Winter Thoughts

Good Eventide to you all! I hope you are all keeping warm. It is snowing and frightfully cold here. I have taken Sir dog out and am now settled in with a nice cuppa. The choice for today is a mix of Pumpkin Spice and Ginger...with a little splash of something to warm me bones. There is nothing quite like tea in a pretty cup, I say! I believe I will try and make this a habit. After all, it is 4:30pm... which translates into tea time. Unfortunately I do not have any scones or biscuits to have with my tea. Perhaps tomorrow. 

We are 10 days away from Christmas. For most it is a festive time. All the wonderful decorations, visits with friends and family, and much more. But then, there are others, who are alone this time of year. It can be a terrible time. For them, it is looking at what they don't have, be it family or even a warm place to live. For others, it means painful memories of a time long passed. And still others, who fight addictions and mental illness. This time of year can be a real trigger. Add to that the cold weather, the snow, days of shorter sunshine and much more gloom. Holiday time has one of the highest rates of suicide and violence. 

I am the afore mentioned.. one who suffers from depression. Holidays have never been a favorite of mine. In a previous life, it meant stress and arguments and loneliness. In this life it means going without...without money, without friends and without family. The mister and I will not be participating in Christmas this year. 

However, for those of faith, particularly that of the Christian one, it is a time of joyous anticipation! The long journey of Joseph and Mary back to the village of Bethlehem as they await the birth of what will be our Savior. But, so many people seem to look past that. It's not about the gifts, the decorations, the parties.... it's about an anticipation of the future. My all time favorite story has always been Linus' soliloquy of the story of the "true" meaning of Christmas......

As you go about your shopping, your celebrating, your decorating, keep in mind those who are without. Perhaps say a little prayer. Or make a special ornament for your tree. Donate or volunteer your time at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Throw your pennies in the kettle for the Salvation Army. Light a candle at church. Whatever it is you choose to do, remember how blessed you are for all the things you have. And remember the reason WHY we celebrate Christmas.....

Some links for donation sites:

**for some reason they don't show up as active. However, if you copy and paste, you will be taken right to the site.

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/christmas-assistance

http://soldiersangels.org

http://toysfortots.org/default.aspx

http://www.coats-for-kids.org

A post from Christmas Eve (a little late)

**Note to readers: I've been without internet so this is a late post.**

12/24/13  10:40pm

As I sit here this Christmas Eve, I think about the incredible thing that Mary did. She trusted an angel who told her she was not only going to be impregnated but the Child she will carry is going to be the Savior of the World, and at a later point in His life He will be crucified for all of mankind's sins. Can you just imagine that? I’m a parent and I could never imagine knowing ahead of time that the child that I had borne was going to be crucified one day. 

I have been reading much and watching some shows about the history of the Bible, Christmas, and delving into my own bible and some other references so I can learn more. It’s been quite the learning experience and one I hope to continue. 

Here are some little known facts that I came across today.  Do you know that, in essence, Jesus was born homeless? Think about it. Joseph is summoned back to Bethlehem to be counted “At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. This was the first census taken when Quirinius* was governor of Syria. All returned to their own towns to register for this census.” (Luke 2:1-3)

When Mary and Joseph arrive in Bethlehem, there are so many people that they don’t have a place to sleep, so they are relegated to a stable next to a local inn. “And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born…. She wrapped Him snugly in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.” (Luke 2:6,7). 

It doesn’t mention any further as to where Jesus lived, but from all the accounts we read Jesus never really stayed in one place. He was always going from village to village. Think of the homeless people you see these days. I’m sure that none of us has looked at anyone homeless and thought to ourselves “Can this be someone special?” I’m sure that the people back then probably thought the same thing until they found out who He was.

Interesting fact #2. Jesus was Jewish. Well, I can’t exactly go back and explain to you, my dear readers, the genealogy of Jesus. BUT, in Matthew 1:1-17 gives a pretty good lineage. Let’s just say that it starts with Abraham and ends with Jesus. 

Also, Joseph is the descendant of King David. Mark 1:9-11 speaks of Jesus’ baptism as a Christian. “One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and He was baptized by John in the Jordan river. And when Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens split open and the Holy Spirit descending like a dove on Him. And a voice came from heaven saying ‘You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with You.’” 

I happened to notice in Luke 2:7 where it mentions that Mary gave birth to her FIRST son. That got me scratching my head. I didn’t think Jesus had any brothers or sisters. So, I posed that question to a few people at church recently. The answer I got was this: James, who was one of Jesus’ disciples, was His brother. 

Most biblical scholars agree that Jesus’ birth wasn’t December 25. It became popular because it was already in pagan religious celebrations as the winter solstice, December 21. They felt those long, dark days could be lightened with feasts and decorations.

The church didn't really celebrate the birth of Jesus, Christmas, until between three and five centuries afterwards. In the passages surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ, it mentions how shepherds are out in the field tending to their sheep. According to what I’ve learned, it gets pretty cold in Israel in December. The animals wouldn’t be out grazing in the fields in the dead of winter. Luke's account "suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer or early fall. Since December is cold and rainy in Judea, it is likely the shepherds would have sought shelter for their flocks at night" (http://www.ucg.org/bible-faq/when-was-jesus-christ-born-was-jesus-born-december-25-christmas-day) 

*The Census of Quirinius refers to the enrollment of the Roman provinces of Syria and Judaea for tax purpose, taken during the reign of Augustus (27 BCE – CE 14), when Publius Sulpicius Quirinius was appointed governor of Syria.

 Well, my dear readers, I hope this gave you something to think about. It's my little contribution to little known facts! I hope you will leave your comments on this. :)

Christmas At The Gas Station

         

      I read this story on Facebook and wanted to share this. It reminds me of the old Christmas movies like "It's A Wonderful Life", "The Bishop's Wife", "Miracle on 34th Street". I hope you enjoy this story. 

      The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. It was just another day to him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate. He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through.

Instead of throwing the man out, Old George as he was known by his customers, told the man to come and sit by the heater and warm up. "Thank you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I see you're busy, I'll just go." "Not without something hot in your belly." George said. He turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the stranger. "It ain't much, but it's hot and tasty. Stew ... Made it myself. When you're done, there's coffee and it's fresh." Just at that moment he heard the "ding" of the driveway bell. "Excuse me, be right back," George said.

There in the driveway was an old '53 Chevy. Steam was rolling out of the front. The driver was panicked. "Mister can you help me!" said the driver, with a deep Spanish accent. "My wife is with child and my car is broken." George opened the hood. It was bad. The block looked cracked from the cold, the car was dead. "You ain't going in this thing," George said as he turned away. "But Mister, please help ..."

The door of the office closed behind George as he went inside. He went to the office wall and got the keys to his old truck, and went back outside. He walked around the building, opened the garage, started the truck and drove it around to where the couple was waiting. "Here, take my truck," he said. "She ain't the best thing you ever looked at, but she runs real good." George helped put the woman in the truck and watched as it sped off into the night.

He turned and walked back inside the office. "Glad I gave 'em the truck, their tires were shot too. That 'ol truck has brand new ." George thought he was talking to the stranger, but the man had gone. The Thermos was on the desk, empty, with a used coffee cup beside it. "Well, at least he got something in his belly," George thought.

George went back outside to see if the old Chevy would start. It cranked slowly, but it started. He pulled it into the garage where the truck had been. He thought he would tinker with it for something to do. Christmas Eve meant no customers.

He discovered the block hadn't cracked, it was just the bottom hose on the radiator. "Well, shoot, I can fix this," he said to himself. So he put a new one on. "Those tires ain't gonna get 'em through the winter either." He took the snow treads off of his wife's old Lincoln. They were like new and he wasn't going to drive the car anyway.

As he was working, he heard shots being fired. He ran outside and beside a police car an officer lay on the cold ground. Bleeding from the left shoulder, the officer moaned, "Please help me." George helped the officer inside as he remembered the training he had received in the Army as a medic. He knew the wound needed attention. "Pressure to stop the bleeding," he thought. The uniform company had been there that morning and had left clean shop towels. He used those and duct tape to bind the wound. "Hey, they say duct tape can fix anythin'," he said, trying to make the policeman feel at ease. "Something for pain," George thought. All he had was the pills he used for his back. "These ought to work." He put some water in a cup and gave the policeman the pills. "You hang in there, I'm going to get you an ambulance."

The phone was dead. "Maybe I can get one of your buddies on that there talk box out in your car." He went out only to find that a bullet had gone into the dashboard destroying the two way radio. He went back in to find the policeman sitting up. "Thanks," said the officer. "You could have left me there. The guy that shot me is still in the area." George sat down beside him, "I would never leave an injured man in the Army and I ain't gonna leave you."

George pulled back the bandage to check for bleeding. "Looks worse than what it is. Bullet passed right through 'ya. Good thing it missed the important stuff though. I think with time you’re gonna be right as rain." George got up and poured a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?" he asked. "None for me," said the officer. "Oh, yer gonna drink this. Best in the city. Too bad I ain't got no donuts." The officer laughed and winced at the same time.

The front door of the office flew open. In burst a young man with a gun. "Give me all your cash! Do it now!" the young man yelled. His hand was shaking and George could tell that he had never done anything like this before. "That's the guy that shot me!" exclaimed the officer. "Son, why are you doing this?" asked George, "You need to put the cannon away. Somebody else might get hurt." The young man was confused. "Shut up old man, or I'll shoot you, too. Now give me the cash!" The cop was reaching for his gun. "Put that thing away," George said to the cop, "we got one too many in here now."

He turned his attention to the young man. "Son, it's Christmas Eve. If you need money, well then, here. It ain't much but it's all I got. Now put that pea shooter away." George pulled $150 out of his pocket and handed it to the young man, reaching for the barrel of the gun at the same time. The young man released his grip on the gun, fell to his knees and began to cry. "I'm not very good at this am I? All I wanted was to buy something for my wife and son," he went on. "I've lost my job, my rent is due, my car got repossessed last week." George handed the gun to the cop. "Son, we all get in a bit of squeeze now and then. The road gets hard sometimes, but we make it through the best we can." He got the young man to his feet, and sat him down on a chair across from the cop. "Sometimes we do stupid things." George handed the young man a cup of coffee. "Bein' stupid is one of the things that makes us human. Comin' in here with a gun ain't the answer. Now sit there and get warm and we'll sort this thing out." The young man had stopped crying. He looked over to the cop. "Sorry I shot you. It just went off. I'm sorry officer." "Shut up and drink your coffee " the cop said.

George could hear the sounds of sirens outside. A police car and an ambulance skidded to a halt. Two cops came through the door, guns drawn. "Chuck! You ok?" one of the cops asked the wounded officer. "Not bad for a guy who took a bullet. How did you find me?" "GPS locator in the car. Best thing since sliced bread. Who did this?" the other cop asked as he approached the young man. Chuck answered him, "I don't know. The guy ran off into the dark. Just dropped his gun and ran." George and the young man both looked puzzled at each other. "That guy work here?" the wounded cop continued. "Yep," George said, "just hired him this morning. Boy lost his job."

The paramedics came in and loaded Chuck onto the stretcher. The young man leaned over the wounded cop and whispered, "Why?" Chuck just said, "Merry Christmas boy ... and you too, George, and thanks for everything." "Well, looks like you got one doozy of a break there. That ought to solve some of your problems."

George went into the back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a ring box. "Here you go, something for the little woman. I don't think Martha would mind. She said it would come in handy someday." The young man looked inside to see the biggest diamond ring he ever saw. "I can't take this," said the young man. "It means something to you." "And now it means something to you," replied George. "I got my memories. That's all I need." George reached into the box again. An airplane, a car and a truck appeared next. They were toys that the oil company had left for him to sell. "Here's something for that little man of yours." The young man began to cry again as he handed back the $150 that the old man had handed him earlier. "And what are you supposed to buy Christmas dinner with? You keep that too," George said. "Now git home to your family." The young man turned with tears streaming down his face. "I'll be here in the morning for work, if that job offer is still good." "Nope. I'm closed Christmas day," George said. "See ya the day after."

George turned around to find that the stranger had returned. "Where'd you come from? I thought you left?" "I have been here. I have always been here," said the stranger. "You say you don't celebrate Christmas. Why?" "Well, after my wife passed away, I just couldn't see what all the bother was. Puttin' up a tree and all seemed a waste of a good pine tree. Bakin' cookies like I used to with Martha just wasn't the same by myself and besides I was gettin' a little chubby."

The stranger put his hand on George's shoulder. "But you do celebrate the holiday, George. You gave me food and drink and warmed me when I was cold and hungry. The woman with child will bear a son and he will become a great doctor. The policeman you helped will go on to save 19 people from being killed by terrorists. The young man who tried to rob you will make you a rich man and not take any for himself. "That is the spirit of the season and you keep it as good as any man." George was taken aback by all this stranger had said. "And how do you know all this?" asked the old man. "Trust me, George. I have the inside track on this sort of thing. And when your days are done you will be with Martha again."

The stranger moved toward the door. "If you will excuse me, George, I have to go now. I have to go home where there is a big celebration planned." George watched as the old leather jacket and the torn pants that the stranger was wearing turned into a white robe. A golden light began to fill the room. "You see, George ... it's My birthday. Merry Christmas." George fell to his knees and replied, "Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus" Merry Christmas!! This story is better than any greeting card. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD BLESS!

Fourth Night of Advent

Tonight is the fourth night of Advent. The reading for tonight comes from Jeremiah 33:14-16. The readings really require some thought from me. I've never been very good at interpretation. So bear with me, dear readers. 

A prayer before our reading: Father, as we read Your words tonight, help us to remember that it is Your word that brings life to our lives. We strive to know You better and love You more. I pray that each of us who read this tonight come to know You better. You are the light in our lives. Your word chases the darkness away. We know that You are the way, the truth and the light. Amen.

Jeremiah 33:14-16 

14 “The day will come, says the Lord, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good things I have promised them.

15 “In those days and at that time
    I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line.
    He will do what is just and right throughout the land.
16 In that day Judah will be saved,
    and Jerusalem will live in safety.
And this will be its name:
    ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’

Jeremiah 33:14-16  Here is a good page to read for a clearer explanation of the passages that have been posted here. 

I do apologize for not being able to add my own take on the readings. I'm hoping that as I get further into this, I will be better equipped to be able to explain things on my own.

Blessings,
Linda

Catch up for Advent Posts

I'm going to try and add the last 2 days of Advent that I posted on my FB wall. Sunday Dec. 1 was the first day of Advent.

The reading is from John 1:1-5. (I am following the reading list I posted recently.)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Monday Dec. 2 Second night of Advent. 

My prayer for this evening: Lord, we welcome Your light into our hearts as we await the celebration of Your birth. It is the light of Your love and Your word that we follow. We ask You, Lord Jesus, to help us remember each day that You are the light in our lives. In Jesus' name. Amen

Isaiah 9:2-7: The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.