I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

 

Holiday & Hobbit Wishes

From my favorite book movie of 2014 Have A very Hobbit Xmas

A Child is Born

Copy pasta Christmas Thoughts from Fr. Tony - don't know who he is but I like the message because the world is living in darkness mostly . I chose the picture from google though just to illustrate :p

" Because of the faithful love of our God, in which the rising Sun has come to visit us, to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadows dark as death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1: 78-79)

istorically Christmas is placed in the darkest time of the year, Jesus comes at this time of darkness bringing His Light which takes away all darkness from the world of today, the darkness of apostacy, war, violence and breakup of family life. The feast of Christmas is a sign of Hope, a hope that the world cannot give, and a Hope that the world cannot take away.

This entry of God into His Creation was foretold by the Prophet Isaiah:

"For a son has been born for us, a son has been given to us, and dominion has been lain on his shoulders, and this name he has been given, " Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace"(Isaiah 9: 5-6)

Merry Christmas!

The Holidays Are Here! Bring on the Nog!!

I love Eggnog! When I pour myself a cup,  it's an immediate pleasure. The rich, thick, creamy substance made with cloves and nutmeg puts me in a trance until the last drop, and I close my eyes in ecstasy. I am not vegan but this replacement raw healthy version is something to consider.

Holiday Nog

from Holiday Fare

Ingredients:

1 cup almonds, soaked for 3 hours

¼ cup cashews, soaked for 3 hours

2½ cups filtered water

3 frozen bananas, cut into chunks

8 dates, soaked and pits removed

½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon vanilla flavor

? teaspoon Himalayan salt

Directions:

1. Blend the nuts and water, and strain out nut pulp using a nut milk bag.

2. Add the remaining ingredients to the nut milk and blend until creamy smooth.

Sprinkle a dash of nutmeg on top, and enjoy!

Happy Holidays!

For the 12 days of Raw Christmas, click here 

The Santa Shop

The Santa Shop by Tim Greaton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Buy It on Amazon

The Santa Shop is Christmas seen through the lens of suicide, a quick, simple and emotional story that will have you questioning everything from homelessness to charity [ from Tim Greaton's Blog - The Perfect World]

Goodreads Review

Skip Ralstat is a man so steeped in grief and despair that life seems no longer possible. After the death of his wife and child, Skip blames himself. He has given up his friends, his job, and even his home. Now, homeless, he survives on the mean streets of Albany. He knows it can't go on, that life must end. But will it? Come join him on his most unusual road to redemption. The salvation of one life...lies along this road. Let the healing from "The Santa Shop" begin.

This story was fascinating. It gripped my heart from the start. I enjoyed the main character, Skip Ralstat, who I thought was writing his memoirs, that's how real the story felt to me! Tim Greaton definitely knows how to tell a good story and his awareness of homelessness and suicide is appreciated.


Here are a few mustard seeds I felt were some of the main points you could get from reading the book
His wife and child needed their father home and Skip needed to be with his family but because of neglecting to be there on that fateful day of the fire , he might of spared himself all the pain, misery and despair it caused.

Don't turn your back on those in need.
- Mustard Seeds

All people are important and they have their own unique stories to tell . It just reminds me of the Santa Shop . Had this place not been available for Skip and David , they wouldn't have been so fortunate . They weren't forgotten

Don't forget the poor.
- Mustard Seeds

Would you rather visit a cemetery or the grim reaper? like Skip who was on the verge of a precipice(a bridge)...

Next time you think things are not going well for you visit a cemetery. Things could be a lot worse. Take heart, look up, have faith, and rejoice in life.
- Mustard Seeds

This is what's awesome about this story . Skip was homeless and had nothing to give, thinking suicide but after being visited by santa clause aka the grim reaper, his life was turned around and was the one to bear gifts to needy children. He received a whole lot more i.e: a house , another wife, a job, a purpose , a life . It became apparent the Santa Shoppe was there to help those heading for a Christmas Leap on river road aka suicide.

Everybody has a need to give.
- Mustard Seeds

View all my reviews

About the Author

Tim Greaton lives in Maine with his beautiful wife and three amazing children. They share seven acres with one dog, two cats and a population of ducks that varies with the weather. He is a full-time corporate writer and novelist. His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in forums all around the globe. You can find his novels in paperback and ebook formats at all quality book retailers. Sometimes referred to as "Maine's Other Author" (TM), he prefers just Tim.

Visit Tim Greaton's Blog - The Perfect World 

12 Days of Raw Christmas

I just signed up to the special "12 Days to Raw Christmas" Giveaway launched by Karen Knowler!
Every day for 12 days, between the 14th and 25th of December, she's sending out a special raw-related gift from a different raw food expert , COMPLETELY FREE!

There's going to be masses of delicious raw food recipes for Christmas, raw chocolate recipes, detox and fasting ideas for pre- and post- Christmas and Karen's gift on the 25th is going to be something very special.

To make sure you get the gifts too, simply go to http://www.12DaysofRawChristmas.com and sign-up .You don't want to miss this. It takes less than 30 seconds and you will receive an email to the 12 awesome gifts (all downloadable) one per day - and get access to all the ones you've missed.

Merry Christmas : )

A Very Merry Month of Giveaways

JP @ Elle Lit is giving away her books making the whole month of December a very merry Christmas . If you would like to join in her Happy Holiday Giveaway, first decide which books you would like to giveaway and leave a comment on her website. I would like to offer 4 hardcover Christmas books in this giveaway. One winner will receive, NOT 1 but 4 BOOKS!

To show how much I appreciate everyone for entering my giveaway and leaving a comment and for following my blog I have a special surprise , regardless if you win or not, but it's a secret and you will have to wait until Christmas .

1. Finding Christmas by James Calvin Schaap
2.  Secret Santa by Robert Tate Miller & Beth Polson
3.  Christmas Presents by Jacquelyn Mitchard
4. The Christmas Thief by Mary Higgins Clark & Carol Higgins Clark

To Enter this Giveaway please follow the directions in the rafflecopter . Contest will begin Dec 2nd and end December 9th , 2011. Contest is open Internationally for a Very Merry Month of Giveaways . Happy Holidays!

The Christmas Thief Review

The Christmas Thief by Mary Higgins Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Packy Noonan was a thief who stole a bunch of money and ended up in jail.

Twelve years later , he was released on parole ...he had a plan to recover some diamonds he'd put in a blue spruce tree 13 years ago and was anxious to get out of the country and live his life in Brazil for the rest of his life . His plan didn't turn out the way he had dreamed .....This same spruce tree was destined to be at the Rockefeller Center for the Christmas Tree Lighting in New York!

I thought it was a funny, suspenseful, adventure packed mystery that I would recommend to anyone for the holidays. I loved this book!

View all my reviews

I am committed to fulfilling my requirements to read 4-6 books for the holidays. Initially I had thought to read only 1-3 books but I decided to upgrade myself to a serial mistletoe'er

It's monday! What are you reading?

don't like Mondays----but this has been an interesting challenge and something to look forward to. This is where we share what we've read and what we've reviewed or what book we purchased last week , what we are currently reading , and what we intend to read.

Last Week ..... 

My mind was in bits and shambles thinking about what books to read . I made a wishlist for My Bookworm Santa and sent away my secret santas gift in the mail . I had no idea what genre of books I liked best because I feel I haven't read enough to know that; so my wishlist is based mostly on what others are saying or what I think I like. I don't think I've even read a YA book or any other funky new category to know what I'm missing. I'm basically choosing books by their cover and how well the reviews are . It's hard to know what to read but there is only one way to find out and that is to read more ...right? So anyway ....

his week I tried reading 'A Room Swept White' by Sophie Hannah but I couldn't get into it . I thought it was because of the length of the book but really , it's because I wasn't interested. I always thought I had a reading comprehension problem 'cause I found myself reading page after page not even aware of what I was reading . I hate those books and it happens a lot *I must be reading the wrong books*. It's for that reason I get turned off . It's the same with people who talk a lot . My brain just turns off and I don't even listen to them . I need to feel stimulated and interested to care about what I'm reading or what I'm listening too . My sister said it's because we're smart *idk about that* , she's the same way and I thought it was just me lol.

Are you like that?
Is it wrong to judge a book by the inability to comprehend it?
All I know is that not all books are boring ...

The following are two Christmas books I read and reviewed this week as part of my commitment to the Holiday reading challenge .

Texas Christmas Grooms by Pamela Griffin___this was a struggle at first but I'm glad I stuck with it cause I enjoyed it in the end :)
The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans__Great book!
The Giver by Lois Lowry__ I forgot I also re-read the giver and it was just as intriguing the second time

“The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It's the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared.”
― Lois Lowry, The Giver

Presently I'm reading....

The Christmas Thief by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark. So far so good . I will finish my review sometime this week . UPDATE: I finished it, you can read my review HERE

I have to go Christmas Shopping and pick up a few more books :) I've also been adding to my stockpile for the 2012 reading challenges since I need 150 of 'em. Today I picked some free books up from my boyfriends work . They get books donated all the time .

What I plan on reading... is still a mystery

Holiday Plans

O Come, Let Us Adore Him

Whenever I put a little Christ into Christmas the whole idea of the holiday seems more meaningful as it should be.

It starts with Advent beginning November 27.

Looking forward to the birth of Jesus Christ takes preparedness and that is why we have four weeks to prepare. The ritual of lighting candles on the advent wreath before dinner in the evening influences and inspires our thoughts and actions to welcoming peace and joy into our hearts that most people are lacking at this particular time of year .

Christmas doesn't need to be celebrated with grandiosity but with thoughtful humility to the point of transparency; like the babe in the manger.

This Christmas I hope to spend some time with family but what stresses me out about the holidays is having to buy gifts . Everything is so expensive but I like seeing all the christmas bling and decor in the malls if only just to look at . I have already thought of the things I want but cant afford; like a $500 vitamix blender .The most I can afford on a gift is about $50.

I like spending $30 on a samaritans purse shoe box or adopt a family then worry about everyone else .

I guess I have been making some plans .

The Popes Christmas Message

URBI ET ORBI MESSAGE- CHRISTMAS 2010

I had to look up what the Latin phrase meant: "urbi et orbi" for those who may not know, literally means "to the city and to the world." It has come to be used as the name for a specific type of blessing given by the pope on particularly solemn occasions. What it means is that the "urbi et orbi" address or blessing is not directly simply at the city of Rome and the people present, but rather to the entire Roman Catholic world, wherever the individuals may be.

The Cat Carol

I've never heard this carol before . It's not my favorite Christmas Carol perhaps because I don't like cats that much but if you do , it might be the saddest carol you've ever heard . I like the lyrics but not a fan of the music.  If you like it , and want to get the CD or a mug or some other useless memento please visit The Cat Carol website.

"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." ~Peg Bracken

Christmas Table Prayer

The Nativity

The Nativity, March 25, 1996

Message from Jesus Christ

given to Vassula, December 13, 2009

December 14, 2009

Vassula writes:

This past Saturday here in Rhodes we have our prayer meeting. Not everyone was present that day but some only. Towards the end we took up the prayer I have given you, that one of the 25th November and we all prayed it. After that we opened the Greek bible (that was brand new) and I opened it. My finger went on Ezekiel ch. 7, verses 1-14. While reading it we all felt that it was like we were reading again the prayer! A continuation. When I opened the English bible so that I read it as my Greek is not that perfect, I had a book mark just there. What we understood from this is that the Lord was trying to emphasize the seriousness and urgency of His previous message which is the prayer.

This was the prayer, of November 25:

“Address Me Vassula in this way:

Tender Father, lash not Your wrath on this generation, lest they perish altogether; Lash not on Your flock distress and anguish, for the waters will run dry and nature will wither 1; all will succumb at Your wrath leaving no trace behind them;

The heat of Your Breath will put aflame the earth turning it into a waste!2 From the horizon a star will be seen; The night will be ravaged and ashes will fall as snow in winter, covering Your people like ghosts;

Take Mercy on us, God, and do not assess us harshly; Remember the hearts that rejoice in You and You in them! Remember Your faithful and let not Your Hand fall on us with force, But, rather in Your Mercy lift us and place Your precepts in every heart.3 Amen"

Christmas Greetings!

How to make Christmas crackers

If you want to know how to make those Christmas crackers this is a good video to watch . Dave Kelly is always a blast . You can find Allison Orthner's blog here and Christy Riopels here

Veni Veni Emmanuel!

Enjoy a nice advent meditation song.

A Christmas Ornament

This year I had the privilege of entering a christmas splendour ornament exchange . We received a lovely mercury bird clip-on ornament . It was beautiful but my boyfriend dropped it and it broke as he was putting it on the tree that we have .

Thank-you to Beth, who sent her blog address , I contacted her about it and told her we would be willing to pay for one if she were to get another one for us because we liked it so much . I never thought to check out Pottery Barn here in Calgary until after . So , we did. Yesterday. Guess what? We found the EXACT same one we had broken to smitherines!! I was so happy, and so was Phil , that we bought TWO mercury
clip-on birds...
 


See how nice they are sitting in our tree.

Anyway I like to decorate this tree since we have no room for a Christmas Tree . Actually I like those plants . They work perfect as a Christmas tree IMO. Here is our Christmas tree/plant from last year:

and here is this years.

:) It’s perfect for the two of us .

What is Christmas?

Here we are talking about the salvation of mankind and of the Incarnation of Christ, the Son of God, who became the new Adam, assuming all that is human, and by this assumption saved and deified man. He came to reconcile us to the Father after the Fall. He became man in order to deliver us from death and corruption and make us the sons and daughters of God and gods by participation. So why did God become man which He was not before? It was to make man god. God desired this so much that Jesus came out of the bosom of the Father without separation, and descended and came to earth for that reason.

He did not come as a Judge to judge the world, not yet, but He came to save it after the Fall. So through the Incarnation of Christ, we, who are corruptible matter are able to partake in His divinity and of His Kingdom if we observe His commandments and His Law. Thus the Word became flesh.

So let Christmas take its real place in our heart and out of respect for our priceless ransom let us love our Lord and Master who paid it. Let us welcome His love and we will know that if He had not wanted to save us after having redeemed us, He would not have descended on earth at all. He would not have been sacrificed because of us. But he did it by His own free will and because of the infinite Love He has for each one of us. But man has distorted the meaning of Christmas. This is what the Lord said once on the 24th December 1991, the eve of Christ's birth...

“...today I come with peace-terms and a Message of Love, but the peace I am offering is blasphemed by the earth and the Love I am giving them is mocked and jeered in the Eve of My Birth; mankind is celebrating these days without My Holy Name; My Holy Name has been abolished and they take the day of My Birth as a great holiday of leisure, worshipping idols...I have warned the world...”

In this message Christ shows us how much He is offended by our indifference and by our deviating His Birth into trivial things, celebrating Christmas in the wrong way and without remembering the real reason. For many people celebrate the Christmas tree instead , and the exchange of gifts, and the food, eating until sick, going on holidays and amusing themselves to folly, instead of adoring Jesus as the first shepherds did in the manger.

The Lord says:

“...Satan is deceiving the world once more with the same lie he deceived Eve ... that they too can be God (1) and are self-sufficient and do not need Me...” June 1, 2002

The world today, our Lord says, refuses the glory of God and prefers to live as if there is no God, for the world is paying no attention to God's Law or precepts. The world refuses to give glory to God and instead glorifies itself, playing God.

Jesus said:

“...they are doing all these things because they have never known either the Father or Myself...all they do is wither their soul for they snapped their navel string attached to Me and that nourished their soul...they are heading willingly into the eternal fires...” July 25/26, 1989

As you see from these messages, God is not pleased, especially when it comes to Christmas time when one should be living Christmas the right way and giving glory to God and remembering Jesus as our Savior who redeemed us.

The article is by Vassula .

(1) 2 Th 2:4, Ez 28:2

Merry Christmas!