Somewhere in your silent days and nights...

Christian animations by kathy grimm

"And  the  Word  became  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us  and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John  1: 14.

"If  The  belief  in  the  Divinity  of  Christ  is  waning  among  us. They  who  hold  it  have  petrified  it  into  a  theological  dogma  without life  or  warmth,  and  thoughtful  men  are  more  and  more  beginning to  put  it  aside.  How  are  we  then  to  get  back  this  belief  in  the Son  of  God - by  authority  or  by  the  old  way  of  persecution?" Holland

       The  time  for  these  has  passed.  The  other  way  is  to  begin  at the  beginning.  Begin  as  the  Bible  begins,  with  Christ  the  Son of  Man.  Begin  with  Him  as  God's  character  revealed  under  the limitations  of  humanity.  Lay  the  foundations  of  a  higher  faith deeply  in  a  belief  of  His  Humanity.  See  Him  as  He  was. Breathe  His  spirit.  After  that,  try  to  comprehend  His  Life. Enter  into  His  Childhood.  Feel  with  Him  when  He  looked round  about  Him  in  anger,  when  He  vindicated  the  crushed woman  from  the  powerless  venom  of  her  ferocious  accusers; - when  He  stood  alone  in  the  solitary  Majesty  of  Truth  in  Pilate's judgment-hall;  when  the  light  of  the  Roman  soldiers'  torches flashed  on  Kedron  in  the  dark  night,  and  He  knew  that  watching was  too  late;  when  His  heart-strings  gave  way  upon  the  Cross. Walk  with  Him  through  the  Marriage  Feast.  See  how  the  sick and  weary  came  to  Him  instinctively;  how  men,  when  they  saw Him,  felt  their  sin,  they  knew  not  why,  and  fell  at  His  feet; how  guilt  unconsciously  revealed  itself,  and  all  that  was  good  in men  was  drawn  out,  and  they  became  higher  than  themselves  in His  presence.  Realize  this.  Live  with  Him  till  He  becomes  a living  thought - ever  present - and  you  will  find  a  reverence growing  up  which  compares  with  nothing  else  in  human  feeling. You  will  feel  that  a  slighting  word  spoken  of  Him  wounds  with a  dart  more  sharp  than  personal  insult.  You  will  feel  that  to bow  at  the  name  of  Jesus  is  no  form  at  will  of  others,  but  a relief  and  welcome.  And  if  it  should  ever  chance  that,  finding yourself  thrown  upon  your  own  self,  and  cut  off  from  sects - suspected,  in  quest  of  a  truth  which  no  man  gives, - then  that wondrous  sense  of  strength  and  friendship  comes,  the  being alone  with  Christ,  with  the  strength of  a  manlier  independence. Slowly  then,  this  almost  insensibly  merges  into  adoration.  For what  is  it  to  adore  Christ ?  To  call  Him  God ;  to  say  Lord, Lord?  No.  Adoration  is  the  mightiest love  the  soul  can  give - call  it  by  what  name  you  will. Hastings

"Somewhere in Your Silent Night" by Casting Crowns

How to decorate a flat wooden apple ornament...

A wooden flat apple with pom pom worm.

      I dressed up this simple apple ornament by adding on a pom-pom worm with a bit of glue. After that, I then pasted a lace detail on top of the worm to make it look more like the cankerworms found on trees in my area. Paint the apple before using a hot glue gun to attach the worm. Remember to paint a little black hole just underneath the "exist" for the worm to crawl from. I used acrylic paints for the red apple, pasted a ribbon to the back of the wooden flat and covered the backside with decorative paper.

Find More Fun Apple Crafts:

• DIY Doll Sized Candied Apples
• String a Wormy Apple Craft
• Craft A Half-Eaten Home!
• Craft an Apple Lacing Card from a Paper Plate

       If your little one has a fairy tale theme for her Christmas tree, this ornament craft would be perfect to represent the Grimm Brother's "Snow White" story.

• Snow White Pop-Up Book and "Read Alouds" for Children
• The Grimm's Fairy Tale "Snow White"

Good Christian Men Rejoice!

       "In dulci jubilo" (Latin for "In sweet rejoicing") is a traditional Christmas carol. In its original setting, the carol is a macaronic text of German and Latin dating from the Middle Ages. Subsequent translations into English, such as J. M. Neale's arrangement "Good Christian Men, Rejoice" have increased its popularity, and Robert Pearsall's 1837 macaronic translation is a mainstay of the Christmas Nine Lessons and Carols repertoire. J. S. Bach's chorale prelude based on the tune (BWV 729) is also a traditional postlude for Christmas services.

An illustrated sheet music of "Good Christian Men Rejoice", from the early 20th century.
 However, the tune for this carol has been dated to 1582 in Latin and Swedish!

A contemporary version of "Good Christian Men Rejoice" 

sung by Nathan Drake.

Printable Christmas Wreath Frame

         Cut the oval center away to replace with a photograph of family, friends or even a beloved pet. Trace around the printed holly wreath on top of thin cardboard to cut a sturdy backing. Punch a tiny hole at the top of the festive frame with a pin and thread a fine wire or twin through it and knot. Now you can hang the wreath on your Christmas tree or use it as a fancy mat inside of a wooden picture frame to remember loved ones... Merry Christmas to All!

Cut-Away the green oval to frame a loved one inside using a photograph you take yourself.

All One In Christ

A Christmas Prayer.

       The coming of Christ gave emphasis to the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. The great principle of Christianity stands out prominently in contradiction to many of the noblest principles of heathendom. Race prejudices ran-through all peoples and amongst all tongues, but when Christ came he taught the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. He taught that God is no respecter of persons. He made the poor as well as the rich his disciples. He dined with the publicans and sinners, as well as with priests and noblemen. He commanded that the Gospel be preached to every creature. His church today is a living witness that there is neither bond nor free, male nor female, Greek nor Jew, for we are but one in Christ.

 

"Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is the God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right." Acts 10:34, 35

 

"At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." Matthew 24:10 - 14

A Christmas Prayer by Charles Wagner

 

       Beloved Father, while all Christendom kneels around the manger of Bethlehem, send us new spirit, teach us new songs, give us the very Christmas mind. Turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers; give joy to the helpless, bring into the right way those who are going astray, give confidence to the trembling ones, free bonded hearts, open blind eyes and unstop deaf ears. As on this day we make the hearts of the little ones joyous, so, O Merciful Father, let us all become children again, with simple faith, with trustful hearts, with ready wills, with pure endeavor.

       And this blessed birthday of Jesus shall become the birthday of a new creation and awaken among us a spirit which beareth all things believeth all things, loveth all things. Amen.

"Christmas Never Ends"