The True Meaning of Christmas

The True Meaning of Christmas

Late one Christmas Eve I sank back, tired but content, into my easy chair.
The kids were in bed, the gifts were wrapped, the milk and cookies waited by the fireplace for Santa.
As I sat back admiring the tree with its decorations, I couldn’t help but feel that something was missing.
It wasn’t long before the tiny twinkling tree lights lulled me to sleep.


I don’t know how long I slept, but all of a sudden I knew that I wasn’t alone.
I opened my eyes and you can imagine my surprise when I saw Santa Claus himself standing next to my Christmas tree.
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot just as the poem described him.
But he was not the jolly old elf of Christmas legend.
The man who stood before me looked sad and disappointed.
And there were tears in his eyes.

“Santa, what’s wrong? “ I asked. “Why are you crying?”
Santa looked at me with eyes filled with tears and said sadly,
“It’s the children.”
“But the children love you.” I said
Santa replied,
“Oh, I know they love me and the gifts I bring them. But the children of today seem to have somehow missed out on the true spirit of Christmas. It’s not their fault. It’s just that many of the adults have not been taught themselves about the true meaning of Christmas and those that know…have forgotten to teach the children.”

“Teach them what?” I asked.
Santa’s kind old face became soft, more gentle.
His eyes began to shine with something more than tears. He spoke softly. “Teach the children the true meaning of Christmas.”
“Teach them that the part of Christmas we can see, hear and touch is much more than meets the eye. Teach them the symbolism behind the customs and traditions of Christmas we now observe. Teach them what it is those things truly represent.”

Santa reached into his bag and pulled out a tiny Christmas tree and set it on my mantle.
“Teach them about the Christmas tree.”

“Green is the second color of Christmas. The stately evergreen with its unchanging color represents the hope of eternal life in Jesus. It’s needles point heavenward as a reminder that man’s thoughts should turn heavenward as well.”
                                 
                                            


Santa reached into his bag again and pulled out a shiny star and placed it at the top of the small tree.

“The star was the heavenly sign of promise. God promised a Savior for the world and the star was the sign of the fulfillment of that promise of the night that Jesus Christ was born. Teach the children that God always fulfills His promises and that wise men still seek Him.”

Santa continued….”Red is the first color of Christmas.”
He pulled forth a red ornament for the tiny tree.

“Red is deep, intense, vivid. It is the color of the life giving blood that flows through our veins. It is the symbol of God’s greatest gift. Teach the children that Christ gave His life and shed His blood for them that they might have eternal life. When they see the color red it should remind them of that most wonderful gift.”



Santa found a bell in his pack and placed it on the tree.
“Just as lost sheep are guided to safety by the sound of the bell, it continues to ring today for all to be guided to the fold. Teach the children to follow the true Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep.”

Santa placed a candle on the mantle and lit it. The soft glow from its one tiny flame brightened the room.
“The glow of the candle represents how man can show his thanks for the gift of God’s son that Christmas Eve long ago.

Teach the children to follow in Christ’s footsteps. To go about doing good. Teach them to let their lights shine before men that all may see it and glorify God. This what is symbolized when the twinkle lights shine on the tree like hundreds of bright, shining candles, each of them representing one of God’s precious children, their light shining for all to see.”       




Again, Santa reached into his bag and this time he brought forth a tiny red and white striped candy cane. As he hung it on the tree, he spoke softly.


“The candy cane is a stick of hard, white candy. White to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus and the shape “J” to represent the precious name of Jesus who came to earth as our Savior. It also represents the crook of the Good Shepherd which he uses to reach down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like sheep, have gone astray. The original candy cane had three small red stripes which are the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed, and a large red stripe that represents the shed blood of Jesus so that we can have eternal life. Teach these things to the children.“

Santa brought out a beautiful wreath made of fresh fragrant greenery and tied with a bright red bow.

                                                     
“The bow reminds us of the bond of perfections which is love. The wreath embodies all the good things about Christmas for those with eyes to see and hearts to understand. It contains the colors of red and green and the heaven turned needles of the evergreen. The bows tells the story of good will towards all and its color reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice. Even its very shape is symbolic, representing eternity and the eternal nature of Christ’s love. It is a circle without beginning and without end. These are the things you must teach the children.”

“But where does that leave you Santa?” I asked.
The tears gone now from his eyes, a smile broke over Santa’s face.

“Why, bless you my dear.” He laughed. “I’m only a symbol myself. I represent the spirit of family fun and the joy of giving and receiving. If the children are taught these other things, there is no danger that I’ll ever be forgotten.”   



I think I’m beginning to understand at last.” I replied.
“That’s why I came.” Said Santa. “You’re an adult. If you don’t teach the children these things, then who will?”

Merry Christmas

Kim Wenrich
heaveninmyheart1@yahoo.com
Psalm 139
2 Corinthians 5:17
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gods-Girls-Most-Honorable-and-Beautiful-Among-All-Women/248867505178819

Mary Did You Know?

    

                   



  Mary Did You Know?








  Mary, did you know that your baby boy,
           Will one day walk on water?
Matthew 14:25
 ‘Very late in the night, Jesus went out to His disciples by waking on the sea…’










                   Mary, did you know that your baby boy,                  
                           Will save our sons and daughters?
                         
               John 12:47 ‘I have come…to save the world.’ 



Did you know that your baby boy,  has come to make you new?

The child that you’ve delivered, will soon deliver you.
                      2nd Corinthians 5:17
‘Anyone who belongs to Jesus Christ is a new person.
      Old things are gone, and everything is new!’






                                        



                                         Mary, did you know that your baby boy,

                                                   Will calm a storm with His hand?
               Matthew 8:26 ‘Jesus stood up and ordered the wind and the waves to stop;
                                               Suddenly everything was perfectly still!’

                                                Did you know that your baby boy,
                                                  Has walked where angels trod?

                              John 6:38 ‘Jesus said, “I have come down from heaven…’

When you kiss your little baby,
You’ve kissed the face of God.

The blind will see...

         The deaf will hear...

   The dead will live again....

The lame will leap....     

          





The dumb will speak the praises of the Lamb!
Acts 10: 38 ‘Jesus went around doing good and healing            
all who were hurt By the devil, because God was with Him.’                      



                        
                            Mary did you know that your baby boy, Is Lord of all creation?

                                                                     Colossians 1:17   
                                     ‘God’s Son is before everything, and through Him
                                                           Everything holds together.’

Mary, did you know that your baby boy,
Will one day rule the nations?

Luke 1:30-33
‘The angel said to Mary, “…You are to call Him Jesus…
He will be great…and His kingdom will never end.”

                                      
                                  

  Did you know that your baby boy,
   Is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
 John 1:20 “Look! Here is The Lamb of God!”








This sleeping child you’re holding,
Is the Great I am.

                         John 14:6 ‘Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”



Here is 2 links for 2 different youtube videos to the song, Mary Did You Know?. 
I really like both of these.  Please click on(or copy and paste to browser) one or the other /or listen to one and then the other.  It will touch your heart with the reality of how Precious our Savior, Jesus is.  
Please listen to this beautiful song and see Jesus through the eyes of Mary, his mother. 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfpK6cNPF7Y&feature=colike

http://youtu.be/A1oHJR2g7Tw

Kim Wenrich
2nd Corinthians 5:17
Psalm 139
heaveninmyheart1@yahoo.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gods-Girls-Most-Honorable-and-Beautiful-Among-All-Women/248867505178819

Be Thankful For The Thorns

Hi My Friends....with Thanksgiving being next week. I felt it most fitting to post a Thanksgiving story. 
Some of you have read this before or have heard of it.  It is not my story.  It has been around. 
It is a wonderful reminder of the importance of remembering to be grateful and thankful to our Lord for the hard seasons of our lives...not just the rosey times, when it seems easier to give thanks to Him. 
We are to give Him glory, praise and thanks for all things in our lives.  Even for the thorns, that prick us and make our hearts bleed with hurt and sadness. Because our God is the only One who can take our ashes and make them beautiful.

Be Thankful For The Thorns

Sandra felt as low as the heels of her shoes when she pulled open the florist shop door, against a November gust of wind. 
                                        
Her life had been as sweet as a spring breeze and then, in her fourth month of her second pregnancy, a "minor" automobile accident stole her ease.  During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son.  She grieved over her loss. Her troubles multiplied...her husband's company threatened to transfer his job to a new location.  Her sister had called to say that she could not come for her long awaited holiday visit. 
What was worse yet, Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. 
Sandra thought on this with a shudder.  "She has no idea what I'm feeling."  "Thanksgiving?
Thankful for what?"
She wondered...  "For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her?
For an airbag that saved her life, but took her child?"

As she entered the Florist Shop....
"Good afternoon, can I help you?"
The clerk's approach startled her, as she was lost in her thoughts.
"I...........I need an arrangement." Stammered Sandra.
"For Thanksgiving?" Said the clerk.
Sandra nodded.
"Are you looking for something that conveys gratitude this Thanksgiving?"
"I'm convinced that flowers tell stories."
"Not, exactly!" Sandra blurted out.  "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong."

Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised  when the clerk said,
"I have the perfect arrangement for you."

The door's small bell suddenly rang, and the clerk greeted the new customer.
"Hi Barbara, let me get your order."  She politely excused herself and walked back to a small workroom. 

She quickly reappeared carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows and what appeared to be long-stemmed thorny roses. 

Only, the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped; there were no flowers.

Sandra watched for Barbara's response.  Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems and no flowers!

She waited for laughter, for someone to notice the absence of flowers atop the thorny stems, but neither woman laughed.

"Do you want these in a box?" asked the clerk.

"Yes, please." Barbara replied.  "These are exquisite." "You'd think after three years of getting the Special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but it's happening again.  I can feel it right here, all over again." 

She gently tapped her chest.  "My family will love this one."

Sandra stared and then stammered, "Ah......that lady just left with....uh.....she left with no flowers!"

"That's right," said the clerk. "I cut the flowers off.  That's the Special.  I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet."
"But, why do people pay for that?" In spite of herself, she chuckled.
"Do you really want to know?"
"I couldn't leave this shop without knowing."
"Barbara came into the shop three years ago, feeling much like you feel today," explained the clerk.  "She thought she had very little to be thankful for.  She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing; her son had gotten into drugs; and she was facing a major surgery."

"That same year, I had lost my husband," continued the clerk.  "For the first time in my life, I had to spend the holidays alone.  I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too much debt to allow any travel."
"What did you do?" Asked Sandra.
"I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly.  "I'm a Christian, Sandra.  I've thanked God for good things in life and I never thought to ask Him why good things happened to me? But, when bad stuff hit, I cried out, Why?  Why me?! It took time for me to learn that the dark times are important to our faith.
I have always enjoyed the flowers of my life, but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort.
You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others."

Sandra sucked in her breath, as she thought about what her friend had tried to tell her. 
"I guess the truth is I don't want comfort.  I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God."

Just then someone else walked in the shop.
She turned her attention to the customer that came in. 

"Hey, Phil!" The clerk shouted to the balding, round man that entered.  She softly touched Sandra's arm and moved to welcome him.  He tucked her under his arm at his side for a warm hug. 
"I'm here for twelve thorny long-stemmed stems!"

"I've got them ready for you." She turned to get them from the refrigerator and handed him a tissue wrapped arrangement.

"Beautiful," said Phil. "My wife will love them."
Sandra could not resist asking.  "These are for your wife?"
"Do you mind telling me why she wants a bouquet that looks like that?"
Phil saw that Sandra's curiosity matched his when he first heard of a Thorn Bouquet.
"Do you mind me asking, "Why thorns?"

"In fact, I'm glad you asked," he said. "four years ago, my wife and I nearly divorced.  After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we trudged through problem after problem, the Lord rescued our marriage.  Last year at Thanksgiving I stopped in here for flowers.  I must have mentioned surviving a tough process because Jenny here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she had learned from "thorny" times.  That was good enough for me.  I took home some of those stems.  My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific thorny situation and give thanks for what the problem taught us."        

As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!"

"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life." Sandra said to the clerk.  "It's all too....fresh."

"Well," the clerk replied carefully, my experience has shown me that the thorns make the roses more precious.  We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. 
Remember that it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. 

             "Don't resent
               the thorns."

Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. 

For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on her resentment.

"I'll take twelve long-stemmed thorns, please."

"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently.  "I'll have them ready in a minute.  Then, every time you see them, remember to appreciate both good and hard times.  We grow through both."

"Thank you. What do I owe you?"

"Nothing.  Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart.
The first year's arrangement is always on me."
"I will attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you would like to read it first."

It read:
"My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns.  I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns.  Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns.  Show me that I have climbed closed to You along the path of pain. 
Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow look much more brilliant."   

"Praise Him for the roses; thank Him for the thorns."


The clerk said, "Happy Thanksgiving, Sandra," handing her the Special. "I look forward to our knowing each other better."
Sandra smiled.  She turned, opened the door, and walked toward hope!
Author Unknown


Kim Wenrich
2 Corintihians 5:17
Psalm 139
heaveninmyheart1@yahoo.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gods-Girls-Most-Honorable-and-Beautiful-Among-All-Women/248867505178819

I Know Him!

I Know Him!

This is a true story…it just happened.


Have you ever been out with your child or seen a child…waiting to see Santa claus at The Mall? Have you ever noticed how they get so excited about seeing him? They can’t wait to see him, sit in his lap and tell them there desires of the things the dream of having.
They see him in the parade and point at him as he is coming down the road in their direction…”Look Mom, there He is!” They are jumping up and down. Over and over they say, as He draws nearer….”Here He comes!”
They know Him, when they see him. The anticipate seeing Him. They hardly can wait.

The other day…I was out with my sweet friend, Sue at a thrift store and we saw a beautiful picture of Jesus…
She said, “Isn’t this picture of Jesus so beautiful?” “I just love pictures of Jesus.”
                                                     
I looked at it and my heart stirred with a instant connection to The One we were looking at.
I was filled with Joy and an excitement.
I felt a bubble of happiness rise up within me and fill me from the bottom of my feet to the top of my head.
                                                      
                                I wanted to do the two step right there in the store.

I pointed at that picture.
I exclaimed out loud, “I Know Him!” “I Know Him!”

I can see Him in others too. Just look into the eyes of one of His. You will see Him.

He is beautiful. They are beautiful.
The beauty of Jesus, sets them apart from everyone else...
From those who do not know Him.
I see Him in my friends eyes all the time.
Those who know Him, shine with His love in their eyes.
There countenance, glows with a beauty that is alive and reaches out
and touches your heart.

I have a friend named Dell, that lives a few hours away…we have been friends for many years…
We have not be able to see each other in quite some time.
God laid me on her heart this week. She wrote me and told me how much I mean to her and how much she misses me. Her words touched me deeply.
I cried as I read her precious words of love toward me.

Normally my son brings in the mail.
Today…I saw the mail coming. I happened to be outside when it came.
I saw the mail lady put a package in the box. I got curious.
As I started to walk over, my step quickened. I felt compelled, like a magnet pulling me to go to the mailbox.
The package was addressed to me, from my friend Dell. I got so excited.

In it was a wooden plaque with a quote on it.
It says…………. JESUS KNOWS ME THIS I LOVE

Instantly…my mind replayed the moment in the store. “I KNOW HIM!”

I know Him and He knows me.

The Lord said to my heart, “I delighted in you, for the love you have for me.”
“You are mine and I am yours.”

I am like the child that can’t wait to see “Him.” But see, my “Him,” is Jesus!

I take Joy in my King. I anticipate Him. I can’t wait to see Him.
I look for Him to come my way.
And every time I look in the eyes of one of His, I see Him.

I Love you, Lord, and I lift my voice to woship you, Oh my soul rejoice!
Take joy, my King, in what you hear....
May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfSloamFO3w&feature=youtu.be
This is the link to the song...I Love You Lord. 
Please click on it or copy & paste it to your browser
and listen to it. 
I promise it will bless your heart. :) <3


Kim Wenrich
2 Corinthians 5:17
Psalm 139
Heaveninmyheart1@yahoo.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gods-Girls-Most-Honorable-and-Beautiful-Among-All-Women/248867505178819

Draw Me Close To You

It has been a while since I wrote in this blog. I have been waiting on The Lord.

I love you my Father…I am not an orphan.

I have been called by name by The King of Kings. The God of all things great and small.


To know You…
Fills my heart with assurance and acceptance.
I am never alone.

When I hear Your Name….my heart squeezes with the knowledge of who I am in You.
I instantly give my full attention to Your name…
Who is talking about my Lord?
Who is singing His Great Name?
Who? I want to hear.
My very core is in awe!
Tell me more.
Say more about Him…
about The One I love so much!

I look for You every where and in everyone.
Even though You are in my heart…many belong to You.
I don’t want to miss any chance that I can get more of You….

I long to see Your face…in the face of one of my sweet friends.
They radiate Your Beauty. Oh how blessed I am!
They talk to my heart and pierce it with Your love.
I am imprinted by their touches forever.

Only You can touch the heart and bring forth amazing bliss.

                                     You can also cause a violent storm inside the heart…

so we will draw close to you and allow you to calm our lives…

                            
You cause mighty men to crumble

and raise them up like they have never seen or dreamed possibly.

                                                            

You break our hearts and get out the mess we allowed to invade and intrude in places that were only meant for you. You break it open…you have too…

because your love, it conquers and captivates the hardest places.

Only a God like you can get into a hard heart and make it tender and soft.

Make it respond to Love. Your Love.

Love heals and touches those deep and dark places. Why? Because God is Love.
Love and God. God and Love. They are One and the same.
Hearts are meant to belong to God…to Love.

Break my heart Oh My God and renew a right spirit within me.
Draw me close to You and never let me go.

My heart is yours. I want you to have every part of it.
May I never be the same after time with you. After a touch of Your Love.
I want to continually know You…experience You. Live in Your touches.
                                    If I am to be “lost,” let it be that I am lost in love with You.

Draw Me Close to You - Michael W. Smith - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiFwnE1IuIU&feature=youtu.be

Kim Wenrich
2 Corithians 5:17
Psalm 139
heaveninmyheart1@yahoo.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gods-Girls-Most-Honorable-and-Beautiful-Among-All-Women/248867505178819

A Warrior's Prayers

A WARRIOR'S PRAYERS


Many years ago I heard this story in a Women's Bible Study.....I reflect on it from time to time.  It never left my heart.  I want to share it with you now.

There was this lady, she loved to pray for others.  She prayed all the time and was known for it by everyone.  She was a humble and a loving woman. 
Quiet in her ways and full of grace. 

Some years had past, she got weak and sick. 

She passed on and went to be with The One she talked to so very much in her prayers. 

                          

Many showed up at the funeral to pay their respect and honor the life she lived that touched so many hearts.  Some time after the funeral the daughter went to her mom's house to start organizing her mother's things.  When she got there she lingered at the pictures in frames her mom had of the family on the wall in the living room. 

Then she begin to notice, pictures not in frames, of other people, many she didn't know at all.  They lined the hallway wall and went in the direction of her mom's bedroom. 
This made her very courious.  
She looked at each one until she came to her mom's bedroom door.  The door was closed. 
She gently opend it and slowly went inside. 
 All along the walls were pictures, none in frames, on the walls held up with stick pins. 

Post it notes everywhere with people's name on them as well.  With notes that said, "pray for healing," pray for sick child," pray for finances," Pray for..... and on and on...These pictures and notes were on all 4 walls of her mom's bedroom.  
She looked at them all in amazement. 


Her eyes fell down on the table beside the bed and there laid her mother's Bible. 
Then she looked down at the floor with tears in her eyes and her breath caught in her throat at what she saw next.  She grabed her mouth in astonishment. 

There, on the floor, beside the bed, deep within the floor, were two well worn grooves. 
She bent down to feel them with her hands.  They were oval shaped and very smooth.  
Hot tears sprang to her eyes in deep emotion as she realized how those grooves were made!  "She cried out, "Oh My God, Who Will Take Her Place?!" 
In her heart she heard Him say, "You will My Child."     

She instantly put her own 2 knees in those well worn grooves in a kneeling position...
she noticed her knees fit perfectly and she begin to pray............

My Friends never stop praying....never stop doing good. Love one another as Christ has loved you. 


Kim Wenrich
2 Corinthians 5:17
Psalm 139
heaveninmyheart1@yahoo.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gods-Girls-Most-Honorable-and-Beautiful-Among-All-Women/248867505178819