Blog Archives
Christmas Vacation
Unplugging and plugging into Christmas and family time.
Merry Christmas!!
Unplugging from blogging and tweeting for the rest of the year.
I will be back next year with many more new thoughts to share.
May you and yours have a blessed Christmas Season
and
Many blessings to you and yours in 2013!
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Just Have To Share
“The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.” Psalm 19:8
This morning as I was catching up on Facebook, I came across this video. There is no need to say anything about it because the video says it all
My prayer for you today and throughout the Christmastide is that you experience the wonders and joy of God’s love in all of your Christmas celebrations.
Christmas Blessings-
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Christmas Resolutions
Since we are now in the midst of the Christmas Season, we know that the New Year is not too far away. It is on New Year’s Eve when we make those resolutions that we soon break within the first few weeks of January. Instead of making New Year’s resolutions this year, why not make Christmas resolutions?
The Advent Season is a time of preparing our hearts and minds for the Christ-child. As we make these preparations, why don’t we take time out and evaluate our walk with Christ. In this evaluation process, think about our daily walk with Christ. Where can we improve in the upcoming year? Think about our witness to a non-believing world. Are we a true witness for Christ? How do our priorities in life measure up? Do we put God first in ALL that we do?
On Christmas Eve, we will have made our evaluations/resolutions. On this particular night we will be celebrating the birth of the Christ-child. As with any celebration, gifts are brought and given to the honoree. This year, let’s place these changes that we want to make for the new year as our gifts to the Christ child. Then, allow the Christ-child to lead us through the new year.
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The Table Is Set
The Table Is Set
For us Southern Belles, not only is getting the tree and fireplace mantle in perfect shape but getting the dinning room table is at the top of list in what absolutely has to be done at Christmas. For me, candles are essential when setting the table not only at Christmas but year round. Having candles on the table holds meaning for me.
My grandfather on my dad’s side was a retired Army Colonel. When we visited my grandparents’ home, Mom would always make sure we were brushed up on our manners especially before going to the dinner table. Dinner at Papa Hill’s house was an event every night. The good china and silver were used. And, there were always candles on the table that were lit before we came to the table. No one sat down until Papa Hill took his seat at the head of the dinner table As a teen I would roll my eyes and think; “why can’t we just use the everyday dishes?” I would think this because I knew I would be the one helping after dinner hand washing all the china and silver and putting it all away.
Over the years in my adulthood, I have reminisced on those dinner affairs and their true meaning. For Papa, dinner with his family was special to him. He cherished having his family around the table for not only a meal but for a visit. Many a story and tale were shared around the table as we savored the pot roast, mashed potatoes green beans and apple pie. Grandmother had so lovingly prepared. Along with no one sitting until Papa sat, no one got up until they were properly excused by an adult at the table.
As I reminisce about dinner with Papa and once I had been properly excused from the table, I also remember being in the kitchen with Grandmother up to my elbows in suds helping her wash the china and silver. It was those moments in the kitchen where Grandmother would not say a lot but here and there she would gently and lovingly smile and give you a little wink. She was a quiet lady with little to say but her smiles and winks said it all. You knew all was right in the world.
One evening in May, 2002 I stood by my Grandfather’s bedside just a little before mid night. Jim and I had volunteered to take the night shift of staying up with him at the hospital. From the looks of things, we had a pretty good idea that Jim and I would not be there all night. Late in the night, Jim sat by Papa’s side checking vitals until Jim noticed Papa’s breaths were getting further apart. As these breaths were getting shallow, I came over and took Papa by the hand. While holding tight to his hand, I looked at him and thanked him for all the cherished memories he had given us around the table that was always beautifully set with linens and candles. Then, I said “Papa, the table is now set for you. God has the candles lit and He has your place ready for you to take your seat at His banquet table. ” A few seconds later, Papa joined Jesus at the great banquet table.
The table is set. It is Christmas. The candles, fine linens and china are on the table. A meal will be prepared and the candles will be lit where new memories will be made and old stories shared. As I light the candles, I will not only remember my loving grandparents who showed by example that we are all special but I will also be reminded that Christ is and has always been the center of our family.
How about you? Is your table set? If you haven’t already, add some candles to your table. Let your family know how special they are and remind them that Christ is the center of your home by lighting the candles. Sit around the table and make memories and share old stories. The teenagers may roll their eyes a little but let them roll. One day, they will be thankful that they have such warm memories.
This post is dedicated in loving memory of Col. Carl R. Hill, Sr and Virginia Louise Hill
Merry Christmas!
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Preparing The Way
Where does the time go? If you are like me, you look at the calendar one day and think you have all the time in the world to get ready for Christmas. Then, it happens! You look at the calendar and realize Christmas is only three weeks away! Suddenly, we are jumping on that treadmill trying to get the house, the gifts and food prepared for our families, Christmas parties and Christmas Day.
Preparations are necessary for any big event. Yet, in the hustle of the Christmas Season and festivities are we preparing our hearts for the reason for the season? Just as John the Baptist went out preparing the way for the Lord, we need to be preparing our hearts for the Christ child. Though we may already be Christians and have Christ in our hearts, it is our responsibility to prepare the way for the Lord’s coming again. We do this by sharing God’s grace and love with others who may not know Him.
Throughout the Christmas season I encourage you to stop and prepare the way as you make preparations for all the Christmas festivities on your calendar. Prepare the way so others may know Him.
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the Prophets.
Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.
The voice of one crying in the wilderness;
Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make His paths strait.
Mark 1:1-3
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Things To Remember
It is that time of year again where we have multiple lists that we are checking off. These lists include added items to the usual grocery list, baking list, gift list, party list and the lists go on. You cannot imagine having yet another list. Yet, I am going to give you a list to remember this Christmas Season.
Things To Remember:
Stop.
We all have to just sit down and rest at some point and time.
Take a deep breath.
It is in those deep breaths we can relax and inhale the joy and love of God into our souls.
Look at all that is around you.
Give thanks to God for the daily gifts that surround you.
Remember to keep it simple in the gift giving.
The most cherished gifts are not the most expensive but the ones where thought and love were put into them.
After all, God’s gift to us happened in a simple place to simple couple but He came with a lot of love.
The Gift
Jesus Christ.
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Drew Said; “I Want To Be The Star”
“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob;a scepter will rise out of Israel.” Numbers 24:17
“I want to be the star!” was the response of my three-year old son when roles for the Christmas story was given out. His dad and I responded “the star?”,“why not a Wiseman or a Shepherd?”. “NO!”, “I want to be the star!” The time came for the Children’s Paget and Drew was front and center playing the role of “the star”.
On that first Christmas night, one star shone bright over Bethlehem. This star led wise men, shepherds and probably countless others to theChrist Child. This star announced the birth of God’s promise of peace, joy, love, and grace to the world. What a significant role the star played on that first Christmas night.
At age three, I don’t know if Drew had totally grasped the real significance of the Christmas star. However, since that Christmas Play years ago, Drew’s wanting to the be the “star” is an example of what we all should strive to be in our Christian walk. Today, we are the “star” that has been commissioned to lead others to Christ. As we go through the Advent Season, we need to ask ourselves how bright are we shinning for Christ. Are we leading someone to Christ through our brightness? The stage is set and as Christians we have been chosen to play the role of the “star”.
Christmas Blessings!
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What’s The Rush?
What ever happened to taking one day at a time and one thing at a time? Furthermore, what happened to taking one season at a time? Ever been in a Cracker Barrel late Summer early Fall? In one corner you have Halloween. Another corner has a big Christmas display and tucked off to the side is a Thanksgiving display.
Last night, Halloween came and went and if I were a betting woman, I bet in the next day or so when I enter a department store of any kind, I anticipate that I will be hearing Christmas carols being played over head. Yet, we haven’t had Thanksgiving! Along with carols being played over head in the stores, I see postings on Facebook that people are firing up their Christmas music. Come on people! What’s the rush?
Okay, I admit I do have a couple of Christmas gifts already purchased and stashed away. I purchase gifts beginning in summer so that when the holiday season gets here the house budget doesn’t get drastically busted. Yet, those gifts won’t come out to be wrapped until after Thanksgiving. And, Jim and I are in the choir at our church and are singing in the Symphony Chorus this Christmas. Our rehearsals for both of these events began a couple of weeks ago. But, I don’t want to hear Christmas music outside those venues until after Thanksgiving.
To go along with not wrapping presents until after Thanksgiving, I don’t like to put the tree up until around Black Friday or after. For me, I feel that we not only rush the seasons a wee too much but we forget to savor each day God gives us. We were created for God’s enjoyment. However, I don’t think he enjoys seeing us rush from place to place and from season to season. As a matter of fact, I am sure his heart breaks when he sees us rushing through life.
What happened to the anticipation of waking up on Thanksgiving morning to watch the Macy Day Parade where Santa arrives at the end of the parade? For me, that is the start gun of moving into the Christmas season. Then, the next day going out (at a descent hour) to see the store fronts and streets decorated. Don’t even get me started on my thoughts on Black Friday ( wrote about that last year and will probably re-post it as the time draws closer)!!
At the beginning of this post, I posted the song/video, ‘Feelin’ Groovey. Some the lyrics in the song make this statement; “slow down, you walk to fast.” You’ve got to make the moment last.” Our society is a fast pace society. In this fast pace, we forget that we are placed here to enjoy life, enjoy others and to be attentive to God at work in our lives every single day. Instead, before we are done with one task/holiday, we are already moving on to the next one or skipping a task/holiday to get to another.
My son, Drew has a favorite quote from the movie, Ferris Buehler’s Day Off; “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. ” I think the character Ferris Buehler hit how we go through life pretty square on the head with this quote.
For those of you who are moving from the songs like The Monster Mash and other Halloween tunes to songs like; The Christmas Song and Jingle Bells, hit the pause button on that CD player/iPod and slow it down a little. Each and every day is a gift from God. In each new day, he gives us many blessings whether we realize it or not.
Remember the hymn; Count Your Blessings? The lyrics are; “count your many blessings name them one by one. Count your many blessings and see what God hath done.” God gives us the Season of Fall for a reason. He blesses us with brilliant colors, with temperatures that are just perfect for a brisk walk with him outside and all the scents of the season. God is giving us the perfect setting to stop, reflect on all that God has done in our lives over the last year. It is a time to count our blessings and give him praise and thanks for all that he has done for us in our everyday living.
What’s the rush? “Slow down you move too fast.” “Count your many blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings and see what God hath done.” Let’s remember that the next holiday is Thanksgiving. Carry the scripture of Psalm 100 in your heart in the days ahead:
Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God.
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves,
We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Watch and listen to the video below. As you watch, reflect on all that God has brought you through this year and offer Him a prayer of thanksgiving.
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Illusions
It all a matter of perspective
Doesn’t this cartoon say it all? We all think we have it worse than the person next to us but the person next to us thinks they have it worse. Not only do we compare our situations with those around us but we look at what others have and think if we had what they have life would be better and we would really be happy.
It is all a matter of perspective. How often do we get wrapped in the illusions of what will make us happy? Do you recall the commercial of the guy on the lawn more. It began with Stan introducing himself and his family.He begins to name the things he has purchased that should have brought him happiness. As the commercial runs, you see the nice home, pool, country club membership, and all accessories but then the camera flashes over to Stan and the tables turn. It is pointed out how much debt he has accumulated to be “happy.” Then, you see Stan riding his lawn mower and he says; “somebody help me.” In other words, Stan is not really happy because he is busy buying into what the world has told him he needed to be happy. Thus, Stan is missing the real joys in life because he is busy trying to pay for those illusions he bought into.
We are all guilty of looking at others as having it all. Although, we are told in the Ten Commandments;Thou shall not covet thy neighbor”, we still look across the way and try to keep up. Yet, as we try to keep up, we get more and more stressed and that void we are trying to fill is still there. Just like the guy on the lawn mower, we all eventually are crying; “somebody help me.”
During the Christmas season, retailers put on even more pressure of what will bring that someone happiness. We hear and see ads from; “he went to Jared”, ” every kiss begins with Kay” and this includes the cute Capital One Credit cards where they tell you if you carry them in your wallet you can go anywhere and get anything. Thus, these things will bring happiness. But, we all know that come January the bills come in and again we say “somebody help me.”
Jim and I are of the generation of the cool bands. One of our favorite groups to jam to is Styx. The Grand Illusion is one of our favorite songs. It sums it up well of how we all get caught up in the illusions of what makes us happy. Instead of looking at our neighbor as we look ourselves, we allow the illusions to take over and we miss the real opportunities of getting to know someone, their story and reaching out to them in Christ-like love.
The lyrics in The Grand Illusion go on to say that ” we are all the same.” You ask, “how are we all the same?” We are all the same because we are God’s creation and his children. We all have a void in our lives that is looking for real happiness. The only true way to fill that void and experience real happiness is to take off our rose-colored glasses and put on the glasses of God.
It is through God’s glasses, we step out of the world of illusions and see the real true needs of those around us. When we put on these glasses, we need to be ready to see hurt, anger, loneliness and those longing for being loved for who they truly are. With the glasses of God we step out of the world of illusions into God’s world.
In God’s world, happiness is helping our neighbor, praying for those who are hurt, taking time to be with those who feel alone in the world. It is having Christ in our hearts and sharing Him with others. From my own personal experience, when I stepped out of the world of illusions where things were going to make me happy and put on God’s eyes, I saw that I didn’t need those things. I began to see the daily blessings and it is reaching out to others and encouraging them with the love of Christ that has brought true happiness.
We live in a world where people are searching even more and are becoming even more lost and caught up in illusions of happiness. Isn’t it about time we began to “show them the way?” (another lyric of another Styx s song) Next time the grass looks greener from the perspective you are standing, put on your God glasses to see the real picture. Realize that the only place where the grass is greener is when we enter the gates of paradise that Christ opened up for us on the day he was crucified. I imagine that grass is going to be the brightest and most beautiful green we could ever imagine.
The video below is a wonderful illustration of what happens when we look through God’s glasses.
Blessings
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The Table Is Set
The Table Is Set
“You prepare a table before me.” Psalm 23:5For us Southern Belles, not only is getting the tree and fireplace mantle in perfect shape but getting the dinning room table is at the top of list in what absolutely has to be done at Christmas. For me, candles are essential when setting the table not only at Christmas but year round. Having candles on the table holds meaning for me.
Growing up, my Dad’s dad was a retired Army Coloneland you knew he was an Army Colonel. When we visited my grandparents’ home, Mom always made sure we were brushed up on our manners especially before going to the dinner table. Dinner at Papa Hill’s house was an event every night. The good china and silver was used, no one sat down at the table until Papa took his seat and there were always candles on the table. As a teen I would roll my eyes and think “why not just use the Corelle Ware and be done with it” because at that age I would be having to help hand wash the china and silver.
As I have grown older, I have reminisced on those dinner affairs and their true meaning. For Papa, dinner with his family was special to him. He cherished having his family around the table for not only a meal but for a visit. Many a story and tale were shared around the table as we savored the pot roast, mashed potatoes green beans and apple pie. Grandmother had so lovingly prepared. Along with no one sitting until Papa sat, no one got up until they were properly excused by an adult at the table. As I reminisce about dinner with Papa and once I had been properly excused from the table, I also remember being in the kitchen with Grandmother up to my elbows in suds helping her wash the china and silver. It was those moments in the kitchen where Grandmother would not say a lot but here and there she would gently and lovingly smile and give you a little wink. She was a quiet lady with little to say but her smiles and winks said it all. You knew all was right in the world.
May, 2002 I stood by my Grandfather’s bedside just a little before mid night. Jim and I had volunteered to take the night shift of staying up with him at the hospital. From the looks of things, we had a pretty good idea that Jim and I would not be there all night. Late in the night, Jim sat by Papa’s side checking vitals until Jim noticed Papa’s breaths were getting further and further apart. As these breaths were getting shallow, I came over and took Papa by the hand. While holding tight to his hand, I looked at him and thanked him for all the cherished memories he had given us around the table that was always beautifully set with linens and candles. Then, I said “Papa, the table is now set for you. God has the candles lit and He has your place ready for you to take your seat at His banquet table. ” A few seconds later, Papa joinedJesus at the great banquet table.
The table is set. It is Christmas. The candles, fine linens and china are on the table. A meal will be prepared and the candles will be lit where new memories will be made and old stories shared. As I light the candles, I will not only remember my loving grandparents who showed by example that we are all special but I will also be reminded thatChrist is and has always been the center of our family.
How about you? Is your table set? If you haven’t already, add some candles to your table. Let your family know how special they are and remind them that Christ is the center of your home by lighting the candles. Sit around the table and make memories and share old stories. The teenagers may roll their eyes a little but let them roll. One day, they will be thankful that they have such warm memories.
Col. and Mrs. Carl R. Hill Sr-Picture taken 1953/54 Tokyo, JapanThis post is dedicated in loving memory of Col. Carl R. Hill, Sr and Virginia Louise Hill
Merry Christmas!
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