Happy Anniversary … 25 and counting

It’s my blog … but I share my thoughts with you all …

but this time, it is really for just one … my love and my partner in this life!

With You By My Side

This beautiful and memorable day,
has been carved into my mind.
A precious moment in time,
when our lives became defined.

Let’s rejoice and celebrate,
our love and our bond.
I cherish what we have,
with my heart I respond.

This journey of life is so sweet,
with you by my side.
My smile radiates,
with each passing stride.

Whether one or a thousand,
journey’s we take.
With you by my side,
I feel alive and awake.

My soul is filled with bliss,
due to the love that we share.
I promise you my dear,
I will always be there.

To the stars and the heavens,
our anniversary I shall proclaim.
My love for you burns like the sun,
with an infinite flame.

{by anitapoems.com}

 

 

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Merry Christmas

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Past, Present, and Future

At the heart of ‘A Christmas Carol’ lies Scrooge’s transformation from a selfish, greedy and bitter old man, to a grateful, generous and compassionate individual. Scrooge was taken on a journey in which his life passed before his eyes. He was shown his life as it had been, as it was, and finally how it would be in the end. As a result, a man filled with deep regret has his life transformed, to the point where as Dickens concludes “he became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew.”

The story of Scrooge is a story of past, present, and possible futures. Through the story, Dickens delivers a message of hope and transformation. Christmas is but a part of God’s story of love for each of us. God’s story of love is also a story of Past, Present and Future. At Christmas we receive God’s message in the form of his Son, Jesus Christ who came to us long ago in a manger in Bethlehem. It is a story from the past. But Christmas exists within the story and the promise of Easter – an empty tomb and a promise of life eternal.

At Christmas, we must also be mindful of the affirmation of faith declared by the early church:

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Christ – past, present, future.

Christmas past – the birth of a small baby in Bethlehem – Emmanuel – God with us;

Christmas present – Jesus alive and living within each of us this day;

Christmas yet to come – Jesus will return one day to rule as King on this earth.

Christmas is a time of great joy because of all three – past, present, and future.

We can rejoice that God has forgiven us for what we were once –

We can rejoice for all of God’s blessings that make us what we are today –

And we can be thankful that God is not done with us – for there so much more that we can be.

As Dickens’ wrote, we can declare, “I will live in the Past, Present and Future. And I will keep Christmas in my heart all the year!”

For those of us who believe in Christ, we need to honor Christmas in our hearts and “keep it all the year” Then others would say of us, “they knew how keep to Christmas well.”

Perhaps more importantly, others might say that “you knew Christ well.”