Gingerbread: Medicine Or Christmas Cookies?

A delicious recipe for 18th century gingerbread

 from Jon at Townsends.

Gingerbread: Medicine Or Christmas Cookie?

Townsends

(December 20, 2021)

Mountain Of The Lord

"In the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established
as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills,
and the peoples will stream to it."
(Micah 4:1)

The Dawning of a New Day
(2017)
Lucie Bilodeau
Fine Art America

Yes! a brighter morn is breaking,

Better days are coming on;

All the world will be a-waking

In a new and golden dawn.

And many nations shall come and say,

Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord!

And He will teach us, will teach us of His ways,

And we will walk in His paths.

In the day of coming glory,

Men will show fraternal hand;

Each will tell to each the story

Till it spreads to ev-'ry land.

And many nations shall come and say,

Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord!

And He will teach us, will teach us of His ways

And we will walk in His paths.

On the top of Zion's mountain

God prepares His house a-gain;

And its threshold springs a fountain,

Flowing for the souls of men.

And many nations shall come and say,

Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord!

And He will teach us, will teach us of His ways

And we will walk in His paths.

From the earth's remotest stations,

Men will come to hear the word;

And, in all the world, the nations,

Shall be nations of the Lord.

And many nations shall come and say,

Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord!

And He will teach us, will teach us of His ways

And we will walk in His paths.

"Mountain Of The Lord"
(1871)
Robert Lowry
(1826-1899)
American Baptist minister
and hymn writer

What Does It Mean All Israel Shall Be Saved? Messianic Rabbi Zev Porat Preaches

 

Who are "all of Israel"?

Beloved brother Rabbi Zev Porat explains!

Controversial: What Does It Mean All Israel Shall Be Saved?

Messianic Rabbi Zev Porat Preaches

messiah ofisrael

(December 20, 2021)

Christmas Blues

 

Christmas is often called, "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year".
However, at the same time during this festive season, many people
and this includes many believers, suffer from depression.

You might be feeling lonely or forgotten. Or, be driven by an
anxious need to find the "perfect gift" for someone. You may 
 be missing family members or friends who are no longer here.

"Our Blessed Hope"

"Come to Me and I will give you, rest." is Jesus' promise to
the believer.  May you find true peace and joy in Him, 
 during this Christmas season and always.

Jesus Comforts The Mourning

(2021)

Melani Pyke

Picture courtesy/Fine Art America

Come to Me, when shadows darkly gather,

When the sad heart is weary and distressed;

Seeking comfort from your Heavenly Father,

Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.

Large are the mansions in thy Father's dwelling;

Glad are the homes that sorrows never dim;

Sweet are the harps in holy music swelling;

Soft are the tones which raise the heavenly hymn.

There, like an Eden blossoming in gladness,

Bloom the fair flowers that earth too rudely pressed;

Come unto Me, all ye who droop in sadness

Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.

Amen.

"Come Unto Me"
(1839)
Catherine H. Esling
(1812-1897)
American author and hymn writer

Love Came Down At Christmas

 

Love came down at Christmas

Love all lovely, Love Divine;

Love was born at Christmas,

Star and angels gave the sign.

Madonna With The Christ Child

(Early 17th century)

Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato

(1609-1685)

Italian Baroque painter

Worship we the Godhead

Love Incarnate, Love Divine;

Worship we our Jesus:

But where-with for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,

Love be yours and love be mine.

Love to God and all men,

Love for plea and gift and sign.

Amen.

"Love Came Down At Christmas"
(1885)
Christina Rosetti
(1830-1894)
 English Pre-Raphaelite writer
 and poetess

Sunday Night Sounds Of The Season

 

Classic Christmas songs that never go out of style!

White Christmas

(1945)

Bing Crosby

Pretty Paper
(1964)
Roy Orbison

Do You Hear What I Hear
(1998)
Martina McBride

Snoopy's Christmas
(1967)

The Royal Guardsmen

Here Comes Santa Claus
(1957)
Elvis Presley

The Chipmunk Song 
(1962)
David Seville-The Chipmunks

Holly Jolly Christmas
(1964)
Burl Ives

The Little Drummer Boy
(1965)
Harry Simeone Chorale

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
(1963)
Frank Sinatra

Santa Claus Is Watching You
(1985)
Ray Stevens

Away In A Manger/Silent Night
(1975)
Connie Smith

We Need A Little Christmas
(1971)
Percy Faith & His Orchestra

Merry Christmas Darling
(1970)
The Carpenters

O Little Town Of Bethlehem
(1960)
Nat King Cole

Let It Snow
(1959)
Dean Martin

Rudolf The Red-Nosed Reindeer
(1949)
Gene Autry

Silver Bells
(1963)
Jim Reeves

Smoky Mountain Christmas
(1986)
Dolly Parton

Jingle Bells
(1959)
Ray Coniff Singers

There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays
(1950)
Perry Como

In A World That Seems Not Only To Be Changing...

 

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth
to Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he
was of the house and family of David.  To be enrolled with Mary,
his wife, who was great with child."
(Luke 2:4-5)

Journey To Bethlehem

Joseph Brickey

 Picture courtesy/ Altus Fine Art

In a world that seems not only to be changing, but even to

be dissolving, there are some tens of millions of us who want

Christmas to be the same...

with the same old greeting "Merry Christmas" and no other.

We long for the abiding love among men of good will 

 which the season brings...

believing in the ancient miracle of Christmas with its softening,

sweetening influence to tug at our heart strings once again.

We want to hold on to the old customs and traditions 

  because they strengthen our family ties,

bind us to our friends,

make us one with all mankind

for whom the Child was born,

and bring us back again to God Who gave

His only begotten Son, that "whosoever believeth in Him

should not perish, but have everlasting life."

So we will not "spend" Christmas

nor "observe" Christmas.

We will "keep" Christmas-keep it as it is...

in all the loveliness of its ancient traditions.

May we keep it in our hearts,

that we may be kept in its hope.

Reverend Peter Marshall Sr.
(1902-1949)
Scottish American pastor
Twice-appointed Chaplain of the United States Senate