Memories From Nana

An interview with Nana by Lady Olivia

In the corner of the small living room sat a sad Christmas tree, decorated with far less ornaments than the one shown in this photo. To conserve electricity, we were only allowed to turn on a revolving color lamp in the evenings.

The year was 1960 and I was the oldest of five children. Times were uneasy. Our parents had divorced and my mother, without a high school education, had gone to work as a butcher’s assistant in a nearby grocery store. She walked to and from her job each day. Before and after school, I was the surrogate mother.

This Christmas, the siblings were not all together since we were separated by a custody agreement earlier in the year. In the evening, harmony and togetherness were needed. We would wrap ourselves in grandmother’s quilts as we sang Christmas carols from an old, but treasured book while we watched the tree turn red, yellow, and green as the light turned. We tried to remember why we were celebrating and cast our concerns for gifts aside.

Finally, the big day arrived. We each received a little doll and one board game to share. But the big gift was when our other two sisters walked in the door. They were home. It was a merry Christmas after all. Later that day, we made our way to the small Missionary Baptist Church down the street and celebrated the reason this day was special. Indeed, special all around.

Black Friday

Black Friday…it sounds like a dark day in history, but it is actually better known as the day after Thanksgiving when consumers don their comfortable shoes and strap on their pocketbooks to prepare for a full day of power shopping. Parking lots are typically full to overflowing and lines wrap around stores as shoppers prepare to buy gifts for Christmas.

It has been reported that Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year, but with the recent economic shaking our country is taking, I wonder if this year, some will give pause and reconsider buying into this over-hyped marketing ploy.

What does the Bible say about consumerism? In 1 Timothy 6:8, we are told to be content with food and raiment (clothing). Is that all you may ask? Yes. Really consider—are all these must have gifts really necessary? Americans insist they need plasma screen televisions, the latest and greatest electronic toys, and new cars with giant red bows on top, but will that truly buy happiness? Perhaps that is the very reason our country is in this economic pickle.

"Ye cannot serve God and mammom" (money) Matthew 6:24.

Let us purpose to serve God alone as we enter this advent season. With right hearts, we will celebrate Christmas as it was meant to be, not as the world would impose upon us to observe this holiday.

A Warm and Cozy Thanksgiving

by Lady Olivia

Town that is homey

House which is warm and cozy
Aunts and uncles
Nana, Papa, Grandma, and Grandpa
Kind friends
Salvation
Good food
I am grateful for Mom and Dad
Very funny dog
I am thankful for my wonderful brother
Nice neighbors
God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

by Sister Angie

For me, Thanksgiving is a culmination of God’s goodness and faithfulness throughout the year. As an only child, I am blessed to have married into a big family. My husband is the youngest of five. Extended family crowds into one of our homes and the rooms are filled with good conversation, laughter, and the aroma of a wonderful dinner. Traditions are carried on as we play dominoes and a very noisy game of Pit. Cousins play football outside while we women busy ourselves in the kitchen, bumping into one another as we prepare the biggest meal of the year.

Nana’s favorite frozen cranberry salad is garnished, my famous 'make ahead mashed potatoes' are puddled with pats of butter while Aunt Kim’s green bean casserole and my mom’s cornbread dressing is heated. Yet this day is not all about food. It is about love, God’s abundant love and grace to see us through each day and the opportunity to share the truth of Jesus with loved ones that have gathered together. The patriarch of the family calls all to join hands as we stand and bow our heads in prayer. We enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. For the Lord is good. His mercy is everlasting and His truth endures to all generations. Hearts are full. Tummies are full. It is obvious to me that Jesus came so that we would have life, and life more abundantly.

Please enjoy several of our other Thanksgiving articles.

Sweetest Day

Maybe your calendar has these words printed on today’s date and you really have no idea what it means. Is it a day for your sweetheart or just another reason to increase candy sales? Well it’s actually both! While not as popular as St. Valentine’s Day, Sweetest Day is still celebrated across America. Hallmark produced 151 Sweetest Day greeting card designs in 2006 and American Greetings produced 178 designs.

It’s interesting how a group of people can claim a day and promote it to the masses. When we see in the media other such ‘invented’ days of importance, when there is something on a daily basis that we must not forget to observe, honor, and devote ourselves to, that sweet hour of prayer. Our nation has a National Day of Prayer, but let's not only hold to one day a year! With this upcoming election, we MUST be praying DAILY for our nation and the direction in which it is going.

You may have heard that song before and wondered where an hour of prayer came from.

1. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

2. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

3. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

4. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight.
This robe of flesh I’ll drop, and rise
To seize the everlasting prize,
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”

You can purchase a Prayer Coloring Book for the little ones in your family, which is just SO cute! I have never before seen a coloring book dedicated to teaching children to pray. Prayer is a pivotal part of a Christian's life. We must speak to God every single day. Imagine a day if your parents refused to speak to you ALL day, for several days in a row. Yet many times, in the busyness of life, we do that to our God.

This Sweetest Day let's think of our Saviour. He's the sweetest one I know.

Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know

Words & Music: Lela B. Long, 20th Century

There have been names that I have loved to hear,
But never has there been a name so dear
To this heart of mine, as the Name divine,
The precious, precious Name of Jesus.

Jesus is the sweetest name I know,
And He’s just the same as His lovely Name,
And that’s the reason why I love Him so;
Oh, Jesus is the sweetest name I know.

There is no name in earth or Heav’n above,
That we should give such honor and such love
As the blessèd Name, let us all acclaim,
That wondrous, glorious Name of Jesus.

Jesus is the sweetest name I know,
And He’s just the same as His lovely Name,
And that’s the reason why I love Him so;
Oh, Jesus is the sweetest name I know.

And some day I shall see Him face to face
To thank and praise Him for His wondrous grace,
Which He gave to me, when He made me free,
The blessèd Son of God called Jesus.

Jesus is the sweetest name I know,
And He’s just the same as His lovely Name,
And that’s the reason why I love Him so;
Oh, Jesus is the sweetest name I know.