Still, still, still.....

Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.
For all is hushed,
The world is sleeping,
Holy Star its vigil keeping.
Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.

Sleep, sleep, sleep,
'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.
The night is peaceful all around you,
Close your eyes,
Let sleep surround you.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.

Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.
While guardian angels without number,
Watch you as you sweetly slumber.
Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.

From Salzburg, 1819
Literal English translation

A bit of poetry for the soul

One of my all time favorite poems....I can just hear the harness bells as the horse shakes his head in question, and the deep hush of the snow-filled woods....

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Bethlehem Star

This is the best movie I have seen all year, amazing, powerful, awe-inspiring. Order this now, you will be glad you did. Well researched and thoughfully done. Guaranteed to produce chills when the presentation unfolds and you see how the backdrop of Scripture leaps to life. I was filled with a renewed appreciation for how God has meticulously planned everything right from the beginning. Nothing is random here!

Eventide....

Photo by Kathleen Connally
I found this online in a photo grouping by Kathleen Connally, thought it fit together with the lyrics of the evening Hymn below.

The Moravian Single Sisters' House on Church Street was used as a combination dormitory, industrial and religious center for single women within the community. The Moravians had a unique and highly-controlled social system which divided men, women and children into groups based on their sex, age and marital status. The groups were known as "choirs" and they participated in common work and worship together within their own residences.

O Radiant Light, O Sun divine, Of the God the Father’s deathless face,
O Image of the Light sublime that fills the heavenly dwelling place.

O Son of God, the source of life, Praise is your due by night and day,
Our joyful lips must raise the strain, the strain of Your esteemed and splendid name.
Lord Jesus Christ as daylight fades, as shine the lights of eventide, we praise
The Father with the Son, The Spirit blessed and with them one.
Presbyterian Hymn (third century Greek, translated)

This song is sung beautifully by Michael Joncas and the Cathedral singers available on ITUNES.

Delighting in the way....

Stepping Stones by Dan Hildreth

"The steps of a man (or woman) are established by the Lord; And He delights in his way. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the Lord is the One who holds his hand." Psalm 23,24

I was stuck today. I couldn't seem to motivate myself to do a thing. Then I finally did the one thing I should have done first....Pray! At any time during the day we can stop, switch direction and start again. I made a mistake, I started dwelling on all the things I needed to do and ended up doing nothing. Until I prayed. Now I am motivated once again to pick up and go on.

What a wonder it is that God actually delights in our way! Thankful today for the many times He has kept me from harm when I insisted on plunging ahead anyway.

"I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all thy wonders." Psalm 9:1

I celebrate with the Gratitude community today for the stepping stones that God has lovingly provided to help me stay on track....Godly parents, loving friends, the wisdom found in the Word, Your marvelous creation that reminds me that I am very small yet still infinitely valuable to You.

#146 toward 1000 and beyond,

We have an answer....hope!

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 22:29-32

The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." Luke 22:33-35

Is there a right way to celebrate Christmas?.....absolutely. With the same joy and wonder that the angels felt when they touched down to announce His birth. And also with a bit of the somber forboding that Mary and Joseph must have had when Simeon gave his prophetic words in the temple.

It is impossible to see the babe in the manger, the sparkling lights on the tree, the manger scene lovingly arranged on the shelf, without also looking ahead to the death, burial and resurrection to come. That is the great paradox of our faith. We see the joy, but we also can't help seeing the sorrow. Though our world is still filled with the same problems as when He came, His coming gives the answer to them all. That is our great hope!

"Lord, to honor Your birth may I humbly remember what it cost to redeem me, and may I seek to glorify You with my life, my decisions, my words, so that others may clearly see Your light." Amen

Images from "Jesus of Nazareth" directed by Franco Zefferelli

Honesty

I loved the movie Liar, Liar because it made me think about what would happen if we all started to tell the whole truth. One of the characteristics that make a successful person to me is one who is not afraid to tell the truth in love.

Forthrightness is another word I would use to describe a person of character. It means to be an honest, frank or direct person. My best friend is such a person and that's one of the things I love about her. You always know right where you stand. The other day she was in Subway and she made a comment that the sandwich would be a great deal if it only looked like the one in the advertisement. The young man at the counter immediately puffed up and said, "They do look just like that!" So she said, "Well then make me one that looks just like that, with the same amount of everything." Silence.... and then warily, "Well, okay...do you want the foot long?" "Yes," she said, "Just like the one on the picture." And he did! If he hadn't gotten so defensive I am sure she would have just let it go.

Sometimes it is very uncomfortable when we are confronted with the truth. Especially the truth about ourselves. When I decided to let God have ownership of a few things in my life a few years ago, it was painful. One thing he wanted me to address was my drinking. I always caught myself saying, "I have a glass of wine at dinner." But God kept nudging at my heart. The Holy Spirit was trying to confront me with the truth. I didn't have just one glass, I had 3. Every day! Back then I would go to Trader Joe's on a weekend and get 3 bottles of 2 buck chuck and be perfectly okay with it. Really happy in fact. But I sensed God prodding me with questions, or maybe I started to ask myself...."Would you be as happy without this? How easy would it be to give this up? Am I not enough for you? Would you give it up for Me?" His voice was soft but insistent. And He knew I was ready to listen.

So I gave it up. I gave up its power over me. I remember the day I surrendered. I was sitting in the backyard under the tree enjoying the sunset, the outdoor cat sitting by my side; the last light dipping below the wall. That moment was like a benchmark for me. I remember that evening very fondly even now.

It was and is crucial for me to be truthful to God, myself, and someone I trust to be a safe place who will hold me accountable. I have learned that I can have a glass of wine now and then. But this I do this cautiously and prayerfully and I now know that I can successfully live without it, one day at a time, and only with His help.

Until we get to Heaven we will always have weaknesses or "thorns" we have to deal with. But we are in good company....and we don't have to go it alone!

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 2 Cor. 12:8,9