Let the sea and all its creatures praise the Lord
The skies filled with birds sing their song of praise
Let the rivers and streams clap their hands
The hills come alive with the sound of music
Let the song of the Lord be heard in distant lands
Shout with joy all you people here below
On cymbals, and strings, and trumpets blow
Make music for Him who gave us breath
Sing a new song to the victor o'er death
The Lord has done great things for us
Our eyes have seen His wondrous deeds
He remembers us and He loves us
His face has shone down upon us
He is faithful and just, righteous and true
The designer of the universe also created you
Sing with your voices, sing with your mind
Sing with your body, sing out all mankind
Sing from your soul, sing from your heart
Sing so every fiber of your being's taking part
Find a brand-new way to sing His praise
Let it permeate your nights and your days
Go out and create!

We are made to Create, Recreate, Procreate. We ourselves were created and creation, by definition, is life giving. We were made for LIFE. A song may take on a life of its own in our hearts and in our lives. A painting, a picture, a story, can seem to come alive, and bring other things to life. It is what drives us, pushes us, challenges us. It is what makes us special, and beautiful, and unique and it is why, when we come together, seemingly miraculous things can happen. Each of us has gifts, talents, graces, different than another person. We create (and are creative) in many different forms and areas.

My challenge is this: find out in what ways you are creative or can be creative and come up with something positive, something new, something that you can give life to and, in turn, something that gives you life. Find (at least) one place to be creative and do it. Make it happen. Celebrate LIFE and see the life and joy it can bring to those around you. Perhaps it will inspire someone else to create. Work with people who are/think/see differently. We were never meant to create in a vacuum. It takes at least two to make LIFE.

May God bless and keep you and your loved ones safe and close this year. May your days be filled with Joy and your nights be full of His Peace!

See this Holy Family
Bound by grace and love
Rooted by faith and peace
Mirror of the Trinity
Expressed in human entity
Stuff of legends and of dreams
But to trust and to obey
To pack up and come away
Spending years in fear and flight
On the run and taking flight
Full of grace and every blessing true
No stranger to hardship and sorrow too
To know this Holy Family
Is to know from whence you came
To know this Holy Family
Is to know your truest name
You are part of this great family
Set apart as a daughter or son
You are part of this great family
With room enough for everyone
It can give you purpose
It can help you find meaning
It can be a place you belong
We were not made to be alone
It is here that love makes a home
Together, we are family strong

Look child, for the day is drawing near
And, if you are silent, you might even hear
The angels bending low upon the earth
Proclaiming now a little baby's birth
Born to one so pure and blessed
His head laid gently upon her chest
Under watchful eye of Godly man
Wordlessly, he takes his wife's hand
This Holy Family exemplifies the love
Between Father, Son, and Spirit above
Hush little one, let sweet sleep descend
And, to the angels, your soul I commend
See the light that shineth down
Upon this sleepy little town
Unto us a savior is born, a helpless little babe
But, someday soon, the people, he will save
Listen and learn from this simple story
Be ready when He comes in all his glory
To unite His children to himself at last
Old is made new and suffering is past
Watch the light, keep it safe and let it shine
That to all who see you, it may be a sign

Go to the place where the sky meets the sea
Cast your gaze and tell me what you see
Far in the East the sun will slowly rise
Painting with gold and saffron the morning skies

From the West the sun dips below
Casting again its crimson glow
To tuck itself in the blanket of night
And come again on Eastern flight

O seat of wisdom from on high
O spring of life that ne'er runneth dry
O root of Jesse flower once more
O key of David strike a divine chord
O king of the nations forever reign
O Lord whose anthems echo o'er the plain
O with us is God He is Emmanuel
O soon and very soon, all will be well

Lord, as we prepare for the coming celebrations by cleaning, tidying up, and getting organized for company, family and friends, and parties of all kinds, I pray that you would make us mindful of the need to do the same thing in our hearts, our minds, and our lives. We need to prepare ourselves to be ready to welcome you into our humble houses and we wait with eager anticipation for you to be born again in us.

As we give and receive gifts this year, turn our minds to the gifts that you received and their meaning and, more importantly, to rejoice and be glad for all the gifts that you give us in return.

As we celebrate and gather together in our warm houses with good food and nice clothes, let us take a moment to remember those who are left out in the cold, those who do not have such luxuries and move our hearts to be grateful and show them some love and mercy.

And, when Christmas is over, ordinary life is moving forward once more and we forget the promises we made, remind us that Christmas is about Emmanuel. Christmas reminds us that God is with us. Not just for one day a year, not for a month or a season, but every day and every night. God is with us in the morning and the evening, in our waking and our sleeping. God is present. The communion (the Eucharist) is His gift to us. It is his very essence. He feeds us and sustains us as we walk this way of faith.

God, sometimes we need a little gift. Sometimes our spirits need a little lift. In these moments Lord, help us reach out to you with open hands and give up our burdens and receive your abundant gifts you desire to give us. And Lord, may we never be envious or desirous of someone else's gifts. You bless us all as we need. Your gifts are perfect Lord. Grant us the grace to be satisfied with You, satisfied with what we have been given, satisfied enough on earth and grant that we, may one day be, supremely satisfied within the halls of Heaven. Amen

Come Oh God, come and be with us
Be with us and hear us as we pray
Come Christ Holy Spirit, settle in our hearts
Burn, burn within us, melt the icy parts
Like fire in our veins, stream of living water
Fan the flame and let love burn hotter
Come Lord Jesus, born to save us all
Gather us in, your beloved children
Open the eyes of our hearts to your call
Come, oh come, for God is with us here
Come, oh come, for He is with us now
Emmanuel is His name
Prince of Peace, King of Glory