Christmas All the Year

[I first posted this a year ago...]
Anyone who knows me very well, knows it’s quite difficult for me to let go of the Christmas season.  I love the joy prevalent throughout December, the carols on the radio, lights on the trees, and even the meager focus the media and society gives to the Birth of [...]

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Christmas Card: Part 1

This is the first part of a Christmas Card to all my friends and readers!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace!!
Isaiah 9:6
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From Handel’s Messiah:
[...]

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O Holy Night!

Today’s title hymn took on special meaning for me last week when I heard my sister-in-law, Becky, sing it in her church.  I’ve referred to Becky in past posts as she’s struggled with cancer and its difficult ramifications.  It was a little over 6 months ago when she underwent surgery following a diagnosis of Stage 4 colon cancer.  [...]

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I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

This wasn’t always one of my favourite tunes of the season.  What I perceived as a plodding pace and dark minor key, didn’t express Christmas exuberance as I once preferred.
However..
That all changed when I listened to Johnny Cash’s recording of this song, and heard bright hopefulness through deep pain.
And so goes the history of this original poem by American [...]

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My Christmas Prayer

Do your expectations of Christmas often leave you more stressed than blessed?  A few years ago, while quickly sliding down that stressful path towards Christmas, I wrote down a prayer to help me focus on a God-glorifying Season! I just “happened” to come across this prayer again, and realize I need to pray it again–TODAY! Perhaps, you want to [...]

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Christmas Sweets

“The blessing of the Lord makes us rich and He adds no sorrow to it!!  Proverbs 10:22
Blessings  in sweet, tasty packages be the subject for today.  Here are ‘a few of my favourite things’ I’m baking today, and later on this month with family!  The recipes are easy, and actually not originals–each one can be found on the product packaging..so [...]

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O Come, O Come Emmanuel

There aren’t enough days in December to post all the wonderful Christmas music we’re privileged to hear and sing!  How our Lord’s birth inspires worship and praise!!  Many of these songs proclaim a wide range of Scripture references from both the Old and New Testaments.  Today’s selection is no exception.
O, Come, O Come Emmanuel’s very ti­tle refers to Isai­ah 7:14: “Be­hold, [...]

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55 Christmases

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”  Matthew 7:11 
TMI. That’s what this post probably is. Who wants to know where I’ve spent a lifetime of Christmases?  But the Lord’s faithfulness [...]

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The Truth According to Linus

Simple.
Profound.
Hands-down, my favourite scene from any movie ever:

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Christmas Perks

I’m a Christmas person. 
As a Christian, this fact may be easily understood, because Christmas is a time when it seems like everyone is celebrating our Lord’s birth.  Of course, we know that’s not true.  But we can dream…pray…believe.
But I also love Christmas for the perks that happen only at this  time of year.
The Utmost Perks:
1.  First [...]

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