To the Stars and Back: December 2011

Oh you better watch out
you better not cry
you better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Clause is coming to town.

He sees you when you're sleeping,

he knows when you're awake.

He knows if you've been bad or good,

so be good, for goodness sake.

Yes, it's the lyrics to a popular song we all know and sing at Christmastime, Santa Clause is Coming to Town. And while singing it with my little handsomes one day, the thought came to me that we encourage kids to be good so that Santa will bring them toys, (even using an Elf to sit and watch so that he can report back to Santa....I am not saying that it is wrong, so please don't take it that way!), but do we spend enough time teaching them everyday of the year about a greater man who will be coming to town one day! A man that came as a baby but died and rose again to save us from our sins! A man that loves you and me, and has prepared a place for us in Heaven if we choose to accept and know him.

John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosever believeth in him, shall not parish, but have everlasting life". God sent his son for us because he LOVES us! And he knows all about you, and me! God is omniscient, which by defintion, means all-knowing. Hebrews 4:12-13 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."

In Psalm 139:1-2, David says "O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off." He knows EVERTHING about us....when we go to sleep, when we wake up!....our thoughts! In reading the entire chapter, you see David praising God for His greatness, knowing and creating him. He then asks for guidance: searching his thoughts, and leading him.

Psalm 139 ¹O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. ²Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. ³Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. ⁴For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. ⁵Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. ⁶Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. ⁷Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? ⁸If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. ⁹If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; ¹⁰Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. ¹¹If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. ¹²Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. ¹³For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. ¹⁴I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
¹⁵My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. ¹⁶Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
¹⁷How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! ¹⁸If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. ¹⁹Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. ²⁰For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. ²¹Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? ²²I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. ²³Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
²⁴And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Should that not be our prayer too? Praising God for who He is! And asking him to guide our steps everyday! Again in Psalm 51:10, David ask "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." I want to live a life of praise that is pleasing to Him! He knows when I do right, or if I do wrong.

And as promised, He will return for His people. In talking with His disciples, Jesus says in John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 " For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Are you ready? Are you watching? In the parable (Matthew 25) about the ten virgins waiting to meet the bridegroom, five were prepared with their lamps, and oil. However, five were not prepared, as they did not bring their oil. As they waited, the lamps of the foolish, with no oil to keep them burning, went out. "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" Matthew 25:13. Again in Matthew 24:42, Jesus says "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."

Christmas was wonderful! A time to spend with family and friends, and a time of celebration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. And everytime I heard that song, I couldn't help but think about the risen King who will one day return for his people...he sees us when we're sleeping, he knows when we're awake. He knows if we've been bad or good! We better watch out, Jesus is coming!!

Hoping you had a wonderful Christmas! And blessings to you during the New Year!

-Cindy

We decided to do the traditional cinnamon ornaments for our homemade family ornament this year. There are lots of recipes out there, including this one from Martha Stewart. In my true fashion, I didn't really go exactly by the recipe, but it was very close. If I can remember correctly, I tried to use a little more applesauce than glue (since some recipes omitted the glue altogether).

My little handsomes loved getting ALL their cookie cutters out to cut the dough. This is most of the ornaments, but I moved some of the non-traditional to another pan. :)

There are two methods for drying: in the oven for a couple of hours, or just leaving them out for a few days to dry (turning as needed to keep edges from curling up). I chose to put mine in the oven for quicker process, but then I also allowed 1-2days for complete drying.

Then came the painting.