Monday, December 21, 2020
Happy Christmas!
Saturday, December 19, 2020
Celebrate~Mary
Luke 2:6-7
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave
birth to her firstborn, a son. She [Mary] wrapped him in cloths and placed him
in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Bumping
along on a lowly donkey, nine months pregnant, Mary prepared for the birth of
her son, Jesus. She made the journey with her betrothed, Joseph, to the town of
Bethlehem where they'd be counted and registered to pay taxes. Towards the end
of a pregnancy, most women are mighty uncomfortable. I can't imagine riding a
donkey on rough roads and bouncing around. But, Mary's faith trumped her
discomfort.
Womanhood
arrived early in Mary's day. History determines her to be anywhere from
fourteen to seventeen, a child in our culture. Yet her love for God matured and
grew in her few years. The angel, who delivered the news that she'd give birth
to the Messiah, recognized this young woman's faith.
Mary, being
the faithful servant, accepted the angel's proclamation with grace and trust.
Trust plays
a huge part in Jesus' birth. Joseph trusted enough to wed Mary. God trusted the angels to deliver his
messages. The shepherds trusted the angels and ran to see the baby. And Mary
trusted God with the glorious phenomenon of Jesus' birth.
As Mary
bumped along, she must have wondered what came next. But she moved forward as God called
her. She birthed the baby in a stable, most likely a cave where the animals were
fed and watered. Hopefully, she had clean straw and fresh water. Regardless,
Mary welcomed her child with joy that night.
As you think
about the troubles of 2020, the inconveniences, the losses, the illness, think
about Mary. In her discomfort and what was likely a troubled time for her, she
moved forward with trust and faith. Regardless of what's behind us, let's keep
our eyes on Jesus and celebrate the joy of this season.
Stop for a
few moments and breathe in the spirit of the season. Capture the essence of joy. Then breathe out and share his hope.
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Rejoice and Reflect
Celebrating Christmas is a bit different this year.
Not as many gatherings, masked up to shop, not enough hugs.
Maybe your family has been hit with illness.
Maybe you work in the medical field.
Maybe you've lost someone dear.
Maybe your school shut down.
But maybe somewhere, in all this mess, we can search and find some good.
Reflect on time with family, the opportunities to help others,
the quiet times, the noisy times, and the tough times that made us stronger.
Rejoice in the love of Jesus as you celebrate the season.
Saturday, December 12, 2020
Celebrating Christmas ~ Shepherds
Luke 2:15-18
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.
Have you
ever seen an alpaca?
Sometimes
confused with a llama—their ears are more rounded, their bodies
are smaller, and their fur is shaggier. In October, Tim and I visited an alpaca
farm. The comical looking creatures, with their floppy hair, stood in the field
beside the Alpaca Meadows gift and wool shop. A lovely lady greeted us and
welcomed us into her store. After a little too much shopping, she offered to
show us her animals. If it hadn't been so muddy, we could have taken one for a
walk, instead, we tromped through the water-logged field for a close-up
experience. One of the alpacas, who is blind, came right to her caretaker. She
trusted her and allowed us to pet her fuzzy head, because she knew her shepherd.
In Luke chapter two, sheep trusted their shepherd and the shepherd trusted the Lord.
When the
angels appeared to the shepherds, fear struck them, until the angel told them
not to be afraid, but to trust. Once the shock of seeing and hearing the angels
sunk in, they hurried off to see the baby the angels proclaimed. Imagine—they arrived at the manger, a tiny baby lay in the arms of
his mother, and he is proclaimed the Messiah, the one they'd been waiting for.
No doubt the shepherds stood in awe. They'd heard God's promise of a Savior but
never expected to have the honor to be chosen to see him.
When they
left the manger, they didn't jog back to their hill. Instead, they shared the
good news—a Savior is born—the Messiah is here—we've seen him with our own eyes.
Jesus came
to the world to save us from evil and sin. He entered this world as a babe in a
manger. Smelly, stinky shepherds visited first, not kings or priests, but
everyday workers who spent time tending. And they spread the word "Jesus
is born" to everyone they saw.
From the
beginning of Jesus time on earth, God used ordinary men and women to spread the
gospel. He still does today. We don't need a fancy degree or title to be a
shepherd for Jesus. We just need to know how much he loves us.
Go tell
everyone that Jesus lives and loves them. He wants the world to know.
Thursday, December 10, 2020
Just in Time for Christmas! Now in Board Book: A Very Fiona Christmas and A Night of Great Joy
It’s Fiona the hippo’s very first Christmas, and the zoo is sparkling with holiday spirit. When the adorable little hippo asks her friends, “What’s Christmas?” they set out to show her all the wonders and excitement of the season. With each new experience Fiona lets out a snort, wiggles her ears, and asks, “Is THIS Christmas?”
Amidst the snow, twinkling lights, mistletoe, and stockings, Fiona ends up meeting a new friend at the zoo who helps her discover the true meaning of the holiday: Love. Snuggle up with your little ones and join Fiona and her adorable animal friends for a heartwarming holiday romp through the zoo.
My Review:
A Very Fiona Christmas is a delightful story of a baby hippo discovering Christmas for the first time. Living near Cincinnati, I am familiar with Fiona. She was born six weeks premature at the Cincinnati Zoo. She survived and thrived and has become a favorite of young and old. Richard Cowdrey's illustrations are fantastic. The color and movement of the beautiful characters will delight children. If you are looking for a gift for an animal lover, and what child isn't, pick up a copy of A Very Fiona Christmas. I won't spoil the ending, but I'll say it is perfect. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Book Description:
Mary Engelbreit presents A Night of Great Joy, a delightful picture book that celebrates the joyful season of Christmas. This book tells the story of the nativity through the performance of a children’s Christmas pageant. With adorable illustrations and simple storytelling, Engelbreit paints a wonderful picture of the night that Jesus was born.
A Night of Great Joy recalls that fateful night with wonder and awe. From the arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem to the gathering of many before the baby Jesus, this holiday treasure leads children through the tale of the birth of Jesus, guiding them with the star of Bethlehem.
Mary Engelbreit, New York Times bestselling illustrator of the blockbuster Christmas classic The Night Before Christmas, brings readers a new holiday picture book that’s sure to become a family favorite.
My Review:
Who doesn't love a Christmas pageant?
I've long been a fan of Mary Engelbreit's illustrations and of Christmas pageants. A Night of Great Joy embraces the colorful whimsy of her art with the sweet, often amusing joy of a children's play. Mary's simple telling of Jesus birth pairs beautifully with her wonderful illustrations. I love the expressions on the faces of the diverse cast of children as they participate in the most important holiday story. And the shepherds and angels are a hoot. Parents and children will have a lot of fun reading this version of the Christmas story. I see this becoming a classic in years to come. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
A Little Something
Monday, December 7, 2020
Two Christmas Books to Share with Little Ones
The Beginner's Bible Little Lamb's Christmas: A Finger Puppet Board Book
Book
Description:
Introduce babies and toddlers to the Christmas story told through the eyes of
little Lamb. Children will love listening to the story of Jesus' birthday and
play with the adorable, plush lamb finger puppet included.
The
Beginner’s Bible Little Lamb’s Christmas brings the story of Jesus' birth
to life from a new and fun but faithful retelling. Readers will follow little
Lamb from the hillside to the manger where he celebrates the arrival of God's
only son.
Featuring vibrant
art from the beloved The Beginner's Bible, this chunky, durable board book with
finger puppet is perfect for parents to share with their children. It makes an
adorable stocking stuffer or wrapped gift.
My Review:
Little Lamb is excited he gets to visit baby Jesus at the manger. Told in
simple text, Little Lamb introduces children to the reason we celebrate
Christmas. I like the interactive element of the lamb finger puppet as he tells
the story on each page. What a fun way to share Jesus' birth with little ones. This
would be a great stocking stuffer or teaching tool for toddlers. I received a
complimentary copy of this item. Opinions expressed in this review are
completely my own.
Over
in a Stable by Suzanne Nelson (Author), Aleksandar Zolotic (Illustrator)
Book Description:
Over in a Stable, written by award-winning author Suzanne Nelson, is a
beautiful and engaging Christmas read-aloud for you and your little ones that
tells the story of the nativity, featuring the memorable counting and cadence
of the beloved classic poem “Over in the Meadow.”
Children ages 4 to 8 will enjoy counting aloud from one little drummer boy to ten little children.
Over in a Stable features vibrant illustrations from artist Aleksandar Zolotic, showing the animals and people who gathered to celebrate the arrival of baby Jesus on that miraculous night in Bethlehem
Over in a stable, though the hour was
growing late,
grazed one mother sheep and her
fleecy lambs eight.
“Give,” said the mother. “We
give,” said the eight.
And they gave their hay to make a bed
to rest a King so great.
With a shiny
cover that features glitter accents, Over the Stable is a treasured
picture book your family will cherish for many years.
My Review:
Over in the Stable is a beautiful
counting book that celebrates the birth of Jesus. The words of Suzanne Nelson and
illustrations of Aleksandar Zolotic marry together for the perfect book to
share on Christmas Eve before the little ones are tucked in. The animals in the story have such sweet, beautiful faces. This would also be a great book
to use in Sunday School or Junior Church. I can see Over in the Stable becoming an annual holiday favorite. I
received a complimentary copy of this item. Opinions expressed in this review
are completely my own.