Advent–Christmas

  For a child has been born—for us!
the gift of a son—for us!
He’ll take over
the running of the world.
His names will be:

Amazing Counselor,
Strong God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Wholeness.

  the Message

 

   Today we light the Christ Candle       

It was not suddenly and unannounced that Jesus came into the world. He came into a world that had been prepared for Him.  The whole Old Testament is the story of a special preparation… only when all was ready, only in the fullness of His time,  did Jesus come.    ~Phillips Brooks

Some Bible scholars suggest there are more than 300 prophetic Scriptures completed in the life of Jesus, foretelling of his coming, his life and his redemption.

He did not come into the world as a last ditch effort -

For us – He was born

     For us this gift of life was given.

“If your gifts don’t give relief…   you don’t get real life”     -Ann Voskamp

The gift of wholeness was given – for us…    

and He is called -

                                     WONDERFUL

                                              MIGHTY

                                                    EVERLASTING

                                                                PEACE

Relief  – Redemption – Real Life  given…

           Completeness wrapped up and place before us -

 

 

 

We want to wish all of our family and friends – old and new,

a glorious Christmas and a New Year

filled with moments and memories that bring

hope, peace, joy & love -

    moments that bring life ~ 

It is an honor and a joy to have you in our lives~

David, Kathey, Nick, Brittaney, Alex, Aaron, Jonathan,

Audriona, Angelina & Shekinah

 

Receiving and Resting in the greatest gift given,

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Advent–Week 4

  

 

      For to us a child is born…

   and His name shall be called,

      Wonderful Counselor,

           Almighty God…

     The Everlasting Father,

    Prince of Peace.   Isaiah 9:6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week of  as we celebrate the Advent Season,

            we light the 4tht candle –

                                the candle of Love.

 

It was because of love that the Everlasting Father came to Earth to dwell with his creation. 

                                        To live as one with his handiwork. 

He did not come as the anticipated,  the expected King – but as a newborn baby.

Through the very ones he made – he chose to redeem his family line,

Through  a family lineage marked with cheaters and robbers and harlots and murders.

                     He chose to come -  to dwell  - to live with us,

  all because of love.

The Everlasting Father provided a way for restoration – for wholeness – for reconciliation…

With strife all around us  in this broken, hurting, missed up, confused world – 

                          a world  - speaking accusations

                 - seeking justices  –settling  for the last word.

                       a world   - yearning for a word of hope - 

hope comes…  all because of love -

love is always the politically correct reply – love is always the best word – love is always  best…

We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!   But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

Because the word became flesh – on Christmas morning…

                                         ultimate, extravagant love was born -  and love is  always the last word.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

May you receive the Everlasting Fathers gift of love, may you love extravagantly this season~

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Advent–Week 3

  

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given,

           and the government will be on his shoulder,

         and he will be called,

     Wonderful – Counselor,

   Mighty God,

       Everlasting Father,

  Prince of Peace,     Isaiah 9:6

 

 

 

 

                           This week we light the 3rd candle –

                                          the candle of Joy.

 

 

                 I love of the Jubilee Bible describes the coming of the Messiah as the -

   the Wonderful One, 

The Counselor,

The God,                 The Mighty One,

The Eternal Father,                         The Prince of Peace.

In the midst of a dark world -  The God came to earth

He came not as a king – but as a humble baby – one full of awe and wonder…

We just celebrated our 3rd child’s birthday – he was born 4 days before Christmas.

His due date was January 4th – but I wanted so deeply to have him with us in the flesh at Christmas.

I so anticipated his birth – so yearned to be able to hold him, to experience the Joy of  having  him with us.

And after 2 false labors –

God honored that desire and he was born in time for Christmas.  

There is such an awe and wonder that surrounds the birth of a baby.

     Such a fullness of Joy that comes over you,

When you look into their face – All seems right with the world.

As I reflect upon the birth of Jesus – the promised Messiah I ponder…

how most of the world… clouded by its own expectations,

             hardened  by its own perceptions,

                    darkened by its own preconceived notions – missed him – they did not know he had arrived.

but Mary & Joseph, the Shepherds, the Angels, the Magi all looked into that babies face and saw -

         The Promised One, The One Who Would Save,  The One who who was The Wonderful One…

The One Who would one day Counsel and console many.

  Simeon knew  -

he had been waiting and waiting for the promised one…

Simeon’s overwhelming reply,

when he first saw and held that baby -

“for my eyes have seen your salvation”

Simeon’s soul felt his worth.

This weary old man felt  the thrill of hope,

and for the world he would soon leave behind – he rejoiced,

knowing that a new and glorious time was coming -

for the Wonderful One  had now arrived.

 

 

May Joy and gladness overwhelm you as you look into the eyes of your savior~

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Advent–Week 2

 

 

 

    For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:       

        and his name will be called -                         

              Wonderful  Counselor, 

                             The Mighty God,

                                           The Everlasting Father,

                                                        The Prince of Peace.

 

 

 

 

  Week two of the Advent Season, we light the 2nd candle –

                       the candle of Peace.

As I reflected upon Advent this week and what it means to have peace. I was reminded of the story of Joseph and the example he set for us.

He learned, while in prison, in the midst of circumstances beyond his control, about a peace that is internal -

       the kind of peace that hushes the voices in ones mind,

              the kind of peace that soothes ones raging emotions,

                      the kind of peace that quiets the doubts and fears of ones choices,

                              the kind of peace that runs deep and quenches the soul,

  He learned that this kind of peace can only come  from a peace that is internal -  from a peace that is in us -

He learned that this kind of peace comes from experiencing and living in the external Prince of Peace

this kind of peace comes from  dwelling and resting in the presence of his very essence.

Jesus said,

    "I am leaving you with a gift-

                                      peace of mind and heart,  and the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give”

…and he shall be called the Prince of Peace.

Resting in Him~ the essence of peace-

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It’s Christmas Time

During this Christmas season we have been singing some of the traditional Christmas songs, and I am always moved to tears as we sing and reflect upon the birth of Jesus. 
        I love birth stories -  hearing others, telling my own.

Each and every one of the births of our 8 children has a story…

a story of love -  a love at first sight kind of story,

       a love that goes beyond all words…
                    a story of hope and promise -  as each child was held for the first time

                              a story with a new song of it’s own.

 

the angels sang a song at His birth…    at the birth of Jesus:

Angels we have on heard high
Sweetly singing ore the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains

Their song was…
Gloria in excelsis Deo  - Glory to God in the Highest…

As I reflect upon the words of my favorite Christmas song:

In the city on the hill
Hear the bells chime
Peace on earth good will
It’s Christmas time
Glad tidings we will bring
of Christ the new born king
And with the angels sing at Christmas time    
It’s Christmas time.
Glo...ho...ho...oo..ria
In exelcis Deo...

I have been reflecting upon what it means to sing Gloria in ecelsis Deo -  to sing Glory to God in the Highest.

   to sing this song of praise… this song that the angels sing,

         this song of new birth -  the celebration of the birth of Christ
              this song that brings glad tidings -  good new  
                     this song that brings good will and peace.

   What it means to be a city on a hill

        that sings Glory to God in the Highest.
                      

           Jesus taught us with His own words:

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

He calls our lives to be a song of praise…

         our deeds - our actions to shine forth and be a reflection of our heavenly Father.

He calls it to be “Christmas time” in our heart -
         to  celebrate life -  new birth… 
                    everyday, everywhere,

to reflect “Christmas time” all year round.

  Click on Album to hear Song

This Christmas time I am desiring to  live a life of Christmas Time – won’t you join me.  

Repost from Thursday, December 27, 2012

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Advent–Week 1

 

     

    For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…

            his name shall be called -                         

                    Wonderful Counselor, 

                           The Mighty God,

                                      The  Everlasting Father,

                                               The Prince of Peace.

 

 

 

 

Each year as I celebrate Christmas – the Advent Season,  I am struck with the beauty of Isaiah 9:6.

    This prophecy – these words spoken by God to Isaiah for all people, told of this time that we celebrate.

                            This time that we remember the birth of Jesus.

Isaiah's ministry occurred at a critical time in Judah's history. These words  were spoken at a time in history were darkness was overshadowing nations –  darkness not unlike today. Yet in the midst of this darkness Isaiah spoke of a bright future –

  one who would bring good news,

          one who would   heal the broken,

                 one who would set the captives free,

                       one who would bring forth hope in the midst of unrest.

   Week one of the Advent Season, we light the 1st candle –

                       the candle of Hope.

Since the beginning  of time –The Mighty God, by the the mention of  a few mere words -

              through the spoken words, “Let there be light” – brought life and light  into existence.

Creation had been given a promise.  A promise  that there would always be light –

       that there would always be Hope. 

A hope that would be needed in times of darkness -

         darkness in the world,

                  darkness in communities,

                               darkness in  homes,

                                          darkness with in ourselves.  

A promise was spoken out-

“Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She’ll bear a son and name him Immanuel, God-With-Us.      ~ Isaiah 7:14

A promise spoken to all,

        a promise of Hope  -  and His name would be called…

                 God with Us.  

The mighty God would come and enter all those dark places bringing the much needed light of Hope. 

 

       This Advent Season, as we prepare our hearts…  

    may we allow places and spaces for the Mighty God -

                       Immanuel - to fill

                                  to dwell

                                          to rest in us.

 

Hope is a person - Resting in Him~

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Merry Christmas - 2013

Christmas 2013

This year we have had the privilege and blessing of celebrating Christmas in our new house. 

                     When we moved into our house, the Lord gave me this word… Peaceful Dwelling

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.

                                                                                      Isaiah 32:18

The word peaceful comes from the Hebrew word shalam

it means:  completeness, soundness, welfare, peace

1. completeness (in number)

2. safety, soundness (in body)

3. welfare, health, prosperity

4. peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment

5. peace, friendship

   1. of human relationships

   2. with God especially in covenant relationship

God made a covenant relationship with us…

          one of PEACE…  one of completeness…  one of safety…  one that would restore us to Him

one that would make us whole, one the would compensate for our lacking's… 

one that would  make an end to our unrest…       our searching…

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.      Isaiah 9:6-7

He will be called Prince of Peace…   of the greatness of His peace there will be no end…

peace came to us as a child,  a son…   one who would establish and uphold justice and righteousness…

one who would uphold us…   a person full of grace and peace…   so that our peace would be full…

Peace…    Peaceful Dwelling… 

                   My people will live in peaceful dwelling places…

The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.

                        because that peace….   that peaceful dwelling place is JESUS…

May your Christmas be one of PEACE,

Merry Christmas from the Chellsen Clan

David, Kathey, Nick, Brittaney, Alex, Aaron, Jonathan, Audriona, Angelina & Shekinah

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Christmas Picture Books & Paper Trees

Mr. Willowby's Christmas tree
Came by special delivery.
Full and fresh and glistening green--
The biggest tree he'd ever seen.

That was the trouble. The tree was so tall, it couldn't stand up straight in his parlor. Mr. Willowby asked his butler to chop off the top of the tree. What happens to the treetop? Where will it be for Christmas? Snuggle up with this story and follow along through a forest full of friendly creatures who get to share in a bit of Christmas joy. After reading Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree, make some of your own trees to share with others.



 
   
  
 
Click on the pictures to go directly to the links that show you how to make each tree.

Enjoy~
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Faith produces perseverance

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

I have this love/hate relationship with the book of James…

              So, stretching… so revealing…

                          Yet… so full of truth and life…

Faith produces perseverance…

               Let perseverance… PATIENCE

Finish its work…

                   So that I can be mature and complete, not lacking anything…

If I lack wisdom… I need to ask… because He will give generously and without finding fault…

            Without pointing fingers or reminding me I blew it somewhere…       without condemnation.

WOW…  truth…     life giving wisdom

But…

when you ask… do not doubt…

           do not be double mined and unstable in what you do, say one thing but act as if you do not believe…

So, I am on this journey of discovery….

             a journey of not focusing on the lacking… of not living out of the lacking..

Lacking...

without something necessary: without or with not enough of something that is needed

missing: not present or available

Not living as if something is missing or not present…

                        not living as if I do not have enough…. As if He is not enough…

                                                 that He is not available…

I asked for your perfect timing… just like the house and you gave it to me… and it was perfect… not without trial or stress… but perfect in timing and you were producing perseverance…

Going for another round… with finances and waiting for Jubilee $.  And the answer came… with delays in the jubilee funds…  but you are answering…

You answer…         In your perfect timing…    I do not see the perfectness of this timing yet…. I will not until it comes…

You are giving me my hearts desire…  to have a stress free (peace filled), Giving Christmas… to enjoy it.

That can be done … just by changing my attitude…  by changing my focus…

Give as planned…   give with what we have.

do not be stressed… do not worry… do not look at the lacking…

                    focus on the giving… focus on the gift...

Enjoy… the season… the decorating… the working together… family… friends…. The Gift

             Attitude…

                      personal view of something: an opinion or general feeling about something

What is my view or opinion of my situation…. Is it one of stress…. Is it one of lacking…

or…

                Is it one of seeing the blessings… Is it one of fullness…

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything

Consider it pure joy…

Pure…

not mixed: not mixed with any other substance

free from contamination: clean and free from impurities

complete:

Joy… not mixed with fear…

            Joy… free from worry…

Joy… Complete

          Complete… not lacking anything…

Because of Him…

My Shekinah Glory….

          The one who brings….    the one who invites the presence of the Lord….

                        His indwelling presences…

she came and nestled beside me …. on the couch pressed up against me…

looking at boxes of Christmas decorations…. New (but old) decorations sent from Nana…

            She whispered… we are so blessed…

My heart leaped with Joy…     as I said, "yes, we are, we are so blessed."

                 Pure Joy…        Complete….      Not lacking anything.

So our journey begins…     a season of giving…     giving our Christmas away…

      Join us on the journey…   of Discovering…   The Gift through giving.

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Christmas Planners

            

With Christmas just around the corner, I wanted to find a     planner to help keep my thoughts and plans written down and easily accessible. I found these different free printable planners.  I have not decided which one I am going to use yet.  I may use some of the printables from different downloads.  There are things I like about each on of these. I will be printing and comb binding the printable I want to use this week.  Once I have it done I will take a picture and post it. You can click the pictures and it will take you to each printable.


     

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The Giving Tree

 

For the past handful of years we have tried to find ways to give our Christmas away. To give instead of receive, to cultivate the habit of giving instead of receiving. This year we wanted to tie in our Devotion tree to our Giving, as a symbol or reminder of Christ – the true gift, to the gift given in His name. Our Devotion tree will be transformed into our Giving Tree for the season as we celebrate Him… His birth… God’s gift to us…

During the weeks leading up to Christmas – the celebration of His birth we will be reading from The Giving Tree Devotional, placing the ornament of His name on our Giving Tree… a reminder of who He is and reflect on Him as the gift… the giver, the one whose name means… anointed one… the one who was given to all mankind… the who was poured out for us. After taking time to prepare our hearts by receiving Him, we will become the gift by completing and giving the suggested gift in the Devotion, in His name…

He doesn’t give us gifts for our gain because a gift can never stop being a gift—

                     it is always meant to be given.” (from One Thousand Gifts)

The devotional has been  adopted from Worthy of the Prize. 

I have created a download PDF File with The Giving Tree Devotion

and The Giving Tree Devotional Journal and Ornaments

  

We print our ornaments on the back of Christmas Colored Scrapbook paper. I will be posting pictures later this week of our devotion tree, basket and the ornaments made.  You can check out other Devotions we have done using our Devotion Tree here:

Thanksgiving Devotion Tree

Pictures of our Devotion Tree and Basket

Here is an insert from Day 1:

The Giver: I am Emmanuel …

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel.” Isaiah 7:14

Emmanuel happens to be one of my favorite names of Jesus, particularly at Christmastime. It means, "God with us." And that is exactly what Christmas is all about, the very essence of the season itself. The Son of God did not have to step down from his throne in Heaven, but He did it to save us (Philippians 2:5-8).

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

(Matthew 1:21)

The Gift: Make Nativity Ornaments for Elderly – Visit Convalescent Home

This ornament just needs wood clothes pins, twine, glue, craft wire and a saw. Check your local craft store for wood stars and you'll have everything you need to make these "nativity" ornaments! Glue the "Mary" and "Joseph" clothespins next to each other, tie some twine around the "baby Jesus" clothespin and glue him to "Mary's" "arms", add the star with a bit of craft wire, make a hanging loop from twine, glue together.

Share the gift of Emmanuel with the lonely … give them a reminder that God is with them.

We will also be taking pictures and recording our journey in an 8 x 8 scrapbook.

The Giving Tree

Giving CHRISTmas Away

Hear Jesus whispering it…

“When you give to the least of these — you give to Me.”

 

Giving to the one who is CHRISTmas

A Season of Giving Christ away…

­­­­­Cultivating the habit of giving-

Developing a life of giving…

Looking forward to growing and giving~

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in excelsis Deo

During this Christmas season we sing we have been singing some of the traditional Christmas songs, and I am always moved to tears as we sing and reflect upon the birth of Jesus. 

I love birth stories… hearing others, telling my own… each and everyone of the birth of our 8 children has a story…
      

a story of love, a love at first sight kind of story, a love that goes beyond all words…
                                  a story of hope as each child was held for the first time…
                                         a story with a new song of it’s own…

the angels sang a song at His birth… at the birth of Jesus:

Angels we have on heard high
Sweetly singing ore the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains

Their song was…
Gloria in excelsis Deo  - Glory to God in the Highest…


I reflect upon the words of my favorite Christmas song:


 
In the city on the hill
Hear the bells chime
Peace on earth good will
Its Christmas time
Glad tidings we will bring
of Christ the new born king
And with the angels sing at Christmas time    
Its Christmas time
Glo...ho...ho...oo..ria
In exelcis Deo...

As I have been singing these songs, I have been reflecting upon what it means to sing Gloria in ecelsis Deo…. to sing Glory to God in the Highest…

   to sing this song of praise… this song that the angels sing…
         this song of new birth … the celebration of the birth of Christ
              this song that brings glad tidings…   good new  
                     this song that brings good will and peace…

What it means to be a city on a hill that sings Glory to God in the Highest.
            Jesus taught us with His own words:

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

He calls our lives to be a song of praise… our deeds - our actions to shine forth and be a reflection of our heavenly Father.

      He calls it to be “Christmas time” in our hearts…
                              celebrate life… new birth…
                                              everyday… everywhere…

                                  to reflect “Christmas time all year round…

Be have been studying Bach for our Music Appreciation and I leave you with his rendition of Gloria in excelsis Deo… the celebration of Christ birth.

Gloria in excelsis Deo was written in Leipzig for Christmas Day, as indicated by the heading on the manuscript in Bach's own handwriting, "J.J. Festo Nativit: Xsti." (Jesu Juva Festo Nativitatis Christi - Celebration for the birth of Christ), to be sung around the sermon. Recent archival and manuscript evidence suggest the cantata was first performed not in 1743, but in 1745 at a special Christmas Day service to celebrate the Peace of Dresden, which brought to an end the hardships imposed on the region by the Second Silesian War.

~ yearning to live a life of Christmas Time Pin It