Happy Birthdays all around

this little guy showed up on our front porch Christmas night

we call him Spot for obvious reasons

Two Christmas surprises this year. For the first time in 9 years, East Tennessee experienced a white Christmas. It did make for hazardous travel and numerous church cancellations, but it sure is pretty!

The second surprise was a cute scrawny little puppy. He visited Mom and Dad's earlier in the day and then took off. Christmas night he showed up on our porch, pacing back and forth. We made a warm bed for him in the garage and gave his some food.

He spent the night last night at Mom and Dad's (they have dog food and he is just skin and bones). I called the authorities to see if anyone had reported him missing. No one had.

The shelter isn't open until tomorrow. I would love to keep him, but I don't think everyone is on board with that. Dad is sure enjoying him!

I posted his description on Craig's List last night. We will see if we can find his owner.

~~~~~

Lori and Richard have come and gone; Roger and Cheryl and the kids have come and gone; Suzi and her family arrived yesterday; my aunt is coming tomorrow.

We have had a great time and will continue to do so the rest of the week.

~~~~~~

Today is birthday day in our family. Happy birthday to my favorite brother Roger, my daughter-in-love Kristi and my niece Christina!

I'll be back at the end of the week, LORD willing.

Martha and Mary moment #16

my little Sonshine choir singing 'Jingle, Jingle Happy Bells, JESUS IS BORN!'

There was a Christmas, perhaps you had one too, the perfect combination of gifts and loved ones. We were at my maternal grandmothers and I recall sitting on the floor under her tree. Around my neck were long coveted pop together plastic pearls, draped across my shoulders was a faux mink stole. A little pink plastic cupboard with dishes completed my wonderful fantasy Christmas. I was June Cleaver in miniature. I looked up at the ceiling and marveled at the intricate patterns the twinkling lights made. I was content and happy.

There was a Christmas, perhaps your children had one too, the perfect gifts combined with time slowing and parents who were completely attentive. Each of the older boys had received their dream Lego sets - one a castle, one a spaceship. I spent the day helping Jon build the castle, Pat helped Nathan with the spaceship. We looked around at each other and the beautiful, fresh, fragrant tree. We were content and happy.

There was a Christmas, perhaps you have heard...a young mother gave birth to her first born son. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger. She looked at her husband; they looked to their Heavenly Father. They were content and happy.

And amazed. This tiny baby embodied the Creator of the Universe. A child, yet also: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Only through Him can we find contentment and happiness. He is our Greatest Gift, this and any CHRISTmas.

Merry Christmas to each one of you. May you know His joy.
~~~~~~~~~
Here is my last Martha tip for this season.
Hope you enjoyed the projects this month!

I'll be back to blogging sometime next week.

Martha and Mary moment # 15

"As He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and his offspring forever."

Luke 1:55

from Mary's Magnificat

"And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.

Gen. 17:7

"But God said, No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him."

Gen. 17:19

"The LORD has sworn to David,

A truth from which He will not turn back;

Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne."

Psalms 132:11

"What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.

Gal. 3:17

It is amazing to look into these portions of the Bible and see the marvelous plan that God had to redeem mankind. A plan set in place from before time began. A plan involving a young peasant girl. A plan to redeem you. And me.

This post ends my search through the Magnificat in Luke chapter one for the references to passages scattered throughout both the Old and New Testaments.

As I have pondered these passages I am once again in awe of the intricate mysteries of God's ways.

On this bright moonlit (sleepless) night, I consider what happened in Bethlehem centuries ago and worship - Christ the LORD, the newborn King.

~~~~~~~

Happy Birthday today to Dad! We are celebrating Dad's birthday today by going to the doctor for a routine appointment. Woot! 81 years old and still walks 3 miles or more every day. You are the best, DOD!
~~~~~~~

Here is another cute idea from Lady Farmer's blog.

Martha and Mary moment #14

finished and mailed!

Luke 1:53

"He has filled the hungry with good things;

And sent away the rich empty-handed."

Psalm 107:9

"For He has satisfied the thirsty soul,

and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good."

That would be my prayer for all (both of?) my readers. That your soul would be satisfied with what is good.

So many distractions these days. Take time to stop the noise and fill your soul with good things.

Our Christmas program is tomorrow and I am enjoying meditating on the words to the music we are singing.

Have a wonderful weekend!

~~~~~~~

This is a wonderful Christ-honoring way to decorate your tree.

Martha and Mary moment #13

"He has brought down rulers from their thrones,

And has exalted those who were humble."

Luke 1: 52

"So that He sets on high those who are lowly,

And those who mourn are lifted to safety.

Job 5:11

In college, I first became acquainted with the idea that the Kingdom of God is an upside down kingdom. The first shall be last, the last first. The Messiah King came as a little baby. The Savior is the Servant.

Mary's life reflects that as well. A humble peasant maid in an obscure village carrying the Son of God in her womb.

This reminds me of the powerful words in the song 'Mary Did You Know':

Mary did you know, this child that you delivered would soon deliver you?

I hope you will take time with me this season to ponder some of the amazing things God has done. He sets on high those who are lowly. He exalts those who are humble.

And would you please pray for my friend J. and me? She is the one who held the Christmas tea last weekend. We are taking two of the gals out to lunch today. Pray that our conversation would be glorifying to the LORD.

~~~~~~~

Two more nativity ideas:

Here is one cute idea for nativity blocks.

And here is the other. This gal will even email you the images if you leave your email address in her comment section. I received mine in less than 24 hours.

I finished the stockings! Pics tomorrow.

Martha and Mary moment #12

Psalm 118:15-16:

The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous;

the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.

The right hand of the LORD is exalted;

The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.

Centuries later Mary spoke of God's strength and power - echoing the sentiments of the Psalm:

'He has done mighty deeds with His arm

He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

Luke 1:51

This knowledge of God's power and His ability to do mighty deeds, valiantly, gave her the strength to do the incredible task He had set before her.

Awesome to think that same power is available to us.

~~~~~~~~~~`

We are iced in this morning. .25-.3 inches of ice coat the area. No walking for this girl. Travel is treacherous. Officials are saying 'STAY HOME!'

Yes, sirs. I will. I hope to finish the stockings this morning and them make some fudge for a gift for our 'hairapist' Harriet. All while listening to Christmas music and sipping hot cocoa.

There are widespread power outages in our area. Trees and power lines down. Best get my jobs requiring electricity done while we have power!

Here is a cheery embroidery project. Pattern is free with purchase.

Looks like someone did a good job of thrift store shopping

for an ugly Christmas sweater for his party last night

Martha and Mary moment #11

I'm almost done...

"He has done mighty deeds with His arm..."

Luke 1:51a

"O sing to the LORD a new song,

for He has done wonderful things,

His right hand and His Holy arm have gained the victory for Him.

Psalm 98:1

The Bible contains many examples of the mighty deeds God has done with His arm. Do you think Mary realized to what extent she would be involved ?

Take a few minutes out of your busy schedule and recount the mighty deeds God has done in your life. Prepare to be amazed and blessed!

~~~~~~

Though they are few and far between, my favorite craft/ decorating ideas during the Christmas season are those that reflect our Savior's birth.

Here is a nativity banner that would be great to do with the children in your life.

Martha and Mary moment #10

4 still stitching

"But from everlasting to everlasting

the Lord's love is with those who fear Him,

and His righteousness with their children's children."

Psalm 103:17

What a comfort this verse is to this grandma! And it must have comforted Mary as well, as she realized that God had chosen her to be part of His plan to change the world:

His mercy extends to those who fear Him,

from generation to generation.

Luke 1:50

~~~~~~~

Today's craft/decorating idea looks cute and easy. You may as well stock up on terra cotta pots!

Martha and Mary moment #9

work-in-progress - Christmas stockings

I want to finish them and get them in the mail by Friday

The past several days have been busy, but wonderful. Our choir banquet on Friday night was beautiful. 8 different women brought in in their Christmas dishes. We decorated 8 tables with these sets of dishes. They were all unique; all beautiful.

Although the fellowship hall is a cement block room with tile floor, the effect of all the different tables and centerpieces was quite elegant.

I was in charge of the entertainment and second in command to the remarkable SHB. Great job S!
For the entertainemt, I had a list of 22 Christmas carols (secular and sacred) with alternate titles.

For instance: Amalgamated inverted clappered cups.
What carol is that?

I read several of these to the choir and guests and they shouted out the (usually) correct answer.

After this I handed each table a card with the alternate name of the carol. They were to consult amongst themselves and then perform that carol for the rest of the group. The table that gave the most creative performance would get bragging rights and the opportunity to hit the dessert table first.

It was a hoot! My personal favorite was the lovely rendition of 'winged messengers from splendid empires'.* The choir members from that particular table did a beautiful job of singing and harmonizing and the non-choir member participated by occasionally inserting 'fa-la-la-la-la's' - off key and off beat. It was both gorgeous and hysterical (especially since this guy is a very low key person AND the words fa-la-la-la appear no where in this song).

~~~~~~~
Saturday's Christmas tea at my friend's home was lovely. She is not putting up a tree this year since they will be traveling, but the Christmas decorations she displayed were simple yet festive.

Since lady farmer asked if I would share the devotions, I will give you a snapshot of my talk here (it was about 10 min. long - too much for an already long blog post).

My theme was 'time'. During the month of December there does not seem to be enough time to do everything we want to do. We have too many activities to fit into the first 3 weeks or so of December. Not enough time to decorate, bake, shop, attend concerts and parties.

On the other had, there was one year when time d-r-a-g-g-e-d for me. Nathan, our first-born was due on November 7. November 7 came and went. No baby. November 8. No baby. November 9. No baby. November 10. No baby. November 15, 20, 25, 30. No baby. December 5. No baby.

Finally on December 6, I went into labor. Off to the hospital we went. After several hours they sent me home because my labor had stopped (~sob~).

December 10. No baby. FINALLY on December 13 Nathan decided to make an appearance. He was worth waiting for and has always lived up to his name 'gift from God'.

(And by the way - HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATHAN! Have a wonderful day - wish I could be with you!)

Sometimes time moves too fast, sometimes it drags. But there was a time when the perfect timing coincided with the most wonderful gift.

In the fullness of time, God sent His Son. Gal. 4:4

God's perfect timing....God's perfect gift. Jesus Christ.

I then shared my response to this wonderful gift - accepting Christ as my Savior - and invited the gals to do the same. Afterwards three of the ladies indicated an interest in participating in a neighborhood Bible study. We sang a few Christmas carols together and then went our separate ways.

A very nice way to spend a Christmas Saturday together.
~~~~~~~~

*Let me know if you'd like the whole list....and answers? Do you know the two I mentioned?

Martha and Mary moment #8

our trees in the breakfast nook at night

Continuing on with the discovery of Old Testament passages in Mary's Magnificat, we find that verse 48 of Luke 1:

"for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant."

was foreshadowed here:

"Though the LORD is on high, He looks upon the lowly, but the proud He knows from afar."

Psalm 138:6

How grateful I am that I don't have to be rich or famous or rocket scientist smart or movie star gorgeous to be looked upon by GOD. He knows who I am, He know my inmost thoughts, He made me, He redeemed me, He loves me. Plain, ordinary little old me.

Certainly, something to be celebrated all year long!

~~~~~

Got yarn? Here are lots of suggestions for pom poms over at the long thread. Have fun!

Busy weekend here - I'm kicking into Martha mode, but hopefully not neglecting my Mary side.

Friday:

• Set tables for the choir Christmas dinner (setting tables with various ladies' Christmas dishes or china)
• Go early for the dinner, put finishing touches on food
• Direct the evening entertainment for the dinner (more about this later)
• Clean up
• In the afternoon, sew every chance I get and practice piano when I get tired of stitching

Saturday

• morning meeting
• afternoon Christmas tea, bringing a devotional and playing some Christmas carols
• bake brownies for Sunday's lunch for choir kids
• sew every chance I get and practice piano when I get tired of stitching

Sunday

• teach Sunday school with Pat
• bring our angel tree gift to church
• sing in choir
• stay after church for children's lunch
• children's lunch followed by dress rehearsal for children's program
• sew every chance I get and practice piano when I get tired of stitching
• return to church at 4:45 for bell choir dress rehearsal
• 6:00 children's program with the bell choir performing 3 numbers at the end

Praying that none of my little munchkins :

1) pick their nose,

2) lift their dresses over their heads or

3) have a hissy fit.

It looks like a lot, but I am looking forward to every bit of it. .

Enjoy your weekend!

(no blog post tomorrow....)

Martha and Mary moment #7

Luke 1:47:

"and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior"

The phrase 'God my (our) Savior' is found in several different places in Paul's writings in the New Testament.

1 Timothy 1:1:

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior

and of Christ Jesus our hope."

1 Timothy 2:3:

"This is good, and pleases God our Savior."

Titus 1:3

"and at the appointed season He brought His word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,"

Titus 2:10

"and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive."

Titus 3:4

"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He save us,"

Jude 25:

"to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."

Mary reflected the teachings of the Old Testament as she spoke her inspired words.

She also pointed ahead to the teachings of the New.

Jesus Christ, LORD and Savior, His Birth, the pivotal point between the Old Covenant and the New.

Just think.

GOD - the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent Creator of the universe.

My (our) -personal, knows our name, loves and cares for us.

Savior - redeems, rescues and saves me (us) from our sins.

No wonder Mary's soul rejoiced. I feel some rejoicing coming on in my soul too!

~~~~~

On a more mundane Martha note, the recipe file box is much lighter. I threw out recipes from magazines and food boxes, figuring these would be available online. Worth keeping are hand written recipes from family and friends.

Like this one:

Crab Rangoon

6-8 Imitation crab legs (chopped fine)

8 oz. cream cheese (softened)

2 green onions (chopped fine - include tops)

1 T. sugar

dash pepper

Mix together with a little milk. Makes a great crab dip served on crackers.

OR... wrap a spoonful in a wonton skin (follow package directions) and fry in a little oil until golden brown.

Hint:

Keep wonton skins wrapped in a damp paper towel. They dry out easily.

Martha and Mary moment #6

Verse 47 of Luke chapter 1 contains Mary's proclamation:

" and my spirit rejoices in GOD my Savior,"

This phrase is found in two places in the Old Testament.

"Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in His salvation."

Psalm 35:9

"Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stall,

yet I will rejoice in the LORD

I will be joyful in GOD my Savior."

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Beautiful passage, verse 17 informs verse 18. This is not a rejoicing when everything is going right. This is a rejoicing when everything is going wrong. Very wrong.

Hard? You bet. But what a gift to be able to rejoice in GOD my Savior.

No matter what.

~~~~~

Today's Martha tip, at least for yours truly is: clean out your recipe box. I wanted to share a recipe with you today, but I can't find it. It is what I plan to bring to our Bible study potluck tomorrow. I've already purchased the ingredients, but can't find the recipe.

So, here is another to enjoy while you go 'a wassailing':

Wassail

1 gallon cider

1 C. orange juice

1/2 C. lemon juice

1 1/2 C. water

1/2 C. Honey

2 sticks cinnamon

4 slices ginger

6 cloves

6 whole allspice

Simmer one hour.

Strain and simmer 30 more minutes.

Martha and Mary moment #5

Mary says, in Luke 1:46:

" My soul exalts the LORD"

or as another translation reads:

"My soul praises the LORD".

Perhaps she was quoting Psalm 34:2:

"My soul will boast in the LORD

let the afflicted hear and rejoice."

alternatively translated:

"My soul shall make its boast in the LORD

The humble shall hear it and rejoice."

Psalm 34 is a beautiful Psalm on which to meditate. I lingered on verse 5.

"Those who look to Him are radiant

their faces are never covered with shame."*

Mary, faced with the staggering privilege and responsibility of carrying the Son of GOD in her womb - and the shame of being pregnant before marriage - looked to GOD. She praised Him; exalted Him. Despite and because of her circumstances.

Based on Psalm 34:5 we know her strength came from the LORD and was reflected in visible, radiant joy. Her soul exalted the LORD. What a wonderful example she has set for us!

~~~~~~~~

The phone rang yesterday. On the line was a friend from Bible study. She wanted to minister to her neighbor ladies during this Christmas season. Her idea was to invite them over for a Christmas tea.

"I'd like you to come give a short devotional and play a few Christmas carols so we can sing together." she said.

How could I say 'no' to that? (I couldn't.) We had to find a mutually available date and agreed on this Saturday. On my way to choir last night, a detailed devotional outline 'happened' to pop into my head. I love how the LORD works! I fleshed it out during some sleepless moments during the night and will polish it today.

I think her idea of sharing Christ with her neighbors is a wonderful one, that maybe some of the rest of us can copy. Kind of a Martha/Mary moment combo.

And here is another idea, of the crafty variety. Our blog friend Lady Farmer made a cute, cute, cute Nutcracker out of terra cotta flower pots. Go see~

*see also Exodus 34:29-35

Martha and Mary moments #4

It is so easy to get overwhelmed with everything we want to cram into the Christmas season. Shopping, baking, decorating, concerts, programs, shopping, baking...

A young mom confessed her 'overwhelmedness' to me a week or so ago.

"I have to put up five trees in my house for Christmas!" she said.

"No, you don't, honey" said I.

Another gal is in charge of our choir dinner this coming Friday night.

"How can I help?" says I.

"Oh, I'm fine, I' m only cooking 2 turkeys and two hams and setting the tables for 48."

"I'll do some of the cooking," says I.

"No, that's okay."

"Then I will come help you set tables."

"Oh, well, okay."

Some are overwhelmed because they choose to be, they have hopped onto a runaway train and don't want to get off. Some are overwhelmed because of circumstances that have happened to them.

One advantage of getting older (okay...old) is that, hopefully, you learn to make wise choices and to pace yourself.

This week will be a busy one. Three rehearsals, one Bible study Christmas potluck, one choir dinner, one dress rehearsal and one performance (did I mention I am now officially a dingaling? I'm having a lot of fun in the bell choir!), a new piano student comes on board this week. I need to do some shopping for gifts for some needy children in our area (our Sunday school class tradition). And cooking ....for a lunch for the kids's choir and potluck things for the Bible study potluck and the choir potluck. Oh, and put up the trees. Only two - and they are small. And practice my accompaniments for the bell choir soloist (O Holy Night) and the kid's choir. And take Dad to his eye surgery on Wednesday.

It may sound like a lot, but I have a plan to conquer a little bit every day. To keep it simple as much as possible. And to nurture my 'Mary' side as much as my 'Martha' side.

I love the simplicity of this young mom's idea. Don't go out shopping for a bunch of stuff to decorate your house. Use what you have!

~~~~~~
Our pastor mentioned yesterday that the Magnificat (Mary's song of praise to the LORD after she met Elizabeth - Luke 1:46-55) has 30 references to other Scriptures. I knew there were some references, but I didn't realize there were that many. Over the next several days, I'll see how many I can find.

It is amazing to think that this young Jewish girl - quite possible illiterate - would know so much Scripture.

"My soul praises the LORD

and my spirit rejoices in GOD my Savior"

is reminiscent of Hannah's song of praise to God when she dedicated her miracle son Samuel to the service of the LORD.

"My heart rejoices in the LORD;

in the LORD my horn is lifted high"

Both woman were given amazing gifts and responsibilities from the LORD. Their immediate reaction was to lift their voices in praise to Him.

We should do no less.

Martha and Mary moments #3

There are many benefits to being involved in the choir at church.

Friendships. Laughter. Sharing of burdens. Music - that is both up-lifting and thought provoking.

Our choir director requires that musicians in small groups memorize their music. The older I get, the harder this is. But I enjoy the discipline and spend time writing and re-writing the lyrics of the songs I am committing to memory.

Here is a verse I am contemplating this weekend. The tune is lively and joy-filled. The words also give life and joy.

You are Messiah, the Savior, Redeemer,

born of a virgin in Bethlehem's stall.

A humble servant exalted forever

You reign as King over all, over all.

(Kirk and Deby Dearman)

or another:

O Hope of the world, Emmanuel,

God here with us forever,

Shine, shine through the dark, into our hearts,

Jesus You are the Hope of the world.

(Gary Sadler and Jamie Harvill)

Consider choosing a Christmas hymn or sacred carol to meditate on this month, in addition to your regular devotions. It will help you focus on the One Who made Christmas, Christmas.

~~~~~~~

It is supposed to be rainy and chilly here this weekend. A perfect time to whip up some of these recipes from Pioneer Woman. You could make something new every day from now until Christmas and not run out of ideas. There are even gluten free recipes!

Martha and Mary moments #2

"I am the LORD's servant," Mary answered. Luke 1: 38

The angel of the LORD had just given Mary some astounding news. Never mind that being greeted by an angel was amazing enough. Neither before nor since would a young woman hear these words:

"You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High." vs. 31-32

Mary's response? 'I am the LORD's servant.'

No arguing, no bargaining, no lobbying for a better time (for instance - after she was married).

Simple. Not easy, by any means, but simple.

How do I respond when God has placed a task before me? I have a LOT to learn from Mary's example. May God help me to put His plans ahead of my plans. To be willing to serve Him with all my heart. No holding back.

~~~~~~

This 'Martha' idea is cute - especially as a starting point. I don't know that I would have put baby Jesus in a stocking....maybe in a manger? Yes, definitely a manger.

Martha and Mary moments #1

Back when I was still directing choir in our Northwoods church, I started a little tradition of sharing
a 'Mary' moment and a 'Martha' moment at each practice.

The Mary moment focused on a brief devotional, helping to keep our minds focused on Christ.

The Martha moment shared a craft, decorating or cooking idea - giving us a fresh, easy idea for hospitality or gift giving during the month of December.

I thought I would revitalize that idea and share inspiration from my web wanderings.

Here is a Mary idea.
This idea came from friend and commenter kjh.




And now for a Martha idea.

You could spend the whole month perusing and implementing this!

Enjoy!

simple yet festive

Mary Hunt of Debt-Proof Living shared this idea on the radio the other day.

If time or money or both, are in short supply during the Christmas season this year - keep your decorations simple.

Instead of shelling out lotsa cash for a tree - decorate these three areas:

1) Your front door. A wreath or a bow or some lights on your front door say 'Welcome!'.

2) Your dining room table. Set your table with your best dishes, have a festive centerpiece (something as simple as a bowl or ornaments or pine cones or both). Eat on your best dishes every night during December.

3) Your mantle. Don't have a mantle? Choose another area to grace with a garland and lights - the top of a piano, or the counters or above the cabinets - get creative.

All of these ideas are simple, inexpensive and easy. And fun!

Care to share any of your quick and easy decorating ideas?