Jesus Is ALIVE!

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

I Corinthians 15:55

He's alive! He's alive! Glory to God, my Jesus is ALIVE! 

A most glorious Resurrection Sunday to you!

"And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. ...They said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words..." (Luke 24:3, 5-8)

Silence fell upon that hill the day that Jesus died.
He cried out, "It is finished!" and hope was crucified.
The soldiers laughed and gambled for the robe that He had worn.
The women wept, His friends had fled, creation seemed to mourn.

They took his broken body down and carried Him away.
They laid Him in a borrowed tomb and then they sealed the grave.
The followers of Jesus hid, for hope, it seemed, was dead,
Yet in their darkest hour, would they remember what He said?

I will arise! I will arise!
Like the sun at dawn's first light I will arise!
You can bury Me that day, seal the tomb and turn away,
But the power of the grave will be denied.
I will arise!

His enemy, His ancient foe, content the deed was done,
Stood upon the battlefield, convinced that he had won.
As Satan rose in triumph to put away his sword,
From somewhere in the darkness came the Voice he'd heard before. 

I will arise! I will arise!
Like the sun at dawn's first light I will arise!
You can bury Me that day, seal the tomb and turn away,
But the power of the grave will be denied.
I will arise!

Death will have no victory, the grave will have no sting,
The promise of the Living One the whole world will see, will see!

I will arise! I will arise!
Like the sun at dawn's first light I will arise!
You can bury Me that day, seal the tomb and turn away,
But the power of the grave will be denied.
I will arise!
I will arise!
I will arise!

Written by Christopher Machen
Sung by Stephen and Adam Russ

In the photo: Aqpik (salmon berry) blossoms.

The Meal {Christmas Blessings}

My family had such a wonderful Christmas together this year. We ate our meal on Christmas Eve, and what a delicious feast it was! Mom pulls out her china dishes for all special occasions.

Mom's china was given to her by her grandma (my Gammie, see picture in below post). So-o-o pretty!

 Our table laden with food...

Other Decorations {Christmas Blessings}

Christmas cards and stockings hanging in our stairway. A sweet elderly lady from Missouri knitted the stockings for my family several years ago. They each have our names and a word such as peace, joy, etc. on them. They're very special.

My mom loves snowmen. Her collection grows each Christmas. =)

My mom took a ceramics class before my siblings and I were born. I love this Nativity set! Didn't she do a beautiful job? (The picture in the back is of my Gammie [great-grandma] when she was just about my age. She's beautiful!)

The Fair {Christmas Blessings}

I have a few more posts I like to share about Christmas. I hope to get them up during the next few days.

A few weeks before Christmas is our village's annual craft and book fair. It takes place in the gym of the public school. Well over half the community attends it. It is a fun, happy time. My family looks forward to it each year. Anyone who has the notion to is allowed to display their crafts and/or goodies on a table to sell. This was my family's second year to participate in the fair.

What a cutie! Looks like she will be wearing this parka for a few more winters. =)

Matching kuspuks for twin sisters! I've been blessed to watch these sweet little girls grow up from babies. They come to our children's Bible Time regularly.

Tables set up around the gym

Her Son, Her Savior

In the Arms of Mary by Simon Dewey

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.  

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: 

for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; 

and holy is his name.  

{ Luke 1: 46-49 }

This painting touches my heart so much. It depicts Mary clinging so gently to her precious baby... her Savior! After nine months of carrying the Son of God in her womb, months full of fear, uncertainty and pain, she could at last see Jesus and hold Him. Oh, think of it -- she was holding her Savior! The LORD of hosts. The King of glory. A helpless infant. Born in a stable. Wrapped in swaddling clothes. I cannot conceive the poverty and glory that met on that holy night. Mary's faith -- that she would deliver the Son of God -- became sight. And oh, how her spirit rejoiced as she held her son... God her Savior.

Why There's a Christmas Day

C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S


Another Christmas favorite!



Written by Eddy Arnold
Sung by Perry Como

When I was but a youngster,
Christmas meant one thing,
That I’d be getting lots of toys that day.
I learned a whole lot different
When Mother sat me down,
And taught me to spell Christmas this way:

"C" is for the Christ child, born upon this day, 

Kissing the Face of God by Morgan Weistling

"H" for herald angels in the night,

Good News by Tom Dubois

"R" means our Redeemer, 

The Hem by Simon Dewey

"I" means Israel,

"S" is for the star that shone so bright,

"T" is for three wise men, they who traveled far,

"M" is for the manger where he lay,

"A"’s for all He stands for,

For unto Us a Child Is Born by Simon Dewey

"S" means shepherds came,

And that’s why there’s a Christmas day.

Quinhagak, Alaska | Hallelujah Chorus

This is wonderful!!! The Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat fifth grade class in the little village of Quinhagak, Alaska (Bethel area) put together this AMAZING rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus. How original and honoring to the Lord it is! Thank God that the forgotten public schools of Alaska's little villages are able to get away with portraying the TRUE meaning of Christmas. Christmas carols such as Silent Night and Joy to the World are regularly sung during annual Christmas plays at my village's public school. That is unheard of in this corrupt age we live in!

I love how they shot the scenes all around their village. It's very similar to where I live! And the people -- oh, it touched my heart seeing the faces of so many people who live there. I wonder, is there a Gospel-preaching church in Quinhagak? Five hundred people in Quinhagak... how many are lost and living and dying without the Savior? Who will tell them? The pastor (located in Alaska) who shared this with us commented, "Try to look beyond the treatment of the 'papers' and see the faces. Tears will come."

The John 3:16 Story

Here's something a little different that I'd like to share today. It touches my heart every time I hear it.

Author Unknown
Narrated by Bruce Frye

A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner...

Go down the street to that big white house... 

Just say "John 3:16" and they will let you in.

John 3:16... I don't understand it, but it sure makes a cold boy warm.

John 3:16... Boy, I sure I don't understand it, but it sure makes a hungry boy full.

John 3:16... I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy clean.

John 3:16... I don't understand it, but it sure makes a tired boy rested.

John 3:16... "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 

John 3:16... I don't understand why, but it sure makes a lost boy saved.

Swaddling by Liz Swindle

He gave His only begotten Son.

The Village {Christmas Blessings}

We go crazy on lights inside our home every Christmas. They do so much to brighten things up during the dark months. Next to the cards we hang on the high beam in our living room, my mom's adorable little village is my favorite part of our Christmas decorations. (My pictures are imperfect, I fear. I wish I would've moved that container of flour out of the way. =D)

It is so easy to lose the meaning of Christmas hymns in our familiarity with them. Let's take time to dwell upon the precious truths they contain...

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till He appeared, and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new a glorious morn.

The Star Carol

This is my very favorite Christmas song, I believe. It is not well known and, to be honest, I never really took much notice of it until this year. It is a beautiful song with a lot of meaning. I found a lovely arrangement and hope you enjoy it!

Long years ago on a deep winter night,

High in the heavens a star shone bright,
While in a manger a wee baby lay,
Sweetly asleep on a bed of hay.

Jesus the Lord was that baby so small,
Laid down to sleep in a humble stall;
Then came the star and it stood overhead,
Shedding its light 'round His little bed.

Dear baby Jesus, how tiny Thou art,
I'll make a place for Thee in my heart,
And when the stars in the heavens I see,
Ever and always I'd think of Thee.

Written by Simon and Garfunkle
Sung by Anna Marie Alberghetti

 The Nativity by Jon McNaughton

The Tree {Christmas Blessings}

Here are some pictures of our festive living room that I promised to share. Obviously, with our nearest tree being at least 300 miles away, we are unable to have a real evergreen tree at Christmas. We haven't had a real tree in six Christmases... but our artificial one is very nice-looking, though.

What you see through the windows is 1 PM in the Arctic. Our world brightens up to nice, cheerful navy blue around then. =D Ah, I miss the sun. It's certainly isn't the same living without it; even something as simple as mopping the floor is different without the sun shining happily into our home. (sigh) The dreary days have been passing very quickly, however, with life being so busy and fulfilling. I'm thankful! =) Still, I'm counting down the days until its glorious return (forty at the most)!

We have very few balls ornaments -- mostly figurines.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

I apologize for neglecting to share weekly Scripture songs in the recent weeks. To make up for the weeks I've lost (and will be losing) I'd like to share some of my favorite Christmas songs instead. May they bless your heart as they do mine! =)

(P.S. I don't like the concluding "Catholic" pictures in this video, so pretend the picture at the end of the post is the one you're seeing in the video. =)

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
"Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star
Dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite,
With a tail as big as a kite."

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
"Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song
High above the trees
With a voice as big as the seas,
With a voice as big as the seas."

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
"Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm, mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
A Child, a Child
Shivers in the cold,
Let us bring Him silver and gold,
Let us bring Him silver and gold."

Said the king to the people everywhere,
"Listen to what I say,
Pray for peace, people everywhere.
Listen to what I say.
The Child, the Child
Sleeping in the night,
He will bring us goodness and light,
He will bring us goodness and light."

Written by Noel Regency

Sung by Bing Cosby

The Nativity by Gerard van Honthorst

Can you imagine the absolute joy and wonder of that holy night? God chose to share it with simple shepherds. I don't think anyone else could have possibly grasped the fullness of it... that God came down to earth in the form of a little Baby.

Patrick Stood upon the Rock

Patrick of Ireland. He is most famous in our society today for being a Catholic saint who did good things in Ireland. His name is associated with the color green (for being Irish, supposedly) and four-leaf clovers. Most people, curious about the holiday on their calendars which rolls around each year, have sought out factual information about who he really was and what he really did. Most people, however, have not learned the entire historical truth about this great man of God.

For centuries of history, the Roman Empire struggled to conquer the Celtic people of the British Isles. Eventually, the teachings of Christianity were established in this land and the evil Druid religion, which once tightly gripped Celtic society, lost its power over the lives of the people. The historian Tertullian gave an account that Christianity accomplished what the Roman Empire could not.

Because the British Isles were separated from mainland Europe, the British were not greatly impacted by affairs which rampaged in Europe. Consequently, only one Roman persecution upon the Christian church reached them during this period of history, and while the church and state were being united under Emperor Constantine, the Celtic churches remained independent. Until the seventh century, churches of various religions in Britain were unaffected by Roman Catholicism. Although separate churches held their own doctrinal positions, some contrary to Scripture, the beliefs and practices of baptismal regeneration, infant baptism, salvation by church membership, and an organized priesthood were not even conceived in the churches before Roman Catholicism's military conquest of the British Isles.

The man we know as Patrick of Ireland was born Succat of England in the late 4th century A.D. His father was deacon of a church which was, of course, independent. Although he grew up in a Christian home, as a teenager Patrick was rebellious toward Christianity. It was when Patrick was sixteen years old that he was kidnapped by Irish pirates and sold into slavery.