Category Archives: Jesus

Christmas Day 2022

On Christmas Day 2022 Josh and Laura were the first to arrive at our house in the afternoon having flown into Spokane Airport and renting a vehicle for the 2 hour drive to our Country Bungalow. Our Colville kids had brunch and presents at their home with Jamie’s family. After naps they drove over just beating Andrew, Katie and Willow arriving on their 6+ hour journey over the Cascades and through Central and Eastern Washington. Once all the bags and cat accessories were managed we took a family photos before we sat down to our meal.

Prime rib, creamed corn, roasted vegetables (carrots, asparagus and brussels sprouts) and Yorkshire Pudding.

After dinner we sat close to the tree and Dear read from Luke chapter two in the New Testament which chronicles the birth of Jesus Christ and the temple presentation of Jesus.

We let the young ones open up their gifts first.

This tea towel was a special gift from Josh and Laura with a handwritten (in Russian) recipe of my mom’s printed on it. So thoughtful.

This was a stocking gift year. The only presents under the tree were for Addy and JJ. Katie loved her cat socks.

After presents it was time was dessert. Jamie, Addy and JJ baked and frosted a Happy Birthday Jesus Cake. Jamie made the Chocolate nativity decoration for the cake, too.

 

And that was a Christmas Day wrap! These blankets were a gift from Uncle Joshie and Auntie LoLo personalized with A and J’s name in bold letters and the background of the blanket says Uncle Joshie and Auntie Lolo love you!

A day filled with the Joy of the Lord, love and good food.

Next up…Boxing day.

 

 

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen ~ Hymn

         God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

“Fear not then,” said the Angel,
“Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s power and might.”
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

С Рождеством Христовым

(S Roždestvom Khristovym)

On the birth of Christ a very Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus ~ Hymn

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Words: Charles Wesley

A Merry Hodgepodge to You

It’s Wednesday and time for the Hodgepodge. Thank you Joyce From This Side of the Pond for the questions!

1. What does Christmas mean to you? 

First and foremost that Jesus, the Son of God came to earth as a babe/man because we were all held captive and separated from God because of sin. Jesus was sent to pay the ransom for our sins so that we could be forgiven and freed from the bondage of sin. His death paid our debt to God in full. He could pay that debt because he was the perfect/unblemished/pure Lamb of God. Sin is the reason for the season and Christ’s worthy life and sacrifice is the solution and the amazing ransom gift of the season. This makes for the merriest reason to celebrate with joy and gladness and light. Be merry you who believe and have your sins forgiven completely and in full!! For anyone else believe and receive life in Jesus Christ the Lord, who was sent, who lived, who died for the sins of the world and rose victorious over sin and death. You can have new life in Him. The best gift of Christmas.

2. What’s your favorite cozy holiday activity? 

Dressed in my comfy clothes and having nothing to do but put together a jigsaw puzzle with Christmas carols playing in the background.

3. Is all your shopping-wrapping-baking done?

No…no…no.

Tell us about your holiday plans. 

Our kids from the west will travel to the east opposite direction from the Wise Men. Our Colville kids and our Westside kids will all be together Christmas late afternoon and evening for stockings, a prime rib dinner (tradition) and all things jolly and bright.

4. If you were Santa what treat would you like to have left for you (it doesn’t have to be milk and cookies!) What sweet or savory treat do you most look forward to indulging in around the holidays? 

My mom’s Roolyet (Russian nut roll)

5. Next Wednesday is the first official day of winter (in the northern hemisphere). How does that make you feel?

It’s makes me feel like we’ve been way ahead of the game since Winter arrived here early in November.

Tell us what you love most about winter? 

I love winter clothing over summer clothing.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

This photo from 2017 shows our sweet granddaughter (her first Christmas) with the best dog around children, Rayna. We got the sad news that Rayna died on December 6th. We were on the road at our breakfast stop in Cle Elum. I shed a good amount of tears and the waitress was probably wondering what was going on. I tear up even now.

Rayna checking out the new human that came home to her house.

Such a wonderful gentle dog that our grandchildren were safe around. Our daughter-in-law, Jamie, rescued Rayna when she was 9 months old. Our son married Jamie in 2015 and Rayna came along with that union.

Rayna on our deck a couple summers back while we doggy sat her when our Colville kids went away for a few days.

I think Ember is missing Rayna, too.

Rayna found a way into all our hearts. This photo above was in September with the new puppy Ember. Rayna was able to give some good doggy training to the new young pup. Rayna will be missed.

Joy and sorrow seem to always coexist in this world we live in.

Merry Christmas to all my Hodgepodging friends since the next Hodgepodge will be the Wednesday after Christmas. Hope you enjoy times of wonder and love and joy!

From our house to yours Merry Christmas!

Sweet Will of God ~ Hymn

Sweet Will of God

My stubborn will at last hath yielded;
I would be Thine, and Thine alone;
And this the prayer my lips are bringing,
Lord, let in me Thy will be done.

Refrain

Sweet will of God, still fold me closer;
Till I am wholly lost in Thee;
Sweet will of God, still fold me closer,
Till I am wholly lost in Thee.

I’m tired of sin, footsore and weary,
The darksome path hath dreary grown,
But now a light has ris’n to cheer me;
I find in Thee my star, my sun.

Refrain

Thy precious will, O conquering Savior,
Doth now embrace and compass me;
All discords hushed, my peace a river,
My soul, a prisoned bird, set free.

Refrain

Shut in with Thee, O Lord, forever,
My wayward feet no more to roam;
What power from Thee my soul can sever?
The center of God’s will my home.

Refrain

Words: Lelia N. Morris, 1900.

So Far From Want Hodgepodge

 

It’s time for Wednesday Hodgepodge on the Eve of Thanksgiving here in the USA. Thank you to Jo From This Side of the Pond for the timely questions.

1. Have you ever been on a cruise? If so where did you go and how did you like it? If not, do you have any desire to take a cruise someday? 

The answer to all of these is no. If a cruise could tempt me it would be a small boat river cruise.

2. Tell us about your Thanksgiving plans…are you hosting? cooking? eating out? turkey or some other main? is it stuffing or dressing in your house? homemade cranberries or cranberries in a can? are pies on the dessert menu? what kind? what are your ‘must have’ sides? Tell us one thing you’re especially grateful for this year.

Our Colville Kids are hosting and I’ll be bringing the Yams with Marshmallow topping goodness. Stuffing is enjoyed as part of our turkey tradition. It doesn’t pay with our crowd to make homemade cranberry sauce so I’ll buy a can of it just in case someone asks for it. Yes, pies for dessert, pumpkin and pecan. Must have the Yams with the marshmallows.

This year we are especially grateful for Greg’s continued recovery from his stroke on November the 5th.

3. If someone approaches you and asks for money do you give it to them? Do you drop money ‘in a tin cup’ that belongs to a person on the street? Do you have a specific charity you support during the holiday season and/or year round?

I am not prone to dig in my purse and give money to someone on the street. I have dropped money into a violin case, or a guitar case or a similar container for street entertainers. We have in the past donated to the Union Gospel Mission Thanksgiving dinner drive. Our specific donations during the year for those in need go through our home church’s benevolent fund.

4. Have you started decorating for Christmas? Is your tree up? Shopping done? Wrapped? 

While our kids are here this coming weekend I am solicitating their help in getting the fall decor put away and the Christmas bins down and helping me decorate. They will carry the fake tree in from the garage, too.

This is a stocking only year for our family because of a trip we are all taking together in January. Shopping for those stocking gifts are half done and they not wrapped.

5. Create your own acrostic using the word THANKS. 

Because of our health scare in November my acrostic is about Dear and Me. We will celebrate 48 years married on December 6th. We always have a lot to be thankful for. This year the theme is different.

T is for time away together traveling near and far.
H is for our hours of learning more about God with the help of the Holy Spirit.
A is for another year to celebrate being one in Christ.
N is for new things to learn about each other.
K is for knowing our hope is in eternity with God.
S is for our Savior and Lord who secures it by his perfect sacrifice.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.  

Our pastor shared the following letter and especially the quote that I put in bold letters. The letter is from Edward Winslow’s 1621 Thanksgiving letter from Plymouth in New England.

Loving, and old Friend; although I received no letter from you by this ship, yet forasmuch as I know you expect the performance of my promise, which was, to write unto you truly and faithfully of all things.  I have therefore at this time sent unto you accordingly.  Referring you for further satisfaction to our more large relations.  You shall understand, that in this little time, that a few of us have been here, we have built seven dwelling-houses, and four for the use of the plantation, and have made preparation for divers others.  We set the last spring some twenty acres of Indian corn, and sowed some six acres of barley and peas, and according to the manner of the Indians, we manured our ground with herrings or rather shads, which we have in great abundance, and take with great ease at our doors.  Our corn did prove well, and God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian corn, and our barley indifferent good, but our peas not worth the gathering, for we feared they were too late sown, they came up very well, and blossomed, but the sun parched them in the blossom; our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a more special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruit of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the company almost a week, at which time amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain, and others.  And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.

If you’d like to read the whole letter click here.

We forget here in our land of plenty that we are far from want. Thanksgiving is a good time to remember all we have and how far from want we are. Everyday is a good day to thank God for his goodness to us. Hoping we all are ready to share our plenty.

Happy Thanksgiving Hodgepodgers! 

In Every Trying Hour ~ Hymn

In Every Trying Hour

In every trying hour
My soul to Jesus flies;
I trust in His almighty power,
When swelling billows rise.

His comforts bear me up;
I trust a faithful God;
The sure foundation of my hope
Is in my Savior’s blood.

Loud hallelujahs sing
To our Redeemer’s name,
In joy or sorrow—life or death—
His love is still the same.

Words: John Killinghall, 1740.

Truth for Today #40

Thursday November 17th

On Thursdays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during the week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s dig deep in God’s Truth this year!

Announcement: This will be the last Truth For Today for 2022. It will resume sometime in the New Year. 

From my readings in 1 Chronicles, part of David’s Song of Thanks.

1 Chronicles 16:23-34

Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!” Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

From Vera:

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.”

From Leonard:

John 12:26

“If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”

From Maristella:

Psalm 34:17-18

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

The Martyrs ~ Oxford and Beyond

By After Conrad Grale – British Museum

Since today is Reformation Day I decided to share my photos from Oxford taken this past September of the Martyr’s Memorial and other history linked to the Martyrs. But first I’m linking to What is Reformation Day All About at Ligonier.org

On October 31, much of the culture will be focused on candy and things that go bump in the night. Protestants, however, have something far more significant to celebrate on October 31. It’s Reformation day, which commemorates what was perhaps the greatest move of God’s Spirit since the days of the Apostles. But what is the significance of Reformation Day, and how should we consider the events it commemorates?

To read more of this history click on the link above.

More about what Reformed means in primer form can be found here.

Where St. Giles’ becomes Magdalen Street in Oxford you can’t miss this memorial to the Oxford Martyrs.

Cranmer

Latimer

Ridley

Two men stood back to back at the stake.  As a large crowd watched, a heavy chain was passed around their waists to hold them fast.  A fagot was kindled.  At the sight of the flame, the older of the two men gave utterance to the noblest and shortest sermon he ever gave in his long life of preaching.  “Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man.  We shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace in England as I trust shall never be put out.”

These lines have become among the most famous lines in English church history.  The chain that bound Latimer and Ridley together on that morning of October 16, 1555, has continued to bind them together in the common mind.  Today, it is almost impossible to think of Latimer without also thinking of Ridley.

This is the spot on Broad Street where Ridley and Latimer were burned at the stake.

I came across this very thorough YouTube on the Oxford Martyrs.

The above explanation is posted in the University Church of St. Mary on the pillar mentioned below.

Archbishop Cranmer and Bishops Ridley and Latimer were twice tried for heresy in St. Mary’s church during Catholic Queen Mary’s attempt to reverse the Reformation. Ridley and Latimer were burned at the stake in 1555: Cranmer then recanted. In 1556 he was again brought to St. Mary’s: this pillar had been cut away to allow the building of a low platform from which he was to make his submission. At the last moment he withdrew his recantation. He walked away from the church to the fire with a firm step and smiling countenance, putting first into the flame the hand with which he had signed his recantation.

This next quote is from Drawing Near daily readings by John MacArthur ~ I have a friend who has a beautiful collection of rare Bibles. My favorite is one of the earliest printed copies, dating back to sixteenth-century England. The first time I held it in my hands I noticed that the top third of every page was covered with a dark stain. Tears filled my eyes when I realized it was from the blood of its original owner.

My friend explained that when Bloody Mary ruled England, she delighted in terrorizing Protestants and murdering as many as she could. Her soldiers would execute their victims through some bloody means, then take his or her Bible and dip it into the blood. Some of those Bibles have been preserved and are known as Martyrs’ Bibles. Scientists have confirmed that the dark stains on every page of my friend’s Bible are, indeed, human blood.

That same Bible is well worn from being studied. And many of its pages have water stains on them—perhaps from tears. Obviously it was someone’s most precious possession, and his or her blood is there to prove it. 

More and more we are finding importance in knowing the past history of the church.

HT: Discerning History