Mary's Dream



I had a dream, Joseph, I don't understand it, not really, but I think it was about a birthday celebration for our Son. I think that was what it was all about. The people had been preparing for it for about six weeks. They had decorated the house and bought new clothes. They'd gone shopping many times and bought elaborate gifts. It was peculiar, though, because the presents weren't for our Son.

They wrapped them in beautiful paper and tied them with lovely bows and stacked them under a tree. Yes, a tree, Joseph, right in their house. They'd decorated the tree also. The branches were full of glowing balls and sparkling ornaments. There was a figure on the top of the tree. It looked like an angel might look. Oh, it was beautiful.

Everyone was laughing and happy. They were all excited about the gifts. They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, not to our Son. I don't think they even knew Him. They never mentioned His name. Doesn't it seem odd for people to go to all that trouble to celebrate someone's birthday if they don't know Him?

I had the strangest feeling that if our Son had gone to this celebration He would have been intruding. Everything was so beautiful, Joseph, and everyone so full of cheer, but it made me want to cry. How sad for Jesus -not to be wanted at His own birthday celebration.

I'm glad it was only a dream. How terrible, Joseph, if it had been real.

Our Greatest Need



If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator;
If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist;
If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist;
If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer;

But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.

One Solitary Life


He was born in an obscure village,
The child of a peasant woman.
He grew up in another obscure village
Where he worked in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty.

He never wrote a book.
He never held an office.
He never went to college.
He never visited a big city.
He never travelled more than two hundred miles
From the place where he was born.
He did none of the things
Usually associated with greatness.
He had no credentials but himself.

He was only thirty three.

His friends ran away.
One of them denied him.
He was turned over to his enemies
And went through the mockery of a trial.
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing,
The only property he had on earth.

When he was dead,
He was laid in a borrowed grave
Through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen centuries have come and gone
And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race
And the leader of mankind's progress.
All the armies that have ever marched,
All the navies that have ever sailed,
All the parliaments that have ever sat,
All the kings that ever reigned put together,
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth
As powerfully as that one solitary life.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day


[new adaptation by Casting Crowns]

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth good will to men

And the bells are ringing
Like a choir they're singing
In my heart I hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men

And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men

But the bells are ringing
Like a choir singing
Does anybody hear them?
Peace on earth, good will to men

Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men

Then ringing singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men

And the bells they're ringing
Like a choir they're singing
And with our hearts we'll hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men

Do you hear the bells they're ringing?
The life the angels singing
Open up your heart and hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men

Peace on earth, Peace on earth
Peace on earth, Good will to men

Listen to song by Casting Crowns

While You Were Sleeping

One of my favourite 'new' Christmas songs by Casting Crowns!



Oh little town of Bethlehem
Looks like another silent night
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
A giant star lights up the sky
And while you're lying in the dark
There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne
And is sleeping in a manger tonight

Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man
And stepped into your world today
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

Oh little town of Jerusalem
Looks like another silent night
The Father gave His only Son
The Way, the Truth, the Life had come
But there was no room for Him in the world He came to save

Jerusalem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
The Savior of the world is dying on your cross today
Jerusalem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King

While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping


United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we're sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children
And while we're lying in the dark

There's a shout heard 'cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night


America, what will we miss while we are sleeping
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping
Will we be sleeping

United States of America
Looks like another silent night


Listen to song by Casting Crowns
on side playlist >>>

Seven Joys of Mary


Listen to song on side playlist >>>

The first good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of one;
To see the blessed Jesus Christ,
When he was first her Son.
When he was first her Son, Good Lord;
And happy may we be;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
To all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of two;
To see her own Son Jesus Christ,
Making the lame to go.
Making the lame to go, Good Lord;
And happy may we be;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
To all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of three;
To see her own Son Jesus Christ,
Making the blind to see.
Making the blind to see, Good Lord;
And happy may we be;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
To all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of four;
To see her own Son Jesus Christ
Reading the Bible o'er.
Reading the Bible o'er, Good Lord;
And happy may we be;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
To all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of five;
To see her own Son Jesus Christ,
Raising the dead to life.
Raising the dead to life, Good Lord;
And happy may we be;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
To all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of six;
To see her own Son Jesus Christ
Upon the Crucifix.
Upon the Crucifix, Good Lord;
And happy may we be;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
To all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of seven;
To see her own Son Jesus Christ
Ascending into Heaven.
Ascending into Heaven, Good Lord;
And happy may we be;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
To all eternity.

12 Days of Christmas

Catholics in England during the period 1558 to 1829 were prohibited by law to practice their faith either in public or private. It was illegal to be Catholic until Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England in 1829.


"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in England as one of the "catechism songs" to help young Catholics learn the basics of their faith. In short, it was a coded-message, a memory aid. Since the song sounded like rhyming nonsense, young Catholics could sing the song without fear of imprisonment. The authorities would not know that it was a religious song.


"The 12 Days of Christmas" is in a sense an allegory. Each of the items in the song represents something significant to the teachings of the Catholic faith. The hidden meaning of each gift was designed to help Catholic children learn their faith. The better acquainted one is with the Bible, the more these interpretations have significance. The song refers to the twelve days from Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany (January 6th; the 12 days count from December 25th until January 5th)

The song goes, "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…"
The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn’t refer to an earthly suitor, but it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. i.e. the Church.

Listen to song on playlist >>>>

1st Day: The partridge in a pear tree is Christ Jesus upon the Cross. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge because she would feign injury to decoy a predator away from her nestlings. She was even willing to die for them.

The tree is the symbol of the fall of the human race through the sin of Adam and Eve. It is also the symbol of its redemption by Jesus Christ on the tree of the Cross.


2nd Day: The "two turtle doves" refers to the Old and New Testaments.






3rd Day: The "three French hens" stand for faith, hope and love—the three gifts of the Spirit that abide (1 Corinthians 13).





4th Day: The "four calling birds" refers to the four evangelists who wrote the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—which sing the song of salvation through Jesus Christ.





5th Day: The "five golden rings" represents the first five books of the Bible, also called the Jewish Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.





6th Day: The "six geese a-laying" is the six days of creation.






7th Day: The "seven swans a-swimming" refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.





8th Day: The "eight maids a milking " reminded children of the eight beatitudes listed in the Sermon on the Mount.





9th Day: The "nine ladies dancing" were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.





10th Day: The "ten lords a-leaping" represents the Ten Commandments






11th Day: The "eleven pipers piping" refers to the eleven faithful apostles.






12th Day: The ‘twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve points of belief expressed in the Apostles’ Creed: belief in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, made man, crucified, died and arose on the third day, that he sits at the right hand of the father and will come again, the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting.

Names of Jesus

AND YOU ARE TO GIVE HIM THE NAME JESUS,1
WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD,2
EVERLASTING FATHER3
PRINCE OF PEACE4
HOLY ONE5, SON OF THE HIGHEST,6
EMMANUEL,7
LAMB OF GOD,8 PRINCE OF LIFE,9
LORD GOD ALMIGHTY,10
LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH,11
ROOT OF DAVID,12 WORD OF LIFE,13
KING OF KINGS,14 I AM,15 LORD OF LORDS,16
THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE,17
ADVOCATE,18 DAYSPRING,19 LORD OF ALL,20
MESSIAH,21 SON OF GOD,22 SAVIOUR,23
SHEPHERD AND BISHOP OF SOULS,24
AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH,25
CHIEF CORNERSTONE,26 RIGHTEOUS JUDGE,27
LIGHT OF THE WORLD,28 MORNING STAR,29
HEAD OF THE CHURCH,30 CHIEF SHEPHERD,31
THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE,32
THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA.33

JESUS CHRIST THE SAME YESTERDAY TODAY AND FOREVER...

1. Matt 1:26
2. Isaiah 9:6
3. Isaiah 9:6
4. Isaiah 9:6
5. Mark 1:24
6. Luke 1:32

7. Matt 1:23
8. John 1:29
9. Acts 3:15
10. Rev 15:3
11. Rev 5:5
12. Rev 22:16

13. 1 Jn 1:1
14. Rev 19:16
15. Jn 8:23
16. Rev 19:16
17. Jn 14:6
18. 1 Jn 2:1

19. Luke 1:78
20. Acts 10:36
21. John 1:41
22. John 1:34
23. 2 Pet 2:20
24. 1 Pet 2:25
25. Heb 12:2
26. Eph 2:20
27. 2 Tim 4:8
28. John 8:12
29. Rev 22:16
30. Eph 1:22

31. 1 Pet 5:4
32. John 11:25
33. Rev 21:6

Names of Christians

AS BELIEVERS YOU ARE SAVED,1
FOREVER BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH,2
FORGIVEN,3 ACCEPTED,4 BELOVED OF GOD,5
SERVANTS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD,6
NEW CREATURES,7 DEAD TO SIN,8 ALIVE TO GOD,9
WALKING IN THE NEWNESS OF LIFE,10
BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST JESUS,11
THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,12
CLOTHED WITH CHRIST,13 HOLY,14 BLAMELESS,15
AT PEACE WITH GOD,16
CHRISTIANS,17 YOU ARE, BORN AGAIN,18
PARTNERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE,19
EMPOWERED BY GOD,20
CHILDREN OF PROMISE,21 ONE IN HIM,22
THE BODY OF CHRIST,23
SEATED IN HEAVEN,24 KINGDOM CITIZENS,25
A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD,26 VESSELS OF HONOUR,27
SALT OF THE EARTH,28 LIGHT OF THE WORLD,29
SOLDIERS OF CHRIST,30 FISHERS OF MEN,31
MINISTERS OF RECONCILIATION,32
VICTORIOUS!33

1. Mk 16:16 2. Rom 5:2 3. Eph 1:7 4. Rom 15:7
5. Col 3:12 6. Acts 16:17
7. 2 Cor 5:17 8. Rom 6:11
9. Rom 6:11 10. Rom 6:4 11. Rom 6:3 12. 1 Cor 6:19

13. Gal 3:27 14. Heb 3:1 15. 1 Cor 1:8 16. Rom 5:1
17. Acts 11:26 18. 1 Pet 1:23
19. 2 Pet 1:4 20. Eph 3:20
21. Gal 4:28 22. Gal 3:28 23. 1 Cor 12:27 24. Eph 2:6

25. Phil 3:20 26. 1 Pet 2:9 27. 2 Tim 2:21 28. Matt 5:13
29. Matt 5:14 30. 2 Tim 2:3
31. Mark 1:17 32. 2 Cor 5:19
33. 1Cor 15:57



The New Testament contains over 175 names, descriptive titles, and figures of speech referring to Christians...read more

Father's Love Letter


What Is Father's Love Letter?
Father's Love Letter is a compilation of bible verses from both the Old & New Testaments that are presented in the form of a love letter from God to the world.

Countless Stories
They have heard countless testimonies from thousands of people all over the world who have had a life-changing encounter with God while experiencing the message found in Father's Love Letter.

Downloaded Millions Of Times
Since 1999, this message has been downloaded millions of times from their website, in 60+ languages from people in over 125 nations. It has also appeared as full page newspaper ads and been broadcast on television and radio stations around the world.

This Letter Was Written For You...
...and its words are penned from a God who loves you and desires to be the Father that you have been looking for all your life. Wherever you are in your journey, it is hoped that this love letter will encourage you, comfort you and guide you on your way home.


Morning Prayer


Eternal Father of my soul,
let my first thought today be of You,
let my first impulse be to worship You,
let my first speech be Your name,
let my first action be to kneel before You in prayer.

For Your perfect wisdom and goodness,
For Your love of mankind,
For the love You've shown me,
For the great and mysterious opportunity of Life,
For the gift of the Holy Spirit,
I praise and worship You, O Lord.

Yet let me not, when this morning prayer is said,
think my worship ended
and spend the day in forgetfulness of You.

Rather from these moments of quietness,
let light go forth, and joy, and power,
that will remain with me through all the hours of the day...

Keeping me chaste in thought
Keeping me temperate and truthful in speech,
Keeping me faithful and diligent in my work,
Keeping me humble in my estimation of myself,
Keeping me honourable and generous in my dealings with others,
Keeping me mindful of my eternal destiny as a child of God.

Be my Refuge today in every circumstance.
Be my Guide through all that is dark and doubtful.
Be my Guard against all that threatens my spirit's welfare.
Be my Strength in time of testing.
Gladden my heart with Your peace, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen


A Prayer to start the day from A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie

(thanks to Ann for sharing this prayer - I like her simplified version here)

Pentecost


GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Wisdom
To value the things of God

Understanding
To grasp faith's mysteries

Counsel
To make wise decisions

Fortitude
To strengthen your will

Knowledge
To enlighten your mind

Piety
To love and serve God

Fear of the Lord
To respect God's majesty

In His Image


"In His Image" by William Zdinak

Read the story behind the painting and identify some of the people depicted.

"My thoughts were a long way from spiritual ones on the day it all happened. I was very busy at the drawing board caught up in the RAT RACE we call success. A home with a custom built swimming pool, the proper Cadillac and station wagon. A lovely wife, seven great children, a live in Mother and Father-in-law, two dogs, three cats, fifteen snakes, four turtles, etc., etc. When the phone rang and the caller introduced herself, I remembered a promise I had made five months earlier, a promise to do a painting for a religious art show – a promise I had forgotten minutes after I had made it..." Read the full story here

40 Days in the Wilderness


"You shall worship the Lord your God,
and Him alone shall you serve
."
Matthew 4:10

Art: In the Wilderness by Ron Dicianni

The Baptism of Jesus

This is my Beloved Son

" The baptism of Jesus is on his part
the acceptance and inauguration
of his mission as God's suffering Servant.
He allows himself to be numbered among sinners...
the Father's voice responds to the son's acceptance...
and the heavens are opened
- the heavens that Adam's sin had closed...
a prelude to the new creation."


*Painting by Danny Hahlbohm, quote from
Catechism 536
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