The Christmas Story

About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was the governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's hometown, for the census. As a decendant of David he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancee, who was pregnant.
While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped Him in a blanket and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the hostel.
There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."
At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises: "Glory to God in the heavenly heights; Peace to all men and women on earth who please Him."
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the shepherds talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the shepherds were impressed.
Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!"  (Luke 2:1-20).
It was a simple scene that first Christmas – a rough room, a young couple and nothing but a feeding trough to put the child in. It was probably quite cold and with family far away there was little help. Not exactly the Hallmark moment we like to show in Christmas pageants. And yet this rustic scene marked the greatest event in the history of mankind.
God's Son became human and came to earth to save us. God had promised to send a Messiah, one who would save His people. He could have easily burst on the scene as a full grown man, a seven foot warrior with fiery eyes and arms of steel. This was what many people were looking for, but it wasn't how God did it. He arrived in the arms of a young girl. He was, as another of our authors put it, "a very small package, wrapped in rags, given from the heart of God. The perfect gift."
God gave His only Son to die in our place so that we, in all our brokenness, could know forgiveness. He came so that we could know what love feels like, real love – love that never leaves, love that never disappoints, love that is never betrayed. He sent His Son into a corrupted world to bring us hope.

O Lord Jesus

O Lord Jesus Christ, out of love You died and rose for me and gave me the
Holy Spirit.  In His light and through the prayers of your Holy Mother, I
ask You to proclaiO Lord Jesus Christ, out of love You died and rose for me and gave me the
Holy Spirit.  In His light and through the prayers of your Holy Mother, I
ask You to proclaim the Gospel of Your love in my heart and in my life
today.  I renounce an attachment to sin, and I rebuke in Your Name every
spirit of evil and disorder.  Let Your risen glory shine all through me
that I may love and adore You with my whole being.  Shine in my body, my
brain and nervous system, my chemistry, every tissue and organ.  Shine in
my mind and will and all their powers; in my psyche, my unconscious, my
sexuality and all my energies, so that I may love and work, pray, play and
sleep in Your holiness.  Shine in my heart and spirit.  Put to death my
egotism.  Cast out my fear and every sinful habit.  Enlighten me wholly and
transform all my relationships.  Fully restore Your image in me so that I
no longer live, but You live in me.  Root me and center me in the Father's
love.  Consecrate me to His praise and to the wholehearted love of all my
brothers and sisters; and order all my days and deeds in your peace.  For
You are my Life, my Hope, my Joy and my Healing.  And I send up glory to
You, and to Your Eternal Father, together with Your All-Holy, Good and
Life-Giving Spirit, now and always, and for ever and ever.  Amen.m the Gospel of Your love in my heart and in my life
today.  I renounce an attachment to sin, and I rebuke in Your Name every
spirit of evil and disorder.  Let Your risen glory shine all through me
that I may love and adore You with my whole being.  Shine in my body, my
brain and nervous system, my chemistry, every tissue and organ.  Shine in
my mind and will and all their powers; in my psyche, my unconscious, my
sexuality and all my energies, so that I may love and work, pray, play and
sleep in Your holiness.  Shine in my heart and spirit.  Put to death my
egotism.  Cast out my fear and every sinful habit.  Enlighten me wholly and
transform all my relationships.  Fully restore Your image in me so that I
no longer live, but You live in me.  Root me and center me in the Father's
love.  Consecrate me to His praise and to the wholehearted love of all my
brothers and sisters; and order all my days and deeds in your peace.  For
You are my Life, my Hope, my Joy and my Healing.  And I send up glory to
You, and to Your Eternal Father, together with Your All-Holy, Good and
Life-Giving Spirit, now and always, and for ever and ever.  Amen.

It was six months ago, and a day,
When her husband passed away.
The doctors said there's no more to do,
So she quit her job to help him through.
The child was sleeping when his father died,
To tell her son, oh, how she tried.
The little boy cried that night,
Full of fear, full of fright.
And on that night she lost her faith,
Never to believe in the "Pearly Gate."
She made a vow to never pray,
It meant nothing now, anyway.
At the funeral, he could only stare,
Wishing that his dad were there.
Tears were filling people's eyes,
Saddened by the young boy's cries.
As the months went by, things got rough,
She went back to work, but it wasn't enough.
With no food, no money, and bills to pay,
She just couldn't bring herself to pray.
Before she knew it, it was Christmastime,
And she wasn't able to save a dime.
She felt so bad that she had no tree,
For all her son's friends to see.
On Christmas Eve, they slept together;
She promised her son, she'd be there forever.
He asked her if Santa was coming tonight.
She whispered no, with tears in sight.
Her son would sulk, it wasn't fair;
She hated to see him in despair.
She wanted to give her son some joy,
Oh, how she wished she had a toy.
Then:
The mother got to her knees to pray,
Asking the Lord to hear her say.
She asked for help to return a smile,
To the face of her little child.
On Christmas morning, the boy was screaming;
She saw his eyes were wide and gleaming.
At the door were games, toys, even a bike,
And a card that said, "For the tyke."
With a great big smile and eyes so bright,
He kissed his mom as he held her tight.
She learned that a charity heard of her plight,
And frantically scrambled through the night.
Then again:
The mother got to her knees to pray,
Thanking the Lord for hearing her say.
She thanked the Lord for returning a smile,
To the face of her little child.

Small Adventures

I think over again my small adventures, my fears,
These small ones that seemed so big.
For all the vital things I had to get and to reach.
And yet there is only one great thing,
The only thing.
To live to see the great day that dawns
And the light that fills the world.Thanks you God,Amen

Bed Time prayer

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
Bless this bed that I lay on.
Before I lay me down to sleep,
I give my soul to Christ to keep.
Four corners to my bed,
Four angels 'round my head,
One to watch, one to pray,
And two to bear my soul away.
I go by sea, I go by land,
The Lord made me with his right hand,
If any danger come to me,
Sweet Jesus Christ, deliver me.
For he's the branch and I'm the flower,
Pray God send me a happy hour,
And if I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.

A morning prayer

God of all times and places, you have brought us to the beginning of a new day. Surround us in the same with your all-embracing love, and grant that this day we turn not aside into sin, nor be overcome by adversity, but let our thoughts, words, and deeds, in some small way, make for the coming of your Kingdom on earth. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Information about the LORDS PRAYER

The Lord's Prayer
Christ said "This, then, is how you should pray:"
"Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (Matt. 6:9-13).

What does the Lord's Prayer contain?
It contains a short Preface and Seven Petitions.
What do you call its Preface?
These words: 'Our Father in heaven.'
What does the Father remind us of?
That God is our Father, so good and so worthy of veneration that there is no earthly father like Him; and that we, therefore, ought to pray to Him with a childlike reverence, love, and confidence.
Why do we say 'our Father', and not my Father?
Because, God being the Father of all men, we are all His children, and should therefore love one another as brothers, and pray for one another (cf. Mal. 2:10).
Why do we add these words: 'Who art in Heaven'?
To call to our mind, (1.) That God, though he is everywhere, dwells especially in Heaven, where we shall one day see Him face to face (cf. 1 Cor. 13:12) (see also the New Testament use of God and Heaven.) (2.) That we are but pilgrims upon earth, and that our true country is in Heaven; and (3.) That when we pray, we must detach our hearts from all earthly things, and raise them up to Heaven.
What do we ask for in the First Petition: 'Hallowed be Thy name'?
That the name of God may never be profaned or blasphemed, but that God may be rightly known, loved, and honored by us and by all men.
Why is this the First Petition?
Because we are to esteem the honor and glory of God more than all things else.
What do we ask for in the Second Petition:'Thy Kingdom come'?
(1.) That the kingdom of God, the Church, may be more and more extended upon earth; (2.) That the kingdom of divine, grace and love may now be established in our hearts, in order that, (3.) After this life, we may all be admitted into the kingdom of Heaven.
What is the meaning of the Third Petition:'Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven'?
We ask that we and all men may do the will of God on earth as faithfully and cheerfully as the Angels and Saints do it in Heaven; and We profess that, in all things, we submit ourselves to the holy will of God.
What do we ask for in the Fourth Petition: 'Give us this day our daily bread'?
We ask that God would give us all that is daily necessary for our soul and body.

Why does Christ bid us ask for our daily bread?
To teach us that we should wish only for necessaries, not for riches and abundance. "Having food and wherewith to be covered, with these we are content." (1 Tim. 6:8).

What do we ask for in the Fifth Petition:'Forgive us our trespasses, as We forgive them that trespass against us'?
That God would so forgive us all our sins as we forgive others who have offended us. (See Luke 6:37.)
May those who do not forgive expect forgiveness themselves?
No; on the contrary, they pass judgment upon themselves as often as they say the Lord's Prayer. "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." (See Mark 11:25)

What do we ask for in the sixth Petition: 'Lead us not into temptation'?
We ask that God would remove from us all temptations and all the dangers of sin, or, at least, give us grace sufficient to resist them.
By whom are we tempted to sin?
(1.) By our own flesh or concupiscence; 'for the flesh lusts against the spirit' (Gal. 5:17) (2.) By the World, i.e., by its vain pomp, bad example, and wicked maxims; and (3.) By the Devil, 'who, as a roaring lion, goes about seeking whom he may devour' (1 Pet. 5:8).
Why does God permit us to be tempted?
(1.) To keep us humble; (2.) To try our faithfulness or to punish our unfaithfulness; and (3.) To increase our zeal for virtue, and our merits.

'Lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me' (2 Cor. 12:7). 2. "[F]or the Lord your God tries you, that it may appear whether you love him with all your heart, and with all your soul, or not." (Deut. 13:3). 'Blessed is the man that endures temptation; for when he bath been proved he shall receive the crown of life, which God bath promised to them that love him' (James 1:12).
Is temptation in itself a sin?
Temptation in itself is not a sin; but to expose ourselves heedlessly to temptation, or to yield to it, is a Sin. For our consolation and Instruction, Christ Himself allowed the Devil to tempt Him (See Matt. 4:1-11)
What must we do in order that we may not yield?
We must especially watch and pray, as Christ our Lord says: 'Watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation' (Matt. 26:41).
What do we ask for in the Seventh Petition: 'But deliver us from evil'
That God would preserve us from all evil of soul and body, especially from sin and eternal damnation.
Why do we add the word 'Amen'?
To express by it our ardent desire, and also our confidence of being heard.
Always say the Lord's Prayer with reverential attention, remembering that we have received it from our Divine Redeemer Himself.