Category: Christmas

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Christmas holiday

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

On this morning’s run, I felt compelled to take a picture of brightly decorated palm trees. Yes, my friends, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, even in Florida.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas with decorated palm trees

This morning, I also heard that Christmas albums are already hitting the charts in mid-November. This reminded me of a workplace debate we had on the first of November on when it was appropriate to start with Christmas music. It looks like the people have spoken, and that time is now.

I shouldn’t be surprised. Some years back, at the beginning of November, I heard Christmas music at a convenience store.

Cartoon of Scrooge and the ghost of Jacob Marley. Marley says, "You will be visited by three spirits: The Ghost of Christmas Past, Ghost of Christmas present, and Ghost of Christmas Mall Music."

Why the rush? We love the memories and good feelings associated with the season. Besides, it’s getting darker, and we need more lights to help us see our way through the darkness.

So roll out the holly! And crank up the holiday music, everyone. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… in mid-November!

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activities Bible Christmas illustration Warner Press

An Angel visits Zechariah


This children’s activity page illustrates part of the Christmas story. An angel visits Zechariah and announces the birth of John the Baptist. The story is in Luke 1: 5–19.

Activity Page Illustrates an angel visits Zechariah

Five items on the activity page do not belong: a teddy bear, baby bottle, rattle, spoon, and Bible.

Continue reading “An Angel visits Zechariah”
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Christianity Christmas holiday Religion Cartoons

Day After Christmas

What would the day after the first Christmas have looked like? How would the day after the shepherds have looked?

  • Would there have been some curious people strolling in because they heard the shepherds’ proclamation?
  • Could the innkeeper caved into the guilt and got the new family a room, or at least some comforts?
  • Did Joseph have to scramble to the busy marketplace to find some food for the starving, exhausted mother?
  • Did the barn animals behave themselves? Surely they couldn’t keep quiet as the baby laid in the manger!
Cartoon of a nativity scene with a cow and donkey. The cow says, “Nonesense, my dear Donkey! It wasn’t my lowing, but your braying that woke the poor baby!

I think back to the days after my children were born. We were grateful for the grandparents’ help. Our small group made sure we were well fed and cared for. At the same time, we were exhausted and equally thankful when we were home and the excitement had died down… then came the work of raising a brand new human!

How was it for the new parents? No grandparents were nearby. All the support was ninety miles away in Nazareth. Did they help from others that were brought together for the census?

Maybe it was a silent night, but the next day was probably a cacophony of noise, smells, and activity. It makes me that much more thankful that hope, light, and love had come.

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Christmas holiday

Merry Christmas!

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.” Charles Dickens

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.”

Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol (AmazonClassics Edition) (p. 97). Amazon Classics. Kindle Edition.

It’s Christmas morning! we have made it through the hustle and bustle. Now it is time to settle down with our favorite hot beverage, check out what is under the tree, and wish our loved ones a Merry Christmas!

Ebenezer Scrooge is one of my favorite literary characters. He is a reminder no one is beyond redemption. It is full of reckoning, suspense, and grace. A Christmas Carol reminds me that anyone can have a second chance.

To be honest, I struggle with that once in a while. I am sure we all do. There is someone that hurt us, a person that feels justified in their actions that makes it hard to forgive and welcome them with Christmas cheer. If we’re honest, all of us can think of someone right now.

But on this day, let us have nothing but peace on earth, goodwill to all. Let us honor Christmas in our hearts, and try to keep it all year long. May your day be blessed!

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Christmas holiday

The Light is Coming

“In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.” Francis Bacon

Happy Christmas Eve! The light is coming tonight!

“In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.”

Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon Quotes.” BrainyQuote.com. BrainyMedia Inc, 2021. 24 December 2021. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/francis_bacon_119506

I took this photo several Christmas Eves ago. It was a snowy night and I noticed how our lamp shone in the darkness so brightly. It was a beacon to all who were coming to our house that evening. Without the lamp, it would have been easy to slip and trip.

Photo of a lamp on a snowy Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve, 2010 in Indiana

In the background, a neighbor has his Christmas lights going. Many of us love to put up Christmas lights. Of course, that can get some of us in trouble! But we are willing to take the risk in order to bring a little brilliance to the darkness.

Last night, I was wrapping things up at work and left around 6:00 PM. I was surprised when I left because it was so dark outside. It felt like it was the middle of the night. I was thankful for the parking lot lights. I rarely think about them any other time. Most times, I am gone before they light up. But I was thankful for them that evening.

Unfortunately, we don’t think much about illumination until we need it. Then we can be caught off guard. We grab our flashlight only to discover the batteries are dead. We can’t find the candles we stashed away, nor a lighter. Then we think of our cell phone light only to remember you needed to charge it. Light is something we take for granted until we are stumbling around in the dark, seeking it.

So this Christmas Eve, let’s remember that the light is coming. May it light our ways and remember there is hope, joy, and peace for those who seek it.