How did you do this season?

THIS IS WHAT I WROTE AT THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER...

"Thanksgiving has passed...the holiday that is less stressful. Why should we end up being stressed during the Christmas holiday season? To even make a list of reasons for stress would actually cause us stress. We are determined to make this Christmas one of remembrance and celebration of the Reason for the season in spite of the busyness. One plan is to prayerfully wrap prezzies and prayerfully cook, arrange, and clean the house for each happening. Most important will be to start the day with some quiet time with the Lord. This will center us for the day. Read His word and meditate on it. The Women's Focus Ministry devotionals and other writings will be there for you to use as a part of your quiet time. Have music of the season playing in the background. Take a breather once in a while and send up "feather" prayers whenever He comes into your mind. Remember IT always gets done. Make lists so you don't have to hold it in your mind. It is so wonderful to cross off what you have done. Most of all have a wonderful month of love for God, your family, and your friends. Make it joyful." 

I thought it would be interesting to review my Christmas time endeavers.

• 11/28 - 12/1  Spent four days decorating my house. It looks beautiful. I have loved it, and everyone who came here loved it. Every room has a manger and some have more than one as I have some really beautiful small ones and two big ones. One is the manger that my parents bought their first Christmas in 1941.
• 12/3 - Our neighb0rhood had a progressive dinner that was held in three homes. We hosted the entre part of the dinner. The fellowship in this neighborhood is up 200% thanks to this event.  We all got to know each other better, and we are planning further get togethers in 2011.
• 12/10 - I lead a writers' group. We had our celebration of Christmas at my house. It was a pot luck. During the evenining we also exchanged gifts. We all knew that God was there during the gift exchange. We each picked a name out of a Santa hat and gave our gift to the person whose name we pulled. We each talked about why we had picked the gift we had brought. Without exception we each received a gift that seemed to be meant for us...surely a God thing. We finished up our evening with reading our writes that were based on a theme of Christmas. A good night!
• 12/11 This was the day for our Church Womens' Ministries Christmas luncheon. This traditionally includes women who wish to host a table and decorate it to do so. I did host a table with a theme of mangers and poinsettas. It was beautiful as were ALL the other tables. The event included a trunk sale with gently used clothes donated by many women of the church. It was so much fun, and I spent some money getting some awesome "new" duds. I invited three neighbors who do not attend my church. The four of us and the other friends at the table had a great time.
• 12/15 - This was the biggest blessing of all. I have a cousin who was like a sister to me growing up.  Life and distance of homes kept us from continuing our close relationship for years and years.  Sally came to visit me and will be here until the 31st. Her daughter, Patty, and granddaughter, Brittany, also came on 12/18 to spend a few days. They all fell right in with the program, and it has been easy to have them around. Lots of laughter. Help with wrapping prezzies. A family face with its blessed familiarity.
• 12/16 - Sally, my 7 year old granddaughter, Kieran, and I drove up to Stockton to visit Sally's grandson, Brandon. We took him and a friend out to what we called "Lupper"...a late lunch or early supper...you pick.  I gave the boys each a tie that had a Christmas picture and each played a different Christmas Carol.  Too cute/funny. 
• 12/18 - This was the evening of our Gourmet Christmas party and gift exchage. This group has become like family and we love our monthly gourmet potlucks that always have a theme. This was held at our friend's house, Craig and Jody. It was lovely and we all brough finger appetizers or desserts. The house was beautiful and we exchanged and fought to steal white elephant gifts.
• 12/21 - I take a writing class at which we lovingly call "Tuesdays with Helen." Our last class of this session was a potluck at my house, where I and my fellow students read what we had written. I love this class and hearing the wide variety of readings from the very talented class members. 

THEN WE WERE TO THE ACTUAL TIME OF CHRISTMAS

• 12/24 - Christmas Eve with friends and a neighbor over to join dinner with my hubby, cousin, son and me.
• 12/25 - Christmas Blessed Christmas was here once more. Kieran was supposed to come with her dad...our son, Faruk and mom, Janet, and brother, Michael. Sadly Faruk came down with shingles and they could not come. Our niece Tanya came with her boyfriend and his step mom and step grandmom. We had a nice time, some appetizers and some soup. Later on the four of us had dinner...a small group considering our other celebratios for December.
•  12/26 - The last hurrah! Friends Jody and Craig came to lunch after church. I used leftovers to make open faced sandwiches with gravy and left over pies.  Just got a text from Jody who said that it is a good thing we will be together in eternity where we can talk as much as we want to and not have to leave.

AND LIFE WENT ON AS USUAL...

• Bible study ever Thursday with about five hours prep for each meeting where we were studying Job.
• Writers class every Tuesday that meant that I had to write something.
• Cooking, cleaning and laundry.
• Doc appointment and hair cut
• Adnistrating Gourmet Group, Writers Group, my online  Native American Friends Website, and participating in BBC Poetry Corner...which means writing and commenting on the writings of other members

SO HOW DID I DO???

Well I wrote...

•  "Remember IT always gets done. Make lists so you don't have to hold it in your mind. It is so wonderful to cross off what you have done. Most of all have a wonderful month of love for God, your family, and your friends. Make it joyful."

I cannot claim to have been stress free. You can not do all that I did and not have some degree of stress. However, in the overall picture I passed with at least a B+.

Filled with God's Blessings
Corinne

Gather Round Me Children

Gather round me children

Find a place where you can sit

Get your blankey and pillow

And come back lickety split.

Yes, gather round me children

I have a tale I want to spin

A wonderful story to be sure

Settle down and I will begin

The children all sat down

On the rug by the fire place

Waiting for me to start my story

Smiles on each and every face.

Long ago on an icy dark night

A prophesy that was foretold

Was fulfilled under a bright white star

That man had waited for from days of old.

A man and wife upon a trip

Required to journey to Bethlehem town

Orders to be counted in the census

Requiring Joseph and Mary to travel down.

But Mary, sweet young Mary

Was ready to birth her first wee child

Not easy to ride a donkey so far

But still Mary and Joseph smiled.

They knew that this baby

Who would soon be given birth

Was a gift from heaven on high

God’s own son was coming to earth.

The angels sang in the heavens

Shepherds came in from their field

Wise men followed a star to visit the babe

Through whom all the world would be healed.

And soon my dear children

We’ll all celebrate and recollect

The beautiful birthday of Jesus himself

Who was much more than earth could expect.

Still warmed by the hearth fire

One little one said what she thought,

“Even then Baby Jesus loved us so much

This is what he taught.”

I answered her that she was right

And told there’s one more thing,

“When you hear how He favored children

Your hearts will really sing.”

 

Because Jesus did love children

A fact none could ever deny

He praised their purity saying

All should become as small fry.

Jesus told the grownups there

“Let the children come to Me.

They are the sweet and innocent ones

Of this world, you see.”

So children sat up on His lap

And bounced upon His knee

They loved to spend time with Him

Knew He came to set them free.

So this is what we celebrate

At this holiday time of year

The Baby born in a barn long ago

Little Baby Jesus so dear.

         

©Corinne Mustafa

   Christmas, 2010

Golden Rule

Galatians 6:2
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.


Galatians 6:2
Bear ye one another' s burdens - Have sympathy; feel for each other; and consider the case of a distressed brother as your own.


And so fulfill the law of Christ - That law or commandment, Ye shall love one another; or that, Do unto all men as ye would they should do unto you. We should be as indulgent to the infirmities of others, as we can be consistently with truth and righteousness: our brother' s infirmity may be his burden; and if we do not choose to help him to bear it, let us not reproach him because he is obliged to carry the load.


submitted by Annie

A Little Christmas Story

This has a rough ending but I think it perfectly illustrates
that ANYONE can become stressed and overwhelmed.

And it all happens in  a season when JESUS IS TO BE THE REASON!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the Pre-Christmas pressure.

Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where.

Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.

Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drunk all the cider and hidden the liquor. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and an irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.

The angel said very cheerfully, 'Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?'

And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.

Not a lot of people know this.

This is a funny illustration of the REASON gone bad.
Let's refocus!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Take time out to read and think on this...

THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

The Birth of Jesus

|

Luke 2
(The Message)

About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, 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 in the hostel.

An Event for Everyone

There were sheepherders 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 sheepherders 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 sheepherders were impressed.

Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders 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!

Yes, this is what we need to focus on during the stress of many things to do

Jesus is the REAL REASON FOR THE SEASON

Presented and shared by

Corinne Mustafa

A Glass of Milk

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water.

She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"

"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."

He said..... "Then I thank you from my heart." As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Year's later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the nameof the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.

Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval.

He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill.

She read these words.....

"Paid in full with one glass of milk"

(Signed)

Dr. Howard Kelly

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, God, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands."

Author Unknown

Shared by Corinne Mustafa

This 'n That...11/22 - 11/27/10

This 'n That...11/22 - 11/27/10

"Don't forget that appreciation is always appreciated."

"If you can't be content with what you receive,
be thankful for all that you have escaped."

"Use your imagination, not to scare yourself to death,

but to inspire yourself to live."

- Adele Brookman

________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________

The Victor

Poet: C.W. Longenecker

If you think you are beaten, you are.

If you think you dare not, you don’t

If you like to win but think you can’t,

It’s almost a cinch you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost.

For out in the world we find

Success begins with a fellow’s will

It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are.

You’ve got to think high to rise.

You’ve got to be sure of yourself before

You can ever win the prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go

To the stronger or faster man.

But sooner or later, the man who wins

Is the man who thinks he can.

Shared by Corinne Mustafa

 

Cream Cheese

No this is not an advertisement for Philadelphia Cream Cheese in spite of the wonder food that it is. It is good on bagels. It is good in a salsa dip. It is good as a dollop in soup. Let us not forget the wonder of cheesecake be it plain, topped with strawberries or another fruit, chocolate or marble…it is the ultimate elegant dessert. It is cool and smooth and slides down easily with a sure sense of gourmet enjoyment.

What I am talking about here is the word Philadelphia. You know, the same as the famous Pennsylvania city…also known as the “City of Brotherly Love.” However, because this is a website for women perhaps we should discuss “Sisterly Love” instead.

What would cream cheese and sisterly love have in common? Well that is a stretch at best. It only came to my mind because of the name of the Philadelphia brand and the meaning of the word. And since we are women at the least we could call it “siblingly” love…to love as a sibling would whether that sibling be a male or a female. So let’s follow the idea of the blessings of cream cheese.

It is a smooth ingredient that enhances enjoyment of so many different foods. Just as love in our interactions helps the medicine go down so to speak. When we love we act differently and medicine is more palatable. Though it may be necessary the brunt of it is dulled by the creamy ingredient of love.






The Bible gives a lovely description of love and what it could be in 1Corinthians 13…the love chapter.


If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.



Love never gives up.


Love cares more for others than for self.


Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.


Love doesn't strut,


Doesn't have a swelled head,


Doesn't force itself on others,


Isn't always "me first,"


Doesn't fly off the handle,


Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,


Doesn't revel when others grovel,


Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,


Puts up with anything,


Trusts God always,


Always looks for the best,


Never looks back,


But keeps going to the end.


8-10Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.


11When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.


12We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!


But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. (The Message)


So here we have it on sisterly love…Philadelphia…






Love cares more for others than for self.

When a sister is in need share some cream cheese and jelly on a bagel…and some coming alongside


Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Your sister only needs what you are able to give

Love doesn't strut,

Your sister needs a shoulder not someone who boasts about their own accomplishments.


Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others


Again there is no need to hold yourself up as a role model when all she needs is a sympathetic ear.

Isn't always "me first,"


A true practitioner of love will never try to put herself before her sister at a time of need.
Doesn't fly off the handle,

There will be no loss of patience no matter how unreasonable a needy sister is when she is going through a difficult time.
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
There will be no reminders to your sister of past failures.


Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Obvious!


Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
As your love manifests to your hurting sister you will be glad when she sees the truth about her situation and starts to improve.


Puts up with anything,

In coming alongside there may be annoyances but a true sister is willing to put up with any inconvenience


Trusts God always,

Who else can we really, truly trust?


Always looks for the best,

This is totally needed so that love can triumph>


Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

Once the course is set it is forward to the end.


Sisterly love is the cheese cake of relationships. It is the thing that enhances the interaction of our relationships with everyone but especially with other women. As we come alongside we should be the ingredient in the troubled heat of a hot salsa dip that blends and dims the fire of a problem time to something that is tasty and easily handled.


Written by Corinne Mustafa

Earthly Friends and Divine FRIEND

More Than A Friend

I am your friend

on a beautiful journey

our friendship like a small vessel

carries us over the waves of our caring

our many roles to each other

reverse as the tides

kindred as

sibling - teacher - helper - parent - friend

but we know we are so very much more

precious pilgrimage of our hearts

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meeting A Friend

Days and weeks and years have passed

And you have become so dear

I wait and wait till we can meet

We do and I’m filled with cheer.

We laugh and play like little girls

And do what we desire

It’s so much fun to be with you

That is something I require.

But best of all is what I see

And feel whenever you’re around

Is how blessed I am to have a friend

In whom I see godliness abound

And I know that God has given me

A friend as great as you

To have and love and be free with

A gift of God so true.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Ultimate Friend

                                                        

 Thinking of what friendship isWhat I hold to my heart

Qualities that I look for

Truthfulness,

Caring,

Dependability,

Help,

Patience,

Steadfastness,

Sweetness,

Humor,

Affability,

Goodness,

Love,

Just,

Compassionate,

Faithful.

Many on the list

are found in my dearest friends

Truthfulness

to say what I need to hear

Caring

enough to do just that

Dependable

knowing I can call them any time

Help

when ever I am needing it

Patience

with my many flaws

Steadfastness

to beliefs of right and wrong

Sweetness

that touches my heart with joy

Humor

which I can count on for a giggle

Affability

that shows me I am a friend

Goodness

seen in how they treat me and others

Love

of others seen in their good works

Just

and fair in thought and word and deed

Compassionate

enough to help those in need

and

Faithfulness

even when I don’t deserve it

I can think of so many friends

Who possess so many of these qualities

I have been blessed in those who I can call

My friend.

But the very best Friend of all

The One who is never far from me

Possesses all of these and more

Omnipresent

Omnipotent

Eternal

Breath of life

Lover of my soul

Keeper of my heart

Protector of my life

Spring of living water

Endless peace of mind

My point of light

Abbah, Father, Daddy

Perfect, ultimate Friend forever.

My God!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friend for Life

Faithful to my every need

Righteous and dependable

Inability to ever cause me harm

Eternal so I never am alone

Naturally for me not against

Dependable beyond my greatest need

GOD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©Corinne H. Mustafa

~~~~~~~~~~~