You heard it! ...now... Go Tell it!!

Such an ambition song... its always been sung many different ways.  But the words are good to hear as a reminder.... "go tell IT on the MOUNTAIN"

"That JESUS CHRIST is BORN"

Why is this good news worth telling?? A savior has been brought TO us, THE WAY has come so we might unite once again with our CREATOR..

HOW AWESOME and WONDER IS THAT!

traditions: Christmas time

Christmas is just around the corner, well for some people anyway.  A lot of families celebrate it early or later depending on their traditions and/or the people and places to see.

Some of you might be heavy on the santa theme and light on the nativity story... or vise versa

My family tradition growing up was heavy on the santa, and we had a figurine we set up of the nativity, and I think here and there we would try to go to church for Christmas (kind of like Easter).  Christmas Eve would be a day of small treats and snack food to partake throughout the day...family starts showing up at my grandmother's house, and by the time everyone has arrived...we all sit in the tiny living room of about 15 people or so, and unwrap presents.  On occasion here and there, my sister would dress like santa's helper (with me on occasion being "her helper") and we would pass out everyone's presents to them.  After gifts everyone goes home

Then at night my sister and I would put out oatmeal cookies (maybe fudge) and some coffee for santa and go straight to bed "trying to sleep", then by 3 or 4am my sister and I would be up again and see what santa brought us under the tree and on occasion lay under the tree afterwards. 

Once the real daytime came on Christmas Day, my grandmother would be awake asking, "What did santa bring you girls?" and we would show he in detail all the "cool and wonderful things", then later on in the day then the rest of the family would start trickling in one by one to come see what santa brought them (since it was the grandmother's house he brought the whole family stuff and left it there).  Then we would all have our Christmas Dinner (lunch...or whenever my grandmother would say "It's time to eat").

After that we would play with all our toys and hug our family and talk and drink coffee. :D

Tradition:  this is an important thing.  It establishes a memory to revisit each time, an even to remember through routine celebration... just like I talked about smells in my previous blog, it triggers and understanding of the celebration time.

So what's your tradition?

The Smell of Christmas

sniff
sniff
hmm..

"is that?..... fudge you're making Nanny?" 
"Yes, its time to start making it" she says as she stirs constantly with a wooden spoon, making sure the chocolate is nice and smooth
mmm..

Growing up, I remember, smelling certain smells that would trigger the "holiday spirit"
The Hot Apple Cider would remind me of a cold hayride I took once
The hot coco in the freezing air reminded me of Christmas Caroling with my youth group
Fudge brewing in the kitchen reminded me of "Nanny's" giving heart (making treats for EVERYONE)

If I were to imagine these smells right now, it would take me back to remembrance of Christmas.
...to remember it
...to celebrate it
...to not forget about the spirit of giving
...to not forget about my Emmanuel- God with us

Do you have specific smells that remind you of a particular Christmas memory or essence?

Please share:

Hallelujah!

This video is amazing!  Already to say that the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah is Majestic!  But to see the reactions on everyday people's faces:  that is the beautiful thing.

The response of God's reputation proclaimed

Gift Giving

So I know that Gifts is not what Christmas is all about but...

The cool thing about shopping for gifts brings out a character that we tend to put on the backshelf during the rest of the year.  GIVING.

I must be honest and say that christmas shopping can be stressful, due to crowds of people, or the fact that you just don't know what to get "so-and-so" for chirstmas.... maybe just a gift card.

But the effort to sit and think of others and what they like, and what they ARE like, brings the side effects of compassion and putting others first.  And while this is still focusing on gift giving, there is a particular story that I love during this time of year called "The Gift of the Magi"

Its a story of giving a gift that sacrifices one's own best to give to the other.

In a sense, GOD did that for us.  Continue to dwell on others, and to think about the FATHER's love for us and what HE gave.

childlike setting for Christmas

The Lord has always encouraged us to have faith like a child... Trust and Obey
He also tells us to grow with a discerning heart and a strong faith. 

Before I would know the Saviour, I put a lot of effort and excitement towards Christmas, leaving out the oatmeal cookies and coffee for Santa, waking up early the next morning to see what he brought.  As I started a new life in Christ, some things at Christmas weren't lining up.

I had to grow into a discerning heart very quickly... I challenge you to set your traditions and faith before you, and establish them into your family to the best you can to Glorify Christ....

But as a grown up now, I still get excited, and wake up EXTREMELY EARLY, and feel like a kid at heard during this time.

Here are a few recommendations for you and/or your children to help explain Christmas and where it all started. :D

How Many Kings

This Song is so good to ponder on.