Category Archives: Christmas

PEACE ON EARTH

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Christmas. The angels proclaimed Christ’s birth with joyful songs and “peace on earth, good will to men!” But do we see that? There is no peace on earth. There are wars and rumors of war. Terrorists threaten everyone. There are lonely, grieving people. Death touches so many lives. What do we have to rejoice about?

But we misunderstand the peace God offers to man. When Adam sold the world into sin and Satan’s power, the relationship with God was broken and there was no peace on earth. Ever since, man has been at war with God, wanting to run their own lives, and finding frustration and unrest, not peace. Because Jesus (who is God) came to earth, lived, died, and rose again, he restored man’s relationship with God and through the relationship with Jesus. Even though everything about me is chaos and in tatters, I can have peace with God, true peace. And I rejoice. I have life with God, not just now, but for eternity.

BECAUSE OF LOVE
Glory could not hold him
when love called out his name
His Father bade him change his
clothes of glory’s reign.

The Son of God left heaven
to don a servant’s life
to dress in human skin to
serve those lost to strife.

Because of love he suffered;
because of love he died.
Because of love he rose that
with God we could abide.

Hello again!

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The year marches on and we find life takes detours we would rather not take. But God is good and gives peace in the midst of those detours! I am hoping to become a regular on WordPress again as my life takes on more normalcy. Now as I approach Christmas and a New Year, I am grateful that God became a man to bring life and peace to men. May He bring life and peace to you this season.

WHO IS THIS JESUS?

Who is this Jesus, He who came
to earth from heav’n in human garb,
proclaimed Himself as one with God,
and died for men. Against men’s barbs

of unbelief, He called himself,
“I am”—the name of God, the One
Creator God who made all things
that now exist. He is the Son,

and He is God who rules all things.
When time is done, His righteousness
will rule and all will bend the knee
for He will end all wickedness.

Who is this Jesus, He who came
to earth from heav’n in human form
to bring true life to men on earth,
to give to all a bright new morn.

Darlene Estlow©2017

 

CELEBRATE!

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merry-christmas-in-hoop

 

 

 

Christmas is almost upon us! I love all the decorations, music, and joyful celebrations! But I don’t want to forget the true reason for celebration–the birth of the King!

CELEBRATE!

The angels’ song is filling
the air with hope and joy.
But no one stops to listen.

A star beams out the message
that life is offered to men.
But no one stops to see

Shepherds tell their story—
a king lies in a manger.
But no one comes to worship.

Too many tasks to do.
Too many gifts to buy.
Too many wishes to make.
Too much to celebrate.

No time for the gift of life.

Darlene Estlow©2016

May you have a blessed Christmas!

COME

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merry-christmas-in-hoop

May your Christmas be blessed!

COME

Come into the night
where shadows cover all.
Hear the angels’ song:
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men
on whom his favor rests.”

Come look to the sky
where darkness hides the day.
See the star’s light
that leads to the promise
of peace on earth to men
on whom his favor rests.

Come see the baby
lying in the manger,
fulfillment of the angels’ song,
fulfillment of the star’s promise
of peace on earth to men
on whom his favor rests.
©2010

Christmas present

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Christmas is not far away.  Sometimes, perhaps most of the time, I try hard to find gifts that people will value. It isn’t an easy task.  Eleven years ago, one of my daughters put to use her creative talents and blessed my husband and me with a very unique gift. It was the best Christmas present she could have given us!

Her boys were 4, 18 months, and 2 weeks. I still have that present on my bed.

pillows
Christmas present

 

Christmas and Family

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Merry Christmas greeting
I went to my younger daughter’s place for Christmas–well not quite Christmas. I came back Christmas eve because they were going to my son’s-in-law family for Christmas. His sweet mother invited me to come along and share Christmas with them, but I decided it would be nice to spend Christmas at home with my sister and her husband.

Monday the six of us (daughter and 4 grandchildren and me) went to my older daughter’s house (about 2 hrs away) and visit her and her 3 boys. It was a full house with two sons of a friend of hers visiting for a couple days. Nine children, ages 14, 13, 11, 10, 10, 10, 8, 7, 5, made a full house. We were blessed that God sent a really nice day and all but the 14 year old ran around outside.  What a good day! It  was nice to have my daughters visit and to see their children together!

There was a lot this week to keep my mind off missing my mom this Christmas. It was neat time, though I was glad to get back last night to my own bed and the quiet!

I give thanks for this season.  I am thankful for the fun, good things, like family. But when the times are not good, the Christmas message gives me peace and hope. When someone loves me enough to leave His kingdom to come to earth to die to satisfy His justice and extend mercy, it shows I can trust Him to act in love in my life, even in the “negative” things. And so, as Christmas day winds down, I am left with the Christmas message for all of my days. I hope all my readers are experiencing the joy and peace of this Christmas message!

MESSIAH HAS COME

In the shadows of the night
the heavens burst forth in glorious light.
Angels proclaimed Messiah had come,
peace on earth, death’s power done.
God incarnate, sent from heaven,
gift of love to women, men
to set us free from evil’s hold,
free to live, to sing, rejoice,
free to live beyond myself,
free in peace’s sweet hold to dwell.
©2011

 

December sadness

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Three loved ones
Three loved ones
my husband
My Michael

 

 

 

 

 

As Christmas approaches, I have been experiencing such a feeling of sadness. I understand why. This is the Christmas without my precious mom. She went home to be with the Lord in May. But I think there is more. December 18 would be my 49th anniversary if my husband was still living. He has been gone almost eight years, but I guess I’ll never stop having those moments when I miss him. And I think I am still a little tender about my brother’s dying in August 2012. And although my Daddy died in 1998, there are times I still miss him. So goes grieving. It catches us by surprise when those moments come. I guess it shouldn’t, but doesn’t it always?

All that makes me think of my poor little Mama. She and Daddy were married almost 56 years when she lost him. And then to lose a child, no matter how old, was terrible for her. I think it must have been harder than losing Daddy, if that is possible. Children shouldn’t die before their parents, but all through history, they have. My daughter almost lost her 2 year old son three years ago. But we were so thankful that we still have him and he is a normal, active 5 year old, full of mischief and life.

As I have thought a lot about losses this month. I realize that under my sadness, I still have joy. Not the giggly kind that is happiness, but the deep kind that holds onto hope. I think of the message of Christmas and the gift of Christmas: the baby, God in human form, who came to give us hope for each day, strength to go on and to know that the best is not in this life, but in the one to come where we will never have to say goodbye.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

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I love Christmas carols. So many times we hear the music, but don’t know the words. They have a tremendous message about Christmas! I thought it would be neat to post Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

Hark the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful all ye nations rise; join the triumph of the skies,
with the angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Hark, the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."
 
Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come, offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see; hail the incarnate Diety,
pleased as Man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel!
Hark, the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."
 
Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.
Hark, the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."