Everyday Living

Christmas Tablescape: Holy Love In A Manger

~ Christmas, Everyday Living, Faith, Food & Entertaining, Tablescape Tuesday

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”
Luke 2:7

 Warm greetings sweet friends!  Can you believe that in just one week Christmas will be here…wasn’t it just summer? The week before Christmas last year, I received a gift that totally took me me by surprise that I am sharing with you all today. The lovely Pat from Life at Lydia’s House gifted me with her own designed Christmas dinnerware “Bethlehem Christmas”…and you talk about a lovely gift!  There are 8 different designs that share the birth of Jesus according to the scriptures. I was so excited to use it for our family’s Christmas dinner last year and it will be making its second appearance this year!  Last year, we took turns going around the table reading the scripture from our plate. It was a beautiful way to share the true gift of Christmas-Jesus! 

You are probably aware of our love for music, so as you gather around our table, I’ve asked Butch to share a song with you that he wrote a few years ago. Even though there is no audio, we pray the lyrics will “caption” Jesus and the reality of the Christ child!     

 

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It started like any other night as shepherds kept their sheep

The darkness changed to a guiding light, come see the Prince of Peace.READ MORE

Simple + Southern Sunday No. 163

~ Christmas, Everyday Living, Faith, Outdoors, Simple + Southern Sunday

 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.  And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly…

…But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit…

 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:…READ MORE

A Thrill Of Hope

~ Christmas, Decorating, Faith, Holidays

 “A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the angels’ voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night divine o night, O night divine”

Happy Thursday dear friends!  I hope in all of the busyness that comes with this time of year, you have taken time to reflect on the REASON we celebrate Christmas!  The most important and world changing event that we celebrate — a young girl giving birth to the baby Jesus who was born to save us from our sins, with faithful Joseph by their side.  Now that is the reason why we can be joyful everyday of our lives!    

Christmas memories are some of the most vivid and precious memories that I have.  For that reason, I use the same decorations from year to year.  Whenever I unwrap the decorations that stay tucked away for months out of the year, it’s like they are old friends coming back to visit!  I normally move things around each year, but some have a permanent place during the Christmas season because that is where I like to see them.  The nativity in front of our fireplace is one of those, because it is the center of our home…representing the place in our lives that the Christmas story tells.  This time of year brings the Thrill Of Hope that our weary world longs for each and every day of the year!

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 *  If you are a long-time reader, you’ll notice that I have placed the Christmas tree in its usual spot.  Three years ago, I down-sized our tree…and it’s much easier to decorate!

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