Christmas day, the day we choose to celebrate the Savior’s birth is a mere 4
days away.

In anticipation of Christmas day and all it means to us. Today I would like to
borrow from an American custom recently celebrated, Thanksgiving, and
focus on our emotional and spiritual strength.

Chritsmas time is many things to many people, a day of celebration and merry
making with loved one, a day of sorrow and loneliness thinking of loved ones
lost. A day of plenty or a day highlighting how much we lack. No matter how
it is for each of us we can draw strength from one thing.
The Savior.
Michael Mclean’s ‘The Forgotten Carols’ has a beautiful song about the birth
of the Savior from the perspective of the shepherd who did not hear the angels sing and he did not go to Bethlehem and see the baby, because he fell asleep. He sings ‘ Why would a God from heaven come to the world this way? Why in a lowly stable would the Messiah lay? I shook my head and asked them to tell the story one more time. And yes I did believe them though I’d not seen a thing, I did not go to Bethlehem or hear the angels sing but there was something magic in the air, that made me feel as if I had been there’

We were not there, but that does not mean we cannot share in the wonder of His birth. We can share the joy and love we feel with others. Whether it be by testifying of Christ, giving to the needy, inviting those who might be alone to spend the day with us, by reminding ourselves how blessed and lucky we are for what we have: our families, our friends, our being numbered of His flock, for every single day that we have, our agency, everything and anything.

Another of Michael McLean’s songs from the same stage production is about a woman who would never have children but was blessed by Mary, when Mary let her hold her baby. I love this song, it shows me the giving tender heart of Mary, knowing whom it was she had just delivered and yet she willingly shared Him with another. A pattern she would repeat throughout His and her life. The woman felt His love when she looked in His eyes. ‘Something in his eyes convinced me I could serve so many others, Mary let me hold her baby, so soft and warm, Mary let me hold her baby, and I was reborn.’

What a marvellous gift. To hold the Christ child in her arms and know she would never be the same. We have that same gift, though we did not hold the baby, we did not go to Bethlehem, we did not hear the Angels sing or see a bright star in the sky guiding us to His side. Our gift is Him, He gave of Himself freely, He gave us His life and His unending love. He gave us a way to return home to our Father in Heaven. He gave more than we can ever repay. And He asked only that we follow Him, take His name upon us and to love one another as He has loved us.

No matter what our affliction, struggle, challenge or attitude we need to be gentle and loving to our spiritual self, take time this Christmas to draw closer to the Lord. The same applies to our temporal feelings. Turning our hearts and minds to the Savior can not help but ease our suffering.
Know of my love for our Savior and His eternal gift to each of us. Know also of my love for each of you. May all we do this Christmas season be centred on Christ , our loved ones and be mindful of those in need. May we lift another, seek after the lost sheep, feed the hungry of body and spirit, clothe the naked and care for the sick and afflicted. I know that my redeemer lives, that He was born in a lowly manger and spent His life in the service of His fellow man and doing all that He was commanded to do by our Father in Heaven. I know he suffered for my sins willingly and
cares for me and that He will stand beside me on my day of reckoning. All this I know and I give thanks. I know he did the same for you too and for that I am also thankful. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.


Food Storage recipe

White beans instead of butter! Sounds dubious but I assure you it is
actually quite nice.

Soak and cook white beans such as cannellini beans ( also known as
great northern beans) until tender. Drain and puree in a blender allow to
cool. Use in place of butter in cookies and biscuit recipes. Cut sugar by
1/3 as the beans make it really sweet.

Most beans are a great source of B group vitamins and dietary fibre. All
beans should be boiled for 10 minutes to remove the anti nutritional
factors. Without getting all technical Anti Nutritional factors means the
substances found naturally occurring in legumes that prevent the
digestive system from breaking down and absorbing the the nutrients.

Some of the many uses for Vinegar.

Freshen wilted vegetables by soaking in a container of water with 2
tablespoons of vinegar.

Reduce the starch and stickiness of pasta by adding a dash of vinegar
while the pasta is cooking.

Remove kitchen odours by boiling a pot of water and vinegar.

Straight vinegar poured onto weeds in the garden kills them, especially
useful for the weeds that pop up in the crevices of the pathing.

Spray undiluted vinegar onto grout and bathroom surfaces to disinfect
surfaces.

Prevent lint from clinging to clothes by adding ½ cup vinegar to the
washing machine.

Stop insect bites from stinging and itching and sunburn from stinging

Until next time

yours in preparedness
Georgia