Tag: Christmas

Once Upon A Christmas Day

Once upon a Christmas Day,
On the floor asleep I lay.
Cuddled beneath the Christmas tree,
With a fire blazing in the stove next to me.

The lights were shining with colors bright,
Casting warm reflections in dawning light.
My eyes though mostly still asleep,
Still saw their beauty in the dreams of sleep.

Around the tree and my resting head,
Dozens of presents had been shed.
Bright colored wrapping covering each one,
Each tied with a bow when it was done.

Stockings were hung from cabinet knobs,
Filled with goodies by the gobs.
Pretty decorations sat here and there,
Santas, Snowmen, and Angels placed with care.

A miniature village covered the shelves,
Seemingly put there by Santa’s elves.
All of these show beauty and splendor,
And inspired joy on a morning yet tender.

Two things stood out most important of all,
Displayed on a table, not decking the hall.
The first was a Bible opened to Mark,
Telling the story the angels did hark!

The second was a crèche depicting the scene,
Of the Christ child’s birth in a manger mean.
Despite all the trappings, He is still the reason,
There would be no true Christmas, He is the season.

We enjoy all the lights and the glitter and bows,
But may each person who celebrates, truly know;
That it is only this way because God made it so,
It’s according to his plan that this Jesus we know.

There is no meaning in all at Christmas we share,
If Jesus Christ our Lord is not kept there.
There is no reason to have great joy,
If the Savior does not this Holiday employ.

Once upon a Christmas day,
Christ was born in just God’s way.
He came to save us from all sin,
So that the Devil should not win.

It’s all according to God’s plan,
That His true story the world should span.
So as I awake to Christmas bright,
I first celebrate the Christ, born Christmas night.

Christmas Open House

Christmas Open House

Some families celebrate on Christmas Day
As do we in many ways,
But for me Christmas Eve is the traditional part
And it is there that I find my heart.

On the twenty-forth we can all be found,
In my parent’s house gathering ‘round;
Putting finishing touches here and there,
On decorations and food and getting it all prepared.

By evening time the house is bustling,
Full of family and friends each room is bursting;
There is joy, laughter, stories and more,
And listen, the bell, there’s more at the door.

The kitchen counters are lined with food galore,
That won’t run out because the ‘fridge has more;
And while we eat we enjoy the beautiful, tall tree
With its lights shining bright and festively.

Before we gather round to open the gifts,
Prayer, song and praise to our Lord our voices do lift;
And from the Bible we read from Luke 2,
The story of Jesus born for me and for you.

There are kisses, and hugs and greetings for all;
There’s visiting, music, and games in the hall;
In the back room amateur musicians sometimes play,
Bringing life to Christmas Carols in their own way.

It’s a Christmas gala brimming with life,
Where all is joy and none is strife;
Where the reason for the season shines through
In love and joy that is true.

So each Christmas Eve as this open house begins
And we prepare our hearts to greet family and friends
This Christmas tradition brings us all cheer
Knowing it will be spent with loved ones all near.

Fredericksburg’s Annual Church to Church Walk

Last evening, December 13, my husband, Steve and I attended the annual Church to Church  walk put on by the Gillespie County Ministerial Association, here in Fredericksburg. It was Steve’s first time, I have been several times before and always enjoy it. Last night was an amazing experience though. For the first time ever all churches were full to overflowing with walkers participating. As would be expected, many for the first time.  In fact, the count was 393 people. I don’t think I have ever seen more than 150-200 in the years I have attended. It was nice to see more folks coming out to join in the Christmas festivities centered around the Lord.

The program did not disappoint.The theme was “The Coming Of the Lord.” Each church had a sub theme discussed at their stop.

We began at Zion Lutheran Church with a short intro by Reverend Bobby Vitek, GCMA President and also of Holy Ghost Lutheran Church, after which the group joined in the singing of “O come, O Come Emanuel.” Reverend Jeff Hammond of St Barnabas Episcopal Church offered a short reflection on “Wake Us Up to Your Coming.” He talked about how even when our eyes are open we are sometimes not really awake, especially spiritually, and he called for the Lord to really awaken us this Christmas season.  The first stop ended with a choir presentation of “Prepare the Way of the Lord” by the Bethany Chancel Choir.

In spite of some confusion as to which way is East and which is West, Pastor Bobby, gave directions on how to get from Zion to our second stop of Bethany Lutheran Church, and the group was out the door.

Reverend Casey Zesch, Bethany Lutheran, began  the second leg of our journey with responsive readings followed by the singing by the group of the hymn, “Prepare the Royal Highway”. Pastor Travis Meyer, also of Bethany presented thoughts on “Prepare Us for Your Coming”. He spoke about how now that we are awake to Christ’s coming we also have to be  prepared for it. He told the story of St. Nicholas and how he prepared the way by helping those less fortunate. St. Nicholas anonymously threw coins through the window  into the   drying stockings of the daughters of a man who was in danger of having to sell his daughters into slavery just so they would be fed and he could continue to survive. Nicholas’s contributions helped the family to stay together and to survive the hard times they were facing.  We not only prepare ourselves but also the world since Christ is the Way to salvation, the royal highway himself.

“A Christmas  Alleluia” was performed by the Oak Hills Worship Team and then the large throng of walkers headed out the door to Holy Ghost.

Fredericksburg Police provided safe passage across Main Street for the group as they walked and visited in the fast chilling December air.

Reverend David Priem provided the responsive reading at Holy Ghost, with “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” as the hymn afterwards. Reverend Michael Burdick, Victory Fellowship supplied the reflections on “Open Us to Your Coming.”  He asked us that as we now may be awake, and are preparing for Christ’s coming, are we really open to it? Have we really opened ourselves, our hearts, and our lives for Christ to enter in?

The Victory Fellowship Praise Team invited us to sing along with them on “Joy to the World” after the message. Then once again we were all headed out and  down San Antonio Street to the last stop, St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

“Comfort My People” was sung by the St. Mary’s Choir as walkers filed in. Father Enda McKenna, then began with the responsive readings followed by “Soon and Very Soon” sung by the group. The Reverend George Lumpkin of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church(FUMC) took us through a humorous and surprising message on “Surprise Us By Your Coming.” The basis of this message being that we as Christians wait and pray for God to show up in our lives and then we are surprised when he does. The best excerpt from this being when a friend of his that looked like the traditional picture of Jesus, walked up behind his choir director in church and she turned around and hollered, totally surprised that “Jesus” was standing behind her in church!

The FUMC choir sung “Sing Noel, Sing Hallelujah” after which Father Enda gave a closing benediction and instructions on where to go for refreshments and fellowship to end the evening. For those that had taken their cars on this walk, the evening was at a close after refreshments. The rest of us visited a bit  and then made our way back to Zion and our rides home.

It was a wonderful and blessed evening filled with Christmas joy, songs and spiritual preparedness for the season ahead. I personally enjoy going as a way to get myself in the right frame of mind about the season and what it is truly about.

If you missed it this year, it is an annual event so there will be next year. Keep watch on your local church calendar or the chamber calendar next December. If you are looking for a new tradition to start with your family this is a nice one. God Bless and Merry Christmas!

Day 224-Christmas Reflections

When I gaze upon the Christmas tree,
Oh what beauty I do see.
With bows of green and balls of gold,
What a wondrous tradition of old.

As a whole it’s magnificent,
An ever green that seems heaven-sent.
It shines with light from up above,
A bright reflection of our Savior’s love.

When most look they see only a tree,
Decorated for all to see.
But it is more than meets the eye,
A lasting tradition by and by.

The tree itself so evergreen,
A symbol of eternal life it means.
The lights that twinkle oh so bright,
A reflection of Christ, the world’s true light.

And what of the balls that glitter there,
They reflect the world around we share.
Look closely in them and you will see,
A revolving picture of you and me.

They continuously reflect what passes by
Hidden moments of the world they ply.
Most don’t look closely enough to see,
For each little happening flickers in these.

They capture the bad and the good,
In fleeting moments as only they could.
Look closely next time at these decorations
And watch their constant Christmas reflections.

See the joy in one child’s face,
While on another sadness takes its place.
See all the beauty and festiveness,
And then the rush and anxiousness.

Look close in that ball and watch the world
As each moment is unfurled.
What reflections are seen there;
Is Christmas being spread with care?
Are the reflections that you see,
Worthy of Christmas as they should be?
Are they reflecting Christ to the world,
In the pictures there as the glass balls twirl?

It’s up to each of us to do our part,
So that the Christmas reflections are from our heart.
Christmas reflections shown on a tree,
Should be filled with love and joy for the world to see.

Day 222-Christmas Magic

When I was very young, my parents celebrated Christmas with us, steeped in German traditions that brought life and magic to the holiday. They went over and above in order to make the magic of Christmas real.

In our home the big celebration was an open house at my mom’s on Christmas Eve. On the 24th the house came alive with family and friends. There were decorations, a huge tree, tons of food, drink sweets, music, gifts and fun.

For us, the kids, all the wonderment began on Christmas Eve morning, but for my dedicated parents, the work began late on the 23rd. You see, my parents sent us to bed around nine o’clock on the 23rd in a house with not one decoration or obvious sign of Christmas, no tree, nothing.

When we awoke on Christmas Eve morning, the excitement and magic of Christmas had arrived at our house while we had slept. We came down the stairs to air-filled with the wonderful aromas of food cooking for Christmas Eve dinner. The house was decorated, and in the living room, was a Christmas tree that stood from floor to ceiling tall and almost as big around. It was fully adorned with decorations. In those days, the decorations consisted of beautiful glass balls and birds, golden garland, silver tinsel, and old-fashioned bubble lights, along with hundreds of colored twinkle lights which were ringed in little plastic star bursts. It was gorgeous, like a Christmas card in our living room. And best of all there were gifts of all sizes under the tree.

We were allowed to peak at the tree, but then the doors were closed and we weren’t allowed in again until time for gifts and guests. When we were older, we could help set the dining room table which was next to the tree, but we were not allowed to snoop around the gifts. Of course we couldn’t help but try to see names on the gifts as we worked, in such a way as to not get caught snooping. That was a tedious endeavor, I assure you. As soon as our work was done the door was closed again, and we were back to waiting.

The best part of this whole thing was the knowledge that Santa Claus had done it all, the tree, the gifts, decorated the house. He and his elves had been here while we slept. I know what you are thinking, “But Santa doesn’t start delivering until Christmas Eve.”

Well that’s right, but Christmas Eve starts at midnight, and it takes him all day since there are so many children in the world. And since he knew we had our Christmas that day, my parents had a standing agreement that he would come by our house before daylight on Christmas Eve.

I think the must have given him fresh turkeys for his Christmas table from my dad’s turkey farm each year to seal the deal because they quite often, got him to do special favors like this.

I remember quite well one of those favors he did for them. I was very young, perhaps 5 or 6 that particular Christmas. The day had transpired as I described previously. The extended family was there. We had read the Christmas story from the Bible and opened all our gifts.

I had wanted a bicycle that year, but there wasn’t one under the tree. We had begun to entertain guests and eat food. General merriment was being made all through the house; there was laughing and stirring but thankfully no mouse.
About half way through the evening, the door bell rang, as it had been doing all evening to announce more guests. I was told to open the door and so I did.

Outside on the step, there stood a brand new, red bicycle with training wheels. No one was there with it. Everyone I knew was in the room behind me watching. I heard jingle bells in the distance, and I searched the sky but never saw him, only heard the sleigh bells. Santa had made a special delivery, and was quick to be on his way so that I never saw him. I was excited and disappointed all at once.
I’m still not sure how my parents and “Santa” pulled that one, off and to this day, those who know aren’t talking. I do know it was probably the most exciting and memorable Christmas ever. The magic couldn’t have been more real that year. It was wonderful and fun.

After my special delivery had been safely ushered through the house to the utility room, where it couldn’t break anything if it fell over, the party continued as before. I looked out the window and up at the sky often that evening, never quite sure how Santa could get away so fast, and secretly hoping to catch a glimpse of his sleigh somewhere in the sky. I never saw it, but then that’s what made it magic.

Day 220-Christmas Mountain Slide.

Just before Christmas, in 1986, my parents, sister and brother-in-law and myself, embarked on a trip to Ruidoso, New Mexico, to top the mountains of Ski Apache Resort. Little did we know that instead of sliding down the slopes, the more harrowing adventure would be sliding up and down the icy hillside roads to the resort.
On the first day, the drive was not bad because I rode with my parents, who are experienced snow drivers from all the years they went to Colorado, hunting. But even with experienced drivers, seeing the edges of the road so close to the side of our truck, as we slipped along on ice and snow-covered narrow roads made me want to cry. I knew dad knew what he was doing, but that did not make the 1000’s of feet down onto rocks, trees, and who knows what else look any more inviting. Oh, and of course, no guard rail. The opposite side was no better, there you slid into the hillside, large rocks, or into oncoming traffic. Yes oncoming traffic on a road that was so narrow you could barely go one direction and it was going two. The first day, we made it safely.

The next day the fun began. My parents stayed behind to tour, and let us drive their Chevy truck while they drove my sister’s station wagon around for the day. They should have designated a driver other than my brother-in-law, bless his soul; safe driving was not and still is not his strong suit.

To leave the cabins you had to follow a little road across a small bridge and then turn left on to the road towards town. You had no choice but to turn left because there was a snow-covered hillside preventing you from going any other way. Not so with our talented driver, we made an only slightly left skid directly into the snow-covered embankment. Luckily the only damage was to the snow, where we left a bumper shaped deep dent. Which incidentally my parents told us that they knew was from us as soon as they saw it. But thus started our trip up and then back down the mountain that day.

We invented a new word that day, it went something like, “Sloeeeaahck!” It was a terrified cross between “slow down”, and screams of eek and aahhh! I don’t think I have ever seen my life flash before my eyes so much in one day. It was kind of like having instant replay on a football game that you had watched several times before. I had actually forgotten about some of those events though, so at least I had my memory refreshed.

It seemed we were constantly sliding toward our doom, whether that was 1000’s of feet down to our deaths, crashing into the mountain or perhaps a tree or a rock. Quite often it seemed we were hanging just over that edge looking death in the eye as we stared down that ravine in terror just before our truck some how righted itself back onto the road. Of course then we were usually headed for the snow-covered just as unforgiving hillside. We seemed to be the metal ball in a pin ball game bouncing back and forth off whatever obstacle was there to change our course. Pin Ball is an old style arcade game for those of you too young to know.

We created our own road both up and down the mountain that day. It seemed traveling was either going to literally kill us or scare us to death in which the outcome would be the same; sudden death, just days before Christmas. Somehow, by the grace of God indeed, we are all still here today, survivors of this Christmas mountain slide.

PS. No the picture is not from New Mexico, but I didn’t have any available. As you might be able to tell that is Texas Hill Country snow, but to us it is even more treacherous! Haha! Merry Christmas!

Day 212-Christmas Gifts-A Reflection on the True Gift of Christmas

10But the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all people; 11for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased.”    Luke 2:10-14

Imagine the scene that day on the hills around Bethlehem as shepherds stood by as the skies filled with angels proclaiming the Savior’s birth, and praising the Lord. What fear, awe, wonder, joy, love, and eventual peace must have filled their souls as the words of the angel touched their ears and crept with slow realization into the hearts? The sheer wonder and beauty of the scene would have been enough to bring them to tears, and than this sight was coupled with the magnificent news of their Savior’s birth.

Next, imagine how they must have felt when they realized the honor they had been given by their Lord, when He chose them to be first to know.

We speak often of the gifts given to the Christ child by the three wisemen, but what of the gift bestowed on these lowly, poor shepherds, and then also on the wisemen. Upon them, was bestowed the gift of first knowledge of His birth.

The gift of a Savior had just been given to the world, and the Lord chose these lowly shepherds to give the gift of first knowledge of His birth. What an honor and privilege they were given, first knowledge, and then first to see the new baby. Wow!

The Lord also gave the gift of the star to the wisemen, so that they could be the next to see and know. Even though they came much later than the shepherds, they were no doubt any less important because the Lord literally lead them to His son.

First shepherds, then kings each in their own way given news of a Savior and bid to come and see. With these gifts came a responsibility though, because from there they were charged with going forth and proclaiming all that had happened. They were to go forth and tell the good news. Shepherds and kings alike were to take their gift of knowledge of the Christ child and share it with all around them; with the exception of Herod of course.

We are much like these lowly shepherds and stately kings. Some of us are poor, some of us are well off, or even rich, but we all have a common God-given gift. We too have the gift of the knowledge of a Savior born to us, died for our sins, and raised to new life for our redemption.

We also have the same responsibility to share our gift with everyone around us. Just like God chose the shepherds that very first Christmas to share the gift of a new Savior, we are called this Christmas and every day to share the old, old story, with all those who may or may not have heard of the Savior.

So as we share Christmas gifts this season, don’t forget to share the most important Christmas gift that the Lord gave to each of us, so that we too might give it to others. After all, with out the gift of Christ, there would be no Christmas. Therefore, go forth and give Christ as your most precious Christmas gift to people around you this year!