A New Year Prayer

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1. Grant us PEACE oh gracious Lord in everything we do. On our journey guide our steps and lead them all to you. Fill our minds with hope and light each moment of the day. As we travel keep your arm around us come what may. 

2. Brighten up our lives with your divine and healing smile. Spend some time with us each day in silence for a while. Give us more respect for every person that we meet. Let us speak your words of COMFORT to each one we greet. Help us smile more often and bring joy to those we know, brightening the world with sunshine everywhere we go.

3. Show us your compassion and then let us share your LOVE,  just as you have shared with us your blessings from above.  Strengthen us each morning and at night bring peace and calm. Heal our minds and bodies with your soothing restful balm. 

4. Give us confidence that you will guard us day and night. Keep our loved ones safe from harm protected in your sight. Gather all our friends around us with love and support. UNIFY the world to praise you all in one accord. Let the sun shine daily in our heart  our mind  and soul. May we count our blessings and your majesty extol. 

5. Lead us all to HEAVEN with our family of each race. Give us life forever wrapped within your warm embrace. On that day when earth has passed and we reach heaven’s shore let us sing your praises bathed in glory evermore!

A Christmas to Remember

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1. Soft falling snowflakes and crystallized panes. Inside the hearth a fire ablaze. PRESENTS tucked under the tree all aglow. Aromas of candy and fresh cookie dough. 

2. Polished brass candle holders that gleam, with flickering CANDLES on mantles of green. Anticipation of friends at the door, singing sweet carols as Christ they adore. Smoke from the chimneys a billowy white, adding a warm cozy feel to the night. 

3. Christmas mugs filled with HOT CHOCOLATE too, refreshing and warming our hearts all anew. Sleigh bells and one horse drawn carriages glide, over the snow-covered graceful hillside. 

4. Church BELLS in steeples that ring through the air, to beckon us come to the Lord waiting there. Bright smiles on faces of friends that we know. Happiness and good cheer wherever we go.

Sweetest of dreams as we sleep through the night, as all negativity drifts into flight. 

5. Finally more than these words can convey, Jesus Christ’s birth on that first Christmas day. All of God’s love born in one BABY boy. A Christmas that we should remember with joy!

Santa's Elves

Elf Photo - Public Domain Link: 

http://www.clker.com/clipart-531899.html

1. Busy every Christmas Eve, with chores and errands to achieve, Santa's elves labor in cheer for Christmas Day is almost here. Pies and cakes are welcomed treats with goodies made for all to eat. The Christmas TREE and star hung high is followed with contented sigh. 

2. Twinkling colored hues emit from lights all strung and brightly lit. Ornaments of glass all beam as on them shining sparkles gleam. Ribbons red with polka dots are tied with bows fastened by knots.

Christmas PRESENTS wrapped with care take many hours to prepare. 

3. Shining BELLS adorned with bows are soon to ring, as each one glows. Wooden soldiers with their drums will loudly play when Christmas comes. Trumpets, horns, and bugles shine, counting minutes until the time they'll trumpet in glorious way the majesty of Christmas Day!

4. Mrs. Claus by kitchen hearth has made hot chocolate and fruit tarts, for hungry elves who sit and chat as they enjoy their tasty SNACK. Santa strolls with cheerful smile and mingles with his elves awhile, so grateful for a job well done, ever since they'd first begun. 

5. With deep contentment on each face and fondness for the human race, Santa's elves are finally done while His esteem they truly won. With gratefulness we should rejoice and give our thankfulness a voice, for hope and CHEER we all receive from Santa's elves on  Christmas Eve!

When He Does Not Calm the Storm

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1. At times when we’ve been out at sea afloat on gentle wave, we may have recognized the parallel to life it gave. Our lives also have ups and downs and rarely stay the same, though as we try to flow with them we seldom are to blame. When having trouble with adjusting to each twist and turn, patience will ensure valuable LESSONS we can learn. 

2. Each wave is like a gentle prod that God has sent our way, to guide us in the right DIRECTION each and every day. They keep us on our course and help us all follow His path. With God our compass we discern exactly where we’re at. He always guides us safely to our destination when, we trust in His great power and put all our faith in Him. 

3. But what about those times that we encounter a great STORM, and when our boat is tossed about and we become forlorn? It takes such effort just to keep our concentration on, His strong and mighty power we rely so much upon. 

4. We all want to believe that He will make the storm clouds cease, but sometimes He has reasons to retain our longed-for peace. Each circumstance is different so we must completely trust, His loving wise decisions that are always kind and just. 

One day He will share the REASONS that He had behind, each circumstance and trial we had always yearned to find. 

5. When we embrace acceptance and abandon our denial, we become the wiser and much stronger with each trial. The one thing that is certain when He does not calm the storm, is we remain in His embrace where we are SAFE and warm. When the storm is over and the waves have all passed by, we’ll see His promise of a dazzling rainbow in the sky!

The Art of Saying No!

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1. Learn the art of saying no

before it is too late.

It is better for your health,

so why decide to wait?

Every day brings new DECISIONS

that affect your life.

Saying no can be the surest way

to ward off strife.

Frenzy will accompany

all those who do not learn

that every new decision

we must carefully discern.

2. If you want to make

your cozy corner of the world

a place where deep contentment

and God's grace can be unfurled,

be sure to have INGREDIENTS

prepared that will ensure

a luscious growth of heavenly seeds

that thrive and will endure.

3. When we're overly involved

we choke important things,

just like weeds destroy the crop

a thriving GARDEN brings.

Remove the nonessential

to your health and happiness,

and you will feel God's peace

replace confusion and duress.

4. How many times have you walked by

a lovely fragrant FLOWER

when rushing to a needless meeting

that particular hour?

I think that we're all guilty of

not taking proper time

to just sit down and listen

to birds chant their lovely rhyme.

5. Make some time to stroll

when sunshine beckons you to come.

You will reap such rich rewards

if you choose to succumb.

If you'll now begin and learn

to seriously say no,

happiness and cheer will follow

everywhere you go.

It really isn't difficult

once you begin to start.

Saying no is such a

SATISFYING skillful art!

St. Nicholas - Feast Day December 6th

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1. St. Nicholas is commonly known as Santa Claus to all. For those who have an interest now his life I will recall. Born in the third century in the small town of Patara, he was appointed though still young as BISHOP then of Myra. When he was born it was all Greek in his land at that time, but presently it is on southern Turkey’s coastal line. 

2. His parents both were very wealthy and extremely wise. They raised him a devoted Christian, up until they died. An epidemic took their lives while Nicholas was young, but afterward in love and VIRTUE Nicholas grew strong. He cared for sailors and their ships in kind and thoughtful deed, using his inheritance to help the suffering. 

3. Assistance to all those in need he diligently sought, While comfort to the sick and needy faithfully he brought. When the Emperor Diocletian persecuted Christians, Nicholas was exiled and finally IMPRISONED.

4. After his release and his incarceration ended, The Council of Nicaea he is known to have attended. After eighteen years he died the sixth day of December, leaving us a legacy we always will remember. Buried in his church a liquid RELIC gathers there, possessing healing powers of which we should be aware. 

5. This was instrumental in creating such emotion, inspiring all to pray to this dear saint with great devotion. Remember every year when his great feast day comes along, to honor him with prayer petition joyfulness and song. He will be a strong SUPPORT for you on earth and then, in heaven will remain your faithful and eternal friend!