Jesus is the reason for the season...
I know I am lagging, Christmas has come and gone and i didnt blog like I wanted to. Each and every day i said at the beginning of the day...today is it...today will be the day I blog! well, here i am, January 6th, 2013.
What Christmas means to me....
Let's deck the halls with holly, fill the tree with tinsel, and pretty pretty lights, go to sleep and wake up just before daylight. I love to see the excitement of looking in the sky for Rudolph, leaving Santa milk and cookies along with a note. I love all the Christmas lights, singing Christmas carols, hearing Frosty the Snowman, watching when people are under misletoe, smelling sugar cookies in the oven, filling the stockings hung by the fireplace, and when kids say " all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth", having a white christmas, watching a Christmas play at church, and watching Christmas specials on TV. Christmas means a lot of things, it means presents, clothes and diamond rings. it means giving from the very start, giving from deep within the heart. It means the end of another year. It is happiness and love to share, a special time to show each other we care. To join our love ones in a Christmas celebration. It is for love of friends and family, peace joy and happiness. The best gift of all doesn't glitter or sparkle, it not wrapped in ribbon or paper, it doesnt cost a thing, the best gift at all comes from the heart... it doesnt come from the store....it is the gift of baby Jesus, and the gift thats in our heart, sharing with others.
It is Christmas in the heart, that puts Chrsitmas in the air. Faith makes all things possible, hope makes all things work, love makes all things beautiful!
I love that the star the shepherds saw that night, that lit the way for them. It still shines to all guide all those who seek the Light of Bethlehem
This past Christmas was special in its own ways... my niece Emily and her husband ariel were able to fly home to be with us, ( and her friends had planned a baby shower for her), Mike and his family and renee were all able to be in Missouri with my parents (just prior to christmas)... there isnt a better gift than having them all together.. ( my mom and dad were not able to make the trip out here this year, which just doesn't seem right!) One thing i was able and blessed to be a part of is 2 different church services. The first one i attended was in Stockton, it is called Progessive Community. My last instructer at UOP that taught a belief, cultural and ethic class is actually one of the pastors there. Much to my surprise, it wasnt just a small little community church how i invisioned. Not exactly in the best part of Stockton, yet once in their parking lot, they actually had people on covered golf carts giving folks a ride up to the church. Just a guess, I'll say there were at least 500 people there. The most welcoming and friendly people I have ever met! The church was absolutley beautiful inside.... talk about people wearing their Sunday best, 3 piece suits, the ladies with hats and gloves, a choir up front that KNOWS how to worship! I felt like i was in a movie, maybe Sister Act or Joyful Noise! Made you want to get up and dance and clap and play the tamberine, raise your hands and shout. In fact, we had that opportunity with "go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere, go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!" along with "Silent Night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright, round your virgin mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace!"
Now, my 2nd church service was another new opportunity for me. I have been in this church for a wedding, for several funerals, but this time was for a worship service.. I was honored and more than touched that i was invited by the Pimentel family. I was very comfortable being that I am not Catholic. The worship service was so moving... I could feel the presence of the Lord all around. I thorughly enjoyed hearing and saying to others "Peace be with you"
I believe I was truly shown a very clear purpose:
*Worship God
*Communicate God's Word
*Demonstrate God's Word
I pray that Peace will be with you, you love one another, and you open your heart and let God in, He tenderly knocks and He will never forsake or leave you...
Just remember... "ENTER TO WORSHIP...DEPART TO SERVE"
Because
OF HIS AMAZING GRACE...
I know I am lagging, Christmas has come and gone and i didnt blog like I wanted to. Each and every day i said at the beginning of the day...today is it...today will be the day I blog! well, here i am, January 6th, 2013.
What Christmas means to me....
Let's deck the halls with holly, fill the tree with tinsel, and pretty pretty lights, go to sleep and wake up just before daylight. I love to see the excitement of looking in the sky for Rudolph, leaving Santa milk and cookies along with a note. I love all the Christmas lights, singing Christmas carols, hearing Frosty the Snowman, watching when people are under misletoe, smelling sugar cookies in the oven, filling the stockings hung by the fireplace, and when kids say " all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth", having a white christmas, watching a Christmas play at church, and watching Christmas specials on TV. Christmas means a lot of things, it means presents, clothes and diamond rings. it means giving from the very start, giving from deep within the heart. It means the end of another year. It is happiness and love to share, a special time to show each other we care. To join our love ones in a Christmas celebration. It is for love of friends and family, peace joy and happiness. The best gift of all doesn't glitter or sparkle, it not wrapped in ribbon or paper, it doesnt cost a thing, the best gift at all comes from the heart... it doesnt come from the store....it is the gift of baby Jesus, and the gift thats in our heart, sharing with others.
It is Christmas in the heart, that puts Chrsitmas in the air. Faith makes all things possible, hope makes all things work, love makes all things beautiful!
I love that the star the shepherds saw that night, that lit the way for them. It still shines to all guide all those who seek the Light of Bethlehem
This past Christmas was special in its own ways... my niece Emily and her husband ariel were able to fly home to be with us, ( and her friends had planned a baby shower for her), Mike and his family and renee were all able to be in Missouri with my parents (just prior to christmas)... there isnt a better gift than having them all together.. ( my mom and dad were not able to make the trip out here this year, which just doesn't seem right!) One thing i was able and blessed to be a part of is 2 different church services. The first one i attended was in Stockton, it is called Progessive Community. My last instructer at UOP that taught a belief, cultural and ethic class is actually one of the pastors there. Much to my surprise, it wasnt just a small little community church how i invisioned. Not exactly in the best part of Stockton, yet once in their parking lot, they actually had people on covered golf carts giving folks a ride up to the church. Just a guess, I'll say there were at least 500 people there. The most welcoming and friendly people I have ever met! The church was absolutley beautiful inside.... talk about people wearing their Sunday best, 3 piece suits, the ladies with hats and gloves, a choir up front that KNOWS how to worship! I felt like i was in a movie, maybe Sister Act or Joyful Noise! Made you want to get up and dance and clap and play the tamberine, raise your hands and shout. In fact, we had that opportunity with "go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere, go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!" along with "Silent Night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright, round your virgin mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace!"
Now, my 2nd church service was another new opportunity for me. I have been in this church for a wedding, for several funerals, but this time was for a worship service.. I was honored and more than touched that i was invited by the Pimentel family. I was very comfortable being that I am not Catholic. The worship service was so moving... I could feel the presence of the Lord all around. I thorughly enjoyed hearing and saying to others "Peace be with you"
I believe I was truly shown a very clear purpose:
*Worship God
*Communicate God's Word
*Demonstrate God's Word
I pray that Peace will be with you, you love one another, and you open your heart and let God in, He tenderly knocks and He will never forsake or leave you...
Just remember... "ENTER TO WORSHIP...DEPART TO SERVE"
Because
OF HIS AMAZING GRACE...
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