Travelers

From 09 December

Evidently, Mary and Joseph had to travel far, far away to Japan.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

GOD GESTATES!

WOW....am I living a God moment tonight or what?

I knew what I wanted to say tomorrow at MOPS. I was having trouble with organization but sort of got it to fit....and made a hand out and typed up my notes....but still wasn't 100% happy with the "format".

The topic I was given is Keeping Christ in Christmas.....and I was thinking in terms of birthdays and preparing for birthdays....but it hit me as we sat down for our Advent Devotions.....

Before every birth comes a pregnancy. God was pregnant...but I like alliteration - God Gestates.

As the family waited for me to begin reading about Rahab, my outline "popped" into place..... when our family waits for a baby....we count down the days, we think of a name for him, we dream of what he'll be like and try to picture his story, we prepare gifts for him, and we celebrate with a birthday party at his arrival (the nurses love this). ::snort:: All the things I planned to share fit those points..... I could hardly wait for devotions and the hunt to be over so I could rewrite my notes and handout.

I came back to retype my notes.....google reader was on the screen. The laptop had been moved. I glanced down to see "Holy Experience" at the top of my reader and her subject is "4 Ways to Celebrate Christ in Christmas. " I could see the first words...God Gestates. I finished my notes. I read her entry. WOW. Four of the five points are the same, though she says it much better...I'm me and will be me. Though I did find a quote, I'll use. ::snort::

I'm thrilled that God "zinged" my outline.... and I think this "coincidence" has to be confirmation. My outline is no longer awkward...same information but I think it will be easier to follow. I love how God steps in and does things like this to me as I prepare. He knows what it takes to energize me!

Off to remake a handout and make my notes pretty as I scribbled a new thesis and 5 new sub-points on them.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Jesus Birthday Cake

We've done various things for the CAKE part of our Birthday Party for Jesus....but I realize I have no recipes or clear instructions on the blog. Here we go.

First there are many things you COULD do with a birthday party for Jesus. It could be part of an RE celebration, it could be held the last week of RE, it could be held at your home with children invited (each guest bringing a donation for a charity)....but what we've done the last few years is simpler still. Sometime on Christmas Afternoon or Evening.....after dinner..... we have a party. We sing Happy Birthday, we blow out candles, we eat, we share what we have most loved or appreciated about the birthday boy (much like we do for human members of our family) and then we give our gifts to Jesus. The last few years this has consisted of us reading our "Jesus Stocking" entries. This year, with the stocking MIA and young ones who are old enough to celebrate Christmas but not quite old enough to write out messages for the stocking....I'm coming up with a new plan..... That's what we do. Hmmm...with Bre home we could attempt some of the Christmas hymns of the church around the cake....

As for the cake....we've made a simple cake, frosted it and treated it like any birthday. You'll note above we don't DO a devotional - we simply celebrate a birth. BUT you can take a few moments and discuss the colors of the cake etc. Last year I BOUGHT a cake at walmart, and I asked them to write "Happy Birthday Jesus" on it. The clerk said, "Do you mean Happy Holidays," and I said, "No".

Then she asked, "Oh, Merry Christmas?"

I said, "No."

Stacia, then 3, piped up with, "It's a BIRTHDAY for Jesus."

The clerk gave me a strange look and wrote Happy Birthday Jesus on our cake. ::snort::

Here are some Jesus Birthday Cake ideas/recipes....in case you'd rather something with a bit more symbolism.

Variation 1: from cooks.com

Make a round cake - chocolate to symbolize our sin.
Cover with white frosting - white to symbolize His purity that covers our sins.
Decorate with a star and an angel - they symbolize the bearers of the first glad tidings.
Add 12 red candles - 12 candles symbolize that Christ is our light through the 12 months and the color red stands for his blood sheet for us.
Encircle the cake with green frosting - symbolized everlasting life.

Variation 2: from cooks.com

Purity: One round white cake with white frosting.
Bethlehem: Topped with yellow sugar star.
Tidings of Great Joy: Figure of angel.
Christ our Light Thru the Year: Encircled by 12 red candles.
Everlasting Life: Greens around base of cake.

Variation 3: symbolism from, "The ADVENTure of Christmas", by Lisa Welchel

1 box of white cake mix - divide batter in 1/2
Add red food coloring to 1/2 - blood of Jesus
Add green food coloring to other 1/2 (eternal life)
Bake according to directions.
Add yellow coloring to white frosting (birthday of the Son of Righteousness)
Fill and frost red and green layers with yellow frosting.
Large white taper candle (Jesus center of our lives) in the middle of the cake.
Each family member places a small birthday candle around the cake (our lives revolving around Jesus, let our light shine before all)

Close to this idea, but adding stars, hearts and such is this cake from Christianity Today.

Variation 4 - The Grand Poohbah of Jesus' Birthday Cakes (This one is similar to the one I first saw).

Mary Rice Hopkins has provided us with instructions and a talk to give as we decorate the cake....all telling the Christmas/salvation story.

Some use ANGEL food cake (get it), Red Velvet Cake, but never Devil Food's cake. Make a "theme" cake - a normal cake but decorated with the theme of stars, nativity, gifts, birthday, gift box...

Visit my Advent Index for more ideas, stories and tips.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Stacia's View

Stacia loves to take pictures....incessantly. I enjoy her unique perspective on the world.

From 09 December

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

She's Her Mama's Girl.....

Oy vey!

For days she's been running around with these index cards and a pencil.

From 09 December

Today, she repeatedly told us, "It's my checklist!" And she contentedly adds items to the lists, and CROSSES them off! ::snort:: Only she knows what she is accomplishing, but she is satisfied and happy. Sort of like her Mama.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

WHAT A DAY!!!!

But it's over! YES.

The day began early with children's ministry at PWOC. EVERY child in our younger room was "off". Then I discovered that Zander had acted up - somehow. I'm not quite sure how...but I know he did. I try to tell myself that at least he isn't hitting his head on the wall or spitting....it's better than it was.....but I'd sure like things to be BETTER BETTER....if you KWIM. ::sigh::

We came home for Japanese Lessons.

Arielle had middle school drama.

I worked on the Protestant News, a few more PWOC communication things, prayed a bit more, read a bit more, prayed a bit more....

I worked on my MOPS thoughts.

We ate.

THEN....we read our excerpt for the day.

Tonight was Stacia's night to grab the clue.She cracks us up by "reading" the clue from the night before. We hadn't realized what a good memory she has.

From 09 December

Clue: "Clearly, I can see the whole world."

This made Nolan think of the globe.

From 09 December

He checked out the plastic drawers. I wondered why the printer ink was on the shelf and went to put it away and found.....the gift!

From 09 December

A triangular puzzle.

From 09 December

I had a wonderful call last night about the ministry...but I found myself dragging all day. I guess I'm not as young as I once was....

Several have mentioned that Mike's Advent Devotionals, which have always been linked, are no longer linked. I'll have to try to figure that out tomorrow.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Tis the Season....

Fifteen minutes until our CRAZY TUESDAY begins - we leave the house.

The weather here is changing. Stacia cracked us up when she wanted to wear the cat costume under her coat instead of a hat.

From 09 December

Yesterday we played, did school, I sent out 3 PWOC related letters, one international call and several emails.....all good.

Advent Clue: "Where food is found but this is down."

From 09 December

Nolan found the gingerbread tree - which was NOT what they were supposed to be looking for. ::snort::

From 09 December

Ah - glowsticks!

From 09 December

Advent Calendar on DVD - yesterday the excerpt was on the story of the cease fire in the trenches on Christmas 1914....we've read a children's book on this before. Cool story. Here's a book: Silent Night: The Story of a Christmas Truce and a History Channel Special on the story.

Fifteen minutes are gone.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...