Gentle Moments in Time

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The Christmas page will, over time, be filled with many things Christmas.  Within this page there will be devotionals by loving Christian brothers and sisters, inspirational poems, quotes, recipes, crafts, etc. to add to your joy at this time of year!  If you would like to contribute to this page, just send your contribution to lindas_gentle_moments@yahoo.com.  If it is your original work, you will be given © credit.  If it is someone else's work, please include their name for credit and you will be given contribution credit, too.

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by Robert Louis Stevenson

Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men.  Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world.  Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clean hearts.  May Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake.

In Thy Name We Pray,

Amen

Christian Graphics

Oh!  That Christmas Pie

by

Missey Butler, CBN Staff Writer

For some time now I've had a real hankering for a slice of good old, homemade pumpkin pie.  I wanted to make sure that I was nice and hungry before delving into that tasty treat.

I began thinking about Christmas and all of the wonderful holiday delicacies we all enjoy this time of year, but me, I ONLY had eyes for one thing, that wonderful brownish orange-ish wedge of pure heaven.

I began to thank God for whoevere it was who created Pumpkin Pie.  Then I heard, in an almost "uh huh" manner, His voice reminding me that it was He who made the best pumpkin pie out there and that He would gladly give me the recipe.  So, I got out my pad and pencil and this is what I heard:

"You see, I first begin with a Guernsey cow who provides the one cup of milk, then a barnyard chicken who lays three eggs.  Next I thresh out golden grains of wheat for the two cups of flour.  I then mince the spices from the plants of nutmeg and cinnamon and add just a pinch.  After that I squeeze in a few drops from a small vanilla bean.  Finally, I scoop out the pulp of a large ripened pumpkin and sprinkle in granules from the sugar cane plant.  That gives it all that wonderful sweet taste!"

Well, I began to get the picture.  More importantly I needed to give credit where credit was due.  Not only is our God the best creator in all the universe, but He's also a pretty good pie maker as well!

O taste and see that the Lord is good... (Psalm 34:8)

 

Remembering the Gift

by

Cathy Irvin, CBN Staff Writer

The season has begun when the shoppers are out in full swing.  I remember only venturing out one year the day after Thanksgiving and I was cured for life.  The tents, the lines, and the mad dash to shelves that's not the way I enjoy shopping and I truly was born to shop but to me that's not fun.  I actually was titled "The Shopper Hopper" in the Red Hat club I belong to, because I usually know where to go and what to buy.  I know how to spot a bargain its not that I spend money all the time.  You know the story of the thrifty woman in the bible who is wise and looks to do well for her household, but that's another story.

We all like gifts especially at Christmas.  I like to see the grandchildren open their  presents and hear their giggles or see their smiles.  That moment goes by so quick, sometimes they look at it and want to play with it right away or they are eager to grab another one just to see what is in the mystery package.

With the trees and decorations in the stores, the sales, the Christmas parties to attend, it is no wonder that Jesus has become so obscure; except for a few rare ornaments so far I haven't seen much.  I have not seen Mangers, no "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" signs, no songs like "Away in a Manger" can be heard playing while shopping.  I have heard many of the ole familiar songs about Santa Claus, White Christmas, etc.  Have people forgotten why we celebrate?

I thought I would try again saying "Merry Christmas" to one cashier a few days after Thanksgiving when I ventured out to shop.  The girl replied, "You have a nice evening, Ma'am."  I guess this was another new way to not offend us Christians so she didn't say "Happy Holidays."  All I could think was:  "Here we go again."

I remember buying little signs and ornaments that said Merry Christmas last year in case they would become extinct.  Oh how I wish I had one of those old plastic Manger scenes to put in my front yard.  I remember my family having one when I was a child.  Above my entertainment center is a large Manger that covers the whole top.  It is the 1st thing I put up and the last thing I take down.  I want everyone who enters my home to focus on it more than the tree.  I know that as I get older I may not put up a BIG TREE every year, but I will always put up the manger.

Jesus is no mystery package.  He is a gift to mankind and no matter what is said or not said during the Christmas season, no matter how the themes are in the stores, when you have the true meaning of Christmas in your heart you will always remember the most important gift of all.  That is the Lord Jesus Christ who came to give us life and that much more abundant.  No earthly gift will ever compare.

If I could give everyone a gift, I would offer them Jesus, their source of total supply.  He is love, joy, peace and so much more.  Yes, Jesus is the greatest gift of all.  This year remember the gift!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16 (New International Verson)

THANKFULNESS should be offered for the gift of Christ.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!  2 Corinthians 9:15 (New International Version)

Are the gifts I’m sending to You above.

Chocolate Chip Meringue Cookies

This recipe uses only egg whites - no yolks.  The cookies are light and fluffy.

2 egg whites

Pinch of salt

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

2/3 cup sugar

1 (10 ounce) bag chocolate chips

Drop of green food coloring (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Beat egg whites with salt and cream of tartar, adding sugar gradually until the batter is stiff.  Stir in food coloring and gently fold in chips.  Drop teaspoonsful of batter on a non-stick, ungreased cookie sheet.  Immediately turn off the oven and let cookies stand in the oven overnight - or for 6 to 8 hours.

Makes 36 cookies.  Serving size: 2 cookies.  Nutritional information per serving ~ Calories, 108  *  Fat, 4 grams  *  Cholesterol, 0 mg  *  Sodium, 14 mg  *  Carbohydrate, 11 grams  *  Protein, 1 gram  *  Fiber, 1 gram

Visit www.24hourfitness.com for more good recipes and health tips.

Old-Fashioned Popcorn Garland

An easy garland to make for your Christmas tree is a popcorn garland.  Pop up a batch of popcorn (best done if it is popped in an air popper) and let it get cold.  With a needle used for cross-stitching and dental floss just start stringing the popcorn.  The dental floss won't break and, I am told, these garlands can last for a few years!  This year two of my grandchildren and I strung popcorn garlands for our church's 6 foot Christmas tree.  Linda

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart. ~Washington Irving

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing; It makes no noise at all, But softly gives itself away. ~Eva Logue

Fail not to call to mind, in the course of the twenty-fifth of this month, that the Divinest Heart that ever walked the earth was born on that day; and then smile and enjoy yourselves for the rest of it; for mirth is also of Heaven's making. ~Leigh Hunt

Somehow, not only for Christmas, but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others, is the joy that comes back to you.  And the more you spend in blessing the poor and lonely and sad, the more of your heart's possessing, returns to you glad. ~John Greenleaf Whittier

This is Christmas: not the tinsel, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols.  But the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift -- the Christ. ~Frank McKibben

Were it not for the shepherds, there would have been no reception.  And were it not for a group of stargazers, there would have been no gifts.  ~Max Lucado, God Came Near