He Wraps me in Peace

Isaiah 9:6
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.

Peace on earth, good will to men. 

On Christmas Day 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow heard the bells tolling in Cambridge and penned the poem, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, later set to music by the English organist John Baptiste Calkin in 1872.

Longfellow had lost his wife to a fire and was left with six children. His heart ached when his oldest son returned from the Civil War with a gun shot wound. In his sorrow he sought to find hope.

I can’t imagine what life was like during the Civil War for America, any more than I can fathom the countries who are war torn now. Longfellow’s heart must have hurt. By 1863, He’d lost two wives, the second leaving him six children. His son returned home wounded and nearly paralyzed. At that point he struggled to write his poems, he was the most famous US poet at the time.

When he heard the bells ring out, he grasped on to the hope they offered him. Hope for better and brighter days.

Christmas is a time of joy, but it can also be a time of sorrow for many. Jesus wants us to know he came to bring peace to the hearts of all. Isaiah proclaims Him as the Prince of Peace, the One who can take a broken heart and restore it to fullness.

I love these glorious lines from the song:

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

No matter the circumstances surrounding the holidays or any days, God is not dead and He’s not asleep. Instead, He holds me in sorrow and in joy. He loves me and wraps me in comfort and peace.

As you celebrate the birth of Jesus, embrace Him as the Prince of Peace.

Casting Crowns sings a beautiful version of I Heard the Bells.

Great Books to Read With Your Kids this Christmas

I had the privilege of listening to my daughter read 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas to her first grade class. 

I call it a privilege because, for one, she's my daughter, but besides that 

she uses all the voices of the characters. It's truly a joy. 

I read this story to my kids when they were young and 

to hear one of them read it aloud is magical.

The Grinch's story is one of change. 

He's a mean one, as they say. 

The Whos from Whoville are filled with joy, to the point 

they continue to celebrate Christmas even without 

any presents, decorations or food. 

Their unselfish joy changes the Grinch's heart.

Isn't Christmas more than gifts, feasts, and decor? 

Of course it is. 

It's joy in the depths of the heart. Rejoicing that King Jesus was born. 

If you want your children to appreciate the simple 

yet powerful theme of joy, read the Grinch and 

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. 

The Best Christmas Pageant is 

a heartwarming chapter book you'll laugh out loud over.

 

Happy Cookie Day!

 I don't know about you, but I think I'm related to the Cookie Monster. 

One of my favorite family traditions at Christmas is making cookies with the kids. 

We try to set aside one day to make cut-out cookies before Christmas. 

Here's a photo of some of last years delectable delights.

Celebrate National Cookie Day with your favorite cookie!

What is your favorite cookie?

 

Stress or Celebration?

Matthew 1:20-21
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 2:16
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

Stress or celebration?

On Sunday afternoon, I went with Sara, Eli, and Ella Cate to see the movie Journey to Bethlehem. The movie is a musical, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I found was a fresh retelling of the birth of Jesus. Yes, they took some creative liberties, but what I carried away from the movie and thought about this week were two important messages.

King Herod was evil and so threatened by the thought of a new king being born, he would go to the worst measure to get rid of the baby. My heart broke for this man who, so full of pride and greed, would dive into the depths of darkness to keep his crown.

The truth is, Jesus didn’t come to rule nations or dethrone anyone. He came to rule the hearts of people. To spread love and offer hope. A hope Herod never knew.

The second was the effect Mary’s pregnancy had on her family and Joseph’s. We read of how Joseph said he would break the betrothal to Mary quietly. Even still, Mary carried baby Jesus.

I have great respect for Joseph. Not just because he stepped up and married Mary, but because of his faith in God. He trusted the One who created him and carried out His plan in obedience.

When faced with a difficult circumstance or conflict, what do I do? React like Herod and lash out? Or pray like Joseph and obey God?

As I consider the celebration of Christmas and the stress placed on us to have everything perfect, I remember Mary and Joseph and their not so perfect circumstances and know God doesn’t expect me to have a flawless holiday. He only wants me to be obedient and have faith like Joseph and Mary and share the love of Jesus.

How about you? Will Jesus’ love shine through your Christmas celebration?

One of the Best Gifts

Reading to children is rewarding to them, and to the reader. 

What a delight to see a child's eyes light up when they hear a story they love. 

How exciting to hear a child recognize words.

As a mom, grammy and children's librarian, 

I read to kids for many years and loved every minute.

As Christmas draws near, take the time to read to a child.

From now through Christmas, 

I'll share some of the holiday books I've enjoyed reading over the years.

 

He Stays the Same

Hebrews 13:8 
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

The times they are a-changin.’ --Bob Dylan

When my girls were young and they stayed home from school due to illness, if they felt like it, we sometimes played games like Old Maid, Candyland, or Go Fish. We would deal the cards or set up the board and play until they were ready to rest.

The other day, my granddaughter called. She’d gotten sick. Fortunately, she was already off school and didn’t miss a day. We chatted for a bit, then she asked me to hang up because she wanted to video chat on Messenger. She’s nine and was using her mom’s phone with permission. When I answered the call, her pretty face popped up, and I could see she didn’t feel well. We talked for a minute, then she told me we could play a game on the phone. I had no idea. She clicked something and brought up Go Fish and we played two rounds.

The older I get, it seems like life changes at lightning speed. Perhaps because I can look back and see the history I’ve lived, yet one thing has never changed.

Jesus remains the same no matter how many years pass. He continues to share His love. There are days I think He should walk away from me because I’m a lowly human, instead He stays with me through the valleys and the peaks. He opens His arms and welcomes me in. He sees value in me and never leaves me.

He loves you, too. His arms are open to everyone. He loves like no other. He’ll be there through the best and the worst.

I love this song by Matthew West, The God Who Stays. I hope you’ll take a listen.

Thankful for Books

As I think about Thanksgiving and the many things I have to be grateful for, 

books are high on the list.

I'm a reader and a writer. I devour books, usually two or three a month.

There is something about stories.

The way they take a reader away from the everyday or enhance the everyday.

The words fill me with wisdom, knowledge, and experience.

Stories, whether fiction or true, make me think and ponder and gather words.

Everyone is a reader, some just haven't found the right book yet.