For Monday, December 23rd, 2013

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23RD, 2013

2 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

87 DAYS UNTIL SPRING!

180 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER!!!

Sunrise:7:52 am

Sunset: 5:03 pm

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.

Luke 2: 25-27

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth.

Song of Songs 2:11-12

In some Christian traditions, The story of Simeon is commemorated on February 2 as Candlemas or more formally, the Presentation of the Lord, which also known to many as Ground Hogs Day.  But I’ve included it as part of the Christmas story today.  

Now that winter has arrived my thoughts do turn to Spring.  It’s been so dark here with heavy cloud cover giving us lots of rain over the weekend,  that it hardly seems daytime.   When I look at the sunrise and sunset times we are staring to gain a minute of daylight more than we had.  Very slowly our days will grow longer and the nights shorter.  

This time of year the darkness could overwhelm us. Christmas is a reminder that we can't journey through life on our own. We need support, love, companionship, friendship, light, hope and so much more. That's why we make a special effort to reach out and include everyone at Christmas. The spirit of Christmas is meant to be alive every day of the year, not just on Christmas Day.

In only 2 days Christmas will be here and all the work and preparation will be done. It’s turned colder here and we have a slight chance now that we’ll have more snow and it’ll be a white Christmas.  

I hope you all have a marvelous Monday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.

We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,'
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.

Oliver Herford, I Heard a Bird Sing

I have counted at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for this past year and have now reached my 1000 gifts.  I'm not stopping, but will continue on counting.  There is always, always something to be thankful for.

1247. for thoughts of Spring

1248. for lengthening days

1249. for the yummy Christmas Stolen I enjoyed with my coffee this morning

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

 

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

 

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU ALL !

So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us - Listen!!
All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, fest, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!!

 Susan Cooper, The Shortest Day

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

 

Love,

ma