had
helped her mother decorate the tree so long ago. She now understood
to some extent, what love really was, and the meaning of the words
“Light of the World and Lamb of God.”But she still knew, as she
knew back then as a tiny four year old, the feeling of her
heart-light, and the Knowing, beyond words, of the Love of the Spirit
of Christ in her heart.
For me, the miracle
of these Christmas lights is a special blessing. It is a special gift
that I have been granted each time I look over to the little
remembrance of lights I say a prayer of thanksgiving for all that
Christ did for me, because He loved me, because He is the Light of
the World and the Lamb of God.
For me this is truly
a miracle that I witness each day and night. I don't know when these
lights will start to fade but I know the miracle of it all is this ~
the brightest lights of love, always remain in our hearts and souls
forever ~ they are never extinguished. We are all a part of life's
miracle ~ each one of us emits a special glow and hopefully our glow
will always remain.
I wish you love and
an abundance of light always.
🎄🎄🎄
For nativity crafts, goto my pinterest and look in crafts for
children. I have many different projects that are easy and fast. I
also have many fun treats ~~ Marilee
