John 19:30
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
3.30.2018
12.24.2017
December Twenty-fourth - Christmas Eve
What a magical night is Christmas Eve. As a child, you spend it in anticipation of the arrival of Santa coupled with the knowledge that Jesus' birthday is almost here. As an adult you spend it secure in the knowledge that Christ our Savior was born coupled with the anticipation of the excitement your children will express on Christmas morning around the Christmas tree.
The thing about Christmas is that it really doesn't matter how much money you spend, how many cards you give or receive, how many goodies you bake and consume, how beautifully you decorate your home. Christmas is Christmas without any or all of those things.
It truly is about spending time with family and friends. It's a time of year when you can give generously of your time, your money, your support, your encouragement. It's a time to be grateful for the year that is passing and to recognize all of the blessings you received throughout. Christmas is about Jesus. Yes, He was born in a manger. Yes, the angels sang Alleluias. Yes, the shepherds came. And yes, the wise men eventually showed up.
The story didn't stop there. Jesus grew into a man. He traveled all around His home country proclaiming the wonders of God. He died on the cross, was buried, and rose again. He is the Messiah.
All of this is Christmas.
The thing about Christmas is that it really doesn't matter how much money you spend, how many cards you give or receive, how many goodies you bake and consume, how beautifully you decorate your home. Christmas is Christmas without any or all of those things.
It truly is about spending time with family and friends. It's a time of year when you can give generously of your time, your money, your support, your encouragement. It's a time to be grateful for the year that is passing and to recognize all of the blessings you received throughout. Christmas is about Jesus. Yes, He was born in a manger. Yes, the angels sang Alleluias. Yes, the shepherds came. And yes, the wise men eventually showed up.
The story didn't stop there. Jesus grew into a man. He traveled all around His home country proclaiming the wonders of God. He died on the cross, was buried, and rose again. He is the Messiah.
All of this is Christmas.
4.16.2017
12.25.2016
12.24.2016
December Twenty Fourth- The Reason
Tomorrow is Christmas Day! I hope you all enjoy a blessed Christmas with your friends and family. Merry Christmas!
7.30.2016
Christmas in July Day Thirty: Christ is Born
I cannot write Christmas in July posts without including one on why we have Christmas.
I love the Santa's, the gifts, the trees, the music, the movies, the books, the cards, the celebrations.
But Christmas is Christmas because of the birth of Christ. As we move toward the holiday season, I hope I will not be so caught up in the fun, the craziness, the commercial, that I ignore the true meaning of Christmas.
Thank you for visiting me for Christmas in July. Your comments mean the world to me and I enjoy getting to know you through your blogs. I'll be posting occasionally through the next months and then (hopefully) a lot in December.
Happy Christmas in July!
I love the Santa's, the gifts, the trees, the music, the movies, the books, the cards, the celebrations.
But Christmas is Christmas because of the birth of Christ. As we move toward the holiday season, I hope I will not be so caught up in the fun, the craziness, the commercial, that I ignore the true meaning of Christmas.
Thank you for visiting me for Christmas in July. Your comments mean the world to me and I enjoy getting to know you through your blogs. I'll be posting occasionally through the next months and then (hopefully) a lot in December.
Happy Christmas in July!
12.25.2014
4.20.2014
4.08.2013
Early Bird Christmas Sale
Today is April 8, and I received my first Christmas sale email from Herrschner's. Last week I was in Hobby Lobby and as I was checking out the cashier told me they would start receiving Christmas merchandise in May. Last week I received my Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Club Dream Book. I've already been through it several times and have had most of the kids go through it to choose the ornaments they would like to own. I just have to narrow down my list and then I'm ready to pre-order from Hallmark!
I know a lot of people do not like the fact that the Christmas shopping season starts so early. Some people feel that it takes away from all the holidays between Memorial Day and Thanksgiving. Some people think that it only promotes the commercial side of Christmas. Other people feel pressured to spend more money because the products are available for a longer period of time.
To all of this I say: Humbug
Here are my top five arguments for having Christmas merchandise out early...
1. I am a born again Christian. I know that Christmas is about Christ's birth. Every time I make a Christmas related purchase, or see a Christmas related advertisement, I hear CHRISTmas. Having Christmas stuff out early does not detract from the spirituality of the holiday. After all, if Christ hadn't been born, we wouldn't have Christmas at all.
2. I am a cross-stitcher. Every year I hand make gifts for Christmas. This takes time. The more gifts I wish to make, the more time it takes. I need for the Christmas craft supplies to be in the stores early so I can get an early start. I'm way organized, but even I'm not organized enough to purchase the supplies I'll need for 2014 Christmas in 2013 Christmas shopping season!
3. I want to be stress-free. I strive every year to be completely finished with all Christmas preparations by Thanksgiving. I want to have the entire month of December free for fun with friends and family, for attending community Christmas events, for driving around to look at Christmas displays, for watching Christmas DVDs and listening to Christmas music.
4. I want to be debt-free. I do not want to buy Christmas with credit cards and have massive bills to face in January. I spend cash for Christmas. The only way to do that successfully is to come up with a budget early in the year and buy a little at a time. If I have to buy decor or gifts that are available exclusively for Christmas, I need for them to be available early in the year for cash purchases.
5. I enjoy the joy of Christmas. I love the anticipation. I enjoy buying or making gifts for people that I know they will appreciate. I like thinking about the plans I'm going to make this year, the people I'm going to visit, the cards I'm going to send, the goodies I'm going to bake. When I see Christmas items appear in the stores, I get excited and start making lists!
These may not be good reasons for some, but they work for me. I'm inspired by the appearance of the first Early Bird Christmas Sale and my KOC Dream Book. This week I'll go over my list of home made gifts and make a list of the supplies I need to purchase. I'll start pouring though my cookbooks to pick a couple of new goodies to make this year. I watched a Christmas DVD yesterday while I cross-stitched. But make no mistake, through it all, I know what Christmas really is... it's one of the foundations of my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
4.08.2012
He is Risen!
The Resurrection
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could embalm him. Very early on Sunday morning, as the sun rose, they went to the tomb. They worried out loud to each other, "Who will roll back the stone from the tomb for us?"
Then they looked up, saw that it had been rolled back—it was a huge stone—and walked right in. They saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed all in white. They were completely taken aback, astonished.
He said, "Don't be afraid. I know you're looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the One they nailed on the cross. He's been raised up; he's here no longer. You can see for yourselves that the place is empty. Now—on your way. Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You'll see him there, exactly as he said."
Mark 16:1-7 The Message
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could embalm him. Very early on Sunday morning, as the sun rose, they went to the tomb. They worried out loud to each other, "Who will roll back the stone from the tomb for us?"
Then they looked up, saw that it had been rolled back—it was a huge stone—and walked right in. They saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed all in white. They were completely taken aback, astonished.
He said, "Don't be afraid. I know you're looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the One they nailed on the cross. He's been raised up; he's here no longer. You can see for yourselves that the place is empty. Now—on your way. Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You'll see him there, exactly as he said."
Mark 16:1-7 The Message
12.24.2011
The Christmas Story
Luke 2 (NIV)
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)