A Christmas Blessing

(Photo source Oil Painting Ruth Sanderson 1992)

God grant you the light of Christmas,

which is faith;

the warmth of Christmas,

which is purity;

the righteousness of Christmas,

which is justice;

the belief in Christmas,

which is truth;

the all of Christmas,

which is Christ.

(Source Wilda English,  n.d.)

Christmas Icicle Legend

One night the Christ Child wandered

Through forest dark and cold;

There was no hut to shelter Him.

No angel's hand to hold.

Trees were bare. Their leaves were gone.

His young eyes spied the Pine,

Whose limbs, low hanging, sheltered Him

From piercing winds' sharp whine.

Caring for the Chris Child,

The Pine wept tears of joy

Freezing to icicles as they fell

Sheltering Mary's boy.

Morning dawned sunlight's gold

In brilliance dazzling to behold.

And every Christmas icicles shine

In memory of this Holy time.

(Source poem by M. A. Putman)

The Fishermen's Church

I saw a little church to-day

The quaintest I have seen,

It stood amidst the fishing fleet

And made a charming scene.

Strangers viewed it with interest

This sea-stained House of God

And then as if enchanted,

its moss-grown paths have trod.

This little Church was built for such

Who wished to seek God's face,

For a spirit of holiness seemed to rest

Upon that sacred place.

When the hurricane is sweeping by

And the sea runs white with foam

The song I hear from the little Church

Soars above the ceaseless moan.

I love to read of the olden days

When our Lord walked by the sea

How He taught the poor and humble

By the shores of Galilee.

And when He saw the fishermen

Busy mending their nets,

He called them and they followed Him

To be His honoured guests.

God has not called the greatest,

Nor the highest in the land,

He calls His humble servants

To do what He commands.

And ye who are His followers,

Look up, your Lord is near:

Within His hand He holds the crown

That ye may some day wear.

(Source Hastings Church - E. Verness, the widow of a Hastings fisherman)

(Photo source Google)

Watch For The Light: Readings For Advent And Christmas, Book review

• Hardcover: 344 pages
• Publisher: Plough Publishing House (September 22, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0874869170

SYNOPSIS:

Though Christians the world over make yearly preparations for Lent, there’s a conspicuous lack of good books for that other great spiritual season: Advent. All the same, this four-week period leading up to Christmas is making a comeback as growing numbers reject shopping-mall frenzy and examine the deeper meaning of the season. 

Ecumenical in scope, these fifty devotions invite the reader to contemplate the great themes of Christmas and the significance that the coming of Jesus has for each of us – not only during Advent, but every day. Whether dipped into at leisure or used on a daily basis, Watch for the Light gives the phrase “holiday preparations” new depth and meaning. 

Includes writings by Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt, Sylvia Plath, J. B. Phillips, Friedrich Wilhelm Foerster, Henri Nouwen, Bernard of Clairvaux, Kathleen Norris, Meister Eckhart, St. Thomas Aquinas, Karl Rahner, Isaac Penington, Madeleine L’Engle, Alfred Delp, Loretta Ross-Gotta, William Stringfellow, J. Heinrich Arnold, Edith Stein, Philip Britts, Jane Kenyon, John Howard Yoder, Emmy Arnold, Karl Barth, Oscar Romero, William Willimon, Johann Christoph Arnold, Gail Godwin, Leonardo Boff, G. M. Hopkins, Evelyn Underhill, Dorothy Day, Brennan Manning, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Romano Guardini, Annie Dillard, Martin Luther, St. John Chrysostom, Giovanni Papini, Dorothee Soelle, C. S. Lewis, Gustavo Gutiérrez, Philip Yancey, J. T. Clement, Thomas Merton, Eberhard Arnold, Ernesto Cardenal, T. S. Eliot, John Donne, Gian Carlo Menotti and Jürgen Moltmann.

My thoughts:


An in depth and heartwarming compilation of readings for that most sacred Season, the Advent, to prepare the whole family for a joyful Christmas celebration!
As we know Advent begins on a different date each year but the publishers took special care to provide readings beginning 24 November, ending with 7 January, right after Epiphany, the traditional closing of the Holiday Season.

Each of Watch For The Light's readings reflects the Peace and the Joy we seek as Christians in preparation for the coming of Christ and will become a wonderful addition to your home or Church's library. The richness of the individual messages is certain to reach hearts everywhere and will provide inspiration for daily devotions. 

Finally, let me say that each of us might well find our favourite in this collection of readings, mine being 'The Coming Of Jesus In Our Midst' by Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me."

(Revelation 3:20)

Note: Excellent sources and acknowledgements are included in this hardback and should not be missed!

5 Stars and the perfect gift for any believer!

Meet some of the Authors:

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (in the forefront - 1932)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born in Breslau in 1906. The son of a famous German psychiatrist, he studied in Berlin and New York City. He left the safety of America to return to Germany and continue his public repudiation of the Naz*s, which led to his arrest in 1943. Linked to the group of conspirators whose attempted assassination of Hitlerr failed, he was hanged in April 1945.
(Source Amazon)

Clive Staples Lewis (1898–1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954, when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement.

Lewis wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. 
(Source HERE)

The internationally renowned priest and author, respected professor and beloved pastor Henri Nouwen wrote over 40 books on the spiritual life. 
He corresponded regularly in English, Dutch, German, French and Spanish with hundreds of friends and reached out to thousands through his Eucharistic celebrations, lectures and retreats. 

Since his death in 1996, ever-increasing numbers of readers, writers, teachers and seekers have been guided by his literary legacy. Nouwen’s books have sold over 2 million copies and been published in over 22 languages.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book courtesy of HANDLEBAR CENTRAL as part of its promotion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own. 

Where Treetops Glisten by Sarah Sundin, Tricia Goyer and Cara Putman, Book review

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (September 16, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-1601426482
• Also available in KINDLE format

SYNOPSIS:


Siblings forging new paths and finding love in three stories, 
filled with the wonder of Christmas
 
Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana. 

In Cara Putman’s White Christmas, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements—until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help. 

Abigail’s brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theater in Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete’s friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he’s no longer the bully she once knew?

In Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, “Merry” to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that’s precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart. 

The Turner family believes in God’s providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ’s birth and His plan for a future?


My thoughts:

"White Christmas", "I'll be home for Christmas" and "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was just the ticket to start the Holiday Season! These three stories make up 'Where Treetops Glisten' and what wonderful stories! Just check out the nostalgic cover!

Beginning with Winter Wonderland, a prologue written by Sarah Sundin, each story highlights courage and a touch of Christmas romance in WW 2's era, with messages of hope and love where many needed it! 

These three talented authors wrote heartwarming stories to delight the senses, reminding us that even in difficult times, God is with us as always. Of course the Season itself has something magical about it and anything is therefore possible. 

The authors took special care to describe the authentic historical atmosphere of WW 2, a time when every moment was very precious and so many lives were lost or irrevocably changed.
I like also their choice of titles which reminds us of those very special songs none of us can forget! Additionally, the myriad of little details each chose to insert will enable you to immerse yourself in the period and I one for one, loved the feeling!

It does not come any better Folks and I guarantee you will enjoy discovering the characters defined in these holiday tales. You might even discover a favourite but it will be very hard to choose!

So grab yourself a copy (and one for a friend!), a cuppa and curl up by the fire and dream!

5 Stars!

Landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/glisten

Meet the Authors:

Sarah Sundin is one of those very special people you meet in life, a kindred spirit! Perhaps it is the time period she writes about or the characters she describes which reaches out to readers like myself. Her writing elicits a response in this blogger hard to explain. I love her stories, I cannot stress enough the rich feeling I experience each time I read another of her novels and I pray God continues to light her path as she writes. She allows us to dream! 

Just don't ask me which of her novels I prefer Folks! Hers are part of a handful I would not ever want to part with (but for the classics I cherish). I read them often and like paintings, each disclose something new and tangible each time. 

Visit this talented lady (HERE) for more information.

Tricia Goyer has drawn from her experiences as a teen mother and leader of today’s generation, to be a voice of hope and possibility for teen girls, pregnant teens, mothers and wives.

Visit her website to learn more (HERE)

Cara Putman says: " I don’t have it all together and have gone through tough times. But in His strength, I’ve discovered a strength I never knew I had. A strength I want you to discover, too.

In the end I’m just an ordinary mom who has seen God do some wonderful things as I’ve been obedient to step into the calling He’s led me into."

Read more on her website (HERE) "where Hope meets Healing and Dreams becomes reality."

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from LITFUSE as part of it's promotion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own. 
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