As I rush out the door to work I bring you a morning thought. May we all come to the throw as a child and let God surround you with his gracious peace.
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And remember the value of kindness. Not only does the person receiving kindness benefit but you will be bathed in peace when you share it.
As we look to end another year, we are reminded that this is the last two days of the month, the last two day of the year and the last two days of the decade. Pretty monumental. I have been busy and not on here much this month so its time to fire it back up again. I give you a poem on my thoughts for tonight with blowing flurries after unseasonable warm Christmas in the upper 40s.
THE DEEPER GIFTS
There is a frightful howl that the wind makes
As it zooms through trees with no leaf brakes
When darkness permeates the early evening sky
Reminding us of this season, one, I’d rather pass by
Each season has it gifts that reflect the makers plan
This one requiring deep rest across the land you scan
But as you look across the beauty of each season that you see
You will find a beauty for each one created for you and me
From the cold death of winter with a purity of white snow
That turns to bloom in spring where it all wakes up to grow
The warm caress across your face of a warm summer breeze
It sometimes backfires on you and reluctantly make you sneeze
But then there is fall where the flowers all turn to fruit
Giving food for your table to prepare anyway you suit
As I sit quietly in thought tonight by a fire and the warmth it gives
I am reminded of each season’s beauty, the many gifts our maker gives
So as we close on this year, being a bit more profound than others
We must remember His best gift ever, in that we are all sisters and brothers.
As you reflect on the beauty of this year gone by, remember the little things that were really quite profound and be thankful for the beauty of your year or if it was a bad year, be thankful for the grace in that you are still here.
If you can make a promise to your self for the coming year, remember the enormous value of kindness and try to always be kind.
We all enjoy the fun side of Christmas with memories that make us smile, gifts that can be ridiculously funny and the unforgettable time with family, whether it be good or bad.
I am sharing with you today the last of my ornaments to share for the year and one that I just received from my daughter that made me cry. Its a tradition in our family that if you find an ornament that absolutely fits another member of the family, its purchased as a memory gift, they are not allowed to be over 5-7 dollars although with the cost of things that usually get bypassed but definitely no $20 ornament.
One fun summer my daughter and I went to a craft fair that had a glass blower and he was making what he called sun catchers. We both looked at each other and said Christmas ornaments. These were not to be given as gifts as we bought some for our own trees and I thought I would share them with you as they are quite interesting.
Now that the noise of Christmas is done, its time to reflect on the meaning of why we celebrate this day. No other birth of any child has ever effected the entire world such as this birth. But it was just the beginning of why HE came. He loved us that much. So as you head into a new year, remember his love for you and try to share some of that love with others and always be kind.
“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.
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.
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.
Linda G Hill gives a chance to show our fun artwork with the Escapist Coloring Club. I do love the adult coloring books but this month I am doing a coloring sheet. Our church is sponsoring one of the smaller, less remembered nursing homes in the area with an Angel Tree. If you are not familiar with an Angel Tree, it’s where paper ornaments are placed on a tree with someones name on it and a wish gift they would like to have for Christmas.
We all need to remember our elderly in nursing homes. Some of these gentle people have no family left and they get lonely, especially this time of year. So make sure you visit if you can. We have 37 members at this one home that we are supporting with small request made like a pair of socks, a coffee cup or favorite snacks. One gentleman tickled me asking for anything with anything Iowa Hawkeyes team logo, and one lady asked for anything with a cardinal bird on it. They don’t ask for much, but yet they are asking from the heart, probably more wanting to be remembered than anything. Being forgotten about is a terrible tragedy.
So in the spirit of the season look towards those easily forgotten, and remember how much Jesus loves and remembers you and share that love with others this season. And be Kind.
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.
As we approach the marvelous day of Thanksgiving, with the love of family, food and gratefulness for where we are at this point of our lives, we need to remember to always give thanks to our heavenly Father.
Sarah Young of Jesus Calling reminds us today that when our mind is occupied with thanking Him we have no time left for worry or complaining.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 reminds us “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
My hope for you today comes from Romans 15:13 – “May the God of Hope fill you with all Joy and Peace as you trust Him, so that you may overflow with Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
And as His love and peace surrounds you, let the effects of it ripple out from you in kindness waves to others and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Ludwig created a fun and interesting post for Mondays similar to Norm’s Thursday Doors – Monday Windows. Do go by and check both sites out for some beautiful photographs.
I have not posted on this in a bit as I have been busy but I had been showing you the beautiful windows from my church. The church was built in the 1800’s and the windows were dedicated to founding members in the late 1800’s. My favorite one I am posting today as it symbolizes who we are and who Jesus is. We are the sheep, sometime lost, and he is the shepherd, always ready to pull us out of harms way.
For all the blessing he has done for us, he always did them kindly, therefore we must turn in like and always be kind.
For the Love of 