Having Christmas?

Having Christmas?
So what does it mean when people say "we are having Christmas"? I interpret that to mean that they are getting together at the home of family and/or friends, there will be beautiful decorations, hors d’voures, Christmas cookies, gift exchanges, a delicious meal, maybe some eggnog etc. This is how many of us "Have Christmas".
OOOo, something is missing.
Can we fix it?
Yes.
Stay focused, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
Here are some ways to stay focused on the true meaning of Christmas.
A Religious Holiday --Attend church services on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. No excuses, make it happen.
Gift Giving – Don’t let gift giving turn into a greedfest. Put a manger scene under the Christmas tree. Explain to the children about the birth of Jesus and that the 3 wise men were the first to give Christmas gifts. It is also a reminder that God gave us the gift of his own son on that first Christmas Day in Bethlehem. These reminders provide a connection to gift giving and the true meaning of Christmas.
The Word Made Flesh – Get into the Word of God. Read the gospel passages that describe the first Christmas. Or read from Isaiah 9 the prophesy of the coming of Jesus.
Music! -- How about some Christmas Carols or Handel’s Messiah which is based on Isaiah 9.
The Magic Of Christmas – The true magic of Christmas is the unexpected acts of kindness that people do at Christmas time. Do an unexpected act of kindness.
Have fun and stay focused on Christmas as a celebration of the birth of Jesus.
And wish everyone “Merry Christmas”
What are your ideas about keeping the true meaning of Christmas? Post a comment and share your thoughts.
Has someone surprised you with an unexpected act of kindness. Share the news. Post a comment.

The Walmart Tragedy - A prayer

The Wal-Mart Tragedy

Dear Blogger Friends & Family,

Most of us are returning to our normal jobs this morning after enjoying the Thanksgiving Holidays. However, there is one Wal-Mart employee who will never return to work. He was killed on Black Friday by a greed motivated crowd as they stampeded into the store, knocking him over and trampling him to death. Here is a prayer for that Wal-Mart employee, and for all of us.

Dear God Our Heavenly Father,
We ask you to show mercy on the soul of this Wal-Mart employee who died a needless death on Black Friday. Welcome him into your loving arms and eternal rest. Comfort his grieving family, and help them to find forgiveness in their hearts for the people responsible for this tragic and unnecessary death.

We ask your forgiveness for all of us, because we are all greedy at times. We are sorry for disappointing you. We ask forgiveness for the greedy mob that killed this man, the corporate promoters that created this tragic scenario, and for the corporate decision makers who have turned a season of holiness into a season of profit.

Help all of us to return to the true meaning of Christmas, the day when you gave the gift of your Son to all humanity. Help us to prepare to celebrate this holy day of Christmas with prayers and acts of kindness. Bring us all back to you and to the true meaning of Christmas, Amen.
May God bless all of those who pray this prayer and/or pass it along.

Don't Forget The Lyrics

Don't Forget the Lyrics!

Ok, let’s play don’t forget the Lyrics. Listed below are some common Christmas Carols. Fill in the missing lyrics and see how far you can go up the money ladder.
Remember, we are playing for make believe money.

Here is the first song. The $500. Level.

Silent Night

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yond virgin, mother and child
Holy infant, ____ _____ ____ _____.
(Scroll down for the answer.)





Answer: so tender and mild.
If you are correct go ahead to the $1,000 level.

Away In The Manger

Away in the manger, no crib for a bed
The Little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord _____ ____ ____ ____ ____.
(Scroll down for the answer.)





Answer: Jesus asleep on the hay.
If you are correct go ahead to the $5,000 level.

Angels We Have Heard On High

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
______ ______ _______ _____.
(Scroll down for the answer.)








Answer: Gloria in excelsis Deo!
If you are correct go ahead to the $10,000 level.

God Rest You Merry Gentlemen

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior, Was born on Christmas Day
____ _____ ____ ____ _____ ______ ______
When we were gone astray.
(Scroll down for the answer.)









Answer: To save us all from Satan’s power
If you are correct go ahead to the $25,000 level.

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

It came upon a midnight clear, That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
____ ____ ____ _____ _____ _____.
(Scroll down for the answer.)






Answer: To touch their harps of gold.
If you are correct go ahead to the $50,000 level.

What Child Is This

What child is this, who, laid to rest, On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping.
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
The babe, the son of Mary.
(Scroll down for the answer.)






Answer: Haste, haste to bring him laud,
If you are correct go ahead to the $100,000 level.

O Holy Night

O Holy Night, The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the 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
___ ____ ____ ____ ____.
____ ___ ____ _____
O hear the angels voices
O night divine.
(Scroll down for the answer.)







Answer: A new and glorious morn, fall on your knees.
If you are correct go ahead to the $250,000 level.


Joy to the World (2nd verse)

Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns
Let men, their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks hills and plains,
_____ _____ _____ _____








Answer: Repeat the sounding joy.
If you are correct go ahead to the $1,000,000 level.


Adeste Fideles

Adeste fideles, laeti triumphantes,
Venite, venite in Bethlehem
Natum videte Regem agelorum
Venite, adoremus, venite, adoremus,
_____ ____ _____.





Answer: Venite adoremus Dominum.
Did you get it right? Congratulations, You have won $1,000,000 in play money.

Christmas Button

This is a campaign to get people to truly understand what Christmas is. Therefore we need a campaign button. This button is great. I wear mine everyday starting in December. I buy extra buttons and put them on wrapped presents. I also put one on my tree. Last year I gave one to the UPS man because he liked mine. You can buy this button at http://www.lc.org/ They are reasonably priced, fun to wear, fun to give away and they get the message across.

December 25, 1AD

I am on a campaign to get people to focus on what Christmas really is.

To start my campaign, I would like to begin with a basic fact-- Christmas is December 25th, this is the day that we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

I hear people say things like "we're going to have Christmas next week with my family and then the following week with my husband's family." Huh? Was Jesus born twice?

I decided that maybe Jesus needs a Birth Certificate so that people won't be so confused. So I made one for him. You might want to share this with your friends that are confused about when we celebrate Christmas. Post it on your refrigerator. Mark you calendar. Christmas is coming December 25th.