Dancing with Simplicity

Simple Living, Walking by Faith
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Suggested Online Christmas Services

  • December 22, 2019 1:24 pm

If you have no plans or places to go for Christmas services, may I suggest:

https://www.viewpointchurch.org/

Viewpoint Church.  Author/pastor Becky Tirabassi’s church from Southern CA, USA. Becky has long been a  mentor. I have used her Change Your Life Daily Bible and other resources for years, and now she and husband Roger pastor a church. Visit her church site or find her on Facebook. More resources:  http://www.changeyourlifedaily.com/. Coming in January, read through the Bible in one year…with Becky on Instagram.

 

Saddleback Church, Pastor Rick Warren from CA.  https://saddleback.com/

I’m a member of the online community on Facebook, and serve on the online prayer team. You will find many online Christmas services and a new church-wide event begins in January 2020. Watch live, watch the archive or You Tube services. The Worship team has to be one of my favorites, from just anywhere!

Christmas…Cancer…Chaos…Calm

  • December 21, 2019 10:58 am

It has been A. Year. And then some.

When a chronic illness struck my husband in 2017, I thought it a bit much to endure. When cancer struck him in 2018, late in the year, I knew 2019 was not going to be easy.

Our finances are in a chaotic state. Some things are undone and have not been tended to. Nothing is as it was, and nothing is particularly in order. Diagnosis led to treatment, treatment led to one rather serious and now chronic complication. We don’t seem to be able to catch up, or catch our breath.

When you think about it, Christmas was chaotic. Jesus was born into messy circumstances, and I don’t just mean the stable. Just setting one toe into this fallen world is to be plunged into chaos. Politics, war, sickness, financial woes, cultural problems all went on then and continue today.

I guess it’s alright to feel out of whack. Out of breath, behind.

There is a Christmas star out there somewhere still. Rising above the world. Angels looking down. Peace on earth. Peace to chaotic, messy homes and families. Peace in financial problems. Peace with family illness overtaking you every day. Elusive peace? Only if it is a peace built on man. Peace that descended from above is different. And I will welcome His peace into my home, during this most chaotic year.

Luke 2:8-14 (NIV2011)
8  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
11  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
12  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14  “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 

The Very Best Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe

  • December 18, 2019 10:40 pm

Well, despite the fact that I have not had time to make these this year (yet again), these are my favorite holiday cookies. If you double the recipe, you’ll end up with about six dozen. It’s lot of work to cut them out, but the fun of decorating and the final product makes it all worth it.

Take time this year to enjoy family and friends around some favorite holiday foods.  Feel free to share your recipes here on site.  Merry Christmas!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 egg

2 1/2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Cream sugar and softened butter. Mix in egg and flavorings. Sift dry ingedients together and blend into the other mixture. Chill dough two or three hours. Lightly flour and grease a baking sheet and roll dough to desired thickness. (1/4 inch seems to be preferred among most bakers.) Bake cut out shapes at 375 for 7 to 8 minutes.

Frost with a buttercream icing.  Decorate and enjoy!