“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
May you all have a joyous and blessed Christmas and may the light of Jesus shine upon you.
and remember to be Kind.
Cee fun challenges always make you think and today’s of Basically One Color I though would be easy but…there is a lot of color right now in my home and around there is a lot of color showing even with all the snow. But I did manage to single out some mostly white and mostly silver pictures of my decoration…that are all over the house.
May your Christmas be beautiful and bright with lots of love and family around. Remember those who may need an extra share of kindness this season and share it fully.
Man, I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow. I sure hope I can find a close parking space at the mall. Or how about – I hope I can lose this weight after Christmas or I hope this growth isn’t cancer. Many thoughts toward the word called hope. The dictionary beaks it down like this:
One word in that group stood out for me – Cherish
When we think of hope from a Christian perspective it takes on a whole different meaning. I think what tends to happened with any language or word of power in any language is that we get complacent of its meaning and its power.
In Sarah Young’s devotional book Jesus Calling, she reminds us that many Christian’s today misunderstand the word hope believing it to denote wishful thinking. And I agree with her statement of ‘Nothing could be further from the truth.’
Christians believe that once we accept the Son as our savior, we replace the fears of hell with the longings of heaven. We then have the hope of heaven that strengthens us and encourages us, filling us with a yearning for God, our creator, our protector, our savior.
“The phrase hope of heaven highlights the benefits you can enjoy while remaining here on earth. This hope keeps you spiritually alive during dark times of adversity; it brightens your path and heightens your awareness of God.”
Hope, while it is not tangible to physically hold onto with your hands, it can be felt in your heart. What a powerful gift from God to bring us love, joy and peace…hope.
Now that the Christmas season is upon us, spread that power of hope around and let your kindness be full. Let the love of Christ shine brightly in all that you do.
What a controversial topic for a quiet Saturday morning that almost has as many opinions as there are types of pacifiers. My babies were thumb babies, those were more convenient but the disadvantage is when it’s time for them to be gone, you can’t throw it out the window while driving down the highway. My daughter bought one for her youngest nephew, her younger brother’s last child, which we both thought was hilarious. As far as I know, it was never used but I found this picture on line and thought I would share and no this is not my grandson but he is a cutie.
But the passe I am referring to today is a total different type of pacifier and one I will miss when it gets to warm to use….the fireplace.
These two can be running with the ball, yanking on the rope or just barking loud at each other as they race through the house. BUT when I turn on the gas fireplace, the world comes to a complete stop. So last night they were driving me crazy as I was trying to get some writing done, so I turned on the fireplace and five minutes later…
So we all settled down for a quiet evening and enjoyed the soft Christmas lights and a warm fireplace. Do you have things in your home to settle the loud noises of life? If so share away, I love seeing how we all learn ways to quiet the loudness of life.
I post this in with others who enjoy Linda G Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday and today’s theme is loud. I know my house really gets loud sometimes, so every effort at calm and quiet is well appreciated.
While this season can be loud with parties and family, remember this is also season of joy, love and peace. So share you peace with others and know that some are hurting in may ways. Even those who put on a brave face can still be hurting. So be kind through the season and carry it with you through the next year.
Various Fire Departments, US and Canada I believe, have found a way to share Christmas Joy with us all. Its pretty awesome and I had to share it. Way to go guys – Merry Christmas.
And in the light of a joyous season, always remember to show kindness where ever you may go.
Tonight I am sharing a memory of my youth. A wondrous time at Christmas when the majority of our small town was Christian and the separation of church and state did not exist. A time when Christmas decorations depicting the birth of Jesus lite the lawns of most houses remembering the reason for the season.
Our college at that time at that time was still relatively small and still called a college. Its front campus was on the main street in town so a lot of traffic went by it on a daily basis. Today it has grown to university status but I remember stories way back in the day from my grandmother who went there when it was an all women’s prep school. Time changes all things but it is important to remember and hold on to these memories and to hold fast to the important things and traditions of life.
On the front of the school lawn of the college in the mid 50s through the mid 60s a life size nativity scene graced the lawn from Thanksgiving to New Years day. I am posting two pictures, one being day time so you can get a visual of just how big it was – I mean life size camels as well as people – and then one at night to show you the beauty of it. I was sad when they no longer put it out and did not understand why. Now I think it is sad but it is the world we live in today. So I share with you a wonderful memory of my youth and hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
I love the holidays. I have been so blessed to be able to share this love with friends and family. But if you have recently lost someone, the holidays can be really hard. This post goes out to all of you who may have recently lost a loved ones this year, or even several years ago making the holidays hard to get through. This was a poem with author unknown but it was posted on Facebook by a dear friend and coworker and I thought it needed sharing. My heart goes out to all of you.
My First Christmas in Heaven
I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below,
With tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow.
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away that tear,
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,
But the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas Choir up here.
I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.
I know how much you miss me. I see the pain inside your heart,
But I am not so far away. We really aren’t apart.
So be happy for me dear ones. You know I hold you dear,
And be glad I’m spending Christmas, with Jesus Christ this year.
I send you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above,
I send you each a memory of my undying love.
After all LOVE is a gift, more precious than pure gold,
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other, as my father said to do,
For I can’t count the blessings or love he has for each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear,
Remember, I am spending Christmas, with Jesus Christ this year.
-Author Unknown-
Remember those who are hurting this year and give them an extra hug of kindness.
Jansen Photo has a wonderful weekly challenge that I try to play with often and today, due to the season, it is right up my alley – the Glow of Christmas.
The lights seem to glow brighter at this time of year with hope, love and joy being shared more freely. Come join in with TPC and share the beauty of the lights you see, the glow and happiness of a child, or how the theme moves you to share.
And as you share in this weeks theme, remember the season and why He came, the love He gave and the kindness He shared and try to always be kind.
“Where are the kids?” asked Dad.
“What?” questioned mom. “I thought they were with you.”
“Would I be asking you if they were with me?”
“Oh, good grief!” mom exclaimed exasperated as she walked past dad. “Grandma, have you seen the kids?
“They were headed to the edge of the forest. They haven”t been gone long.”
Mom looked at dad, “They found the tree,” she stated. And they all headed toward the edge of the forest.
As they approached the tree, a small light glimmered through the branches and giggles of joy could be heard from inside.
May happiness and joy surround you and your loved ones in light throughout this wonderful season of love. And remember to spread that love, joy and kindness where ever you go so that the ripple effect of love spreads through the world.
What is it all about, this season that makes me love it so?
Is it the hustle and bustle of the people as we hurry to and fro?
Maybe it’s all the lights that sparkle and twinkle and glow,
Or the funny old man in red when he giggles Ho, Ho, Ho.
Maybe it’s something totally different as we zoom to our many places,
The joys of seeing and greeting others with the smiles on all of our faces
As fresh cut evergreens fill the air, a wonderful smell the season embraces
With glittering balls and tinsel aglow and angels draped in laces.
Are these real reasons, to enjoy this season, a season surrounded by love,
The birth of a baby, the birth of our salvation, as soft as a coo of a dove
Laying in a manger, a food trough for animals, a precious gift from above
Although he was King, he came as a slave, to show us the fullness of love.
Anita Neal
As you enter this holiday season, remember, its not Happy Holidays, although it is a happy time, its Christmas – Christ Mass – a time for celebrating His birth, remembering why He came, what He has done for us and we should reflect His love through the season. And always try to be kind.
For the Love of 