Every Christian parent struggles with the dilemma: What do we tell our children about Christmas?
I ran across this post by Pastor Mark Driscoll on the Mars Hill website. It provides some interesting insights and helpful histories.
I was glad for some perspective, as tonight we went to our apartment complex party which had a Santa. I wasn't sure what to tell the children but also wanted to go to the party in order to join in with our community.
What We Tell Our Kids About Santa | Pastor Mark for the Washington Post | The Mars Hill Blog
I also want to clarify, on a general basis, that when I post articles written by other authors, I have read with discernment and found some or most of the information helpful. This does not mean I endorse every statement in the article or everything the individual says, writes or stands for. Remember - Do the research and make prayerful decisions.
Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree
A couple of weeks ago, we put up our tree! Can I just say, it gets more fun every year as the children older and can participate more. Here are some pictures from our night... Christmas music, dancing, hot chocolate, gingerbread, paper chain making and decoration making!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Reflections on Mary
What great lessons of servanthood and love we can learn from the Mother of Christ! I simply want to share a segment from the gospel of Luke and also a song dear to my heart, so that you may too reflect on it prayerfully and be brought to joyful tears!
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[b] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Mary’s Song
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
Let it be done unto me - Danielle Rose
The Lord sent me to Mary
As she was praying in the sun
I said, "Hail, Mary, favored one, the Lord is with you
Mary, it is true."
She did not understand
She said, "Shall I touch the sky with these small hands?"
A peasant girl from Galilee
destined to become
the Queen of Peace
And all the heavens and the earth stand still in silence
waiting for her soul to reply
She is free to choose
God will never abuse
the sacred yes. She cannot be denied
Let it be done unto me
With one small yes, the world will be redeemed
What was impossible is now a possibility
Let it be done unto me
Mary, do not be afraid
Behold, you will conceive a son through whom the world is saved
Humility will be your throne
And in your womb our God
our God will find a home
Oh, Lord, how can this be?
I have not given any man my body's purity
The Spirit will come down,
like once barren Elizabeth can now a child be found
She said yes to the Father
Yes to the unborn
Yes with all her strength
Yes to God alone
The First Holy Communion took place that blessed day
Christ came into her body
when Mary chose to say
when Mary chose to say...
Let it be done unto me
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[b] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Mary’s Song
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
Let it be done unto me - Danielle Rose
The Lord sent me to Mary
As she was praying in the sun
I said, "Hail, Mary, favored one, the Lord is with you
Mary, it is true."
She did not understand
She said, "Shall I touch the sky with these small hands?"
A peasant girl from Galilee
destined to become
the Queen of Peace
And all the heavens and the earth stand still in silence
waiting for her soul to reply
She is free to choose
God will never abuse
the sacred yes. She cannot be denied
Let it be done unto me
With one small yes, the world will be redeemed
What was impossible is now a possibility
Let it be done unto me
Mary, do not be afraid
Behold, you will conceive a son through whom the world is saved
Humility will be your throne
And in your womb our God
our God will find a home
Oh, Lord, how can this be?
I have not given any man my body's purity
The Spirit will come down,
like once barren Elizabeth can now a child be found
She said yes to the Father
Yes to the unborn
Yes with all her strength
Yes to God alone
The First Holy Communion took place that blessed day
Christ came into her body
when Mary chose to say
when Mary chose to say...
Let it be done unto me
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