The ABC's of CHRISTMAS

I got this idea from Bethe over at http://lifesbeautynuggets.blogspot.com
her blog is always such a blessing...stop on over and show her some love


A.  away in the manger
B.  Bethlehem 
C.  carolers singing out in the snow
D.  donkey's carrying baby Jesus
E.   everlasting life
F.   forgiveness
G.  Good will to men
H.  Heaven'ts greatest love
I.   Innocence of all babies
M.  Mary did you know, your baby boy would some day walk on water?
N.  Noel, noel, the angel did say
O.  OH, HOLY NIGHT
P.  Peace on Earth
Q.  Quiet night of quiet stars
R.  roasting chestnuts
S.  Salvation
T.  twelve days of Christmas
U.  unwrapping baby Jesus for the world to see and UNITY
V.  (The) Virgin Mary
W.  The Wise men
X.  X is the symbol for Christ *greek*
Y.  Yule Returns, 
Z.  Zion's daughter



and now something I love sharing at Christmas time

Look at the Candy Cane
What do you see?
Stripes that are red
Like the blood shed for me
White is for my Savior
Who's sinless and pure!
"J" is for Jesus My Lord, that's for sure!
Turn it around
And a staff you will see
Jesus my shepherd
Was born for Me!

Many years ago, a candy maker wanted to make a candy at Christmas time
that would serve as a witness to his Christian faith.
He wanted to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry
and death of Jesus. He began with a stick of pure white hard candy;
white to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus;
hard to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church;
firmness to represent the promise of God.

The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J"
to represent the name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior.
He thought it could also represent the staff of the Good Shepherd,
with which he reached down into the ditches of the world to lift out
the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candymaker
stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes
to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received,
by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the
blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the
promise of eternal life. Unfortunately, the candy became known
as a candy cane - a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time.
But the true meaning is still there for those who have
eyes to see and ears to hear.

~**~

Matthew 2:8 (KJV)
And he sent them to Bethlehem,
and said, Go and search
diligently for the young child;
and when ye have found him,
bring me word again, that I
may come and worship him also.

What does Christmas mean to you?