Happy New Year!

"Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert."
Isaiah 43: 18,19

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I pray He will do something new in each of our hearts.

Blessings,
Linda

Christmas Gratitude

The other day my Mom gave me a tiny Santa candle. On my very first Christmas, when I was less than two months old, he was one of my presents. He is standing proudly on a shelf on the hutch in the dining room - right in front of the snowmen. When I look at him, I see a long line of Christmases stretching out behind us. We've seen a lot of them, we two.



It causes gratitude to well up in my heart:

- for the absolute joy of having Mom and Dad here with us

- for the dear faces around the table - familiar and loved - precious family and friends

- for the priceless privilege of hearing "The Story" from my earliest memory - for having the Baby always at the center of it all

- for Christmas greetings from far away places

- for the promise of hope that Christmas brings

- for a love that confounds and amazes - that He would come for me

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I pray the true meaning of it lingers in your heart and fills you with joy and peace.

I am going to take a few days off. I'll be back before the New Year. The Lord has been whispering a new word for this coming year.

Blessings,
Linda

linking to Ann's gratitude community

Merry Christmas

From our home to yours - wishes for a Blesses Christmas.



With love,
Linda

Strofulli

I remember them from my childhood. Every Christmas a plate of them sat tantalizingly on the hutch in the dining room - calling to me. I could never resist. Whenever I walked by,I would pluck one from the golden pile and pop it in my mouth. They were melt-in-your mouth good. Yummy!

I was reminiscing about them a few weeks ago, and Mom decided we would add them to the cookie baking list. We saved them for last. Today was the day.

It really is a "two-girl project." Mom dropped the little bits of dough into the hot oil, and I coated them with honey.







Lots of sprinkles, and they are done!



All that remained was to sample them. Mmmmm mmmmm good!

Christmas Blessings,
Linda

What Became of the Shepherds?

"That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. 'Don't be afraid!' he said. 'I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born today in Bethlehem, the City of David. And you will recognize Him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.' Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others - the armies of heaven - praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.' When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, 'Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.' They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joesph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing Him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherd's story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them." Luke 2: 8-20

There the story of the shepherds ends. What a story it is. Heaven itself opened up to these humble men and the glory of the Lord surrounded them. Surely their lives could never be the same. I have thought about them - about what happened in the days following those miraculous encounters. 

 The scriptures tell us that after they shared the astonishing news with everyone they saw, they went back to their flocks, back to their ordinary lives. Did they wonder what would happen next? As the days slipped into weeks and eventually into years, and the images of that long ago night began to fade, did they begin to have nagging little questions and perhaps a bit of doubt? During the long lonely nights on the very same hillside, did their gaze shift heavenward hoping for a further sign? Did they long to hear news of the baby and His parents? Were they discouraged when it looked as though He had simply vanished? 

 Thirty years later, did word reach them about the young carpenter from Nazareth who said He was the Messiah? Did they hear of the miracles and did their hearts race at the news? Were they waiting expectantly for the Promised One to take His rightful place? Did their hearts break when news of His crucifixion reached their little town? 

 I wonder (I hope)if the news of His resurrection somehow reached them. If it did, did the vision of that long ago night burst into their hearts once again? Did they see, in their mind's eye, that little baby now become their Savior? Did they rejoice once again knowing the long wait was over; the promise was fulfilled? Fulfilled in a way they could not possibly have foreseen. How could they have known that the little baby they saw that long ago night would one day live in their hearts? It was even more glorious than they had imagined. 

 What does this story of the shepherds have for us? What would they like us to know and understand? Perhaps it is this: Have you ever had a glorious word from the Lord, a promise that He spoke to your heart? Perhaps the promise of something you had prayed for with great urgency or a dream He birthed in your heart. Not only did you have that word, but it was confirmed in ways that could only be from Him. You believed and waited for the promise to take form. Days slipped into weeks, weeks into years, and you began to doubt that you heard correctly. Discouragement filled your heart, and you thought the promise would never materialize. But remember... 

 The shepherds didn't know what had become of the baby. They didn't know that "...the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God's favor was on Him." (Luke 2: 40) While they waited, the promise was taking form. While they wondered when He would appear again, He was working at a carpenter's bench. When they grew discouraged, He walked away from that bench and began His journey to the cross. 

 While we wait, the Father is working. In His way and in His time, He will do what He has promised. "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise." Hebrews 10:23 

Christmas Blessings, Linda

In Defense of Santa

The days are slipping by so quickly, and I long to slow them down - to savor this time. I love soaking in all the beautifully written things about the true meaning of Christmas, listening to the familiar carols and looking with wonder at the miracle of the Gift.

I have a little confession to make, however, that involves my childhood, Santa, visions of sugar plums, stockings hung by the chimney with care and leaving milk and cookies by the easy chair. I wonder if it would be all right to take a lighthearted look at Christmas...just for a little bit; because intermingled with all of the spiritual, I have images of make believe that always surface during this season. There is one in particular that is as vivid today as it was nearly fifty-five years ago.

I was old enough, that year, to have come to the bitter-sweet conclusion that Santa Claus wasn't real. However my little sister , four years younger than I, was still a firm believer. My Dad, Mom and I became co-conspirators in keeping the dream alive for just a little while longer. We never lost the baby Jesus in all of this, we just allowed Santa to have a part too.

It began snowing earlier in the day that Christmas Eve and was accumulating quickly. The snow plows had cleared the streets of our little sub-division, but by the time darkness fell we were snowed in. The little houses and yards were nestled under a soft white blanket, and the world was hushed.

Little sister was already tucked into bed, having set out the plate of Christmas cookies and glass of milk for Santa, when the silence was broken by a knock on the front door. We couldn't imagine who would be out on such a night. We looked questions at one another as Dad went to open the door. There on the front stoop stood a rotund figure clad in red and dusted with snow. He stepped into the living room, and we were transfixed.

Dad went to get the little sleepy head and carried her, tousle-haired and sleepy-eyed, to see our night-time visitor. I will never forget the look of wonder in her eyes. It was a magical moment.

I don't remember what was said. I just remember the sweetness of the moment. Santa didn't stay long. He had a long night ahead of him. When he stepped out into the night, we gathered at the door to watch.

He walked down the center of the snow-filled street. The soft light from the street lamps illuminated the swirling flakes and shone down on Santa as he disappeared into the night. That picture, like the most beautiful of Christmas cards, is imprinted on my heart. I take it out every Christmas and marvel.

I see the picture of one who came with no other motive than love. One who gives lavishly with no thought of receiving anything in return. One who is no respecter of persons - visiting both the lowly and the mighty - knowing each by name. One who takes the time to make dreams come true even for little girls.

Perhaps, forgive me if I over-step, just perhaps Santa might be a tiny picture of The One who came with no other motive than love to bring the greatest gift of all.

Christmas Blessings,
Linda

Light of the World

I was blessed to grow up in home where Christmas was always a magical time. For a little girl with an over-sized imagination, it was easy to get caught up in the idea of Santa Claus, Christmas presents and bulging stockings. There was one Christmas, however, that changed the “visions of sugar plums dancing in my head” into something quite different.

It was the Christmas I was finally old enough to belong to a girls group in our church called C.G.I.T. (Christian Girls in Training). It was to become a significant part of my life right through my teenage years, and this year I would take part in the Candle-lighting Service.

As one of the littlest girls I was at the end of the line as we made our way down the center aisle of the sanctuary. Our little church seemed magically changed with the lovely candles glowing in every window and the beautiful tree in front of the choir loft. I felt a sense of awe as we stood in front of the congregation and sang the ageless Carols and recited Luke 2 from memory.

I had a special part in the program that night. Two other little girls and I did hand motions as one of our leaders sang “There’s A Song In the Air” in a clear soprano voice.

As the evening drew to a close we slowly filed down from the stage, picked up a snow white candle and formed two lines up the side aisles of the church. Then the oldest girls lit their candles and turned to light the candle of the girl next to them. Down the rows the tiny flames burst into life as each girl in turn lit the candle of her neighbor.

I cannot put into words the feeling that filled my small heart as the lights in the church were turned out and we stood holding our lighted candles. We sang a final Carol, and I felt Christmas – the “real” Christmas – flood my heart with joy.

The Light of the World had come to dispel the darkness, and it was a gift that had no equal.

“Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.’”
John 8:12 (NAS)

Christmas Blessings,
Linda

a repost from my archives