Spiritual Thoughts

Friday Tale - Christmas:             On December 25th, the birth of Jesus Christ will once again be celebrated around the world. The gospels mention no actual birthdate—or even season of the year—so the precise date remains a mystery. For many scholars, though, the presence of shepherds and sheep at the familiar manger scene suggest that he was born in the fall of the year, and not the winter.           The exact date is unknown, but by the 4th century, December 25th was the accepted date throughout Europe. Scholars believe early Christians chose the date to coincide with pagan festivals celebrating the winter solstice.           Throughout the Roman Empire, the solstice was called "the birthday of the unconquered Sun," and publi...

  Christmas To Do List: 1. Buy Presents  Be Present 2. Wrap Gifts  Someone in a Hug 3. Send Gifts Peace 4. Shop for Food - Donate Food 5. Make Cookies  Love 6. See the lights Be the light. ~ CyberSalt T o do what is right and just is more  acceptable to the LORD than animal sacrifices. ~ Proverbs 21:3

M y idea of C hristmas, whether old fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others ... all year round. ~ Bob Hope A nd above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ~ Colossians 3:14

C hristmas is the spirit of giving without the thought of getting. It is happiness because we joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others.  It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values - all year round. ~ Thomas S. Monson O ne gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. ~ Proverbs 11:24-25

T he best of all gifts for any time of year: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~ Burton Hillis (adapted) M ay the Lord give you increase, you and your children!  Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.  ~ Psalm 115:14; 127:3

C hristmas is not so much about opening our    presents, as opening our hearts continually. ~J.L.W. Brooks I s not this fast that I choose:  to loose the bonds    of wickedness.....to let the oppressed go free....?    Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and      bring the homeless into your house; when you see        the naked, to cover him.....? THEN shall your light break forth like the dawn, and     your healing shall spring up speedily;  your      righteousness  shall go before you;        the glory of the Lord will be your guard.   ~Isaiah 58:6-8

Christmas is almost here again. A lot of people celebrate it as the time of the birth of Christ (though it was not in December). Will this time be just another celebration of a 2000 year old event? The birth of Jesus is not merely an old historical event. It is an every-moment happening. It occurs every time we open ourselves and welcome Jesus into ourselves. It occurs every time we recognize Jesus in the lives of others around us. It occurs every time a non-believer hears about Jesus. Year after year we have been putting together the crib . . . angels, lambs, shepherds, etc., to celebrate the event but have been missing the most important of all . . . ourselves. For if we are not present at the birth of Jesus, celebrating this event is empty and meaningless.So which character do we find ourselves to be at the birth of Jesus? Do we need to change our attitude, character and mind? Who are you at the birth of Jesus? A STAR: A bright light in a dark world, showing o...