And and angel came unto them ~

For a Savior is born .......:)

The Shepherds and the Angels.....

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shown around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,  "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.  Luke 2:8-20

Loving others as you would yourself...

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?"  Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind; this is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the prophets hang onto these two commandments.  ~Matthew 22:36-40

Tough questions from kids - Why do we pray for our enemies?

The main reason to pray for our enemies is because God tells us to. In fact, He tells us to love our enemies. Praying for our enemies and loving them is God's way.  Another reason is that all people, especially bad people, need prayer.  There is no better way to change them.  If we want bad people to stop being bad, we need to ask God to do it.

I Don't Ask For Your Pity, but your understanding, not even that , no, just your recognition in you, the enemy, time in us all..~Sweet Bird of Youth ..Tennessee Williams...........

The Parable of the Lost Son

There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, "Father, give me my share of the estate." So he divided his property between them.

Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.  After he had spent everything there was severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.  So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to the fields to feed pigs.  He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

When he came to his senses, he said, "How many pf my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Make me like one of you hired men."  So, he got up and went to his father.

The son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy of being called your son."

But the father said to his servants, "Quick, bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it.  Let's have a feast and celebrate.  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and now is found." So they began to celebrate.

Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.  So he called one of his servants and asked what is going on.  "Your brother has come" He replied, "and your father  has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound."

The older brother got angry and refused to go in.  So his father came out and pleaded with him.  But he answered his father, "Look! All these years I have been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.  Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.  But when that son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him."

"My son," the father said, "you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.  But we have to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and now he is found."

~Luke 15:11-31

Looking out with faith and hope

1st Sura of the Qu'ran

We begin in the Name of God

Everlasting mercy, infinite compassion

Praise be to God, loving Lord of all worlds.

Everlasting mercy, infinite compassion

Eternal strength of every living being

Whose majestic power embraces us on the day of the Great Return

Only you do we adore, and to you alone do we cry for help

Guide us, O God, on the path of perfect harmony

The path of those whom you have blessed with the gifts of peace, joy, serenity and delight

The path of those who are not brought down by anger

The path of those who are not lost along the way

So be it

The Na'at

O, dear Master, Friend of Truth

O, beloved God, the divine message bearer of the Creator without equal.

You are the pure One, whom the Lord of majesty has chosen among his creatures.

O, my Friend, my King

You are well beloved of the Eternal, the Light of our eyes.

O, protector, Friend of Truth.

O, my Friend and King,

messengers of God

Thou knowest how weak and defenseless are Thy people.

Thou art the guide of the powerless and the humble in spirit,

Friend of Truth, my King.

Thou art the cypress in the garden of prophets.

Thou art the spring season in the world of knowledge.

Thou art the rose-tree in the garden of the way of harmony and surrender.

Thou art a nightingale of the world above.

The sun of Tabiz has praise the glory of the Lord.

Thou art purified, the Chosen, the Exalted.

O, thou, who hears the heart,

the true friend of God.

O, God, give me light in my heart ~

O, God, give me the light in Your heart,

and light my tongue,

and light my hearing,

and light my sight,

and light in my feeling,

and light in all of my body,

and light before me,

and light behind me,

Give me, I pray thee:

light on my right hand,

light on my left hand,

and light above me,

and light beneath me.

O, Lord, increase light within me,

and give me light and illuminate me,

these are the lights that the Lord asked for

verily to possess such light

means to be contemplated by the light.

Meditation for the day~ I pray that I may not let the beast in me hold me back from my spiritual destiny. I pray that I may rise and walk upright.

Lay upon God your failures and mistakes and shortcomings. Do not dwell upon your failures, upon the fact that in the past you have been nearer a beast than an angel.  You have a mediator between you and God - your growing faith - which can lift you up from the mire and point you toward the heavens.  You can still be reconciled with the spirit of God.  You can still regain the harmony with the divine principle of the universe.