Prepare yourself this week. Have your heart bursting with joy, have your mind praying, let your voice bring comfort to others, make your hands provide help, see that your eyes glean the sparkle to others, and stop to share all that you can about this amazing season! Reflect and remember through all the hustle and bustle that this season is for one main purpose—to love. Love in all the ways you know how. Dig deep and prepare your heart and soul to share one of the greatest gifts of all—love. So don’t just prepare your home this week for Christmas, but prepare your heart so that you can give all year long!

 Preparation

 The scent of the cedar tells me the season is upon us.

The light, blue-green fruits and feathered branches provide a wonderful backdrop.

The nativity scene has been carefully unpacked once more.

It occupies the special place in the house where all can honor its purpose.

The song from the music box helps the skaters glide around the base.

 

The advent log rest comfortably waiting to glow as the time draws closer to the great day!

Bells jingle all around.

Songs and verses that are familiar to all can be heard.

Lights twinkle,

As ornaments strut their glory about the tree.

The magnificent star with its gold and stones represent the great birth.

 

The smells of ham and cookies make our tummies yearn for their taste.

The musical carousel stands tall atop the special crafted tree skirt ready to entertain.

The adorned angel holds the ornament reading Merry Christmas Ya’ll.

The paper Coco Cola Santa sits on the cabinet holding his finger to his nose sparking excitement of the little ones looking up from below.

All these represent preparation for the great season of love and giving.

 

Then we see their arrival.

One by one.

Smile after smile.

Hugs after hugs.

This is truly the season.

When those we share love with sit among all the other earthly things!

And we celebrate the best gift of all-

The born and risen King!

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

 

I cannot thank you enough this week for loving me by being here to read. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. May this holiday bring you and those you love peace, joy, and love. God please bless each one! Merry Christmas!

 

Love,

Rennae

 

 

Blessings

 

 

As the cold crosses the Earth, the night becomes pitch except for the beautiful, magnificent lights! I love having a sweater on, pulling it tight around me, and gazing at the light show that I have been given. I don’t know why but in the winter the show is just so much more spectacular! I truly believe our souls are that light that exist with God before we arrive here. That is why our babies have such innocence. They are pure love and light from God. I wish and hope for each of us that we return to that pure light as our existence here continues. We should not have to speak only or appear only to have this light—our presence should be this light!

Gazing

 With every star a soul is born.

I use to just gaze

And I would wonder how could these be so bright against the dark sky?

 

Then as I realized

The lights were not just those of gas and nuclear power,

But from a power greater than a chemical reaction.

 

A source that streamed forth from every soul that was to arrive on the Earth.

Souls that would spend so little time in these weak bodies,

But forever in these strong hearts.

 

So what is a soul?

Is it energy?

Is it the glory from an unknown world?

Does it matter what it is?

 

What seems more of essence is not what it is,

But what it becomes.

 

A light that is beyond description.

A light that is eternal.

A light that has no words,

Only presence.

 

How many souls will I meet tonight upon my gaze into the dark?

 Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

 Tonight when look into the sky, be open to meet new souls throughout this world. Become the everlasting light to others! During this hurried season, do stop and look up! Thank you for your presence with me this week.

Love,

Rennae

 

 

 

Blessings