Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas~

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Well Christmas once again has come all too soon. I know it is not good to up-stage Thanksgiving but it sure takes time to get it all done. I vow each year to start preparing earlier so I can just spend the whole month of December just ~ "oh come let us adoring Him."

 The shopping is done~ the gifts are wrapped ~the pantry is full of food to be cooked beginning tomorrow. The week is full of being merry and bright. I am so looking forward to spending time with my loved ones. Even though we have family in Washington, Michigan and a son-in-love in Afghanistan we will not see~ we will get to see them on facetime or talk with them on the phone. We are so very blessed! 

Please remember to pray for our men and women who are serving our country ~ many will not be coming home for Christmas. I appreciate your prayers for our Jacob and Hannah too as they will be spending their first Christmas apart. 


I did not get everything I wanted done. How about you? Be it as it may~ I am preparing my heart to worship the King and making room in my heart and life for Him. I want to do more this coming year for Him~ I want to give Him more of me~  more of my time and more of my money. He loves me so much and I want to give back to Him.  

I look back over my life and I think about all the time I spent doing all the daily things that need to be done. What does it matter now? I look at the money I spent over my life and where is all the stuff ? I look at my dreams I have dreamed ~ some have come true and  some have not. Some don't even seem important anymore. 

What does matter is the time I have invested in my relationship with my Saviour and the time I spent serving God and those I love. The things I have have invested and given back to God seem to be all that matters. It all boils down to love~ doesn't it?

Love ~ is what Christmas is all about! God loved us so much that He gave.

John 3:16

King James Version (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

It is my hearts desire that you have accepted this free gift of God's love~ 

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”Luke 2:11-14 KJV



Have a very Merry Christmas from the Shindorf Family.

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There Is NO X~In CHRISTMAS

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"Wish You a Merry Christmas" Print


Our country is adorned in gold, silver, red and green for the Christmas season. I love~love~love this time of year. It is the one time that most think about our Saviour. 

Yet~it makes me sad that it is used as a "marketing tool" for selling merchandise only. I am sad that the Christmas tree has to be called a Holiday Tree. I am sad that the manger scene is now thought to be a religious display that can't be placed anywhere in a public building, government building or public schools. I hate the greeting Happy Holidays~I will always boldly proclaim MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! This country was founded on the Bible. It was and still should be our main text book for learning and for life! When Jesus came the majority had no room for Him. Still today people are trying to get rid of Him!


The sad truth is that we who call ourselves Christians will celebrate this season in almost the same manner~without Christ.  As Americans will buy presents, we will make fudge, get together with friends and family, we will "over the hill to grandma's house we go", but will we take the time to read the Christmas story from Matthew or Luke concerning His birth? Will we assemble ourselves in a church?~(Which God commands us to do.) Will we gather together on Christmas morn and thank God for sending His only begotten Son so we don't have to spend eternity in a Lake of Fire paying for our sin debt? My Friend~maybe we should really celebrate this Christmas and every day thanking Jesus for His free gift of eternal life!

"And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented that dwelt on the earth."
Revelation 11 :10

In this verse people are making merry and sending gifts one to another because two of God's prophets are dead. They have rid themselves of their preaching. Oh what a foolish reason to celebrate!

Matthew 1:18-25

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.


We who believe that God sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins have a big reason to celebrate this Christmas and every day of our lives. Let's not X Christ out of our Christmas.

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The Bestest Sugar Cookies In The World~

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My Sister and her Family~
It is just not Christmas until you finish the Sugar Cookies.  My sister makes the best sugar cookies in the world~ just ask my husband. He likes hers better than mine even when I use her recipe. LOL

So here is Angie's recipe!



Angie's Sugar Cookie Recipe
2 cups sugar
1 cup Crisco
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. cream of tartar
5 cups of flour
scant of salt

* Cream sugar and Crisco together until light and fluffy.

* Beat in eggs.

* Add milk and vanilla.

* Add in sifted flour cream of tartar, baking soda and baking powder ~ slowly.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Do not over bake. Take from oven when just lightly golden.

Frosting~

2 pounds powdered sugar
2 Tbs. Butter
2 tsp. almond flavoring
evaporated milk to desired texture


Yummy~ now just serve with ice cold milk. They are sure to be Santa's favorite cookie in my house anyways!


     ***************************************







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Let's Not Be Guilty Of Keeping Christmas~ But Losing Christ

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This morning as I woke up at o'dark thirty with my mind swirling with my to-do list. It is two weeks until Christmas and the clock is ticking. I am determined to finish shopping this morning and have all the wrapping done today. I have managed to simplify things this year but now I want to enjoy some time celebrating with some of the people I love.

As I read my devotion this morning I read this. Remember Harry Reasoner? In 1971 he gave a commentary that I believe deserves to be repeated. Here is just a part~

“Christmas is such a unique idea that most non-Christians accept it, and I think sometimes envy it. If Christmas is the anniversary of the appearance of the Lord of the Universe in the form of a helpless baby, it’s quite a day. It’s a startling idea, and the theologians, who sometimes love logic more than they love God, find it uncomfortable. . . . It is either all falsehood or it is the truest thing in the world. It is the story of the great innocence of God, the baby, God in the power of man. And it is such a dramatic shot toward the heart that if it is not true, for Christians nothing is true. So even if you have not got your shopping all done and you are swamped with the commercialism and the frenzy, be at peace. . . . The story stands.

 Are you stressed this morning and feeling anxiety because of the "hustle and bustle" of the season? If so~ can I encourage you to take just a moment and focus on the true miracle of Christmas. God came down as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger to become our Saviour and die for our sins.


 Focus on that message today and every day of your life. It will slow you down and help you keep the right perspective this Christmas season and every day of your life. 


May we never be guilty of keeping Christmas but losing Christ.



Luke 1:35

 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.


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“A Christmas Homecoming” eBook – Just .99! Enter to win a Paperwhite Kindle from MaryAnn Diorio!

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I was excited to finally read a novella from Harbourlight Books. I had been told about this publisher and I was not disappointed.

This little e-book was a short story but it was such fun to read. I enjoyed sitting down in one sitting and finishing it.

The book begins with a broken relationship of a mother and daughter which began when Jody the daughter decides to leave home and move to Australia. She was hoping to find freedom and excitement but was left with a broken heart and two children to raise on her own. She had no place to turn but to return home. Would she be accepted or rejected?

What I enjoyed about this book was the clear gospel message and the powerful story of forgiveness. No matter how difficult our journey may be~ forgiveness is always the way home and the way of recovery.








About A Christmas Homecoming: 
Seven Christmases have passed since Sonia Pettit last heard from her daughter Jody. Since Jody's departure, Sonia's world has been turned upside down. Her husband has died of a broken heart, and her son, bitter over his sister's destructive actions, has become rebellious.
Her greatest desire is to have her family together at Christmas, but after what Jody has put them all through, can Sonia truly forgive her daughter?
Jody Pettit O'Dair ran away to experience a life of adventure and excitement, but since her departure, her world has been turned upside down. She's been abandoned by the man she met and married, lost her job, and is unable to care for her two children. With nowhere else to turn, this prodigal daughter begins the long journey home and prays she will be welcomed after walking away so long ago.
Will Jody find forgiveness in the arms of her family as easily as she received it from God? 
Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/fKkNc   


About MaryAnn Diorio   
litfuse
Dr. MaryAnn Diorio loves God, people, children, and dogs, in that order.  She also is passionate about story and its power to transform the human heart. Dr. MaryAnn, as she is affectionately called, writes compelling fiction that deals with the deepest issues of life.  She is Adjunct Online Professor of Fiction Writing for Regent University and coaches writers on their journey to publication.  MaryAnn and her husband Dominic are the blessed parents of two wonderful daughters and a fantastic son-in-law.



Grab a copy of MaryAnn Diorio's "A Christmas Homecoming" for JUST .99 and enter to win a Paperwhite Kindle! Details below!










One "merry" winner will receive:



  • A Paperwhite Kindle

  • A Christmas Homecoming by MaryAnn Diorio

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 22nd. Winner will be announced on 12/23/12 at MaryAnn's Blog.







Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.





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Bah! Humbug! Never!

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How is that "making merry" coming along? You got the tree up? Have you started shopping? My tree is up, the list is made and I have just started shopping. But~ I am not stressing. I may not have my normal "go- all -out decorations" up~ maybe I will finish them and maybe I won't.

However~I plan on enjoying all the sappy~happy Christmas movies with French Vanilla Cappuccino. We are having a stress ~free Christmas if it kills me~ lol.

I hear so many Christians do a lot of complaining about Christmas. So many say it is too commercial~ or too pagan. Not me! I love the music in the stores. I love all the decorations. When I see a Christmas commercials~ it brings back sweet childhood memories. When the commercials started that meant it was the Christmas season once again. I love Christmas. I love buying gifts, baking sugary treats (that I don't need) and decking the halls with all the glitter this girl can find. ( I love me some glitter.)

Maybe we do get too commercial but the reason we buy and wrap gifts is to celebrate the silent testimony to the supreme gift of God's Son ~who gave His life so that we may have eternal life. What a reason to celebrate if there ever was one!



John 3:16

King James Version (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life

We all know that Santa does not really bring us all our wants and wishes and raindeer really don't fly. But maybe if we called attention to the Baby who was born in Bethlehem~ instead of griping about all the myths~ others would see our joy and the true reason for the season.

It is true we need to put Christ back in Christmas but He never left. Listen to the carols being sung over and over again at the mall and the department stores. It is the one time of year that the world sings about our Saviour. Now that is truly a reason to celebrate. I for one want to sing along at the top of my lungs. 

 How about we decide not to humbug this season but celebrate loud and clear that Christ is no longer a Babe in a manger but came and walked and talked on this earth. Our calendar even celebrates the death of our Saviour and over 500 men and women were witnesses to the fact that He rose again. My Saviour  was born and died to take away my sins. This girl is celebrating with all I have in my being the fact that my sin debt has been paid and pain in full.






John 1:14

King James Version (KJV)
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.





Hark! the herald angels sing,


“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild—
God and sinners reconciled.” —Wesley





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