Since the 4th century, the Te Deum (Thee O God, We Praise) has been sung by the Christian Church on special occasions. Tradition has it that this wonderful hymn of praise is sung on the last day of the year. I can’t think of a better way to finish up this first year of Making All Things New.
No matter what kind of year you’ve had, there’s plenty to thank God for.
I just got back from taking a load of clothing to the Goodwill. Later on, I’m heading to the library to donate some books. It’s true, I’m mainly doing it for the tax deduction. But I also know that my donations help.
As the Goodwill video clip below shows, the money made from the sale of my donations, along with countless other people, helps people in my local community get training, so that they can obtain meaningful employment.
I love to read, and I know there are a lot of folks that share that love. When I hear that a new Vince Flynn or David Balducci book is out, I rush to the Border’s Bookstore in the mall and pick up. I’m blessed to have the money to do that, but there are a lot of folks in my community who don’t. As of tonight, there are fifty people on my local library’s waiting list to check out a copy of American Assassin by Vince Flynn (great book).
Yesterday, I wrote about using the SMART system for developing your goals for 2011. After I hit the publish button, I got to thinking that it might be helpful for you to hear about how I’m taking my own advice.
As I’ve said before, I think 2011 is going to be a great year. With all the junk that seemed to follow me, my family, and my friends this past year, I can’t wait for the ball to drop 🙂 It should be said that there were some pretty great things that will forever be attached to 2010, like the birth of some special babies I know, but overall, it was pretty dreary. Too much stress! Too much drama! So, it’s time to turn things around, get a fresh start, and improve our lives. Are you with me?
I heard a great quote the other day. Sorry, but I didn’t get the source when I was writing down the quotation 🙁
If you are breathing, there’s more right with you than wrong.
So often, we focus on the negative rather than the positive. When I heard this quote, I was reminded that, no matter how bad things may seem, there’s still a lot of good going on all around us. We just need to change our perspective.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for 2011 to get here 🙂 I’m excited because I feel like I have a lot of great things planned in the New Year, and I’m taking steps to ensure that I’ll be able to accomplish everything I set out to do. I’m energized by my trust that God and I are partnering up to get some transformations going and that together we’re going to make all things new. Do you want to join us?
If you’re lucky enough to have a few days off this week, try this recipe out. I made it for some friends on Christmas Eve, and everyone loved it. Being the cautious type, and since I had never made this recipe before, I made the soup the day before. Given the complexity of flavors, I’d encourage you to do the same.
The Nativity by Fra Angelico
You Come Down from the Stars
St. Alphonsus Ligouri
You come down from the stars
Oh King of Heavens,
And you come in a cave
In the cold, in the frost.
And you come in a cave
In the cold, in the frost.
Oh my Divine Baby
I see you trembling here,
Oh Blessed God,
Ah, how much it cost you,
Your loving me.
Ah, how much it cost you,
Your loving me.
For you, who are of all the world
The creator,
No robes and fire,
Oh my Lord.
No robes and fire,
Oh my Lord.
Dear chosen one, little infant
This dire poverty,
Makes me love you more
Since Love made you
Poor now.
Since Love made you
Poor now.
Merry Christmas! I found myself on a quest this morning. I wanted to find the English translation to the great Italian Christmas carol, Tu scendi dalle Stella, written by St. Alphonsus Ligouri in the summer of 1755.
The song has been the most popular Christmas carol in Italy for centuries. Giuseppe Verdi is to have said, Christmas without Tu Scendi dalle Stella is not Christmas.
Wishing you and yours a very blessed Christmas.
The only time I read USA Today is when I get it free at a hotel. Probably like you, I get my news from the websites I check each day.
It’s interesting, though, that whenever I do get this paper, I’m impressed that I can always find articles that are interesting and relevant to me.
Monday’s edition (12/20/10) had an article about a recent survey done to find out how people view Christmas. The survey, conducted by LifeWay Research, said nine out of ten Americans celebrate the holiday, no matter if they are Christian, Atheist, Jewish or Muslim.
It seems as though most skip the religious side of this holiday, however, and instead focus on family and friends. Only 37% said that Christmas was a time to focus on Jesus/God.
Of those in the 18-29 age range, more than half (56%) say their Christmas is primarily religious, but three in four (74%) told LifeWay (the group conducting the survey) that the things they enjoy most about the Christmas season “have nothing to do with the birth of Jesus.”
It’s always fun to visit a new place. I really enjoyed my time in Mississippi, although I only saw a small portion of the state. One thing struck me during my brief time there, however and it involves food. Mississippi has the highest obesity rate in the country, with over 33% of the population considered obese.
Those who read this blog on a regular basis know that where there’s obesity, Type II diabetes is right there too. So it should come as no surprise that 14.9% of the state’s population have been diagnosed with this illness. Only West Virginia has a higher incidence of diabetes, but not by much.
These sad numbers came to life for me by two incidents that took place while I was visiting.
I just got home from a little vacation in Gulfport, Mississippi. It was a short trip, but it was nice to be somewhere warm. Today’s high was 70, and I came home to a brisk 30 degrees, with snow predicted by the weekend. Now I know why people move south 🙂
I had to change planes in Atlanta 🙁 not my favorite airport. My connecting flight always seems to be on the other end of this huge airport, and it takes forever to get to where I need to go. Well, not forever, but it sure seemed like it.
As we were waiting to board our flight, I noticed a man in an Air Force uniform standing by the window. What drew my attention was seeing the flight crew go up and speak to him. He seemed older, but I figured he was probably just coming back from some time in either Iraq or Afghanistan. We watched him board the plane with the crew. Maybe he was a pilot.