Tag: Christmas
Updated on November 30, 2023
Who Are The Top Five “Hallmark” Rom-Com Actresses?
What Is A TV Rom-Com?
A Romantic Comedy (Rom-Com) is exactly what it claims to be, a comedy whose plot involves a romantic story. The story usually includes people reuniting after many years of separation, or two folks from different worlds, or backgrounds, are somehow thrown together and discover they have more in common than they thought. A big lie, or some sort of deception, often is used initially to bring the couple together. This often becomes a final plot point that undermines the relationship – until it is ultimately restored in some dramatic way. These almost always have a happy ending, and the same plot is often repeated in different settings with different actors.
Updated on February 5, 2012
Christmas Is Just Presents?
The decline and dismissal of Christmas. Why the Christmas holiday is still one of greatest celebrations in the history of mankind.
Updated on February 26, 2011
A Very Special Christmas Blog
A Very Special Christmas Blog
One of my favorite holiday movies is It’s A Wonderful Life. I’ve probably watched it 50 times and it never grows old. If you’ve never seen it, or just forgot the story, it involves a man named George Bailey. Now George has always wanted to do great things. But throughout his life, circumstances have caused him to settle for what he believes is a less than a wonderful life.
The pivotal moment comes when he is faced with a financial loss that will destroy his business and family. As he sits on the bridge considering suicide, an angel named Clarence intercedes to save his life. Since George thinks he is a failure, Clarence gives him the opportunity to see what his community would be like if he had never been born.
The next several scenes reveal that his quaint little town of Bedford Falls has turned into Pottersville, a crime-ridden cesspool full of depressed drunks. At first, George thinks it a trick, but as he retraces his life he sees the impact he has had on so many lives.
For example, Harry, his kid brother who he saves as a child, is dead because George wasn’t there to save him. As a result, hundreds of sailors die when Harry is not there to shoot down the plane that was attacking their ship.
The repercussions of George’s absence ripple throughout the entire community. It becomes obvious that George has touched almost every life in Bedford Falls and he begins to realize the difference he has made.
In the closing scene, he prays to live again and returns home to find the entire 
community rallying to his rescue. If the final scene doesn’t bring tears of joy to your eyes, you aren’t human.
I bring this story up because like George, I have been up on that bridge a few times in my life. One of my angels was my mother, who on more than one occasion was compelled to wake up and enter God’s thrown room and pray for her son without knowing exactly what was happening in my life. But she would not stop until she had divine assurance that I was safe.
Statistics show that contrary to popular belief, there are not more suicides during the holidays. But this season can be depressing for some. It does seem ironic that on the night we celebrate God giving us His very best, demonstrating beyond any doubt His profound love for us, that anyone would consider their life a failure. But it does happen.
If you know someone that has experienced a loss of a loved one, divorce, financial hardship, or just having a tough time, make sure you let them know that they are loved, both by you and by God. Tell them the profound difference that they have made in your life and that the world is a much better place with them in it.
Just like Clarence helped George realize how important his life really was, you may make a difference in someone’s life. They may be standing on that bridge and the only angel they have is you. Give them the same gift that God gave us on that first Christmas over 2,000 years ago. Give them your love. There is no greater gift than this.
And please know that I love and appreciate all of you! You are all very special to me. Thanks for being my friend!
And I know its not PC, but….
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
Originally published December 2006.
Updated on February 26, 2011
Christmas Memories
Do you remember what you received for Christmas when you were 6? How about 7? Or 8? Its nearly impossible for me to remember the gifts. But what I do remember, is priceless.
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Updated on August 22, 2013
Mette’s Christmas Miracle
by harrison
The Story Behind Mette’s Christmas Miracle
“God will provide everything we need.” — Mette
Background – Mette’s Christmas Miracle is the story of a small flock of sparrows that faced starvation during a Christmas blizzard. One of the birds, Mette, proves that God will always honor the faith of those that trust Him.
Summary – A small flock of sparrows lives near a small farming village in Norway. It was right before Christmas when a brutal storm covered the countryside and made it impossible for the birds to leave the safety of their tree to search for food. One of the younger sparrows named Mette challenges the other birds on their faith in God. He had always provided for them, why would this time be any different?
Most of the flock admires her childlike faith, but they do not believe God will do anything for them. Mette ignores their unbelief and prays a simple prayer, knowing that God always answers.
Christmas Eve arrives and conditions are worse than ever. The flock is hopeless, even going so far as to claim that God has more important things to do than care for sparrows. Only Mette holds tightly to her faith, trusting God completely and thanking her Creator for providing for the flock.
On Christmas morning, the birds wake up to clear skies and a bounty of food miraculously provided by the villagers. But this was no accident. This was God honoring the faith of one little sparrow.
Did You Know? – Mette (MEHT teh), the main character, was named for a Norwegian client of mine. In researching the etymology and meaning, the name is related to Margaret and means pearl. Pearls are formed as a reaction to irritants that enter an oyster’s shell. The oyster protects itself by covering this irritant with a substance called nacre. As more and more irritants are successfully covered, a beautiful and precious pearl is formed.
In a similar fashion, faith comes by hearing God’s Word, and your confidence grows by using it successfully. In time, you will truly see that just as God’s Word proclaims, nothing is impossible if you believe! Faith is precious and if it is valued and practiced, you can move mountains if you believe in your heart, and speak it boldly with your mouth. (Matthew 17:20, Mark 11:22-25, Luke 1:37, Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:1, 2 Peter 1)
My Mother made every Christmas an adventure at the Woodard home. Her innovative decorating and love of God led her to study how Christmas was celebrated throughout the world. As an adult, I came across a book on Christmas customs in her collection. It was there I read about a Norwegian practice of placing food out for the birds at Christmas by decorating barns and fences with sheaves of oats. This had spread throughout the Scandinavian nations and continued into the present day. This started me thinking. How did the tradition start? And there you have the seed of this story.
As I was working on this story, I was reminded of the teaching of Jesus who said, “…not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.” (Matthew 10:29) We have a loving Creator that you ignore at your own peril. He is more concerned with your needs than even you are. And He wants to be involved in even your most basic needs. Start building that relationship today and enjoy all of His GOOD promises!
Biblical Theme – I usually go to God’s Word for inspiration for each story. Here is the verse selected for Mette’s Christmas Miracle.
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:19 <NLT>
There are no shortage of excellent verses on faith, or the value of strong faith. I found this verse to be more relevant to the theme of the story which is more about trusting God to supply everything you need.
Hope You Enjoy the story. Merry Christmas!
Image courtesy of Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee / FreeDigitalPhotos.net read more
Category: Author Commentary, Christianity, Christmas Tags: author, children's stories, Christian, Christmas, commentary, harrison woodard, Norway, Norwegian, sparrows