HAPPY NEW YEAR

Today’s post will be short to reflect how quickly we whizzed through 2012. The good news is that we survived the Mayan end-of-the-world prediction. So no longer do we have an excuse for putting off those things we need to do.

Next year—tomorrow!—will be time to recall 2012 and think about the whole, brand new year stretching out ahead of us.

Happy New Year to all!

MORE PRAYING NAMES

Each month I create prayers for people we love based on the meaning of their names. These additional names are then added to the ongoing list at the tab to the right titled, "PRAYING NAMES."

If you don’t find the name of your loved one listed, please leave a comment below. I’ll research it and create a prayer for a future month.

Amy: beloved

Heavenly Father, I pray that Amy will live the meaning of her name. I pray that she will understand your deep love for her and will see her worth through your eyes. Amen.

Joan: God is gracious

Heavenly Father, I pray that Joan will live the meaning of her name. I pray that she will understand and accept your grace, so freely given. I pray also that she will reflect your grace to others that they may see you through her life. Amen.

Roy: red

Heavenly Father, I pray that Roy will live the meaning of his name. I pray that he will look upon Jesus as the source of his salvation through the shedding of Jesus’ lifeblood. I pray that when he thinks of his name, it will remind him always of Jesus’ precious gift to him and the world. Amen.

Thomas: twin

Heavenly Father, I pray that Thomas will live the meaning of his name. I pray that he will joyfully accept God’s twin gifts of grace and mercy and understand that accepting the gift of forgiveness means returning the gift to forgive others. Amen.

ENDING WITH A MIRACLE

On Wednesdays I usually write on the Christian Writer blog chain’s monthly theme. This month it is "Colors, Sounds and Smells of December." But instead, I’m taking the opportunity to post an article that appeared this month on WEUSED2BU. Hopefully it will give you some thinking points as we close 2012 and enter the winter season.

 

 

A time of death celebrated as a time for rebirth

Bible historians say that the actual day of Jesus’ birth is not known. Some guess—based on astronomical events at the time in history—that Jesus was probably born in the springtime or summer. Other historians tell us the date of December 25 was selected to celebrate Jesus’ birth because a widely-observed pagan holiday occurred on that date and thus Christmas would already have a popular following on that date and the pagan focus could be diluted.

Whatever day was Jesus’ actual birth day, we celebrate it on December 25. Just days after we recognize the entrance into the earth’s dormant stage, we celebrate the way God brought new life to His people through Jesus. Winter—the day that recognizes the beginning of the earth’s dying cycle—so nicely coincides with the celebration of the birth of our savior, giving us a way for spiritual rebirth.

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Corinthians 5:22)

　

An end of the old and the start of the new

God created time in the beginning; right there on day number four of creation.

And God said, "Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years" (Genesis 1:14)

God knew we humans need time to mark the passage of our lives. And so we designed calendars based on God’s celestial timepieces and Earth’s place in the solar system. We live our lives marked by minutes, hours, days, months and years. And we give special importance to the ending of one year and the beginning of the next.

We end this calendar year and begin 2013 with a fresh, unblemished page on our calendars. We do so at a time of the year that we also celebrate Christmas—God’s miracle gift to us of His son, Jesus, who makes all things new.

　

The placement of a miracle

The miracle of Christmas represents our new life through Jesus. We observe it at the same time we observe the beginning of the Earth’s dying season. We observe it as we end one year and begin of the next. Thank you, Jesus for the reminder that life in you is always new, always alive, always a miracle.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!(2 Corinthians 5:17)

CHRISTMAS SING-ALONG

It’s December and what a better way to get into the spirit of the Holy Season than with a Christmas carol sing along?

Sing along! Join in! Turn up the volume! Enjoy.

It’s a time for singing Christmas carols. For those of you who can’t get out to sing with a group, here’s Celtic Woman, singing, Oh Holy Night. The lyrics follow so you can sing along.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ-8jYpa1-o

Oh, holy night, the stars are brightly shining.
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world, in sin and error pining
‘Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices.
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.


Fall on your knees.
Oh hear the angels voices.
Oh night divine.
Oh night when Christ was born.
Oh night divine.
Oh night, oh night divine


MERRY CHRISTMAS!

CHRISTMAS CAROL SING-ALONG

It’s time for another Christmas carol sing-along. This time it’s Third Day singing Oh Come, All Ye Faithful. Sing along! Join in! Turn up the volume! Enjoy.

Third day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8Zgbu0gE14

Oh Come, All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him,
Born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

God of God,
Light of Light,
Lo! he abhors not the Virgin's womb:
Very God,
Begotten, not created; Refrain

Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God
In the highest; Refrain

See how the shepherds,
Summoned to his cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
We too will thither
Bend our joyful footsteps; Refrain

Child, for us sinners
Poor and in the manger,
We would embrace thee, with love and awe;
Who would not live thee,
Loving us so dearly? Refrain

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing; Refrain

CHRISTMAS SING-ALONG

Today’s post is part of the Christian Writer’s blog chain. Our theme for December is "Christmas Sense: the Five Senses." Please click on the links in the right column and see what my friends have to say about our theme.

Our focus today is our sense of hearing because…it’s time for another Christmas carol sing-along; this time Celtic Thunder and Silent Night. Sing loud!

　
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhG5gs7IRvA

They start singing in Gaelic, but after the first time through they switch to English…just for you!


Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm all is bright.
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!


Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar.
Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah.
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!


Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.


　

　

　

The 10 + 1 Building Blocks Of Relationships: Encouragement

This is a guest post from Chris Vonada. Chris is an aspiring author and professional geologist, and also enjoys reading, running, anything outdoors, travel, family, friends, music and life! He writes about his passions at I’m Just Thinkin’ (http://chrisvonada.com).  

 

 

 

Encouragement conveys a spirit of hope. Encouragement instills courage in those who receive our words of inspiration. It helps them feel capable, like they have something meaningful to contribute. This building block is another of the 10 + 1 that reaches far.

The Bible says we are to "Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." Ephesians 4:29

I tend to thrive on inspiration and encouragement. I know that's a part of my personality, maybe it's the same for some of you as well. Where do I find inspiration? Well, in addition to receiving encouragement regularly from the people who are in my close circles, I also find it every day in God. A daily exercise of this comes through the devotional that I read.

"I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD." Psalm 27:13-14

As I mentioned, the people in my life also help encourage me, and I try to reciprocate that effort. Want to be a regular force of encouragement in someone's life? Be their daily devotional. How? This, again, starts with understanding their needs. For most of us, there is something going on every day in our lives. Call it our focus or dilemma, we tend to have some area that has our attention or interest. Knowing what this is can be the key to offering valuable encouragement.

Encourage the act or activity that a person does, not necessarily the person. For example, encouragement would be to say "Congratulations, you've worked hard and earned that good grade!" when our child gets an "A" - as opposed to "I'm very proud of you for getting an A" - note the subtle difference in form... we're promoting the recipient of our kind words to go have at it again, giving them self confidence, instead of continually seeking approval, often the long-term result of the second expression, a praise.

Be strong and courageous... go forth and prosper! - CV

What words or actions do you find encouraging? How do you encourage others?

 

 

+ + +

 

Chris's new book is out and available for purchase. Common Ground...Geology Happens!  Check it out. I have my copy. Do you?

 

http://amzn.com/1481011553/imjuth03-20

SEARCHING FOR SARA

One of my favorite cyber friends is launching a new book. And lucky me—I’ve had a chance to read it already. And fall in love with it.

Nona Mae King’s Searching for Sara, is a historical romance about a young woman, overcoming grief and hardship to set upon a new life in a new country. Outwardly, Sara Little is timid and weak. But inwardly she is strong because she relies on God who has brought her through her trials and blessed her in the process.

When Sara meets the grieving widower, Christopher Lake and his 5-year old daughter, her strength is again tested as she tries to help him face and then move through his pain with God’s help and a mutual love of art.

King uses faith, prayer and artistic growth to masterfully create a story that is both memorable and stirring. King had me in tears a half dozen times as she let me experience what both Sara and Christopher were going through. I loved the characters’ simple breath prayers and their example of looking to God at any moment of the day, reminding us that—whatever our prayers—God can handle them.

Searching for Sarais a lovely and memorable read. It’s also the first in Ms. King’s latest series, Heart of the Blessed. At the front of the book, King has quoted the Beatitudes—Jesus’ blessings given during his Sermon on the Mount. In this first book in the series, King addresses Jesus’ blessings of the meek and those who mourn. I’m looking forward to seeing how she addresses each of the blessings in turn.

Lucky for us, King’s book has been launched just in time for Christmas. If you’re a little behind in your shopping, the book is available, not only in paperback, but also downloadable as an ebook in a variety of formats. Click on a links below and—voila—it’s a "Merry Christmas" for all your friends.

Enjoy.

+ + +

Nona King is an independent writing professional for Angel Breath Books. She has dedicated herself to writing true-to-life characters, be they villain or hero, so her readers can experience life and its many passions. All her stories focus on faith, honor, and the importance of communication and trust in our relationships with others.

You can find this and other books by Nona King at these locations:
Fiction URL: www.NonaKing.com
Blog URL:　www.WordObsession.net
Amazon Author:　amazon.com/author/nonaking
Shelfari Author:　shelfari.com/nonaking
Barnes & Noble Author:　barnesandnoble.com/c/nona-king
Goodreads Author:　goodreads.com/nonaking
Smashwords Author:　smashwords.com/profile/view/nonaking

THE COLORS OF CHRISTMAS

Today’s post is part of the Christian Writer’s blog chain. Our theme for December is "Christmas Sense: the Five Senses." Please click on the links in the right column and see what my friends have to say about our theme.

　
When I was nine, Mom took me to the famous Podesta Baldocci florist in San Francisco. Each year in December, the florist shop created dazzling, fantasy Christmas trees and put them on display for lucky people like us to linger near, joyfully investigating the minutely amazing decorations that sprinkled and sparkled amidst the evergreen limbs.

That year, I saw a Victorian-themed Christmas tree, decked in white and pink. I had never seen anything more beautiful.

Since then I’ve had the chance to create my own memorable Christmas trees. And although I’ve never forgotten that beautiful pink and white tree at Podesta Baldocci, I’ve never created one for myself.

Because as beautiful as a pink and white tree is, nothing says Christmas like red and green.

• RED—the color of Christ’s blood, shed for us, made possible by his becoming human for our sake.

• GREEN—the color that represents fresh, new life in nature and thus reminds us of the new life we have in Christ.

Both of which became a reality at Jesus’ birth.

We humans love silver and gold tinsel. We love multi-colored twinkle lights outlining our roofs. And some of us even love pink and white Victorian decorations.

But, nothing can say Christmas like red and green. Because they remind us of Jesus.

PRAYER: Thank you God for color. We are so grateful for the enormous beauty you filled this world with. You have put color everywhere to delight our senses and remind us of you. Help us always be mindful of your glory whenever we see the colors of Christmas. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you go with a theme when you decorate for Christmas?

CHRISTMAS CAROL SING-ALONG

It’s December and what a better way to get into the spirit of the Holy Season than with a Christmas carol sing along? On selected days, I’ll post a youtube spot featuring a beloved Christmas carol, along with the lyrics. Let’s get the workweek started singing.

You can’t have Christmas without a Hallelujah Chorus sing along! Here’s the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Lyrics follow.

Sing along! Join in! Turn up the volume! Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4BWhvIlFVE

Hallelujah Chorus lyrics by Handel's Messiah


Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!


Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!


For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!


For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!


Repeat

The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord,

And of His Christ, and of His Christ;


And He shall reign for ever and ever,
And He shall reign for ever and ever,

And He shall reign for ever and ever,

And He shall reign for ever and ever,

King of kings, and Lord of lords,
King of kings, and Lord of lords,
King of kings, and Lord of lords,

King of kings, and Lord of lords,


And He shall reign,
And He shall reign forever and ever,


King of kings, forever and ever,
And Lord of lords,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!


And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!

King of kings! and Lord of lords!
And He shall reign forever and ever,


King of kings! and Lord of lords!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!

REDEDICATION

Although much of the historical background of Hanukkah, including the miracle of the oils is part of extra biblical Jewish sources, the following from the Apocropha in some of our Christian Bibles, relates the period of cleansing and rededicating the Temple in Jerusalem following it’s desecration by the Syrians. It is these scriptures which Christians can refer to for an understanding of the joyfulness of the Jewish Hanukkah celebration.

Although Hanukkah is often referred to as "the festival of lights," the original Hebrew meaning of the word is "to dedicate." It was the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem that was the focus of the early celebration. The rededication involved God’s miracle provision of the oil, which allowed the one-day supply of temple oil to burn for the entire eight days required to press, make ready and sanctify the new oil. Enjoy the reading.

The First Book of the Maccabees, Chapter 4

4:36 Then said Judas and his brethren, Behold, our enemies are
discomfited: let us go up to cleanse and dedicate the sanctuary.
4:37 Upon this all the host assembled themselves together, and went
up into mount Sion.
4:38 And when they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar
profaned, and the gates burned up, and shrubs growing in the
courts as in a forest, or in one of the mountains, yea, and the
priests' chambers pulled down;
4:39 They rent their clothes, and made great lamentation, and cast
ashes upon their heads,
4:40 And fell down flat to the ground upon their faces, and blew an
alarm with the trumpets, and cried toward heaven.
4:41 Then Judas appointed certain men to fight against those that were
in the fortress, until he had cleansed the sanctuary.
4:42 So he chose priests of blameless conversation, such as had
pleasure in the law:
4:43 Who cleansed the sanctuary, and bare out the defiled stones into
an unclean place.
4:44 And when as they consulted what to do with the altar of burnt
offerings, which was profaned;
4:45 They thought it best to pull it down, lest it should be a reproach
to them, because the heathen had defiled it: wherefore they pulled
it down,
4:46 And laid up the stones in the mountain of the temple in a
convenient place, until there should come a prophet to shew what
should be done with them.
4:47 Then they took whole stones according to the law, and built a
new altar according to the former;
4:48 And made up the sanctuary, and the things that were within the
temple, and hallowed the courts.
4:49 They made also new holy vessels, and into the temple they
brought the candlestick, and the altar of burnt offerings, and of
incense, and the table.
4:50 And upon the altar they burned incense, and the lamps that were
upon the candlestick they lighted, that they might give light in the
temple.
4:51 Furthermore they set the loaves upon the table, and spread out
the veils, and finished all the works which they had begun to
make.
4:52 Now on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month, which is
called the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and eighth year,
they rose up betimes in the morning,
4:53 And offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of
burnt offerings, which they had made.
4:54 Look, at what time and what day the heathen had profaned it,
even in that was it dedicated with songs, and citherns, and harps,
and cymbals.
4:55 Then all the people fell upon their faces, worshipping and
praising the God of heaven, who had given them good success.
4:56 And so they kept the dedication of the altar eight days and
offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed the sacrifice
of deliverance and praise.
4:57 They decked also the forefront of the temple with crowns of gold,
and with shields; and the gates and the chambers they renewed,
and hanged doors upon them.
4:58 Thus was there very great gladness among the people, for that the
reproach of the heathen was put away.
4:59 Moreover Judas and his brethren with the whole congregation of
Israel ordained, that the days of the dedication of the altar should
be kept in their season from year to year by the space of eight
days, from the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, with
mirth and gladness.

PRAYER: Thank you holy God for your miracles and your provision. Thank you for times and seasons that remind us not only of your great power, but also of our need to cleanse and rededicate ourselves to you. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Thinking of lighting a candle or nine to honor God’s miracle of the oil?

THE SMELL OF DECEMBER

Today’s post is part of the Christian Writer’s blog chain. Our theme for December is "Christmas Sense: the Five Senses." Please click on the links in the right column and see what my friends have to say about our theme.

Pine.

But not real pine. A spray; a candle; dried bark and needles in a bowl. Because our tree isn’t real.

Horrible, you cry. Sacrilege, you moan.

Maybe. Or maybe our family loves to celebrate our savior’s birth so much that we do anything we can to prolong and extend the holy days.

During the first eight years of marriage, hubs and I diligently purchased a freshly cut tree, gathered up our collection of delicate and one-of-a-kind ornaments and lovingly decorated it, despairing over its eventual trip out to the street for Boy Scout collection.

When we moved to New York, we bought our tree the day after Thanksgiving—standard practice in California. By the first week of December, the dry air and baseboard heater had turned the tree into a fire hazard. We flooded the tree’s base with water and prayed daily that our Christmas wouldn’t end up in flames.

The day after Christmas, we purchased a fake tree.

Every year since then—26 years this year—we have dragged the giant box out from under the stairs and enjoyed the daily twinkling lights and spinning ornaments through the end of November, for the entire month of December and past hub’s birthday in January. Without worry of flames.

No, it’s not the same as a "real" tree. But thanks to mankind’s desire to create something never as good, but with a defined purpose, we have more time to celebrate God’s gift to us. Jesus.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for Christmas. Thank you so much, Jesus for setting aside your glorious divinity temporarily and taking on the burden of humanity. Thank you for the many ways we celebrate Christmas and remember your sacrifice. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Real or fake?

CAROL'S GEMS: BLUE TOPAZ AND TANZANITE

Blue Topaz

Each month has a birthstone. The birthstones for the month of December are the blue topaz and tanzanite.



Tanzanite





And they both remind me of Jesus.

Blue topaz and tanzanite are popular gemstones used often in women’s jewelry. But did you know that nearly all of the two gems found in their natural state begin as dull, brownish stones?

In fact, the exquisite tanzanite—found at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in 1967 and no where else on earth—was not recognized as a gemstone until a wildfire heated some of the brown stones on the ground and turned them the rich purplish blue color we know today.

It is heat that did it. And heat is also routinely applied to natural brownish topaz to turn that gemstone blue.

Our souls, too—in their natural state—are dull and brownish; filled with unrepentant sin. We need Jesus to clean us up and make us sparkle.

Scripture tells us that Jesus will make us white as snow. But when you think of laundry back in Grandma’s day, you remember that she added bluing to the white load because blue white was even whiter than white.

So, too can Jesus clean up our souls so that they are whiter than white.

Sometimes though, he has to do so by allowing us to go through fire.

This third I will put into the fire;
I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
and I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’
and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’"

(Zechariah 13:9)

And check this out—scripture that combines both a refiner’s fire AND a laundry reference!

But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. (Malachi 3:1-3)

　

God can transform our drab, brown souls into something that glorifies Him. He can turn them into something that reflects His glory.

I said last month that more than any other birthstones, yellow topaz and citrine best represented their birth month, November—a time for autumn and harvest. But December’s blue topaz and blue/violet tanzanite also nicely reflect their birth month, December. The color we humans most generally associate with baby boys? Blue. Appropriate because during this month of December, we celebrate the human birth of the most precious baby boy in the history of humanity—Jesus Emanuel. God with us.

Happy birthday to everyone born in the month of December.



PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the sparkling glimpses of your glory found in nature. Please clean us up and make us shine—even if you have to put us through fire. We thank you that you are with us always. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Is there a time you felt you went through fire but came through knowing God had been with you?

　

MUCH STUDY WEARIES THE BODY

Earlier this month I mentioned that Ecclesiastes 12:12 spoke to my heart as a writer.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

I related that there is an unending stream of books I have written, am writing, plan to write, may one day write. Because there will always be books to be written.

Today I express my agreement with the second half of this scripture as it relates to writing books and the business of book publishing.

Because no matter how much of a craftsman or artisan a writer considers herself, if she writes books, they need to be published. And if they are published, most likely they are sold. Publishing is a business, whether you seek to become wealthy beyond the dreams of avarice, hope to make a tidy profit, or just want to get your ideas into the hands and minds of others.

I have been writing for publication for 12 years. I’ve had my share of publishing success, with four books published traditionally by educational publishers. I haven’t made big bucks. I’m not enormously famous. But I’ve achieved a measure of success because a publishing company has thought enough of my ideas to pay to have them turned into paper and ink products—to print them, bind them and make them available to those lucky purchasers.

But the publishing business continues to change. And it has dragged many of us writers along with it, amid much moaning and gnashing of teeth. Even my traditional publisher has turned some of my books into ebooks.

I recently purchased a kindle. I regularly purchase ebooks for it. And I have gotten past the I-miss-turning-the-page and the new book smell and the silky feel of the cover in my hands. Now, I look forward to the convenience of finding a book, purchasing it and reading it 2 minutes later; of locating an author I enjoy and purchasing several of her books for less than the cost of one print book.

That’s from the point of view of a reader.

From the point of view of a book creator, I’m still gnashing my teeth. If I consider self publishing ebooks or self-funding publication print books, then I must become familiar with:

• Kindle, nook, pdf, ebook, print on demand, apps
• Adobe InDesign
• Smashwords, KDP Select Pro, CreateSpace
• .mobi formatting
• pixel sizes and thumbnails
• verso, retro, folio, outer margin, inner margin, gutter
• trim size, font size, font type/size/words/page; lines/page
• typography; oblique spacing, open, expanded, touching, italic, sans serif
• old style, transitional, modern, square serif, sans serif, cursive and scrips, text letters, and decorative type faces
• half title page; frontispiece, bleeds
• widows and rivers
• calculating spine width and content
• Gimp; aliased; antialiased art; bitmap vs jpeg, vector based images, rasterize
• unembeddable faux fonts
• Lorem ipsum

That’s just some of the technical stuff. Then there’s the marketing, platform building, pricing, and on and on. All of it has to be learned.

…much study wearies the body.

I’m a writer. Of making books there is no end. So I write and I study and I endeavor to persevere.

Because God made me this way.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us minds. Please help us use them and our talents in the best way we can. Please help us create things that will glorify you and lead others to you. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? What study wearies your mind?

CREATING HEIRLOOMS

I’ve become guardian and protector of many of our family heirlooms. I’ve also begun the creation of new family heirlooms.

Not all of these new heirlooms have great intrinsic value. But to me, the creation of a new heirloom is more about sentimental, than intrinsic value. If it has no sentiment behind it, chances are it’s just "stuff."

So, although my awesome and amazing turbo whisk is incredible—it will never be a family heirloom. It neither has intrinsic value nor sentimental value.

My collection of necklaces and ear bobs may have intrinsic value, but to my son they’re just minerals.

Our collection of Dickens Village houses, however has become a family heirloom in the making. Each house was selected and added to the growing collection over a period of more than 25 years, with each family member in mind.

Daughter Nicole chose the Cratchet family house with the real smoking chimney and the Nicolas Nickelby house to match her nickname.

Doug liked the train station and the mill with the rotating water wheel because—well, wheels back in Dickens’ day were as close to cars as a young boy could get.

Each year the boxes were opened amid delighted squeals and "ooohs." Each house was placed under the Christmas tree with care and adjusted and tweaked until that moment when the power strip trailing 20 cords attached to 20 houses was flipped on, bringing the village to "life."

The memories of the village include the train track that ran around the tree and through the village, the train never quite making it beyond its first rotation before jumping the track and landing in a polyester snow pile, but adding charm to the village nonetheless.

Memories include the daily readjustment of the wobbly trees and fences.

Memories include the white kitty cat who each year concluded we had placed the fluffy snow cloth under the tree for his specific sleeping pleasure.

Memories include sitting in the dark together, looking at the tree and the lights and the village and the cat. Not speaking. Just being together

As we close the end of 2012, once again I look forward to digging out those family heirlooms—only one generation old—and reliving the sentiment behind them. Family heirlooms in the making.

PRAYER: Thank you God for families and memories we can make together. Please give us more opportunities to create memories together and reminders of treasured times past. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you have a new family heirloom in the making?

　

This post is part of the Christian Writer’s Blog Chain. Our theme for November is "heirloom." Please click on the links to the right to see what my friends have to say about our theme.

MORE PRAYING NAMES

Each month I create prayers for people we love based on the meaning of their names. These names are then added to the ongoing list at the tab to the right titled, "PRAYING NAMES."

If you don’t find the name of your loved one listed, please leave a comment below. I’ll research it and create a prayer for a future month.

Dennis: god of wine; mountain of Zeus

Heavenly Father, I pray that Dennis will live the meaning of his name. I pray he will remember the true God and that you live—not on a mountain—but are everywhere in this amazing universe. I pray that Dennis will be reminded of the many miracles that you performed on earth, Jesus, beginning with the very first miracle in Canaan—turning water into wine. Amen.

Edward: protector; guardian

Heavenly Father, I pray that Edward will live the meaning of his name. I pray that he will live his life as a protector and guardian of his strong faith in you and that he will seek to aid people who need protection from evil in this world. Amen.

Martha: lady

I pray that Martha will live the meaning of her name. I pray that she will live with graciousness and kindness to all, reflecting the graciousness and kindness that comes from you. Amen.

Roxanne: star, bright, dawn

I pray that Roxanne will live the meaning of her name. I pray that she will illuminate the world around her and that her light will be a reflection of God’s love to mankind. Amen.

AND SO IT BEGINS

Yep, I did it again. Ate too much yesterday. Have too many leftovers left over today.

Then again, I’ll get more exercise than usual. Because it’s that day.

The day we decorate the house for Christmas.

PRAYER: Thank you, Father, for the feast you allowed us yesterday. Please be with those people who don’t have enough food and provide for them. Please show all of us how to feast upon your love and guidance throughout our lives. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Does the day after Thanksgiving begin the Christmas season in your house?

A NATIONAL HEIRLOOM

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. More than anything, to most people Thanksgiving means a feast. And most people’s Thanksgiving Day feast contains very specific items:

• Turkey – oven roasted, deep fried, smoked or microwaved. The scientific secret to assuring everyone of that superlative afternoon nap in front of the TV
• Mashed potatoes – with garlic, cheese, hunks of skin still attached, or just out of the box
• Gravy – you absolutely can never have enough because, let’s face it, everything tastes better when it’s covered with gravy
• Stuffing – with sausage, onions, celery, raisins, walnuts and smothered in so much gravy it doesn’t matter what you add—or don’t add
• Cranberry sauce – jellied and canned although a few staunch households make it fresh
• Green bean casserole with just enough green beans underneath the fried onions to be able to count it as a vegetable
• Yams or sweet potatoes dripping with brown sugar
• Pumpkin Pie –wait! There’s pie under the whipping cream?

There may be a few variations or additions, but let’s face it, 90% of the Thanksgiving Day feasts in American homes will include most of the above. The standard menu is almost like a national heirloom.

Enjoy.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we are so grateful for occasions to celebrate our blessings with family and friends. Thank you so much for these times. Thank you for making us part of your adopted family. Please be with those people today who have no family or no feast. Please give them an extra portion of your love today. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Which part of your Thanksgiving Day feast is your favorite?


This post is part of the Christian Writer’s Blog Chain. Our theme for November is "heirloom." Please click on the links to the right to see what my friends have to say about our theme.

THE 10 + 1 BUILDING BLOCKS OF RELATIONSHIP: COMFORT (EMPATHY)

Empathy is the building block, if you will, of being able to recognize that a person needs comfort, and then having the sentiment, the positive feeling, emotion or notion to do something good about it. Comfort is the net result.

This is the stepping stone that leads to compassion. Maybe think of providing this level of comfort as pouring out your cup for someone. You're giving someone else a part of you, something that can't be bought in the store. When you think about it, this is at the very heart of 10 + 1... you're sharing a love that is true, pure, and unconditional.

When we provide comfort, we're putting someone else's needs first, even when it may require an extra effort on our part. Here's an excellent example from the Bible:

"All night long on my bed

I looked for the one my heart loves;

I looked for him but did not find him.

I will get up now and go about the city,

through the streets and squares;

I will search for the one my heart loves.

So I looked for him but did not find him.

The watchmen found me

as they made their rounds in the city.

Have you seen the one my heart loves?

Scarcely had I passed them

when I found the one my heart loves.

I held him and would not let him go

till I had brought him to my mother's house,

to the room of the one who conceived me." Song of Songs 3:1-4

Caring about someone to this extreme exemplifies one person's love for another... a love that would get up from bed after fretting all night out of concern for them, and to go to find them and comfort them. Sometimes we'll do this all day long too, when caring for a loved one... making comfort foods, like chicken noodle soup, bringing nourishment to them in bed or turning the living room over to them as a place of peace and solitude while they rest and recuperate, running to the store or pharmacy for medications to aid in their recovery... and back again when they think of just one more thing that may help.

Of course, many of us can identify with this scenario. Certainly not all, I'm sure, but many can, right? So Jesus leads us to take comfort to the next level.

I want to take you back to the Bible now, to very end of one book that describes the life of Jesus. This account was by Luke, his last words (and shared memory) of his time with Jesus...

Jesus said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning with Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. Luke 24:44-53

Our great comforter, in our most vulnerable moment, foresaw our need, and in His perfect way, God gave us the comfort found in the Holy Spirit. In turn, the power of compassion and love filled our hearts with the desire to spread the Good News and to soldier on, passing this wonderful sentiment along to the next person who needs comfort in our world.

When I think of comforting someone, it's usually when they're sick, or have suffered some loss. What examples can you come up with of when we comfort someone else?

THE "TO BE" ATTITUDES: APPLICATION

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

He said:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-12)


The Beatitudes are Jesus’ teachings of how he wants us to live—a life modeled after him—having Jesus’ heart (mourning for the human condition, being meek, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, being merciful, being pure in heart, being a peacemaker, being persecuted).

The Beatitudes are about understanding at a soul level that we are unworthy of the God’s love, grace and mercy. It’s about living with gratitude because God loves us anyway, grants us grace anyway. Is merciful to us anyway. Even though—especially since—we don’t deserve it.

The Beatitudes are about submission to God; being humbled; knowing that we are insignificant in the grand scheme of things; but God loves us anyway.

The Beatitudes are about being merciful to others because God is merciful to us.

The Beatitudes are about living like Christ in all things, no matter how difficult; no matter how opposed it is to our personal nature; no matter, no matter.

Jesus never promised life would be easy when we followed him. In fact, he specifically said it would be hard. But there are rewards. Blessings. Given freely, not as brownie points but because we have a God who loves us unconditionally and blesses us abundantly, smiling on us when we turn our hearts to Him and when we become like Him in the tiniest way.

The application of the Beatitudes, is to follow Jesus’ example. Jesus temporarily set aside his divinity and became human. We must set aside our humanity—our sinful inclinations and worldly ways of thinking. We must recognize that nothing we can do on our own will save us. Only God can do that. And when we accept that truth and live accordingly, we are blessed.

We just need that "can do" attitude; that "to be" attitude.

 
PRAYER: Jesus, thank you for your example of living and for preserving for us some of your precious sermons. Thank you for making us teachable and for revealing truths to us through your parables and teachings. Help us apply your truths in a way that points others to you. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Which of the Beatitudes spoke loudest to you? Why?

　

STEWARDSHIP OF GOD'S WORD

An heirloom is generally a possession that has intrinsic and/or sentimental value and is handed down from generation to generation. Sometimes an heirloom is a piece of furniture, jewelry, china, books, photographs or papers. Usually there is a story behind the item or at least a name of the original owner and who they were in the family tree.

I have become the protector of many of our family heirlooms, but it is my husband who has taken responsibility of the one of the most precious heirlooms of all time: God’s Word.

Our very most precious heirloom of course is Jesus. As believers, we have been adopted into God’s family. We have inherited salvation through our belief that Christ died for us. And by godly teaching and example of right living, by explaining our faith and testifying to it, we can pass that faith from generation to generation.

That heirloom is true and beyond value and although it can be felt and understood, it cannot be touched or held.

But God’s Word can be—in the form of the Bible.

That is where hubby comes in. In our safe, we have several versions of God’s Word. Some of the Bibles were printed before 1800; some after. Many have been enhanced with glorious illuminated script; others with minutely detailed black and white etchings.

Whenever hubby removes a Bible from the safe and shares it with a friend, he does so with reverence and care because, as he says, he does not own the Bible. The Bible belongs to God. He is merely its steward.

And so, the small collection of Bibles in our safe will probably be handed down from generation to generation within the Peterson family. But while we will maintain stewardship of them, they will always and forever belong to God.

As do we.

Praise God that our faith, our lives and everything we are belong to God. We are a living heirloom because we are part of His family.

PRAYER: Thank you Heavenly Father for everything in this world. Thank you for adopting us into your family and giving us salvation as our eternal heirloom. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Is faith an heirloom that has been passed down through your family?

+  +  +

 

Today's post is part of the Christian Writer's Blog Chain. Our theme for November is "heirloom." Please click on the links to the right to see what my friends have to say about this theme.

BOOKS UNENDING

As I was writing last Monday’s post, I spent some time in Ecclesiastes. As a writer, my eyeballs often skim the words and get stuck on thoughts related to writing. So it was last week when I read Ecclesiastes 12:12:

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

I’m the first to admit that I’m freely taking this one line of scripture out of the heavy duty Book of Ecclesiastes. But it speaks deeply to my heart as a writer.

Of making many books there is no end.

No sooner do I begin writing one book than my brain creates ideas for three more. No sooner do I get the first draft of one book completed than the outline for a seventh book is begun. No sooner do I complete a book of fiction than the characters jump up and demand that it become a series.

Of making many books there is no end.

Which is why I write. Because there are books to be created, stories to be told, words to be shared. King Solomon’s reputation for the wisest man who ever lived, is still secure.

PRAYER: Thank you Jesus for words and ideas. Thank you for being the master communicator. Thank you for giving us the ability to use words to share your love with others. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you have a book in you waiting to be written? Why haven’t you started writing it?

NOTE: Stay tuned for part 2 of Ecclesiastes 12:12 later this month.

THE "TO BE" ATTITUDES: PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-11)

　
We look at the early Christian martyrs and marvel at their courage and faith. But many Christians today are martyred for their faith—many statistics say that in this century more have been martyred than in the first 20 centuries of Christianity combined.

In many countries today it is against the law to be a Christian.

In this country we profess to have freedom of religion, but in reality, more and more Christians feel apologetic about their faith. Not apologetic as in C.S. Lewis’s argument for the faith; but feeling that they cannot declare their faith to others without feeling like they are somehow offending them.

• Children are not allowed to pray at school.
• Nativity scenes are not allowed at public buildings.
• The Ten Commandments are removed from courthouses.
• The phrase "Evangelical Christian" when spoke in politics is said with a sneer.

The suffering of Christians is not about being punished for evil or unlawful acts. The suffering and persecution Jesus spoke of was being punished for being righteous.

Have you ever known someone who lashes out against a friend for doing good? Not because the friend did good but because doing good shows the rest of us up for who we really are—falling short of our duty, our ideals, what we know to be right and good.

People who are righteous show others up. Sometimes the unrighteous hate the righteous because the righteous illuminate their own dark hearts and show the world who they really are.

When believers try to live a righteous life, they become distinguished from the rest of the world. The world may misinterpret our conduct and view us as feeling as if we are above them; better than they are; hoity-toity.

To many people, sin is fun. It is associated with pleasure, living life on the edge, it’s all fine as long as it’s between consenting adults. The Holy Spirit has the power to convict people, but if we sin, we don’t want to be convicted. We may secretly feel guilty and so we lash out at people who struggle not to sin—making fun of their struggle, encouraging them to give up, cheering when they fail and fall back into sin.

Blaming others is always easier than accepting responsibility and doing what is right. Blaming Christians, making fun of them, persecuting them feels good and distracts attention away from the ungodly for a moment.

A sinner fights against God. He can’t get back at God so he does the next best thing—he attacks those who follow God.

Jesus told us that if we follow him, we will be persecuted.

If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.  (John 15:20)

Jesus came to Earth and lived as a human so that he could show us an example of how to live. If we truly desire to follow him, we desire to be like him and live like him. We don’t always succeed, but we try. When we do, he tells us—promises us—that we will be persecuted.

So what if you do not feel like you are being persecuted? Could it be that you are just one of the lucky few?

Or are you perhaps not living as righteous a life as God wishes?

Or perhaps you are not letting God’s light shine so brightly through you that the world even knows that you are a Christian.

Fortunately when we are persecuted, we are not alone. Not only do we have the companionship of other believers to support and encourage us, we also have the strength of the Holy Spirit living in us. And the strength of Jesus that enables us to do all things.

And each time we are persecuted and survive, we become stronger and more assured in our faith. Each time God delivers us, we trust Him more.

And when we are persecuted we understand:

• The strength of our faith.
• Our faith is worthy of our suffering.
• We have been chosen by God.
• We are children of God.
• Our salvation is sure.
• We are truly not of this world even though we are in this world.
• We are in good company.
• Ours is the kingdom of heaven.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus. Thank you Jesus for your example of living. We do so want to live a life worthy of your sacrifice. We want to be more Christ-like in everything we do, say and are. Please help us stand firm and in righteousness, even amid persecution. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you sometimes feel persecuted for Jesus’ sake?

THE STUFF OF HEIRLOOMS

Today's post is part of the Christian Writers blog chain. Our theme for November is "heirloom." Please click on the links to the right to see what my friends have to say about this theme.

Heirloom: A family possession passed down from generation to generation.

Like many folks our age, hubby and I are ready to downsize. We’ve said it for years, but we finally are walking the talk. That means trying to sell this enormous house that we have crammed full of "stuff."

It means getting rid of at least a third of the "stuff" we’ve accumulated over 34 years of marriage, two kids and six moves between two coastlines. It means finding a smaller house and hoping we have gotten rid of enough "stuff" that the rest will fit into the new smaller nooks and crannies.

Somewhere along the line, though, I became the holder of the family heirlooms.

All those family treasures passed down from generation to generation from my mother and father, my mother’s mother and father, my father’s mother and father, along with items from hubby’s family as well.

They were precious enough to have escaped the trash bin for over 100 years and have landed safely in my possession—some with little notes attached as to who was the original owner and a date of ownership, if known, such as:  "Carol’s mother’s mother’s aunt and uncle’s platter received on the occasion of their wedding 1829."

I carry some of these heirlooms with joy; others with a great burden. This was important to someone. This is of value. I am its protector.

But do I care? Do I have enough energy to be its steward for another 30 years? Who will care if I don’t?

What with china, baby clothes, tea towels, hand-embroidered linens, jewelry, toys, books and furniture entrusted to my care, plus my own soon-to-be heirlooms of infinite value (or not), it’s nearly to the point that if we got rid of all of our "stuff" except for the heirlooms, we still might not fit into our planned smaller home of our dreams.

Sigh.

Yet our children are not yet ready to receive the pass on of these heirlooms. The solution? It is time to allow some of these heirlooms to become heirlooms for others. Sold to the antique stores or on Craig’s list. Given to people outside the family who would appreciate their intrinsic value even if they do not understand the family meaning behind them.

Which brings the point to a head.

The value in heirloom "stuff" is not so much in the object as in the memories behind it; the love of the people who treasured them. If stories about the object can be handed down and can become part of the "heirloom," then they are of more value because the love behind it is what is treasured.

When going through heirloom "stuff," if there is a note attached, it usually gets packed back up and stuffed securely in a box. If an heirloom is uncovered without knowledge of where it came from, who originally owned it or without any reason why it might mean something to this generation, if it isn’t loved right now by this generation, it might have to become an heirloom for someone else’s family.

Because the value of an heirloom is often based on the love the object represents. I think my mother’s mother’s aunt and uncle would understand.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, sometimes we get caught up in the value the world places on our stuff. Please help us remember that—just as we should focus on storing up treasures in heaven—that more important than stuff is how we love other people. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you treasure family heirlooms? Do some of them make you feel burdened?

THE DUTY OF MAN

Tomorrow is Election Day. Soon we will learn whether we will be governed with four more years of the same or four years of something new.


California has pretty much already decided upon whom it will dedicate its electoral votes. But we’ll vote anyway, because we can; because we should; because it is our right, our privilege and our duty.

Our duty at least from the conventions of man.

Ecclesiastes states a more profound duty, when wise King Solomon wrote The Conclusion of the Matter:

Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Fear God and keep his commandments. That’s it. That’s the number one duty of mankind. Everything else is meaningless under the sun.

So tomorrow we will do our civic duty and vote our conscience. And leave the results to God. He is in charge. He has a plan. And fortunately, His plan extends well beyond the next four years.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we praise you for your plan. We know it is good because you are good. Please give us wisdom as we vote in our earthly elections. Please help us make decisions that fall into line with what you have in mind. And please grant our government officials wisdom and right thinking as they make decisions on our behalf. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? You’re gonna vote, right?

CAROL'S GEMS: TOPAZ AND CITRINE--HARVESTING SUNSHINE

Every month has a birthstone. The birthstones for the month of November are yellow topaz:



 

and citrine:



And they both remind me of Jesus.

 

 

A Gift From The Sun

 

Both of these golden gemstones are the color of sunshine. Yellow topaz is naturally occurring; yet rare. Golden citrine—quartz—is also rare in its natural state. Most commercial citrine today started out as purple quartz (amethyst) or smoky quartz and was turned golden by applying heat.

 

Ancient Egyptians believed that natural yellow topaz got its color literally from the sun; or rather from the rays of the sun god, Ra. Romans similarly affiliated topaz with Jupiter—who was the Roman god of the sun.

 

Ecclesiastes tells us though that there is nothing new under the sun. In other words, there is nothing new down here on earth. Above the sun, in heaven, is another story because above the sun—as well as in our hearts—is where Jesus resides. Jesus is not the sun god. He is the Son of God.

　

Symbolism

 

Topaz is a symbol of wisdom, friendship, love, honesty, faithfulness, tenderness and purity. Sound anything like the fruit of the Spirit?

 

Citrine is said to bring the wearer health, hope, energy and warmth. In ancient times, citrine was worn as protection against snakes and evil thoughts. Instead of pasting together a dozen fig leaves, Adam and Eve should have encased themselves in citrine!

A gift of citrine is symbolic of hope and strength. Jesus is our only hope of heaven and our sure strength for all trials.

　

Harvest

 

More than any other birthstone, yellow topaz and citrine represent their month—at least for the Northern Hemisphere. Both gemstones are the color of harvest—the color of leaves after the first frost-cold night; of persimmon cookies, pumpkin pie and butternut squash. Both stones capture the warm glow of autumn and bring sunshine to the first days of the long winter to come.

 

As a reminder of harvest, yellow topaz and citrine point to the eternal harvest Jesus will begin when he returns. That harvest of souls. The one you and I are so eager to be part of.

 

Happy birthday to everyone born in November.

 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, thank you for seasons. Thank you for the reminder of the warmth of summer and the coolness of autumn. Thank you for harvest time on earth that reminds us that those of us who call upon your name are assured of the eternal harvest to come. Amen.

 

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Do you own any yellow topaz or citrine? Want some?

 

 

DISCOVERING HALLOWS EVE

This post is part of the Christian Writers Blog Chain. Our theme for October is "discover." Each Wednesday this month I am writing on that theme. Please click on the links to the right to read what my friends have to say about "discover."

Today is Halloween. It’s a tricky wicket trying to join up Halloween with the theme of "discover." This post then isn’t something *I* have discovered but hopefully is something you will discover that you didn’t previously know about Halloween.

So in honor of the day, here’s a repost from last Halloween, slightly revised. I hope you discover something new or re-discover something you’d forgotten about this holy day, All Hallows Eve.

　

Halloween is a time for pumpkins and popcorn; trick-or-treat and tooth decay. But it began as a holy day.

All Christians—living or dead—are saints. Not because we’re so good, but because we have been made holy through the blood of Christ. Sometimes in scripture this is translated as "holy people" or "God’s people." But saints we are.

One of the first things the early Christian church did was to set aside November first as "All Saints Day." Back in the fourth century, merely 300 years after Jesus, the Roman Catholic Church established this day to recognize martyrs who had died for their faith. November first ultimately became a time to praise God for His plan of salvation and to remember all of Christ’s saints (not just the ones with the capital "S") who had died and returned home to Glory.

Whether you are a member of today’s Roman Catholic Church or not, the fact remains that Greece (home of Orthodox Christianity) and Rome (home of Roman Catholic Christianity) were the first two places where Paul and his gang took Christianity to the gentiles. It’s where Christianity took root and flourished. And amid all that flourishing, All Saints Day was founded—a holy day set aside by the Church for God’s glory.


But what’s Halloween?

Christians celebrate the evening before Christmas as Christmas Eve. Similarly, early Christians celebrated the evening before All Saints Day, referring to it as All Hallows Eve. "Hallowed," as we know from the Lord’s Prayer, means "holy."

This pre-All Saints Day observance gradually became known as "Hallows Eve" and eventually "Halloween." The meaning? Holy Evening.


Today’s unholiness

There is nothing holy about gangs of 4-foot tall aliens, fairy princesses and red-cloaked vampires roaming our neighborhoods with bulging bags of candy. And admittedly, the true evil one has a party every year as he encourages us to look to him for the glory, rather than to the true Master of the universe.

But the fact that Satan uses a holy day for his purposes does not mean the day itself is evil. Does not the evil one use every day for his purposes? It is our responsibility as children of God to remember the holiness in everything—including and maybe even especially—days originally set aside by man for God’s glory.

Christmas has become a commercialized season in the secular world. Should Christians therefore no longer celebrate the birth of our savior? Not on your eternal life!


Me and my house

I will be spending today in preparation for All Saints Day. I’ll be praying in gratitude for God’s plan and for including me and my loved ones in it.

And if there’s any candy left in the bowl after the miniature ghouls and goblins have finished grabbing, then there’ll be one more thing to be thankful for.

Holy Eve (Halloween) blessings to all.
　

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please remind us that all of your days are holy days. Please show us ways to thank you for your plan and to see your holiness in everything. Please protect us from the evil one during these and every day. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? What was your favorite costume from your childhood?