Twas The Day After Christmas

"And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe,

and the Levites who taught the people said to all of them,

This day is holy to the Lord your God; mourn not nor weep.

For all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law.
Then [Ezra] told them,

Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.
So the Levites quieted all the people, saying,

Be still, for the day is holy. And do not be grieved and sad."

Nehemiah 8:9-11 Amplified Bible

Hey, Ya'll! Missed you!

I pray that you have had

and ARE STILL having a wonderful Christmas and New Year Season.

When the above words in Nehemiah transpired, the people had just had the Word of God restored to them, after having, as an entire people, strayed and forgotten the Word.

Once the Word was rediscovered and read to them all, they were stricken and grieved to hear how far they had fallen from God's best for them. True to form, God did not want them to be stricken for too long.

He now wanted them to celebrate Him,

and specifically His word to them.

I thought this a great representation of what His desire to us is at this time...

to not allow depression to creep in.

But, rather savor the moments,

and celebrate Him!

Because Jesus, the Logos, the Word, has come to us!

Rather than give into the routine cares of life,

I believe He would like us to take Him with us in a fresh new way

to face the up coming year!

"for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold."

Maria's Silly Ditty

Twas the day after Christmas

And all through the house

Not a creature was stirring...

Not even a mouse(PC that is)!

The stockings were bulging with goodies galore

A sign that St Nick had been here before!

Gaming was going, music was playing, tummies were sighing...

All parties involved were united in hoping

To snuggle, to munch, to savor and crunch

The memories of happy times and such.

Desiring and hoping

"Let's don't let it end too very quickly"!

Somehow to not savor this moment,

would seem ungrateful...

Tis a gift that's been given...

A gift of knowing and sharing

Through love shown to others...

Another season...

Of beautiful memories

And overcome impossibilities!

Tell one, tell all

Of the great things He has done!

Don't let Him be forgotten!

Jesus Christ, His Son!

There is so much to do in preparation of this particular holiday.

Such a temptation to give in to the crassness of measuring

'who is giving what to who and how will we keep up'?

(who asked us to? No one! Why do we do this?)

Then somehow it all works out,

it's all beautiful, tasty and good!

People love, laugh, give, receive and eat...

well, maybe a bit too much!

Somehow, I have always been wired with a need

to savor the triumphs

of love over money, mercy over bitterness, abundance over lack,

'plenty of time after all'

over

'Oh, no, I don't know how I can do it all!',

that the days after Christams and all the way up to New Year's Day provide.

Yes, work must get done,

sometimes we even have to go there. (silly bosses!)

We must answer mail, pay bills and clean the kitchen.

But there is just such an atmosphere of leisure, grace and contentment

that seems available to allow us to consider all this year's Christmas Season provided.

It's truly unique to this time of year. And I really believe it is Heaven sent.

Nothing in us, in our natural self, lends itself to grace like this!

So, just like I enjoy seeing our children, nieces and nephews enjoying their presents,

I KNOW Our Father and Our Saviour desire that we enjoy the gifts

they have provided to us again this year.

I woke up grateful and telling the Lord Thank you! I LOVE you, Lord!

Thank you so much for another beautiful Christmas!

Beautiful in family, friends, memories and much love shown!

I know it was all You, God!

With man it's impossible, but with YOU its ALL possible!