Walmart Christmas Holiday Hours 2010: What Time Does Walmart Close on Christmas Eve? - The giant store Walmart hours operations on Christmas eve and Christmas day are something that most of the active shoppers are trying to search and confirm now. They really want to know if they can still make their last minutes shopping specially on Christmas Day.
Apparently, some reports claimed that these giant retailers, which includes Walmart, Toy R Us, Target and Best Buy are closed during Christmas Day, December 2010 and soon be reopen in the morning of Saturday, December 26, 2010 as early as 6:00am.
Walmart, on the other hand already confirmed that their stores will be closed at 8:00 pm on Christmas eve. They also confirmed that they are close on the day of Christmas Day and be re-open on December 26, 2010.
This Christmas Eve, Walmart is having some of the best Christmas Eve deals on all of your favorite electronics, like the iPod, Wii, Xbox 360, PS3 or Sony/Samsung HDTV – whatever you need, Walmart has it at their Christmas Eve Sales event.
So with regards to Walmart opening and closing time on Christmas Season 2010, we therefore advise you to first check with the respective stores and then go out shopping upon confirmation of the store hours on Holidays Season.
Walmart Supercenter Store, 650 Centre Of New England Blvd, Coventry RI, Phone:(401) 823-7780
Walmart Supercenter Store, 258 Post Road, Westerly RI, Phone:(401) 322-0790
Walmart Store, 650 Bald Hill Rd, Warwick RI, Phone:(401) 821-1766
Go on and prepare your list of items to shop now and start planning what time you will go to these store and shop all items that you want. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Christmas Eve is almost here! This is often a busy day for most people. It certainly is for me so I just wanted to take a moment and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! May the blessings of Jesus Christ be upon you and your loved ones during the celebration of the miraculous occasion almost 2,000 years ago - the birth of the Savior of the world - JESUS CHRIST!
In the previous blog post entitled If Our Greatest Need Was... I wrote about the fact that the "politically correct" greetings around this time of year generally do not include the mention of the name of Jesus Christ or why he came to earth for our salvation.
Noooo!
Can't say that!
It's deemed "too religious" or a host of other excuses are used.
In the comment thread, Stevex09 shared:
Hey Christine; I couldn't agree with you more. A person is very hard pressed to find anything about Jesus Christ or at least the mention of his name at this time of year. It saddens me immensely. Last week I took Sandy and went to a friend's home where about 7 others were gathered and we read the Christmas story from Luke and Matthew. What a great and edifying time I had. (Sandy is my Shi-Tzu). Take comfort that not all of us has forgotten what Christmas is all about.
I sincerely wish you and your family a wonderful and blessed Christmas day.
In my reply to Steve I wrote:
Hi Steve,
It warms my heart to hear about fellow Christians gathering and sharing the TRUE meaning of Christmas together - the Person Jesus Christ. He is the Light of the world!
Someone recently asked me, "why do people put Christmas lights up on their homes."
The answer is that it originally was meant to recognize that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is the Light of the World!
Of course, many people who do not know Him would probably have other reasons for putting the lights up. But how ironic it is to realize that they inadvertently are recognizing Jesus Christ through their actions.
I have a great post coming up that I can't wait to share with everyone!
As each busy day passes, I find that my time on the computer has been very limited! Right now, I only have about 10 minutes to spend online.
I am really looking forward to creating the new post! I'll give you a hint - it is about studying the word "power" in the Bible. It occurred to me that people probably wouldn't care less about other's belief in Jesus [and the outward expressions of the true meaning of Christmas] if they truly believed, in their heart of hearts, that there wasn't any power in His Holy Name!
I will be working on the essay over the next day or so until it gets done!
Anyway, have a Merry and Blessed Christmas! All the best to you and yours in the coming New Year!
Sincerely, Christine
As Roy Lessin wrote in his wonderful piece of prose:
...But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Saviour.
How sad it is to realize that certain magazines have to be so "politically correct" that their December issue does not even mention the true meaning for the celebration of Christmas?
In this example, I am referring to the fact that Prevention magazine (one that I consider as a good resource for health issues) could not see fit to mention the name of Jesus Christ anywhere in their publication!
Why is that?
The December issue is filled with "holiday" articles. However, the only time that the term "Christmas" is mentioned is within an article entitled "Why puppies make poor presents."
Not to be a Scrooge, but a Christmas canine can be a holiday hazard.
The article goes on to say:
Christmas litters may not be healthy...
Perhaps this is good advice, but is this the only article that warrants the use of the term "Christmas?"
The year that my daughter wanted a puggle puppy for Christmas ended up being fine. We bought the dog three months before Christmas so she was further along in the training schedule by the time Christmas Day was here. Of course, we were fortunate enough to be able to barricade the puppy in the kitchen when we were out and didn't have to leave her cooped up in the dog crate for hours.
Back to the topic.
Another interesting article was entitled,
"Everything you think you know about beating stress is wrong."*
*Read on for six smart new strategies to start now.
I had to laugh when I read that the authors wrote:
Yesterday's Wisdom: "OM" your way to calmness.
How ironic it was to read that some people find meditation as a "fast track to frayed nerves." According to a study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54% of participants reported feeling anxious while meditating!
In contrast to "yesterday's wisdom", the magazine claims that
Today's Smart Strategy says, "do something you love."
I'm surprised that reading or playing with your pets wasn't mentioned. They are great stress reduction activities. Our dogs are a great joy in our lives.
The article goes on to explain "anything that allows you to disengage from your thoughts can help you relax." They mention several activities, like jogging, swimming, knitting, etc. and surprisingly, the author wrote,
"or praying, will work just as well, he says."
I would have to say that praying, Bible and devotional reading are far more superior than the other suggestions. It is unfortunate that the author either doesn't know about how calming Bible reading can be, or he didn't want to get too "religious." At least he did mention "praying."
I suppose mentioning Bible reading would have been to "divisive" in this current age of anti-Christian bigotry. It's O.K. to mention other religions, but Christianity? At Christmastime? Apparently, that's off limits at Prevention.
I dislike having to complain here but what ticked me off the most was the "Give Yourself the Gift of Holiday Healing" pages that listed "putting happiness and health, joy and inspiration on your calendar every day of December" list.
Want to know what was listed for December 25, 2010?
Window-shop. The same brain chemicals that make sex so pleasurable rise sharply when you're window-shopping. (No wonder Sex and the City had such a winning formula!) To avoid overspending, peek through the glass when stores are closed or you've left your wallet home.
WHAT????? THIS IS WHAT THEY RECOMMEND TO DO ON CHRISTMAS DAY?
How utterly sad it is to realize that the Greatest Gift of all given to mankind was ignored on this calendar list!
In closing, I would like to share a copy of what is written on this year's Christmas cards that were sent out by our family:
God Sent Us a Saviour
If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator.
If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.
If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.
If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer.
But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Saviour.
- Roy Lessin
Inside the card:
This Christmas may you see and know anew how great His love is toward you.
For unto you is born this day...a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Special Holiday Programming ABOUT THE CURRENT TELEVISION SERIES Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year. As we move into the wintery month of December we surround ourselves with warm fires, twinkling lights, shiny decorations, the delicious smells of cookies and holiday treats, and joyful Christmas music. For a whole month (at least) our senses are filled with the magic and wonder the season brings. But for Christians the joy of the season is more than an outward, sensory-induced happiness, it is a spiritual joy rooted in our hearts. We know that the joy of Christmas is in the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ!
Mary was the first to experience this Christmas joy. The Angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her that she would concieve the Son of God! She broke out in praise of her mighty Savior: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior… For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His name.”(Luke 1:46,48). She was overwhelmed with joy and thanksgiving for the wonderful work God was doing in and through her life.
That is the spirit we need to emulate this season; an irrepressable joy and admiration for our Lord and thankfulness for the gifts he has given us.
During this month of broadcasting we will focus on Jesus as the real reason for the season. We’ll explore the importance of Bethlehem, why God chose Mary, and how He used each individual associated with the Christmas story to bring about His will. Most importantly, we will discuss how the birth of Jesus impacts eternity.
Many people have phobias that control their actions and lives. But God designed a plan and a purpose for each of us that will provide the peace to overcome any apprehension. Dr. Jeremiah offers solutions for the anxious in “Why Christmas Conquers Fear.”
CHRISTMAS PROGRAMMING Dr. David Jeremiah “Why Christmas Conquers Fear” Selected Scriptures December 19, 2010 Luke 1:12 Luke 1:29 Luke 2:9 I. God Still Answers Prayer – Luke 1:5-14 Hebrews 4:14-16 II. God Still Keeps His Promises – Luke 1:26-31 Matthew 1:21-23 Psalm 27:1 Isaiah 41:10 Psalm 27:10 Hebrews 13:5-6 III. God Still Has a Purpose – Luke 2:8-11 Luke 1:13-14 Luke 1:46-47 1 John 4:18 2 Timothy 1:7 John 3:16
While waiting in line to mail packages at the post office, I couldn't help but notice that every Christmas card on display was of a secular nature. The only cards that actually said "Christmas" on them were of the Peanuts gang and Santa Claus.
I decided to do a search to find out the last year that the Madonna Christmas stamps - depicting Mary with the Christ Child - were sold at the post office.
In my first search, I found the following stamp dated 2006:
The 2006 Christmas stamp features an oil-on-canvas entitled Madonna and Child with Bird. Dating from around 1765, the painting is attributed to Ignacio Chacón-an artist active from about 1745 to 1775 in Cuzco, Peru. It is now part of the Engracia and Frank Barrows Freyer Collection of Peruvian colonial art at the Denver Art Museum. In designing the stamp, art director Michael Osborne slightly cropped the painting's floral "frame" and surrounded the entire composition with a gold border that echoes Chacón's use of gold-leaf embellishments.
A famous painting by Spanish artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo entitled La Sagrada Familia del Pajarito (The Holy Family of the Little Bird) probably served as an indirect prototype for Chacón's Madonna and Child with Bird. The importance of birds in Inca culture would have made the topic of Murillo's painting particularly resonant in Peru. Birds were sacred to the Inca, partially because of their ability to fly and move closer to Inti, the sun god. So in Cuzco, colonial artists often incorporated birds or feathers into images of the Virgin and Christ to indicate their divine status.
Of course, this stamp is created more for the Catholic religion which believes that Mary was also divine - as was Christ. Unfortunately, that is incorrect. According to the Bible, Mary is NEVER mentioned as "divine." She is properly honored as the mother of Jesus (not "the mother of God") and is called "blessed."
During my second search, I found an article dated back in 2008 at The Telegraph UK which was entitled, "Church leaders fear religious Christmas stamps will be scrapped."
The sub-title tells us why:
Church leaders fear religious Christmas stamps could be scrapped for pantomime designs after Royal Mail forced them to be sold "under the counter".
Take a look at the ugly "pantomime design!" I don't even want to post the photo here at this blog. Well - at least "pantomime sisters" are rightly labeled as "The Ugly Sisters!" Ha! But...c'mon!! What do their ugly faces have to do with Christmas?
I agree with this Canon Chancellor:
Canon Chris Chivers, the Canon Chancellor of Blackburn Cathedral, has called the choice of stamps "utterly demeaning" and said in a letter: "If we are to have Christmas stamps at all, let them be Christian. But if for some mindlessly secularist reason we must have a choice, then let there be stamps of both sorts, in equal number."
Continuing on in my search, I found a blog called Darleen's Place. Her blog archive contains an essay entitled, "US Post Office goes Politically Correct - Updated". She claims that the Mary With the Christ Child stamps were not available in 2005, but correctly speculated that it would be back in 2006 (see stamp above). Lots of great comments there, too.
Darleen's blog led me to a 2005 post entitled, "The War Against Christmas" at Michele Malkin.com. Lots of additional links to explore there, too.
One of the prettiest Christmas stamps I found during my search was from Canada!
Ahhh! I'm running out of time. Hopefully, I can return to the search and find more photos of the Madonna and Christ Child commemorative stamps.
USPS.com Postal History PDF page has listings of all of the Christmas stamps over the years, but no photographs of them. According to that page, the last stamp of this kind issued was in 2009.
4424 Christmas: Madonna and Sleeping Child by Sassoferrato, by Giovanni Battista Salvi. After 17th c. painting by Italian artist Giovanni Battista Salvi, more commonly known as Sassoferrato. Hearst Castle, San Simeon, California.
Oct. 20, 2009 44¢ Carl T. Herrman
It appears that the site hasn't been updated past the date of January, 2010. Perhaps there IS a Mary and Christ Child stamp out there but it's under the counter and customers need to ask for it?
How sad!!!
Darleen was unfortunately correct back in 2005 when she shared:
P.S. After waiting in line and shaking my head about the secularism displayed at the post office, I went to The Family Christian Store and found some beautiful CHRISTIAN themed ornaments!
One is a blue bulb ornament from "The True Meaning of Christmas" line that says, "A Child Is Born" with Isaiah 9:6 NIV on the other side: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given."
A pretty red bulb ornament says, "Keep Christ In Christmas."
A flat wooden look ornament with a north star design depicts the nativity etched upon it.
A hand painted ceramic heart-shaped design on a dark red background states, "Be still and know that I am God."
The fourth one is in the shape of the cross and has the entire 23rd Psalm written on it!
Psa 23:1 [[A Psalm of David.]] The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
While grocery shopping at Stater Bros. late this afternoon, I decided to get some "Christmas" stamps. I asked the lady at the checkout stand if there were any "religious" stamps available. She said that the only ones they have were ones with pine tree branches and pine cones.
Hmmm...Winter solstice anyone?
The man behind me in line stated, "First they took Christ out of Christmas, now they are also taking the Christmas tree out!"
So true!
I remember the beautiful stamps from years ago that depicted Mary, the mother of Jesus with her Holy Babe in arms. Sigh...those were the days!
Speaking of Mary, this week's Turning Point T.V. Sunday service program was entitled "Why Mary?" It was wonderful!
Dr. David Jeremiah did a great job of pointing out how blessed Mary was to be chosen to bear the Messiah - Jesus Christ - without elevating her above where she belongs in that respect. As always, I highly recommend viewing the service at David Jeremiah.org.
The little skit at the beginning of the program speaks about the controversy that goes on each year between the atheists/agnostics/skeptics (AAS) who hate Christmas displays (like the Nativity scene) and the Christian believers who want to keep Christ in Christmas.
I often think that those who wish to squelch the reality of our Savior entering into the world via the virgin birth in a manger in Bethlehem end up accomplishing just the opposite effect that they intended to do. More people are coming to Christ for salvation today than at any other time in history! The AAS's are in for a BIG surprise on the day that they will be face to face with the risen Savior, Jesus Christ!
They are free to reject Christ now - during the age of grace here on earth - but there is a day coming where EVERY knee shall bow before Jesus Christ.
Every knee shall bow - a Christian perspective God is the creator and ruler of the universe. Everybody, whether they love God, resist Him, or ignore Him, will ultimately come face to face with His majesty, and will recognize Him for who He is. http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2045:23&version=NIV
23 By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.
Every knee - a Christian perspective Paul tells the Philippians that Jesus has been exalted to the highest places of honor. He says that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%202:9-11&version=NIV
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
What an awesome Christmas Eve service at The Rock Church last evening! I just loved singing so many traditional Christmas songs (about Jesus!!) along with the chorus. The message by Pastor Miles McPherson that followed made it one of the best Christmas services I have ever attended!
Later in the day, the video of the entire service should be posted here at the church's message page. I don't want to give anything away, but there was quite a surprise at the beginning of the service message!
Just as I was about to type this next sentence, my son reminded me that Pastor Miles McPherson is on Good Morning America this morning. In fact, he's on right now (7:00 a.m. PT)! I stopped to watch it.
The discussion panel included four people; a priest, two Christian pastors (Pastor Miles and Max Lucado who are also authors), and a female Christian author. What was said was very good, but you could tell that the panel discussion was chopped up in only small segments of what each person said and wanted to share with the T.V. audience! How sad is that?? My son commented about how that show is three hours long and they only gave five minutes to religion?! What a disappointment. My son commented that the same thing happened last year, when Miles appeared on the show at that time. I had forgotten about that.
When the hostess of the show asked the question, "what message do you want to give to people this Christmas?" each person's answer was way to brief to really get out what they truly wanted to share! I know Pastor Miles! I'm sure that he shared much more than they allowed to be broadcast in the brief segment.
Ahhhh!! I didn't mean to be negative on this joyous day of our Christmas celebration - the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior - but I needed to report what just happened.
To me, it is a clear sign of what a low priority faith is to most of the mainstream media. It's the "cut it short - can't get into too much detail because someone might be offended" politically "correct" (more accurately, INCORRECT!) attitude that permeates most of the media today.
What a shame.
So much could have been shared to help those who needed to hear the true meaning of the Christmas season! A billboard near the Rock Church clearly states the truth: "Jesus is the ONLY reason for the season!"
Anyway, I sincerely hope that you will make some time to view the video message when it is up at the link I provided. You can also view Part One of The Promise message from last Sunday, since the Christmas Eve message was Part Two of The Promise message series.
Enjoy your Christmas celebrations with friends and family! Thank God for your loved ones, for they are really what matters most in our earthly lives. And thank God for His love, and the unfathomable gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, without whom we could never be forgiven for our sins and reconciled back unto God.
Last evening, I arrived home at around 7:00 p.m. after purchasing a few last minute gifts for my family. I left the house at 11:00 a.m., with every intention of getting home much earlier in the day. But as it turned out, I was gone for 8 hours! Eight precious hours that should have been spent more wisely. Oh well, at least I got the chance to meet my daughter and share lunch out at a restaurant with her. It was probably the first real meal that she has eaten since getting her wisdom teeth extracted on Thursday. My advice? Don't have anyone in your family get their wisdom teeth out around any holiday season! I lost four days of decorating, shopping, and preparing for Christmas Day as I helped nurse my daughter and watch movies with her. After all, caring for her at this time was more important. No need to go into the details of her pain and suffering. Due to the office being closed, we had difficulty reaching her surgeon by phone until yesterday to get some answers to several questions we had about her recovery. Though we felt guilty about doing so, we finally called the emergency number provided by the answering service. However, the surgeon was kind enough to call during his trip to Disneyland with his kids!
My daughter is much better now and improving each and every day. Thank God!
When I looked around our house last night I realized that all we had on our Christmas tree were the lights. There was one Nativity scene set up, but no Christmas village. My favorite Nativity set was still in one of the boxes that line our hallway. I haven't even found the stockings which are to be placed above our fireplace! I mentioned to my husband that we must be one of the most dysfunctional Christmas decorating families ever this year! No outdoor lights were put up at our house while most of the rest of our block have gorgeous lighting arrangements neatly in place. At least I put the wreaths on our two front doors!
Today will be spent finishing some of the decorating and wrapping gifts. It won't be the usual amount of holiday decorations, but the most important ones will finally be set up.
Just before turning the multi-colored lights off of our tree last night, I thought that despite our lack of decorations around the house this year, our love for the Lord and our celebration of His birth will not be minimized. After all, He is the Light of the world and the focal point of tomorrow's celebrations. Despite what the secular world wants people to think, Jesus is the reason for the season!
I have a decorated hand painted sign up that reads, "Keep Christ in Christmas." It is a constant reminder to us about what is truly important during this holiday season.
The birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ changed history forever. His birth, life, ministry, death on the cross and bodily resurrection to life is the true hope that we have in this world filled with turmoil. Faith in Him and the realization that He keeps his promises demonstrates to us that we can place our full trust in him! He will never leave nor forsake us! All that had been prophesied about him in the Bible before his first coming has been fulfilled! We now await for him to return and take us unto himself at the Rapture - which will occur in the blink of an eye!
As born-again Christians, there is nothing to fear about what man will do to any one of us. Though we are mocked, disparaged, hated, cursed, discriminated against, persecuted, and even killed for our belief in Jesus Christ, NOTHING can take us away from his eternal protection for our souls. When we die (or are killed), it is a fact that Jesus has taken each of us away from evil. The world is filled with evil, but we are to have no fear of those who would kill the body. Our eternal souls are in the caring arms of Jesus Christ - FOREVER!
While driving home last night, I heard a portion of a repeat broadcast of an interview between Sean Hannity and Anne Graham Lotz. The subject of death came up and Sean mentioned that "he's not ready to go just yet." He wants to see his children grow up, marry and have their own children. He's not done with all he needs to do and wants to do on this earth. Many people feel the same way, of course. But we don't know how many days the Lord has given to each of us. Any one of us could die tomorrow. Or, perhaps we will live to age 90! We just don't know. However, if you (and I) would live each day as though it was our last, what would you be doing? That's a great question to answer!
Anne Graham Lotz mentioned the Scripture verse that tells us how beautiful heaven will be. She compared our lives here on earth like being in the foyer of a great cathedral. Compared to the awesomeness of the cathedral, the "waiting area" before entry into the beauty of that place can't compare. It is a good analogy as to what it might be like entering into eternity.
But no matter how beautiful we could imagine heaven will be, seeing Jesus Christ and being with Him forever will make the "place" pale in comparison. After all a house is not a home without the people whom you love - and who live in it - sharing that home with you...Amen?
It is Christmas Eve! The joy of celebration begins! God bless!
Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Psalm 68:19
Recommended Reading Romans 5:15-21
Long ago, there ruled a wise and good king in Persia who loved his people and often dressed in the clothes of a working man or a beggar so he could visit the poor and learn about their hardships. One time he visited a very poor man who lived in a cellar. He ate the coarse food the poor man ate and spoke cheerful, kind words to him. He later visited that poor man again and told him, "I am your king!" The king thought the man would surely ask for some gift or favor, but he didn't. Instead he said, "You left your palace and your glory to visit me in this dark, dreary place. You ate my coarse food. You brought gladness to my heart! To others you have given your rich gifts. To me you have given yourself!"
God gave us the gift of Himself when He sent His Son to this dark, dreary place. Have we accepted Him graciously and thankfully as the poor man did, or do we take this gift for granted? This Christmas season, let's remember to thank Him for His most precious gift to us: Himself.
With all of the turmoil that we are experiencing here in America because of our current gangster government and clueless congress, it might be difficult to push it all aside and be at peace during the celebration of the birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. But that is what we, as devout born-again Christians must do!
Jesus told us, "In this world, you will have trouble (tribulation)."
However, his very next words say:
"But take heart!"
Why should we "take heart" even through those moments, days, weeks, months, or even years of tribulation? This is why:
"I have overcome the world."
Jesus came to save mankind from their sins. His Incarnation and birth on this earth some 2,000 years ago happened after almost 400 years of silence - between the Old Testament and the New Testament. The naysayers of the OT probably wondered if the promised Messiah would ever arrive!
When we think about time, we are limited in our scope because we are physically finite creatures (with an eternal soul) during our existence here on this earth. God is eternal. He always was, always is, and always will be. So, as the Bible states, "one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as one day" to the LORD. It's hard for us to grasp the truth of that. However, when we think of God existing eternally outside of the confines of "time" as defined here on this earth, we can at least get a glimpse of what that saying means.
Jesus' miraculous birth was the beginning of his mission to "overcome the world." His mission was completed, for our sakes and the forgiveness of sins, at the cross of Calvary. His subsequent resurrection from the dead proved that he was (and is!) who he said he is - God in the flesh!
As Dr. Jeremiah's devotional states, God gave us the gift of Himself, through His eternal Son, Jesus Christ! Such a Gift should NEVER be taken for granted! I always tear up when I hear "O Holy Night."
O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining. Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices! O night divine, the night when Christ was born; O night, O Holy Night , O night divine! O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming, Now come the wise men from out of the Orient land. The King of kings lay thus lowly manger; In all our trials born to be our friends. He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger, Behold your King! Before him lowly bend! Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother. And in his name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, With all our hearts we praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we, His power and glory ever more proclaim! His power and glory ever more proclaim!
The title of Dr. Jeremiah's sermon today was "Why No Room in the Inn?" However, the message was absolutely spectacular!! It has to rank as one of the best Christmas messages that I have ever heard!!!
Every year we sing songs about it. We adorn our homes with scenes and reminders of it. We greet strangers with its glad tidings. And even a world ignorant of its basis and its purpose celebrates its remembrance. It is Christmas, the time of year when we rejoice in the earthly coming and birth of Jesus Christ. It is the season when all the world stands still at the celebration of this, the most significant event in human history. But even as believers, how often do we really focus our attention on this remarkable story? If we are truly honest, the answer is not very often. Let us rediscover all of the beautiful, majestic, and divine elements in the Christmas story. We will see by examining, question by question, that this one moment in time was the pivotal moment of all time and that it was assembled in such a way that we can only say it was the work of God.
So it's official-this will be my last post of the year 2009. As I've mentioned in previous posts, this year flew by. It's been great, but it's been one of the hardest years of my life thus far. I have said goodbye to two closely members, moved to an entirely different state and uprooted my life. In fact, I had almost dismissed a very important part of my life. This blog. I can hardly believe I've written on this blog for almost a year. In that time, I've shared so much of my life-my heart, really-with you and I hope it's been helpful. As my father always says, "You never know how many people you reach from all over the world."
I have realized, though that I have forgotten some important things recording this blog. For example, when I first started, I had declared Wednesday's "Encouragement Day". To my detriment, I have forgotten to label many of my recent posts just that. Although many of them were quite obvious. Still, I'm sorry.
It seems quite ironic that I will be ending this year's post with an encouragement. It's quite fitting actually, since that was my primary goal for this blog- to encourage others to look beyond the limitations of their disability. Looking at the list of blogs on this page, I am not the only person with this goal. Reaching beyond one's limitations is not limited to blog writing, but in all areas of life.
I first found this article courtesy of the UCP affiliates website. This article tells the story of one such individual with muscular dystrophy.
So in just days few days, a new year will be upon us. Personally, it's hard to believe. It's amazing how time flies these days. It really makes you learn to appreciate the time that you have and not take things for granted. After all, you never know what the future holds . Look at me. A year ago I was a celebrating Christmas in the wintery state of Ohio, surrounded by my mom's family. On the other hand, this year with quite different. Instead of getting together this year, we figured it would be easier to cancel our Christmas get-together since grandma's death. It will probably resume next year, but even then things will not be the same. Another change is the weather. Living in Virginia, our family was treated to our first Christmas without snow.
Honestly, I am not ready to start fresh. I am afraid I will get into the normal mode of life and let time pass me by.. I am afraid it will forget the important lessons that loved ones who have passed on have taught me. Looking back, I do have some regret that I never got to know my grandmother for the woman that she was.. the young spirited woman I sometimes catch a glimpse in my mother's eyes. Part of her will always live on through my mother and for that I will always be grateful.. However, I'm sure there are stories I never got to hear. I'm sorry for that.
The same principle goes for my aunt. She was a quiet woman, never wanting to be a bother to anyone. They both taught me so much.
I don't want to go back. However, I don't want to forget this feeling- the feeling you get when something drastic happens to change your perspective. I'm beginning to wonder if that's why this happened- to remember what's really important in my life and who I am.. my dreams and childhood hopes for the future. Because that's what they did. They may not have traveled miles to witness to others or accomplish their dreams. But they did in their own way.
It's strange but in some small way, I feel a new sense of hope for the future. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I can't wait to see what God has in store for me.
On that note, here are some other children's dreams that came true this Christmas.
Another Christmas has come and gone. I hope everybody enjoyed it; I certainly did. Although many things were different this year, the purpose always remains the same. Christmas always comes, a constant sign of hope available to all. Over the years, the holidays has been commercialized so much that it has lost its true meaning both spiritual and seasonal. The true story of St. Nicholas revolves around a young man who once was a orphan who wanted to give back to society.
Anyway, I got what I wanted for Christmas this year.. the iPod touch. I thought this iPod would be easier to use than the regular one. After all, it only takes a finger touch to select a song. I was wrong and because of my reach limitations that makes things twice as difficult. In order to select a song, you must tap the song twice. Otherwise the iPod will think your finger is trying to drag down the list for other songs.
Another con to the iPod is that the movies play sideways. Now that wouldn't bother me if I could turn the iPod around every time I wanted to watch a movie. But someone isn't always around. That being said, it looks like I will return this one and get the classic version. Hopefully, that one will work.
These, as well as many more problems, occurr when trying to decide the right gift for your disabled child. I know it's a little late, but here is something to think about for next year. This is a list of things to ask yourself before deciding to buy your young disabled child a toy for Christmas. I actually wish they would come up with a list of questions for people of my age group. But some of these questions loosely apply
My family and I are all fans of the annual "A Christmas Story" movie. It is a comedy that is usually broadcast as a "marathon" on Christmas day on the USA channel.
The only criticism that I have about this movie is the fact that the family does not mention the REAL meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus Christ. And, they do not attend church either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day - something that most people in the 50's would have done as part of their family traditions.
Of course, the secularists in our society wouldn't miss such a family tradition.
Anyway, today I want to post two of my favorite Christmas stories. Even though secular America may want to leave Christ out of Christmas, true believers still get to enjoy the realization of our Savior's birth and what His birth, life, ministry here on earth, death at the cross, and resurrection to life means for our salvation.
The Candy Cane at Christmas
THE STORY OF THE CANDY CANE AT CHRISTMAS.
A candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he made the Christmas Candy Cane.
He incorporated several symbols from the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.
The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could also represent the staff of the "Good Shepherd" with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.
Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candymaker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.
Unfortunately, the candy became known as a Candy Cane -- a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time. But the meaning is still there for those who "have eyes to see and ears to hear."
Every time you see a Candy Cane, remember the Wonder of Jesus and His Great Love that came down at Christmas, and that His Love remains the ultimate and dominant force in the universe today.
Religious Meaning of "The 12 Days of Christmas.
"The 12 Days of Christmas"
~ Origins and Religious Meaning ~
Caveat: I've discovered that there is a controversy disputing the authenticity of this interpretation, just to inform you. There are some who have labeled this an "urban legend."
Also: I heard this on a Christian radio station today, so I do not deem it only a "Catholic" religious message. It is inherently Christian and does not add any false doctrine (as far as I can see) to Biblical Christian faith.
Note: The concepts symbolized in "The Twelve Days of Christmas," are not just considered Catholic, because these were basic articles of faith common to all denominations of Christianity.
*******
Background:
Catholics in England during the period 1558 to 1829 were prohibited by law to practice their faith either in public or private. It was illegal to be Catholic until Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England in 1829.
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in England as one of the "catechism songs" to help young Catholics learn the basics of their faith. In short, it was a coded-message, a memory aid. Since the song sounded like rhyming nonsense, young Catholics could sing the song without fear of imprisonment. The authorities would not know that it was a religious song.
"The 12 Days of Christmas" is in a sense an allegory. Each of the items in the song represents something significant to the teachings of the Catholic faith. The hidden meaning of each gift was designed to help Catholic children learn their faith. The better acquainted one is with the Bible, the more these interpretations have significance.
The song goes, "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…" The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn’t refer to an earthly suitor, but it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. i.e. the Church.
1st Day:
The partridge in a pear tree is Christ Jesus upon the Cross. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge because she would feign injury to decoy a predator away from her nestlings. She was even willing to die for them. The tree is the symbol of the fall of the human race through the sin of Adam and Eve. It is also the symbol of its redemption by Jesus Christ on the tree of the Cross.
2nd Day:
The "two turtle doves" refers to the Old and New Testaments.
3rd Day:
The "three French hens" stand for faith, hope and love—the three gifts of the Spirit that abide (1 Corinthians 13).
4th Day:
The "four calling birds" refers to the four evangelists who wrote the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—which sing the song of salvation through Jesus Christ.
5th Day:
The "five golden rings" represents the first five books of the Bible, also called the Jewish Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
6th Day:
The "six geese a-laying" is the six days of creation.
7th Day:
The "seven swans a-swimming" refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord . 8th Day:
The "eight maids a milking " reminded children of the eight beatitudes listed in the Sermon on the Mount.
9th Day:
The "nine ladies dancing" were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
10th Day:
The "ten lords a-leaping" represents the Ten Commandments
11th Day:
The "eleven pipers piping" refers to the eleven faithful apostles.
12th Day:
The ‘twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve points of belief expressed in the Apostles’ Creed: belief in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, made man, crucified, died and arose on the third day, that he sits at the right hand of the father and will come again, the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting.
So the next time you hear "the Twelve Days of Christmas" consider how this otherwise non-religious sounding song had its origins in keeping alive the teaching of the Catholic faith.
Adapted from email messages,from "How To Decode the Twelve Days of Christmas,"by Hugh D. McKellar, U.S. Catholic, 12/1979, and from "‘12 Days of Christmas’ is no nonsense, but a serious riddle" by David Crowder, El Paso Times, 12/19/1993.
Also, Origin of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" An Underground Catechism by Fr. Hal Stockert 12/17/95 http://www.cin.org/twelvday.html
Note: P.S. It has come to our attention that this tale is made up of both fact and fiction. Hopefully it will be accepted in the spirit it was written. As an encouragement to people to keep their faith alive, when it is easy, and when any outward expressions of their faith could mean their life. Today there are still people living under similar conditions, may this tale give them courage, and determination to use any creative means at their disposal to keep their faith alive.
Have you heard about the controversy going on up in Washington state regarding the atheists who put up a sign (right next to the Nativity scene, I might add) extolling the "virtues" (?) of the "Winter Solstice" while denigrating all others who believe in God (especially Christians who hold belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of the world) and who believe that God really does exist?
It's an interesting paradox. I always ask the question - if atheists are so sure that "there is no God," then why do they need to rail against those who do believe?
Think of it this way. Let's say that I believe that the color blue is the prettiest color and it's my favorite. I put up a mural in the California State rotunda that exhibits what "blue" is all about and the display has high meaning for me, as well as many others. A "color-atheist" (who happens to be color blind - mind you) comes along and sets up a display that states, "there is no color blue."
Why does he do this? To prove his own point. He wants lots of other people to believe what he believes. He also includes some derogatory statements about the color blue believers just for the sake of offending them.
Well - my analogy may not be the best, but what I'm trying to say is that those who don't believe in God often have an obvious hatred for those who do. They especially hate the gospel message that we are all sinners - desperately in need of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
This is precisely why both the Christian faith and Jewish faith are so rabidly hated. Jesus is the God-man who was born a Jew for the purpose of saving all of mankind from the eternal consequence of sin. People who are in bondage to sin don't want to hear that. They are repulsed by it. The Bible even tells us that "the gospel is an offense to those who are perishing."
I love studying the Bible. It is the most unique Book on earth! We NEVER stop learning from it! It is a Book that is forever teaching those who delve into its pages on a regular basis. The more I learn from it - the more I realize what I DON'T KNOW! Isn't that a fascinating paradox?
One out of the many key verses is this one in Micah:
Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting.
When you view and listen to the message, you will understand the significance of that verse! I would encourage everyone to go over to LightSource Ministries and view the video of the lesson. I learned so much new and fascinating information about why Bethlehem was in the Father's foreknowledge as the place that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, would be born.
Perhaps after viewing it, you might be a person who can say, "I knew that!" If you are, please comment! If you discovered something new (like I did) please share it!
Yesterday, our family went out and bought our Christmas tree. We put the lights on it and started decorating the rest of our home with two Nativity sets, a Christmas Village, green festive garlands with red bows tied to them, and placed our "Peace on Earth" lace mantel runner across the top of our large fireplace. While I was hanging our stockings from the mantel, my husband commented from the kitchen, "You (and our daughter) do such a great job of decorating our home for Christmas. We have the best kind of fireplace that makes it so homey and festive."
I agree!
Update: Here is a picture of my husband and I before we attended a wedding in November. You can see our mantel and fireplace behind us.
Here is a picture of us at the Justin Winery Cafe during our 25th Wedding Anniversary trip. My love bought me the necklace I'm wearing!
This year, both of my children got me some of the best birthday gifts. My daughter bought me a wooden plaque that states, "Keep Christ in Christmas." She also bought a Christian book and the new WOW Christian artists CD (great songs!). My son bought me two Christmas CDs from two of my favorite artists - Third Day and Casting Crowns; as well as two Christmas tree ornaments. They are beautiful to look at, but most of all, have beautiful messages on them.
One is silver with five hearts dangling down in a row which state, "Faith (Galatians 2;20), Hope (Romans 15:13), Love (Romans 5:5), Joy (Nehemiah 8:10), Peace (John 14:27) Jesus (Philippians 2:9-11)" with an accompanying Bible verse on the back!
Gorgeous!!
The second one is a delicate silver snowflake design that states, "JUST THINK - God compares you to no one else, you are one of a kind."
Aren't they both beautiful messages?? Love it!
Our tree is always decorated with meaningful ornaments that state the REAL reason for the Christmas season. I have been collecting them over the past 20 years or so. Now, many of the regular, "Christian message-free" ornaments that I used to use to fill up the tree aren't needed anymore.
I am so thankful that there are still Christian book stores that carry ornaments that reflect the true meaning of Christmas. Retail stores usually never carry them anymore.
I will close this post with the weekend Turning Point devotional message:
The Green Stuff: Christmas Trees
He came into the world… Hebrews 10:5
Recommended Reading Hebrews 10:5-10
In ancient Scandinavia, the evergreen tree was considered a symbol of life amid the bleak darkness of winter. Vikings reportedly cut down evergreens and brought them into their homes as a source of encouragement. In the 600s, Boniface, a British missionary, traveled across Europe using pines as object lessons of eternal life. Even the harsh winter couldn't kill them, said Boniface, who also used their triangular shapes to teach about the Trinity. For centuries afterward, people cut down trees and brought them indoors, creating a celebratory midwinter atmosphere. As an added benefit, the tree's fragrance provided a pleasing aroma during the confining months of winter.
According to tradition, it was Martin Luther who popularized trees as a Christmas symbol of the new life given us by the Christchild, and it was also Luther who wrote a carol that's been sung around Christmas trees for nearly 500 years: "From heaven above to earth I come, / To bear good news to every home."
May all the Christmas trees we encounter this year point our hearts upward toward our blessed Savior!
Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes! Who is it in yon manger lies? Who is this Child so young and fair? The blessed Christchild lieth there. Martin Luther
Read-Thru-the-Bible Hebrews 12:1 - 13:25 & James 1:1 - 2:26
Cort Wrotnowski’s emergency application for a stay and/or injunction as to the Electoral College meeting on Dec. 15 was today referred to the full Court by the Honorable Associate Justice Anotonin Scalia. It has been distributed for Conference of Friday December 12. The official case name is WROTNOWSKI v. BYSIEWICZ, United States Supreme Court Docket No. 08A469.
The Wrotnowski Supreme Court application was prepared by Leo Donofrio, Esq. and is centered on the same issue from Donofrio’s case which was discussed by the Supreme Court in its conference of December 5 - whether Barack Obama is not eligible to the office of President due to the fact that he was a British citizen at the time of his birth.
Philip J Berg, Press Release, December 8, 2008, Injunction to stay Electoral Votes, US Supreme Court, Obama ineligible, Prohibit House and Senate count, Obama not natural born citizen.
Walmart, on the other hand already confirmed that their stores will be closed at 8:00 pm on Christmas eve. They also confirmed that they are close on the day of Christmas Day and be re-open on December 26, 2010.
