12-12-12

ImageSara

 Jack Frost, I have not felt the tickle of you nipping at my nose or toes! Nor, have I seen a flake of snow for you, Old Jolly to ride! Sure hope a blade of grass or old brown leaves will help to improvise your trip to tinsel town.
My list is getting longer as the good old days keep flying by. The nativity scenes are sparse on the lawns and windows of stores giving me the look of forlornness. The crosses made from  ancient wood have been abandoned right before my eyes. But, I see a looming Star that tells the story with nativity alive rather than still born.
Some say the 25th of December is for the little children only. Sad, to think I would let my heartless heart and mind define the story of a New Born King that came as a Messiah to a hurting world.  A King that’s not a fairy tale but an Eternal Light with a forever Kingdom. There are many that flock to a gravesite that houses bodies of many soldiers and Our Nation’s Elite just to see an eternal flame that burns on President Kennedy’s grave. As honorable as it is we must remember it is only a temporary flame.
We so want many times to see flames of fire, flying angels, and burning bushes to confirm our stories that we substitute the real with a flying Santa, lustful flames and digital angels. Of course it brings a little fun to our day!
When my home is filled with wrapping paper that cost more than the little alms/omen given to a poor child that represents the Christmas of years gone by; what will I say to those in my room with eyes waiting for hope. Will I be able to tell the truth of confidence in peace and hope not because of what masterful item one holds in their hand but because of the One that holds their hand.
I want to practice my story by being prepared for the big day, December 25, that blows the family budget while Jolly Old shakes in his boots thinking of American’s Fiscal Cliff. For as the Cliff goes so goes a chip off this old earth. Let me pull out the truth from Isaiah, Jeremiah and some other old wise men  that predicted just how things would go. Where is my origin in their story of a King to be borne?  “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Gift Giving

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In the lessons of the worship service this morning, Sara made a statement that caught my attention as she was teaching about gift giving, especially during this season [but not exclusively].  She said, “How will my voice sound when I extend my hand with a gift to another?”  

What she was saying in essence was this.  Will I take this glory unto myself, that I am a great gift-giver; look at me and my generosity.  Or will the gift I present to another have a gift tag that reads….”For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life”….’and I extend this gift to you in His love and in His Name that you might meet the eternal God and Savior Jesus Christ Whose birth we celebrate  at this season.’

Will we substitute ourselves as the great gift-giver, taking honor from the GREATER THAN of all [another point of Sara’s lesson in worship] Who is God Almighty?  Will we substitute our temporal gift for His unspeakable Gift, Jesus Christ?  Or will we, along with our gift give the  only REASON for giving at all.  That is, to share with the recipient(s),  the Gospel of the Kingdom, that God has sent His Son and He has sent Him for you!

By MG Henry, if you want to know more about this gift email me:  mgsingsong@aol.com

 

Christmas Sale

Christmas Sale

Color your gray, brighten someone’s day with a splash of color this Christmas season. Poinsettias, a Christmas cactus, amaryllis or orchid will add a living touch to an indoor space. The fragrance of a fresh wreath, roping or an evergreen floral arrangement helps bring a little of the outdoors in.
If you are in the Leesburg, Virginia area December 5-7 please stop by and visit Monroe Technology Center. The greenhouse is brimming with color! You will find all the items listed above and more. Your purchase will help support the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources department’s student scholarship fund. Hope to see you there!

Welcome December 2012

ImageSara

December, You enter our hearts as gentle as a lamb!  O December Winter you are always so mysterious. You close your twinkling eyes so early in the eve making light hours so very short. But, your Star Light never fails to capture the seekers of long years gone-bye.   What happened on that starry night that led Three Magis to seek with treasure a new born King? Diversity of Faith awakes in the hearts of man on your calendar month of December days.

 Your weather paths are filled with rocking motion; much like that of a rocking tea kettle spouting out her steam. Yet, December, you always feel so WELCOME!  Flickering Colored Lights, Jingling Bells, Aromatic Smells and Exotic Taste. $’s float from hand to hand buying treasures to fulfill a dream.
O Jolly Santa do your reindeer thing. But, please don’t forget the children of the ‘new wave’. Homeless children with parents living without a home or hope for a thing. Night skies of end’s year shine your light upon our hearts and shadow those character flaws that makes blind our eyes from despair of helplessness.
The Prophet’s of Old predicted what was to come….
 to be continued….

Good-Bye November 2012

November is saying good-bye today.  She will leave her mark on history. A newly appointed President by vote.  Sandy, made her way around the states jumping from October to a November event that will never be erased in the minds and hearts of Our Nation. Sandy will enter December with us but with hope as despair fades.

November, your leaves have been tremendous with art, style and most of all diffuse colors.

Thanksgiving Day was made with bountiful meals. Shopping galore. RGIII with the Washington Redskins made a mark on history as he with his team took the  Dallas Cowboys to a defeat! Happy moments for some and sad sack faces and stats for others. But, it is all a game!

This last day of November, 2012; in some places tree leaf is hanging in balance, kinda lonely waiting for the December winds to take them to mulch.

Christmas Trees are showing light and story. My thoughts are aglow with the scene of birth, O Holy Child of Bethlehem. My next historic thoughts that makes demands on today;

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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love you.’ Psalm 122:6

Friend of Jesus Christ,

Sara

A friend of God

Words to encourage those that are persecuted for their faith: By MG Henry 

When I first learned of the vitriolic attack on your reputation as a righteous daughter of God, anger rose up in my heart.  However, as I pondered the fictitious accusations and judgmental observations against you, the anger started to lift because I believe the Holy Spirit started bringing to mind The True Word of God.

 Paul in Romans 1:32 states, “Although they know God’s righteous decree…that which is written in the commandments…..’Thou shall not murder; Thou shall not bear false witness; thou shall not commit adultery’, etc. and that those who do such things deserve death…even so… they persist and excuse and continue to do these very things, over and over.  And others who approve of those who practice adultery, lying, stealing, etc.  are partners in collusion with them. “  That is …they are just as guilty as the ones committing the sin.

And Paul indicates….the approvers deserve death, also.  This is very scary. So, instead of LOVING them enough to tell them that their sin will send them to hell and that there is a God Who forgives a repentant heart that changes its ways, they, instead take delight and personal pleasure in the sins of others and they call that “love”.

And, who is the accuser of the brethren?  Who stands on one’s own concocted moral standards and uses the Scriptures to brow beat those who are standing for true morality? The Bible states,  ‘SATAN  is the accuser of God’s people.’

 SO!!!  I rejoice with you and thank God on this Thanksgiving  day for you and your godly little family because, “All who want to live a godly life in union with the Messiah Jesus will be persecuted. [2Tim. 3:12]

“In fact, Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” [James 1:2] 

In addition, Acts 5:41 says, “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.  So, day after day, in the temple courtsand from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good newsthat Jesus is the Messiah.”

So, Beloved Friend, you are in very good company with Paul and Silas and the other apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.  They NEVER stopped teaching and proclaiming the GOOD NEWS that Jesus is the Messiah, Lord and God.

We have only one alternative as children of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that is to pray for them and leave them in the Hands of a living God. 

I praise God that you are a true Christian soldier and that you and your household will not let anything come between you and your Lord.  Amen and Amen.

Your Friend, MG

Susie, What Are You Thankful For?

In Kindergarten music class, one of the goals is to begin to help the students match vocal tones sung to them by the  teacher.  One of the little exercises I am using this year is to sing the child’s name and then sing , in a sing-songy question to which I have already demonstrated a muscial response….Susie, what are you thankful for?  All this on a 3-note melody line.  Then, as having demonstrated to the students, their response would be …”I’m thankful for___.”  [etc].  

The amazing thing about this little musical exercise is not so much that many of the  students in kindergarten can match pitches, but the nature of their responses. 

They respond that they are thankful for “my family; my friends; my grandma; my house; my parents; my little brother (or sister); my school.”  Once in a while I will get “my church”  Several will sing, “for God”.

But as I go up the grades from Kindergarten through 1st grade and into 2nd grade….the responses become quite different.  The older the student, maybe more “sophisticated, perhaps” the more they sing that they are thankful for THINGS.  “ My bicycle, video games, electronic gadgets;    They still sing my mom & dad or my parents, etc. but not as much as the little ones, who have just started school a mere ten weeks ago or so. 

I always encourage them to continue to be grateful and thankful for their families and those that love and care for them.  And for a God  that loves them.  Usually, the little ones take it from there and preach to one another. And for that I AM THANKFUL!

MG Henry, Fairfax County Music Teacher

mgsingsong@aol.com