Have yourself a merry little Christmas... :)

Wishing you a Christmas filled with wonders to treasure :)

1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem,because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who wasengaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her togive birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid ; for behold, I bringyou good news of great joy which will be for all the people ; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 "This will be a sign for you: you will finda baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angela multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, And onearth peace among men with whom He is pleased." 15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehemthen, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." 16 So theycame in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about thisChild. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them. Luke 2:1-20

Holiday Reruns....

I'm on a bit of a blog hiatus... been in California for a week and a half, and it's just been impossible to write, though I could stand a little God time on my blog in a big way. I hate to do it, but I am posting a rerun. Enjoy! Merry Christmas!

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2008

What's missing from Christmas?

December 2, 2008

Last week or so, Keelin came into my room, and handed me two little dolls, one was Mary and one was Joseph. They came with a board book that stands up to make a stable and a manger to play out the nativity scene, but she just handed me the two dolls. She said, "Mommy, here, you might need these for your Bible study."

"Thanks, Kee..." (so cute!) "But Kee, where's baby Jesus?"

"Oh, He's lost. I think He's in my room somewhere."

"Don't you want Mary and Joseph to play the Christmas story?"

"No, you can't play it without Jesus."

So true.

This Christmas, don't lose Jesus.

"This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:12

Book Review-- The Unfinished Gift, by Dan Walsh

It really picks me when commercials make me cry.

It picks me even more when books do it to me, because tears get all in the way, and the words get blurry and I can't keep on reading. By page twelve, I was already looking for a kleenex, but I couldn't leave The Unfinished Gift unfinished. In one sitting, I read through my tears the poignant tale of a little boy who's world has been upturned the week before Christmas.

What a beautiful book The Unfinished Gift is.

It reads like a Hallmark Christmas movie. The World War II setting provides a complicated, yet nostalgic backdrop for this novel about seven year-old Patrick Collins, who's been put by Child Services in the custody of his estranged grandfather. His mother has just been killed in a car accident, and his father is "somewhere in England" fighting in the war. Patrick meets his stern grandfather, Ian Collins, for the first time, and knows his world has changed. Through the kindness and caring of his social worker, Miss Townsend, and the widow next door, Mrs. Fortini, Patrick finds comfort, as they attempt to teach Mr. Collins to learn to reach out to his grandson, despite the rift between him and Patrick's parents. Try as they might, it takes a box of letters, a telegram, and Patrick's prayers to help the old man soften his heart toward his family and mend the hurts of the past.

I thoroughly enjoyed each and every character the author brings to the story. His characters are familiar, somehow, without falling into stereotype. He cleverly even develops the character of Patrick's mother(though the book opens after her death), which enriches the depth of the story, and shows the weight of their family's loss. It is a story of love, reconciliation, and forgiveness that is so appropriate for the Christmas season. And even though it made me cry, not once, but several times, it is well worth fighting through tears all the way to the end.

An excerpt can be read here:
http://www.revellbooks.com/Media/MediaManager/Excerpt_9780800719241.pdf

Three is a magic number

December 2, 2009

Early on in grade school, when I would write stories, I'd overuse the exclamation point. If something got really exciting, it wouldn't be unusual for me to express this excitement with a whole line (or three) of !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'s. My teacher, I am sure, tired of reading nothing but !!!!!!!!'s, explained that three exclamation points are quite sufficient. She said that one works for most cases, but if you're really excited about something, that it is acceptable to use three at most. Three reads as much excitement. If you use too many, she taught, what you said loses its excitement value.

I've been doing all this research for a book, and I read something really fascinating, and I was going to save my little sweet morsel of information, but I can't hold onto it any longer! They're playing all these Christmas carols on the radio right now, and everytime I hear the word "holy" I think of it. I think it's so cool, I can't keep it in any more, I am bursting at the seams to tell you! I just hope you think it is, too.

In Isaiah 6:3 and again in Revelation 4:8, the angels cry "Holy Holy Holy!"

I had always heard that this was a reference to the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But one of my commentaries explains that it also serves as a device to show that the angels can't satisfy themselves in the praises of God. They could go on forever! It's like exclamation points that could extend on and on if it wouldn't get tiring for the reader and lose its value. Holy! Holy! Holy! The angels are this excited about the majesty and the glory of God and their praises go on and on.

This should signal how we are to praise Him also.. Our praises should never cease. They should continuously glorify Him. He is HOLY HOLY HOLY! He is full of majesty and mercy and grace! He is mighty and wonderful and good!!!

I will bless the LORD at all times ; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1

And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness And Your praise all day long. Psalm 35:28

Praise the LORD ! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant and praise is becoming. Psalm 147:1
(had to put three today!)