NIV Isaiah 40:31

 

NIV Isaiah 40:31 But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not be faint. 

“Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart … filled it, too, with melody that would last forever. Even though you grew up and found you could never quite bring back the magic feeling of this night, the melody would stay in your heart always—a song for all the years.” —Bess Streeter Aldrich

Love Knows No Borders

I love this song. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. The video contains beautiful pictures filled with light.

His love knows no borders

Nor color nor creed

No rich and no poor,

Neither bondsman nor free

And we who receive Him

Must love without end

And carry His tidings

Of peace and good will

To all men.

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER

by Robert Lewis Stevenson

Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world.

Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from the evil by the blessing which Christ brings and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus sake. Amen!

Herb Biscuit Loaf

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tubes (12 ounces each) buttermilk biscuits

Shop Recipe

Directions

In a shallow bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients. Dip biscuits into butter mixture; fold in half and place in rows in a greased 8-in. square baking pan. Drizzle with the remaining butter mixture. Bake at 350° until golden brown, 27-30 minutes.

12 bacon strips, diced

1 loaf (1 pound) frozen bread dough, thawed

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

1 envelope (1 ounce) ranch salad dressing mix

Faith, hope and charity define Christmas joy for me.  Free agency does as well.  In the beginning God chose to give us the freedom to make our own decisions.  He did not want us to be slaves or mindless zombies.  He wanted us to ‘choose’ to believe in Him, to love Him.  He sent us a Savior to show us the way back to Him and to atone for our sins.  Our Savior, Jesus Christ, has brought us hope of good things to come eternally.  We develop charity – the pure love of Christ- through our service to Him.  Our minds have great control over the choices we make and there will come a time when we can choose to follow the Savior.   We can acknowledge where we hurt but still choose joy. That moment might be when you see a beautiful sunset and thank God for the beauty in this world.  It might be when you are alone, facing trials and you see kindness in the eyes of a friend.  It can come when you listen to an inspiring Christmas Carol or in something as simple as a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day.   Remember those moments.  Savor them.  Choose joy.  ~~ Marilee

Gold, Common Sense and Fur

Linda C Stafford

This story has been shared by many people.  I’m sure it’s been used in many Christmas programs is a great story whether you have children or not. Enjoy!

 My husband and I had been happily (most of the time) married for five years, but hadn't been blessed with a baby. I decided to do some serious praying and promised God that if He would give us a child, I would be a perfect mother, love it with all my heart and raise it with His word as my guide. God answered my prayers and blessed us with a son. The next  year God blessed us with another son. The following year, he blessed us with yet another son. The year after that we were blessed with a daughter.

 My husband thought we'd been blessed right into poverty. We now  had four children, and the oldest was only four years old. I learned never to ask God for anything unless I meant it. As a minister once told me, "If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella."

 I began reading a few verses of the Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs. I was off to a good start. God had entrusted me with four children and I didn't want to disappoint Him.

I tried to be patient the day the children smashed two dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching for baby chicks. I tried to be understanding when they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took me nearly two hours to catch all twenty-three frogs.

When my daughter poured ketchup all over herself and rolled up in a blanket to see how it felt to be a hot dog, I tried to see the humor rather than the mess.  In spite of changing over twenty-five thousand diapers, never eating a hot meal and never sleeping for more than thirty minutes at a time, I still thank God daily for my children.

While I couldn't keep my promise to be a perfect mother. I didn't even come close. I did keep my promise to raise them in the Word of God.  I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going to church to worship God, and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to "wash up" Jesus, too.

 Something was lost in the translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my son thought it was generous of God to give us his "last wife."

My proudest moment came during the children's Christmas pageant. My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man. This was their moment to shine. My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line, "We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes."But he was nervous and said, "The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes."

My four-year-old "Mary" said, "That's not 'wrinkled clothes,' silly.  That's dirty, rotten clothes." A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd and was stopped by an angel, who bent her halo and lost her left wing.

 I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus, and it bounced down the aisle crying,  "Mama-mama." Mary grabbed the doll, wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men arrived. My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced, "We are the three wise men, and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur."

The congregation dissolved into laughter, and the pageant got a standing ovation. "I've never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one," Pastor Brian laughed, wiping tears from his eyes. "For the rest of my life, I'll never hear the Christmas story without thinking of gold, common sense and fur."

"My children are my pride and my joy and my greatest blessing," I said as I dug through my purse for an aspirin.

Choose joy

Matthew 22:37-39

Matthew 22:37-39

37 Jesus said unto him, though shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Faith makes all things possible,

Hope makes all things work,

Love makes all things beautiful,

Light of the World by Lauren Daigle with The Chosen Christmas

For all who hunger

For all who've prayed

For all who wander

Behold your King

Behold Messiah

Emmanuel

Emmanuel

 2 Ingredient Christmas Star Bread - It's Always Autumn

I found this recipe online.  There is a full video included in this link.  

3 tubes Crescent dough sheets

½ c. nutella

Powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Open and unroll the first crescent dough sheet on a piece of parchment paper. Fold it in half to create a square. Gently roll out and tug the dough until you can cut a 9-inch circle from it. Repeat with the other two sheets of crescent dough so you have 3 dough circles, each on a piece of parchment paper.

Microwave the Nutella for 7 seconds to loosen it up. Spread half of it on one dough circle, stopping half an inch before the edge. Top with a second dough circle. Spread the remaining Nutella, then top with the third dough circle.

Press a small cup into the center of the top dough to create an indent. Starting at the indent, cut outward to divide the dough into 4 pieces, connected in the middle. Cut each quarter into 4 again, so you have 16 wedges

Pick up two adjacent pieces and twist them away from each other twice, then pinch the edges together. Move to the next two pieces and repeat, continuing all the way around. Slide the parchment paper onto a baking sheet. Bake for approximately 24 minutes until top is golden brown and crescent dough seems cooked through. Cool 30 minutes before dusting with powdered sugar, if desired. Serve immediately. Bread tastes best the same day. Leftovers can be stored at room temperature.

The Christmas season ideally is filled with wonderful memories of music, lights, love and laughter - the moments we look forward to all year.  It is a time of hope; a perfect time to remember the incredible gifts of Jesus Christ.  He knew hard times.  He knew messy times.  He knew pain and suffering.  He knew loss.  But through it all, He lived a life filled with hope.  We can follow His example and fill our own lives with hope by studying the scriptures and applying His teachings in our lives.  He is Our Shepherd.

Robert Alter, professor of Hebrew and comparative literature at the University of California has translated the 23rd Psalm.  I love it. 

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

In grass meadows He makes me lie down, by quiet waters guides me.

My life He brings back.

...

Psalms 23: Robert Alter's Brilliant Translation 

“My life He brings back.” The Psalms in our bible are sacred poems or prayers used for worship.  They are often set to music.  The Psalms were written by Moses, David, Solomon and others. We are all poets - each one of us carries psalms in our own hearts.  I wrote down my own personal Christmas Psalm yesterday.

O Savior, 

My heart is drawn to Thee. 

To Thee I come on bended knee. 

No gift of gold, no jewel’s fire

Can match the works thy hands inspire. 

So let my life, my word and deed,

Proclaim Thy birth, Thy truth, Thy creed;

Christmas shines throughout the year

When we hold Christ, our Lord, most dear.

Write your thoughts down about the Savior. Read them when you need strength. Create your own psalms, songs of YOUR heart. They don’t have to be perfect poems or prose. They just need to reflect your thoughts. ~~ Marilee

Today’s story "God's Shepherd," is a short story about one of the original Bethlehem shepherd boys who meets Jesus later in life.

It is found online at God's Shepherd — a Christmas Story of the Bethlehem shepherds

There is an audio link there as well.  It is well worth the read.  Dr. Wilson's site is filled with wonderful Christmas messages.  He does not allow his work to be posted on other sites.

1 John 4:19

 

1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

 Christmas lights shine brighter when we remember the courage and love of those who serve — and the families who keep the home fires glowing.

The following video clip is an excerpt from the movie “The Genesis Code.”  The song starts at 42 seconds.  It’s performed by C J Lewis and is SO beautiful.

A Soldier's King

Some are born to greatness, some are born to fall

Some are bound to be forgotten like they never lived at all

But we're all born to know him and stand before his light

Like the soldier who found his king tonight

Frybread from frozen dough

Remove loaf of frozen bread from the freezer and cut it into desired shapes (e.g., slices, cubes). Do not thaw the bread.  Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or deep fryer to 375°F (190°C). Use a deep-fry thermometer to ensure accurate temperature.  Carefully drop the frozen bread pieces into the hot oil. Avoid overcrowding the pan.  Fry the bread for 1-2 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy.  Adjust frying time depending on the thickness of the bread.

Using a slotted spoon, remove the fried bread from the oil and drain it on paper towels. Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Serve immediately

Supporting our troops and military families is especially important during Christmas.  It is a powerful gesture of gratitude and empathy. Soldiers, separated from their families and friends, often find themselves in desolate and dangerous situations. During Christmas their sacrifices are even more pronounced. Where do they find faith, peace, or charity?  They feel it in the messages of love and support they receive during this time.  Every soldier needs a reminder that their efforts and sacrifices are acknowledged and appreciated by those they serve and protect. Military families are the silent heroes of the holiday season.  They are a tangible reminder that heroes walk among us.  We should pray for them and plead for the protection of heaven to be upon them that they may return to their loved ones in safety. If possible, send them and their families a message in whatever format you can.  Remember them, support them and show them the love and respect they deserve.  ~~ Marilee

Christmas Day 1776

Gen. George Washington's Continental Army had a rough start to the winter of 1776. They had been driven from New York and New Jersey into Pennsylvania and had suffered numerous setbacks in the early months of the American Revolution. Morale was low among the troops. Washington chose to surprise the British-hired German Soldiers known as the Hessians, who were based in Trenton, New Jersey, in order to restore confidence in the fight for independence. Since a horrible winter storm was approaching, he reasoned that if he did this after the enemy had celebrated Christmas, they would be sleepy and would be caught off-guard for battle.

Christmas Day 1896

John Philip Sousa, who grew up during the Civil War, was a talented musician who became a long-time director of the U.S. Marine Band. Known as the "March King," he was a rock star of his time, eventually starting his own band in 1892. On Christmas Day 1896, while crossing the Atlantic on his way home from a European vacation, Sousa's lasting legacy came to him. He said the notes for "Stars and Stripes Forever" were born out of homesickness and fond memories of his time as the Marine Band's leader.

The iconic song officially became America's national march in 1987.

The Christmas Carol

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - When World War I erupted in 1914 launching the first great European war of the 20th century, soldiers on both sides were assured they would be home by Christmas to celebrate victory. That prediction proved to be false.

The men on the fronts did not get home for Christmas as the war dragged on for four years. During that time 8.5 million men were killed, with hundreds of thousands more injured. The "war to end all wars" took a horrific human toll and transformed Europe.  However, on Christmas Eve in December 1914 one of the most unusual events in military history took place on the Western front.

On the night of Dec. 24, the weather abruptly became cold, freezing the water and slush of the trenches in which the men bunkered. On the German side, soldiers began lighting candles. British sentries reported to commanding officers there seemed to be small lights raised on poles or bayonets.

Although these lanterns clearly illuminated German troops, making them vulnerable to being shot, the British held their fire. Even more amazing, British officers saw through their binoculars that some enemy troops were holding Christmas trees over their heads with lighted candles in their branches. The message was clear: Germans, who celebrated Christmas on the eve of Dec. 24, were extending holiday greetings to their enemies.

Within moments of that sighting, the British began hearing a few German soldiers singing a Christmas carol. It was soon picked up all along the German line as other soldiers joined in harmonizing.

The words heard were these: "Stille nacht, heilige nacht." British troops immediately recognized the melody as "Silent Night" quickly neutralized all hostilities on both sides. One by one, British and German soldiers began laying down their weapons to venture into no- man's-land, a small patch of bombed-out earth between the two sides.

So many soldiers on both sides ventured out that superior officers were prevented from objecting. There was an undeclared truce, and peace had broken out.

Frank Richards was an eyewitness of this unofficial truce. In his wartime diary he wrote: "We stuck up a board with 'Merry Christmas' on it. The enemy stuck up a similar one. Two of our men threw off their equipment and jumped on the parapet with their hands above their heads as two of the Germans did the same, our two going to meet them.

"They shook hands and then we all got out of the trench and so did the Germans," Richards said.  Richards also explained that some German soldiers spoke perfect English with one saying how fed up he was with the war and how he would be glad when it was all over. His British counterpart agreed.

That night, former enemy soldiers sat around a common campfire. They exchanged small gifts from their meager belongings - chocolate bars, buttons, badges and small tins of processed beef. Men who only hours earlier had been shooting to kill were now sharing Christmas festivities and showing each other family snapshots. The truce ended just as it had begun, by mutual agreement.

Captain C.I. Stockwell of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers recalled how, after a truly "Silent Night," he fired three shots into the air at 8:30 a.m. December 26 and then stepped up onto the trench bank. A German officer who had exchanged gifts with Captain Stockwell the previous night also appeared on a trench bank. They bowed, saluted and climbed back into their trenches. A few minutes later, Captain Stockwell heard the German officer fire two shots into the air.

The war was on again.

 

 NLT   John 11:25-26

Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?'” – 

"Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal."

Martin Luther King Jr.

Silent Night/Still Still Still - Daddy Daughter Duet - Mat and Savanna Shaw

We had the opportunity to attend a Christmas concert by Mat and Savannah Shaw early this month.  When they performed this song, I knew that I had to use it sometime this year. This father/daughter duet combines Silent Night and Still, Still Still.  

Pizza bread recipe

2 t. Yeast

1 ½ c. warm water

3 ½ c. flour

2 t. Salt

1 ½ T sugar

Sprinkle yeast over warm water in a large bowl. Let it sit for 3 minutes. Add in flour, salt, and sugar. Mix using a spoon just until it comes together. 

Add:

2 ½ c favorite toppings (olives, pepperoni, tomatoes, peppers, anything you like)

½ c. parmesan cheese

Dough will be tacky. Let rise 1 hour, then put in refrigerator and let rise for another hour. Take the dough out of the refrigerator. Flour your countertop, then roll out the dough into a rectangle about 11×18”.  Sprinkle mozzarella over top. Then, fold into thirds to yield a 11 x 6 loaf. Seal sides so cheese is not exposed. Let your loaf rest while you preheat oven to 450 degrees F.  Bake the bread, either on a pizza stone or baking sheet, for 30 to 35 minutes, until golden brown. Halfway through cover loaf with aluminum foil.  About 3 minutes before taking it out, lightly brush the top with olive oil and let it finish baking. 

I woke up this morning at 2:33. My brain wouldn’t turn off.  It came up with a HUGE list of things which must be accomplished today.  It wouldn’t leave me alone, so I finally got out of bed and cleaned my kitchen.  I told my brain to be quiet.  I told it to leave me alone.  I told it that I needed a silent night and to let me sleep! And then thought, “uh-oh, I feel a song coming on.”  In Amy Grant’s song “I Need A Silent Night” she says:

 I need a silent night, a holy night

To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise

I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here

To end this crazy day with a silent night

That’s exactly what we all need to find peace at Christmas.  We need to create quiet times, to slow down and escape the rush.  My suggestions are to have a quiet hour as needed.  Turn off your electronics and dim the lights.  Play soft Christmas carols in the background.  Think about Jesus, his love, his gifts. Count your blessings and take a moment to thank God for them and to pray for serenity. ~~ Marilee

I seldom use anything related to Santa, but this story is an exception.  Christmas Miracle

By Susan Morton Leonard, Santa’s wife

Santa’s name: Mark Leonard or Santa Mark

extracted from : http://academictips.org/blogs/christmas-miracle-real-story/

At the close of this article, there is a sentence which says “If you find this story useful, please share with a friend!”  Thank you, authors :) I find this story of great use :)

This is a real Christmas miracle story, which happened in December 1997 in Wisconsin, USA.

A little girl named Sarah had leukemia and was not expected to live to see Christmas. Her brother and grandmother went to the mall to ask Mark Leonard who was a professional Santa Claus to visit the hospital to give Sarah the gift of hope through encouragement and prayer.

A year later Sarah surprised Santa by showing up at the mall where he worked. Here goes the story.

A little boy and his grandmother came to see Santa at The Mayfair Mall in Wisconsin. The child climbed up on Santa's lap, holding a picture of a little girl.

“Who is this?” – asked Santa, smiling. “Your friend? Your sister?”

“Yes, Santa.” – he replied.

“My sister, Sarah, who is very sick.” – he said sadly.

Santa glanced over at the grandmother who was waiting nearby and saw her dabbing her eyes with a tissue.

“She wanted to come with me to see you, oh, so very much, Santa!” – the child exclaimed.

“She misses you.” – he added softly.

Santa tried to be cheerful and encouraged a smile to the boy’s face, asking him what he wanted Santa to bring him for Christmas.

When they finished their visit, the grandmother came over to help the child off his lap, and started to say something to Santa, but halted.

“What is it?” – Santa asked warmly.

“Well, I know it’s really too much to ask you, Santa, but ...” – the old woman began, shooing her grandson over to one of Santa’s elves to collect the little gift which Santa gave all his young visitors.

“The girl in the photograph… my granddaughter well, you see … she has leukemia and isn’t expected to make it even through the holidays.” – she said through tear-filled eyes.

“Is there anyway, Santa, any possible way that you could come see Sarah? That’s all she’s asked for, for Christmas, is to see Santa.”

Santa blinked and swallowed hard and told the woman to leave information with his elves as to where Sarah was, and he would see what he could do. Santa thought of little else the rest of that afternoon. He knew what he had to do.

“What if it were MY child lying in that hospital bed, dying?” – he thought with a sinking heart, “This is the least I can do.”

When Santa finished visiting with all the boys and girls that evening, he retrieved from his helper the name of the hospital where Sarah was staying. He asked Rick, the assistant location manager how to get to Children’s Hospital.

“Why?” – Rick asked, with a puzzled look on his face.

Santa relayed to him the conversation with Sarah’s grandmother earlier that day.

“Come on…. I’ll take you there.” – Rick said softly. Rick drove them to the hospital and came inside with Santa. They found out which room Sarah was in. A pale Rick said he would wait out in the hall.

Santa quietly peeked into the room through the half-closed door and saw little Sarah on the bed.

The room was full of what appeared to be her family; there was the grandmother and the girl’s brother he had met earlier that day. A woman whom he guessed was Sarah’s mother stood by the bed, gently pushing Sarah’s thin hair off her forehead.

And another woman who he discovered later was Sarah’s aunt, sat in a chair near the bed with a weary, sad look on her face. They were talking quietly, and Santa could sense the warmth and closeness of the family, and their love and concern for Sarah.

Taking a deep breath, and forcing a smile on his face, Santa entered the room, bellowing a hearty, “Ho, ho, ho!”

“Santa!” – shrieked little Sarah weakly, as she tried to escape her bed to run to him.

Santa rushed to her side and gave her a warm hug. A child the tender age of his own son — 9 years old — gazed up at him with wonder and excitement.

Her skin was pale, and her short tresses bore telltale bald patches from the effects of chemotherapy. But all he saw when he looked at her was a pair of huge, blue eyes. His heart melted, and he had to force himself to choke back tears.

Though his eyes were riveted upon Sarah’s face, he could hear the gasps and quiet sobbing of the women in the room.

As he and Sarah began talking, the family crept quietly to the bedside one by one, squeezing Santa’s shoulder or his hand gratefully, whispering “Thank you” as they gazed sincerely at him with shining eyes.

Santa and Sarah talked and talked, and she excitedly told him all the toys she wanted for Christmas, assuring him she’d been a very good girl that year.

As their time together dwindled, Santa felt led in his spirit to pray for Sarah and asked for permission from the girl’s mother. She nodded in agreement and the entire family circled around Sarah’s bed, holding hands.

Santa looked intensely at Sarah and asked her if she believed in angels, “Oh, yes, Santa… I do!” – she exclaimed.

“Well, I’m going to ask that angels watch over you.” – he said.

Laying one hand on the child’s head, Santa closed his eyes and prayed. He asked that God touch little Sarah and heal her body from this disease.

He asked that angels minister to her, watch and keep her. And when he finished praying, still with eyes closed, he started singing, softly, “Silent Night, Holy Night…. all is calm, all is bright…”

The family joined in, still holding hands, smiling at Sarah, and crying tears of hope, tears of joy for this moment, as Sarah beamed at them all.

When the song ended, Santa sat on the side of the bed again and held Sarah’s frail, small hands in his own.

“Now, Sarah,” – he said authoritatively, “you have a job to do, and that is to concentrate on getting well. I want you to have fun playing with your friends this summer, and I expect to see you at my house at Mayfair Mall this time next year!”

He knew it was risky proclaiming that to this little girl who had terminal cancer, but he ‘had’ to. He had to give her the greatest gift he could — not dolls or games or toys — but the gift of HOPE.

“Yes, Santa!” – Sarah exclaimed, her eyes bright. He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead and left the room.

Out in the hall, the minute Santa’s eyes met Rick’s, a look passed between them and they wept unashamed.

Sarah’s mother and grandmother slipped out of the room quickly and rushed to Santa’s side to thank him.

“My only child is the same age as Sarah.” – he explained quietly. “This is the least I could do.”

They nodded with understanding and hugged him.

One year later, Santa Mark was again back on the set in Milwaukee for his six-week, seasonal job which he so loves to do. Several weeks went by and then one day a child came up to sit on his lap.

“Hi, Santa! Remember me?!”

“Of course, I do.” – Santa proclaimed (as he always does), smiling down at her. After all, the secret to being a ‘good’ Santa is to always make each child feel as if they are the ‘only’ child in the world at that moment.

“You came to see me in the hospital last year!”

Santa’s jaw dropped. Tears immediately sprang in his eyes, and he grabbed this little miracle and held her to his chest.

“Sarah!” – he exclaimed. He scarcely recognized her, for her hair was long and silky and her cheeks were rosy — much different from the little girl he had visited just a year before.

He looked over and saw Sarah’s mother and grandmother in the sidelines smiling and waving and wiping their eyes.

That was the best Christmas ever for Santa Claus.

He had witnessed –and been blessed to be instrumental in bringing about — this miracle of hope. This precious little child was healed. Cancer-free. Alive and well. He silently looked up to Heaven and humbly whispered, “Thank you, Father. ‘Tis a very, Merry Christmas!”

John 13:34-35

John 13:34-35 KJV

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

He gives us Hope when Hope is gone, 

He gives us strength when we can’t go on.

He gives us shelter in the storms of life

When there is no peace on earth…

There is peace in Christ.

Joseph's Song - How could it be.wmv

Such a beautiful video and song !

Father, show me where I fit

Into this plan of yours

How can a man be father

To the Son of God?

Lord, for all my life

I've been a simple carpenter

How can I raise a King?

How can I raise a King?

Macadamia Nut Mini Loaves

1 jar (3-1/2 ounces) macadamia nuts, divided

1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut

1-1/2 cups sugar, divided

3/4 cup butter, softened

2 large eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup 2% milk

3 tablespoons lemon juice

2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Finely chop enough of the macadamia nuts to measure 1/3 cup; set aside. Coarsely chop remaining nuts; toss with coconut and 1 tablespoon sugar. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter and remaining sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Combine flour and baking powder; gradually add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla and reserved finely chopped nuts.

Spoon into five greased 5-3/4x3x2-in. loaf pans. Sprinkle with reserved coconut mixture. Bake at 325° for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (cover loosely with foil if top browns too quickly). Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

Here is a link to a youtube video showing how to make a fun angel craft.  How to make a Paper Angel - Christmas Decoration - Paper Craft

My brother Lee has been on my mind a lot lately.  Struggling with health problems, it has been a difficult year for him.  Several days ago, Lee mentioned to me that he had spent the day talking with angels.  Angels play an important part in the grand scheme of things.  When Jesus concluded his 40-day fast, angels ministered to Him. When Jesus suffered in agony at Gethsemane, an angel appeared from Heaven strengthening Him.  When the Apostle Paul was on a ship in the middle of a raging storm, the crew fought on for days, fearing for their lives.  After many days, Paul stepped forward and told them that an angel had appeared to him during the night and told him there was no reason to fear.  The ship would be lost, but every life would be spared.   Angels comfort us.  They provide protection and guidance.  Angels make divine proclamations from God. On the hills outside of Bethlehem a group of shepherds, outcasts from society, took turns watching the sheep.  An angel appeared before them saying “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord”.  The sky filled with a glorious angel choir singing for joy at Christ’s birth.  Angels are still with us today.  They comfort us, guide us and sustain us ALL in our times of need.  ~~Marilee

I wrote the first of these poems after talking with Lee.

Angels at Christmastime

In the hush of winter,

When candles light the air and music touches the soul

Angels walk.

They carry gifts from Christ our Lord.

They find a child alone, afraid

Praying for someone to listen, to understand

to hear the laughter that hides deep within—

They touch a heart and place a friend in this child’s life

Angels drift to homes where shadows stay,

Strengthening lost souls.

They weave a thread of gentle peace throughout the fabric of people's lives,

And leave behind a quiet warmth.

For one who stumbles in the night,

They kindle hope-

Hope which cuts through doubt, and fear, and cold,

With whispers of love untold.

At Christmastime, their blessings fall like snow,

Gently covering all—

Heaven hears, angels come

And we are not alone.

The second is written about the “angels” in my life.

Angels in Disguise

Wearing scarves of red and mittens bright,

Their laughter fills the frosty night,

They have not with halos, wings, or light,

But cocoa mugs held snug and tight,

They hum a tune, they share a pie,

And paint the stars across the sky.

They fill each year with gentle cheer,

And whisper hope for all to hear,

For friends are angels, warm and true,

Who bless our hearts the whole year through.

They share our sorrows, joys and fears

They really are such precious dears.

When the bells of Christmas chime,

I thank the angels—friends of mine,

For every giggle, hug, and song,

Which makes me feel like I belong.

And of course, the song says:

Angels we have heard on high,

Sweetly singing through the sky.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Psalms 86:15

Psalms 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

“A Christmas without light is not Christmas. Let there be light in the soul, in the heart; let there be forgiveness to others; let there be no hostilities, which are dark. Let there be the beautiful light of Jesus.” —Pope Francis

"Silent Night" (Official Music Video) | GENTRI

Beautiful video.

Memory from 2020

Yesterday, I got semi-sidetracked. Does that ever happen to you? My intention was to contact someone who was alone, who needed to know someone cared about them this Christmas. I planned to ask them about their Christmas memories, and help them remember the good times. Dean and I prepared goodie bags with apples, oranges, grapes, and granola bars and delivered them to various families in the area. We shared memories with many of them. At one home, we talked about the Fisher Price nativity set I own and how much our children enjoyed playing with the pieces when they were young. It’s not out this year, or I should say that it wasn’t out until yesterday. When I got home and looked at the empty spot where it usually sits, I had to put it out. So many memories of playing with my youngest daughter, Gina, and all of our grandchildren flooded back. One memory replayed itself over and over in my mind. Four years ago our grandson Lucas was here. We played with my set. I told Lucas a “service” stressed version of the nativity story. Lucas told me the names of the figurines, and every one of them was “Jesus” - the shepherds, the wise men, and Joseph. Even Mary and the angel were “Jesus”. The last piece was “baby Jesus”. I asked Lucas to tell me the story. He picked up the first wise man and said “serve Jesus”. Then said the same for each figurine, then finally picked up the baby in the manger again and said, “love Jesus”. He got that right! I wish I was a child and could serve through their eyes. ~~ Marilee

No Knead Sandwich Bread

1 c + 3 T whole milk, lukewarm

2 T sugar

2 T olive oil

2 t yeast

1 t salt

3 c. white flour

Warm the milk.  Combine warm milk, salt, sugar, oil and yeast.  Mix everything together with a fork, until it forms a rough, shaggy dough.  Wet your hand with water, and continue mixing, making sure there are no dry patches of flour and dough. Cover the dough, and let it rest for 30 minutes to allow the flour to continue to hydrate. After 30 minutes stretch the dough.  Wet your hand.  Take one side of the dough, stretch and fold the dough onto the opposite side. Make quarter turn of bowl.  Do four folds. .Then take your wet hand, and push the dough under itself, creating a rounded ball. Cover the no-knead dough and set aside for 30 minutes to allow the gluten to develop and to relax so it’s ready to stretch again. Then come back and do a second series of stretch and folds. You want to do about 4 folds per session. Repeat this process another two times. So four series in total. After every series, ball up the dough, pushing the dough under itself and creating a smooth plump dough.  After the last series of stretch and folds, cover the dough and allow to rise for 1h.  Once the dough has tripled in size, shape the loaf and bake the bread.  Shape into loaf. Place in buttered loaf pan.  bake in a preheated oven at 350 F 25 minutes.  

Saturday afternoon, I started making the final touches on my blog for today using a Chanukah story. I have used many such stories over the years. The events out of Australia yesterday filled my heart with great sorrow. I wondered if I should still use this. I asked Dean. He said, “yes, we need peace this Christmas.”  We need to set aside hate. There are too many people who look at those around themselves as “US”es (rhymes with buses) or as “THEM”s. Christ was a Jew. The shepherds were Jews, Mary and Joseph were Jews. They were ALL God’s children- as are we. We are all “US”es.

“Weeks before Chanukah in 1992, the Schnitzer family of Billings, Montana, was in the holiday spirit.  The Schnitzers, with two small children, decorated their home and windows for the upcoming celebration with Stars of David, a Menorah, and a sign reading “Happy Chanukah”.  At around 7 pm on December 2nd, an unidentified person threw a cinderblock through the window of the Schnitzer’s home at their 5-year-old child.  This incident, which followed other antisemitic acts around the city of roughly 81,000, outraged local residents.

Jews have celebrated Hanukkah for thousands of years.  According to the Talmud, the Hanukkah menorah should be lit outside one’s front door, publicizing the great miracles of the holiday for the world to see.  When the Jews were exiled, displaying one’s Jewishness publicly was recognized as a potentially dangerous act. The practice of lighting the menorah was adjusted.  Instead of lighting outdoors, Jews kindled the menorah inside to be seen only by those in the home.  Hiding the menorah reflected the Jews deteriorating sense of security in their new lands.

In recent generations, Jewish communities around the world have once again adjusted their practice.  Jews have felt protected in many western countries, and the lighting of the menorah reflects this sense of safety.  Instead of lighting in a way that avoids detection, many Jewish celebrants adorn their homes with Chanukah apparel and light their candles in a public-facing window.  In some ways, the kindling of the Chanukah candles is a marker for how Jews are treated in any given society.

A 42-year-old woman named Margaret MacDonald, who worked for the Montana Association of Churches, had an idea.  What if other Billings residents placed menorahs in their own windows in solidarity with the Schnitzers and other Jewish families?  She rallied other members of her church who purchased menorahs to place in their own windows.  Most remarkably, the Billings Gazette, the largest newspaper in town, published a full-page cutout of a menorah for readers to tape on their windows.  It was estimated that somewhere between 5,000-10,000 non-Jewish homes proudly displayed the menorah that year in Billings, Montana.” (Choose Light: A Chanukah Miracle in Billings, Montana - Israel365 )

On October 7, 2023, I got on my computer and printed out a picture of a menorah, a powerful symbol of light, and posted it in my front window to show my support for the people of Israel. It is still there today, only it is now being joined by a printout of the Star of David. Captain and Tenille recorded a song in 1977 called “Circles.” The lyrics talk about a man who shut himself away from love out of fear. He drew a circle around himself to shut others out, but “love” drew a circle to take him in.

“And oh love and I, knew just where to begin
Yes, love and I started a circle to spin
Oh love and I
We drew a circle, beautiful circle
A wonderful circle that took him in.

Loving each other at Christmas time and always, brings peace, hope and joy into our lives.  It doesn’t matter what the attacks of violence are: political assassinations or shootings, campus assaults, assaults at churches of any denomination, domestic violence … Genocidal annihilation.  We have experienced all of them this year.  It needs to stop.  Our God is a God of love. ~~  Marilee