PEACE BE WITH YOU.....

LAST DAY OF NOVEMBER! Can you believe it??  Too often the Christmas Season is full of stress, anxiety, focus on $ and presents when the focus should be on the Birth of a Savior!  That is why I chose to focus right now on Advent this year and the soft peaceful colors that represent the tradition. 

As you can see in my new table scape photo, I have softened the look by changing the candles at the side to white tapers and two smaller lavender candles in front.  I could not find a lavender taper in either store that I visited yesterday.

   We have so much stress in our lives, but we need not.  God will give you enough time for everything HE wants you to do.  All your worrying and rushing around will be in vain, Just let go, let God.  This is one of my favorite sayings!   And it does take the pressure off if you remind yourself with this phrase when feeling pressured to meet deadlines. 
   Isaiah 9:7  Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already approved what you do.
   Isaiah 9:11,12 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. For man does not know his time.
   Micah 5:2  But you O Bethlehem, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from the old, from the ancient days.  (The coming of Christ.)
  Matthew 2  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews:  For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him."  When Herod the king heard all this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.  They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: 'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.' "
  This is one of the reasons the Jews did not believe that Jesus was their Messiah.  He was an ordinary man by their standards.  He was Joseph and Mary's son, the son of a Carpenter, how could he be King of the Jews?? 
  This is one of my most favorite renditions of Mary and the babe Jesus:

I do not know who the painter is at the Moment but the title is, "The Madonna of the Poor."  She is not gloriously portrayed with crowns, halo, heavenly angels.  No, she is just glowing from the inside with the joy of her new Babe, Jesus.  She and the Babe who is sleeping, are so beautiful.  She is humble.  Mary was only 14 years old when she gave birth to Jesus.  I have always been in awe of this fact. 

  I oil painted this picture twice in the last 50 years.  Once for my Son and once for myself.  He still has it hanging in his dining room and always loved it as I did and more so as his Mom painted it-ha!

  Yesterday, my dear friend Marydon sent this card to me in the snail mail.  I was so thrilled to receive it and she also said she really likes this portrayal.

   As we spend these next very few weeks waiting for the Birth of Jesus celebration, try to focus on the meaning of Christmas.  It is okay to have Santa for the children if you balance that with the true meaning of WHY we honor His birth.

Thanks for coming and I hope you take some blessing away with you today.  Please leave a comment, I love them!! 

♥KERRIE♥ 

My heart to yours...