On the First Day of Christmas . . .

Best wishes for both a wonderful Christmas and happy 2012.

Thank you for visiting the creative cheapskate. I hope I have offered something of value.


                                                                     Simply, Gail

On the Second Day of Christmas . . .

     And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.          

     And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

     And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

     For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. . .

    Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

                                                                                         St. Luke  2:8-11, 13

We often hear the phrase, referring to the wonder of the Second Coming of our Savior that the "lamb will lie down with the lion.

 When I went searching for the scriptural reference I found the following:

"This is not an exact quote from scripture but rather a combination of thoughts from a couple of verses.

Isaiah 11:6
 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fattling together; and a little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 65:25
 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Both of these passages deal with the kingdom age on the earth after the Lord Jesus Christ returns to reign on the earth as King of kings. The ferocious beasts (like the lion) will live peaceably with the gentle animals (like the lamb). Certainly, this will be a literal reality on the earth. However, this picture is also symbolic of the peace that will pervade the entire earth. When preachers speak of the lion and the lamb lying down together, they are referring to the time of peace when Jesus will reign as King over the earth."     

David Reagan

LearnTheBible.org.

The inside of this card simply states

Christmas is Love

On the Third Day of Christmas . . .

the Gift of Love was born

On the Fourth day of Christmas . . .

On the Fifth Day of Christmas. . .

For those reading this blog who may not share our beliefs or traditions, I hope that you will feel the love we have for you and all mankind --- and our prayers for peace on earth for everyone.  Jesus Christ loves us all.

For the next five days I am going to post six of my favorite Christmas cards ---- four we received over the years, and two Dave designed, cut from linoleum blocks and individually printed. I wish we had noted the date on the back of the blocks-----but we didn't. It was a long, long time ago, that much I remember.

Having said that, I can't find my special Christmas card of Santa Claus reverently kneeling at the manger. When our children were small we were given a statue similar to the one pictured here. We loved it and thought it was a wonderful way to combine the fun of Santa Claus with the true meaning of Christmas----something that can be difficult to do.

Jesus IS the reason for the season

When I couldn't find the card, which was sent to us by our son Romm in 1984 I started searching for a picture of it on the internet. I was amazed at the vast number of sites portraying different characterizations of the kneeling Santa worshiping the Baby Jesus.

I also discovered three different poems combining the two aspects and have selected one to share.

A Mother's Christmas Wish

Come dear family, gather 'round our Christmas tree:
Let us spend a little time in love and harmony.
Tomorrow we will celebrate the birth of Christ our Lord,
But I've a wish this year to see it's meaning's not ignored.

The gifts are neatly set about with names and tags and bows.
And Christmas goodies are in sight, the stockings are in rows.
But as I look into your faces, what I wish to see,
Is a love for Christ our Savior, not "What's Santa bringing me?"

Each time one of you were born and laid here in my arm,
I thought about the Christ child in the manger safe and warm.
I thought of how His life began, and all the things He taught.
I thought of how He died for us --- that death could conquer not.

I wonder how His face would look, if these gifts to Him we gave---
a shirt, a train, a story book, which of these would He save?
I think He'd rather see us give kindness to one another,
To say our thinks and give our love to Him, our oldest brother.

So, as the colored Christmas lights are blinking in your heads,
I hope to find you each with love, kneeling at your beds,
And giving him a birthday wish that will be sure to please:
And vow to love your fellow man, and promise from your knees.

Then in the morning when you pass your Christmas gifts around,
Give the gift of love and joy. . .let true peace here be found.
For Jesus will be here to join, he's told us so, you see.
"If you do it unto the least of these---you do it unto Me."

by Suzanne Dean


I hope that by now you have completed your holiday busy-ness and are taking time/making time for the beauty of the true reason for the season.