ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
DECEMBER 2ND,2006
TODAY'S THOUGHT
Be not simply good; be good for something.
Henry David Thoreau
TODAY’S ACTION
Grasp every opportunity to offer encouragement to others.
TODAY’S QUOTE
When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not ...
Mark Twain
HAPPY SATURDAY!
AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DN#2
May the dear Lord bless you today and always !
As always on a cold snowy morning, my morning coffee tastes extra good ! Snow…yes, snow… They say the whole next week we will have snow …and we should see accumulation on the ground. For those of you in warmer climates, that means shoveling ! I’m so out of shape that I don’t know if I can handle shoveling or not. I do know the exercise will do me good though.
I’m up to my usual Saturday stuff today along with a little decorating, cleaning, laundry, gift wrapping , etc….and of course a Saturday evening visit with my Dad. It will go by way too fast !
Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.
Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
TODAY IS…PLAY BASKETBALL DAY
James Naismith, working as a physical ed teacher at the YMCA, wanted to create a game that could be played indoors during winter months. He nailed up two peach baskets at opposite ends of the gym and gave the students a soccer ball - thus the game of basketball was invented in 1891.
TODAY’S TRIVIA
Today is National Fritters Day.
Today is Special Education Day, celebrating the first U.S. special education law, signed by President Gerald Ford on this date in 1975
1926: The first aluminum street cars were put in service in Cleveland, Ohio this day.
1927: The Model A Ford was introduced as the successor to the Model T. The price of a Model A roadster was $395
1949: Gene Autry hit the charts with "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." The song had evolved from a 1939 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalog featuring a red-nosed reindeer.
Christmas Trivia Question:
What northern "rust belt" state leads the nation in the growing of Christmas trees?
Answer: Michigan
TODAY’S SMILE
The Candy Cane
It had to be special to be a gift forthe King of Kings, thought the humble candy maker. Not just any piece of candy would do!
It had to be hard candy because the Church is built on the Solid Rock and God's promises are a firm foundation
It would be formed in the shape of the Good Shepherd's staff.. a "J" that would also stand for the precious name of Jesus.
Its white stripes would symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Christ.
Its small red stripes would represent the scourging Jesus suffered on His way to the cross.
Its large red stripe would remind those with eyes to see and ears to hear of the blood Jesus shed as payment for our sins.
"It would be a gift of love that would tell His story, the greatest story ever told."
Legend has it that in the 18th Century somewhere in Europe any public display of Christianity was forbidden. No crosses or Bibles were allowed and the Christians were greatly oppressed. One old man, a candy maker by profession, was particularly distressed by this. He loved the Lord with all of his heart and couldn't stand to not share that love with the world. His heart especially went out to the children when Christmas drew near and no one was allowed to have a nativity scene (or crèche`) on display in their homes.
He prayed for God to show him some way to make Christmas gifts for the children which would teach them the story of Christ. The answer was the candy cane.
The candy cane was in the shape of a shepherd"s staff to show them Jesus is our Shepherd and we are His flock. A sheep follows his own shepherd, knows his voice, and trusts him and knows that he is totally safe with him. The sheep will follow no other shepherd but their own.
This is how we are to be with Jesus if we truly follow Him ( John 10:11; Psalm 23:1; Isaiah 40:11)
Upside down the candy cane was a "J", the first letter of Jesus' name. ( Luke 1:31) It was made of hard candy to remind us that Christ is the rock of our salvation. The wide red stripes on the candy cane were to represent the blood He shed on the cross for each one of us so that we can have eternal life through Him.
He redeems us and cleanses us with His shed blood - the only thing that can wash away our sin. ( Luke 22:20) .
The white stripes on a candy cane represented the virgin birth, sinless life and purity of our Lord. He is the only human being who ever lived on this earth who never committed a single sin. Even though He was tempted just as we are, He never sinned. ( I Peter: 22)
The three narrow red stripes on candy canes symbolized that by His stripes, or wounds, we are healed and the Trinity - the Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit.
Before the crucifixion Jesus was beaten; the crown of thorns was placed on His head; His back was raw from the whip. We are healed by those wounds. He bore our sorrows and by His stripes we are healed. ( Isaiah 53:3)
The flavoring in the candy cane was peppermint, which is similar to hyssop. Hyssop is of the mint family and was used in Old Testament times for purification and sacrifice just as Jesus sacrificed His life for ours. ( John 19:29; Psalm 51:7)
The old candy maker told them that when we break our candy cane it reminds us that Jesus' body was broken for us. When we have communion it is a reminder of what He did for us. ( I Cor. 11:24)
If we share our candy cane and give some to someone else in love because we want to, it represents that same love of Jesus because He is to be shared with one another in love. ( I John 4:7,8)
God gave Himself to us when He sent Jesus. He loved us so much He wants us to spend eternal life with Him... which we can do if we accept Jesus in our hearts as Savior and Lord. ( John 1:12; John 3:3,16)
Some people believe this story of the candy cane is just a legend. Others believe it really happened. We do not know for sure exactly how the candy cane was invented, but there is one thing for certain... it is an excellent picture of Christ and His love for you.
Here's a candy cane for you!
Have a wonderful holiday season and God Bless You!
TODAY’S WORD
HEAVEN
Heav en / hevv’n / noun
1 . a perfect dwelling place after death
2. blissfull experience
3. sky overarching Earth
4. power of God
…a gift from heaven
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!
Matthew 3:2
The people who listened to John the Baptist had some preparing to do too. No, not for celebrating Christmas but for the start of Jesus' public ministry (Isaiah 40:3-5; Malachi 3:1).
John's mission was to prepare the way for the Messiah by preaching a message of repentance (Luke 3:3). In preparation for the Messiah's coming, the people were to cleanse their hearts by seeking God's forgiveness for their sins.
To give meaning to Christmas, give Christ first place in your heart.
TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC
First Sunday in the month rain, and it will rain every Sunday of the month.
19 DAYS UNTIL WINTER !
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart
Psalm 37:4
I Love You All !!!
Be Blessed !!!
MA
MY HOMEPAGE
I believe we should live ‘ON THE BRIGHT SIDE’
MY JOURNALS
http://journals.aol.com/marainey1/GoodMorningSunshine/
BRIGHT SIDE LOGO BY SON #6
http://www.littlerainey.com/index.html
No comments:
Post a Comment