The Season of Christmas

It's hard to believe that the Christmas season is basically over now. The signs of Christmas are still here. There are opened presents scattered around my room, the decorations are still up around the house, the Hallmark channel is still playing Christmas movies, but the "Christmas anticipation" is over. What a busy season it was! Christmas is more than just an event celebrated on December 25. It is indeed a season which can be enjoyed throughout the whole month of December!

One of the things that always gets me in the Christmas spirit is being involved in whatever Christmas production we do at church. This year we did a cantata entitled "He Gave Everything". It was definitely a touching, eye-opening story with a powerful message about Christ's sacrifice for us. If you would like to watch it, you can view it here. My mom, sister, brother and I enjoyed singing in the choir.

Another thing that always gets me in the Christmas spirit is preparing for the Elementary Christmas party. This was my 4th year planning all the games and activities, and it was a lot of fun! Go here to the school blog if you want to see what games we played and all the pictures that were taken.

On Christmas Eve, my Nannie and Aunt Cheryl came over, and we opened presents together. We then went to Perkins for dinner. When we got home, we had some of my mom's yummy blueberry pie.

Later that night, Andy and I introduced the rest of the family to a new game called "Kings & Queens". We had just learned how to play it at a friends' house the night before. It was a lot of fun!

As is tradition, we had our own Christmas Eve service before we went to bed. The only lights on in the whole house were the Christmas tree lights and a few, flickering candles. We sang Christmas carols and my Dad read the Christmas story.

Christmas morning was rather crazy, as we opened some presents, and then got ready for the church service at 9:30. It was a special service with the children's choir and teen choir singing, more Christmas carols, and a powerful message. After the service was over, we came home to have a quick lunch, packed some belongings and were off to my grandparents' house.

Waiting to open presents...

Chit-chatting around the living room

Getting ready to enjoy Christmas dinner

After dinner, we played Scattegories, Kings & Queens, and our traditional game of Phase 10. Lot's of laughter. Lot's of memories. The next afternoon we got together at my Aunt and Uncle's house to play even more rounds of Kings & Queens - definitely the popular game of the season. :-)

Well, a whole lot more happened this Christmas season that I could mention, but suffice it to say, every year that we spend Christmas together as a family is priceless.

30 years!!!

Your one life together
has you both united,
but the joys to come
have just been sighted.

I love you both
for being young at heart
and making an oath
never to depart.

You belong
side by side,
your passion strong
with nothing to hide.

God bless you two,
Mom and Dad.

Happy 30th Anniversary!

Who'll Take the Son?

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art..

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands..

He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly... He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'

There was silence...

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'

But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'

Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh'S, the Rembrandts. Get on with the Real bids!'

But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting...' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

''We have $10, who will bid $20?'

'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel.. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'

A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'

'What about the paintings?'

'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will... I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.

'The man who took the son gets everything!'

God gave His son over 2,000 years ago to die on the Cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The Son, the Son, who'll take the Son?'

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything!

My Salvation Testimony

If you have 4 minutes to spare, please take the time to listen to my testimony of how I came to know Christ as my personal Savior. It is a rather "condensed" version, so if you want to read the longer version, click on "My Salvation Testimony" on the right sidebar, or go here.

Becky Follett - It's not God's Will that You Remain Lost Another Day! from LVBaptist on Vimeo.

The Night Before Jesus Came

I heard this poem on Christian radio today, and thought I would post it. It is very thought-provoking. During the Christmas season we focus on how Christ came to earth as a tiny baby, but let's not forget that He is coming back again as King! Are you ready for Him to return?

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'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house,
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray,
I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!

The light of His face made me cover my head,
It was Jesus! Returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand,
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said, "It's not here," my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love,
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound,
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight,
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call,
We'll find that the Bible was true after all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2SEj1mGk54&feature=related