[JustAmy]

AN OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS EVE

The tree's all decorated, the lights are aglow,
the ground is covered, by the new fallen snow.
Families are gathered, all together again,
reliving memories, of way back when.

Children and grandchildren, running all about,
while thru the house, their laughter rings out.
Friends and neighbors, they all stop by,
some to stay awhile, others to just say hi.

Under the mistletoe, a couple kiss in the hall,
it's the time of the year, when love's shared by all.
Old hurts are finally, layed down to rest,
and to get along, everyone tries their best.

The cookies and eggnog, are just about gone,
one small child, tries to hide a sleepy yawn.
As bedtime approaches, and draws near,
the children crawl in bed, with not one tear.

Even the dog and cat, seem to get along,
while everyone gathers, to sing one last song.
Joyous glee, and wonderous delight,
just an old fashioned, Christmas Eve night.

Author Unknown

[cyborg]

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Monday !

Have a cup while you Freep !

[The Mayor]

An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid." —Matthew 1:20

You don't need to know where you're going if you let God do the leading.

[The Mayor]

December 22, 2003

God's Guidance

Read: Matthew 1:18-25

An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid." —Matthew 1:20

Bible In One Year: 2 Peter 1-3

---

The Christmas story contains a surprising glimpse into the way God guides those who trust in Him. When the Lord was about to turn the lives of Mary and Joseph upside down, He revealed His plans to them at different times and in different ways.

Mary received advance notice from the angel Gabriel that she would conceive the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:30-35).

But Joseph, her fiancé, seems to have received no word from God at that time. Later, when he learned of Mary's pregnancy and pondered how to end their engagement without publicly disgracing her, "an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit''' (Matthew 1:20).

Such is the mystery of God's guidance. Mary was told beforehand and Joseph had to struggle with what must have seemed a crushing blow. But no matter when God's word came to them, Mary and Joseph both faithfully obeyed.

We cannot predict all of what the Lord wants us to do nor how He will direct our lives, but we can be confident that He will guide us. And, like Mary and Joseph, we must be ready to follow His leading. —David McCasland

God holds the future in His hands
With grace sufficient day by day,
Through good or ill He gently leads,
If we but let Him have His way. —Rohrs

You don't need to know where you're going if you let God do the leading.

[SpookBrat]

Good morning all. I'm so happy to be here. I'm not sick any more...****doing cartwheels****...

I'm taking a break from banana bread baking....we have the absolute best recipe ever, ever, ever baked. It came from a little old Louisiana lady. Does anyone want it? I save banana's for about six months (throw them in the freezer) so we can make several batches.

Have a good day. I'll try to get back in a bit.

click

[Mama_Bear]

Good morning/afternoon all.

JustAmy has asked me to be the official meeter/greeter at Amy's Place this morning. Unfortunately I couldn't get here any sooner because my dsl connection has been on and off since last night.

Thanks for the smiles, music, poems, and potpourri that each of you bring to Amy's Place.

Happy Monday to you all!

[firewalk]

Just bumping by to say hello
I hope you/everyone came through the earthquake alright.
Scarry stuff.

[deadhead]

Hi All! 2 days to Christmas, I am a little frantic LOL
Just finished decorating the outside, finally touch.....2 animated deer.
Much to do inside! Have a great evening :-)

Colleen

[StarfireIV]

Christmas eve
A very special time indeed
As the sun sets on Christendom
All attentions and intentions of the faithful
Hyperfocus on some ultimate intangibility
And this troubled world seems just a little less so
Some might call it mass psychological energy
Or others may simply dismiss it as a mass conditioned
Response
There can be no doubt however that
something
Something truly wonderful happens
Within the time frame of these few hours
Churches fill to capacity
A state not seen since this same time last year
Still they gather for a purpose
A time to reflect on what is,
What has been,
And what yet may come to pass
Forgiveness asked for things regretted
Appreciation for things received
And hope for future graces
All in the space of a
few
precious
hours

"A Few Precious Hours" 12/23/03 StarfireIV

[StarfireIV]

The path to love
is just this
a path
neither a destination
nor a goal unto itself

love is a house
constantly being remodeled
reconstructed
and developed

It is inspired by God
and also his gift to his
children

needs
times
and people
change

mutual love proves true and real
when...
the house that is built
the path that is traveled
and the children of the creator
change too

"The Path" 12/23/03
StarfireIV