🎄Forever Christmas...🎄

The stockings were hung by the 'chimney' with care...

At different times over the years of Christmases Past, there have been many more stockings hung by different chimneys with care, that I made with much love, for family, for friends. Most of those friends or family members are grown or have crossed over into the land of 'Forever Christmas'.
I have always loved Christmas because it is a time of mystery, beauty, fresh spiritual awakening, enchantment. & by enchantment I mean 'a feeling of great pleasure & delight'.
I began this season doing a ladies Christmas Tea at our church with the theme, "The Lights of Christmas."
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Our Guest of Honor

Don't you love the sparkle?! ✨

This is the stocking that I made for Jesus. It's 'Baby Jesus' in a manger in front of a wooden cross that's flanked by evergreens which depicts eternal life. Every year we would put a written note

 to Jesus in it & date it. Someday, I may read each one, but then, maybe they're gone. After all, they were written to Him.  

Taking our 'cue' from Him, as followers of Jesus, we are the 'Lights of Christmas'. 

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!!"

'til Jesus comes!!!

Next, it's time to make my own cozy little nest sparkle!

Do you spy our precocious little Merry the sheep?

This is 'Nippy', my favorite "Honey & Me" snowman!

A wagon full of Christmas elves to make me smile!

See the tiny mice?

What a little precious! Hugs!!

I had a prettier & more elaborate dining room table centerpiece, but my family complained that you couldn't see those that were across the table from you, so I simplified, which is charming too. Especially the kitty Lollipop addition! who is only allowed on the table between mealtimes. She likes it because it gives her a tableside view of the almost constant wildlife out of all of the windows. 

This is only the dining room Christmas decor, but the dining room is my favorite room in our little dwelling. It's so bright & sunshiny, as it faces south. I love it when it snows too, so therapeutic. Actually I love it in all kinds of weather! It's a gathering room where we do most of our fellowshipping with family & friends, over delicious, homecooked & wholesome food (not only my culinary contributions! & all food is delicious when seasoned with those we love & good wholesome conversation.) Also, lots of games have been played around this table. & some of us can get pretty intense & noisy, but good-naturedly so. & it is so good to look across the table, during this season, to see my kids & grandkids that I haven't seen, sometimes for months or longer, soaking in the conversation, laughter, silliness, the looks on the dear faces, to store in my heart's memory. At night, I will sit up after everyone is asleep, in the dark, filled with the sweet awareness that we are all under one roof for this brief time, together, even in sleep. I may cry a bit, but I am blessed. & I will try not to think that soon the house will be bereft for a season, of the voices & faces, that my heart so dearly loves. The Christmas goodbyes will be said & Christmas will be tucked into the pockets of photographs & journals to be brought out & lived, of a sort, again in the coming Christmases. Although the Christmas tree & decorations will stay up for awhile, December 26th, in our culture at least, Christmas is over.....or...is it?

Years ago, as I was sitting in my rocking chair, having a cup of Christmas Tea, I began to think, what if Jesus hadn't come? I know this thought was inspired by the Holy Spirit & I also knew that it was a question that He didn't expect a quick answer or that it even required one, but some deep thinking & even revelation. Still, the thought left me sober & even chilled.

What...if...Jesus...hadn't...come.

Of course the most obvious thought, at first, is that there would be no Christmas. & all of those who complain about violating their so-called rights when Nativity sets are put up, or singing only Christmas songs with no reference to Jesus' birth, or saying 'Happy Holidays' but saying 'Merry Christmas' is taboo because it has the word 'Christ'? & on & on it goes, you know what I mean. They don't have to celebrate Christmas if they don't want to. But they do. Whenever they put up a CHRISTmas tree, whenever they buy CHRISTmas presents, whenever they sing CHRISTmas songs (& they don't have to refer to the birth of Jesus. But they are sung only at CHRISTmastime! Have you ever heard  'Silver Bells' or 'Winterwonderland' or  'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' sung in July? or on Memorial Day, etc.? Nope! Only at CHRISTmastime.) or what about when  they sit down to eat what they call, a CHRISTmas dinner. Or what about the public school calling it CHRISTmas vacation? Let's be honest. No matter what, you just can't take Christ out of CHRISTmas. The only way that could be done, is, if Jesus hadn't come. & of course, then, there would be no Christmas at all. No Christmas at all....

But Jesus DID come!!!

Praise the Lord & Halleleujah!

WOW! That should set our voices to singing & our feet to dancing!! THAT calls for the biggest celebration & birthday party that's out of this world!

Like it or not, if you celebrate even one of these aforementioned events with the word, 'Christ' in it, you are inadvertently adding to the celebration of Jesus' birth, & I love it! Because I love Jesus!!

Now, I am not going to expound on all of the 'what if Jesus hadn't come', because they are infinite (just like He is!) & definitely worthy of delving into & besides, the Holy Spirit would like to give you your own revelation. Also, I don't know them all, not by the proverbial 'long shot'. 

But just let me say a few of the "but He did come!!" blessings. 

"Even while we were still sinners.." Jesus came & "Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8

So, when I didn't even care, Jesus still came & died so my sin could be forgiven, erased, obliterated, so I would be righteous, pure & be able to enter the purity of heaven & my Father's presence.

Merry Christmas to me!!

"I have come that they (you & me) may have life & that they may have it more abundantly."  John 10:10

Who doesn't want life more abundantly? Got Jesus? Got abundant life!

Merry Christmas to me!!

"These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace..."  John 16:33

Peace. Even the word gives me the sense of quiet, that everything is good. Everything IS ok.

Merry Christmas to me!!

"In the world you will have tribulation, but be of  good cheer. I have overcome the world." !! & because He lives in me, I can overcome the world too, my own sinful & selfish tendencies, the pettiness, the smallness, the pride, the totally 'selfie'-centered strangling "ME" god. Ahhhhh....I can breathe again.

Merry Christmas to me!!

"In My Father's house are many mansions...I go to prepare a place for you....I will COME AGAIN (my capitals) & receive you to myself, that where I am you may be also...." John 14:1

Whenever I am preparing for one of my kids or grandkids to come & visit, I am cleaning the room where they will be staying. That means washing all of the bed linens so they will smell fresh & clean, making sure I have all of the ingredients for their favorite foods, planning almost to the minute fun things to do, organizing my schedule completely so their wish is my command! A flower on the bedside stand & maybe some chocolates, a love note under the pillow, I mean I am all out!! & I am singing a song! It is all about them. Jesus Himself is preparing a place for those who love Him, for those whose names are written in the 'Lambs Book of Life'. (If you don't know if your name is there, read & follow the instructions of Romans 10:9 in the New Testament of the Bible. You'll be so glad you did!) & while He's preparing that place, you can bet that He is singing a song, your song, my song, because, with Him too, it's all about you. It's all about me.

Merry Christmas to Me.  & Merry Christmas to you...

& so many more of these Merry Christmases to & for you & me, not just at or around December 25th, but for 364 days more, & then some. & then some more. & then, well, "You'll be, waiting in the harbor, where I'll leave my armor, never to return. 

For I know, when my journeys over, you will come & get me, & take me home sweet home."

"Home, home at last." & then...Forever Christmas.... 

Raintree Perk of the Day:

"Even so, come (again!) Lord Jesus.", our 

Forever Christmas.