Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor, all for love’s sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender, sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.

Thou who are God beyond all praising, all for love’s sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising heav’nward by thine eternal plan.

Thou who are love beyond all telling, Savior and King, we worship thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling, make us what thou wouldn’t have us be.

(Frank Houghton, 1894-1972)

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ALL OF US AT CRAVING GRACE.

1st Place
Jennifer Herr wins an Entertainment Book

2nd Place
Lisa wins body spray perfume

3rd Place
Lindsey Enlow
$5 Target Gift Card

I’ll post the answers in the next few days. Contact me to collect your prizes.

Ladies, we’re half way through the week and I hope you’re working on the quiz for Christmas Contest posted Monday. We haven’t had any entries so far, so it’s not too late to take part.

There will be a fragrant 2nd Place Prize available to all women in or outside of Orlando. As long as you live in the continental U.S. Sorry Alaska and Hawaii.

Alisa Villareal and Kimberly Massari sent me this link awhile ago. I thought you could use it now in this time of baking cookies and other treats. Just click on the word below, and you’ll find every cookie you could ever think of, like “Santa’s whiskers” and “fry pan cookies” and “Will’s famous apple jack cookies” - and the list goes on and on and on!!!

Have you been watching Christmas movies this season? I haven’t. It’s only because I have the attention span of a 2 year old when it comes to movies. This is especially sad for my husband, who likes movies. He says I used to like movies before we got married. I think the reason I “liked” movies before we got married was because seeing a movie together meant being together, but now we’re together frequently, so I don’t need the pretense of going to see a movie, you know what I mean?

But I digress. I recently saw some of A Charlie Brown Christmas (yes, I realize the whole thing is only 30 minutes, but I couldn’t stare at the TV for even that long!), and I liked what I saw. I like that at the end (so I’m told, because I didn’t get that far) the real reason for Christmas comes out when Linus recites to the depressed Charlie Brown the nativity story from Luke 2. I’m impressed that they didn’t say the real meaning of Christmas is “family” or some other mumbo jumbo.

The latest version of Miracle on 34th Street came out my freshman year of high school. After seeing it, my best friend and I were so inspired that we decided to wear either red or green to school everyday until Christmas. I’m sure she succeeded, because her wardrobe was much bigger than mine. I think I managed by wearing various Christmas earrings.

I do enjoy A Christmas Story. I’ve never seen It’s A Wonderful Life.

Last year, Matt and I saw The Nativity Story in the theater, and were really impressed. It’s consistent with the Scriptures and really brings the story - these events that actually happened a long time ago in a different place - to life. Sometimes it’s hard for me to picture what Mary and Joseph were like, and that they were human, with feelings and hopes familiar to us. I found that The Nativity Story greatly increased my faith, and I decided we should make it a tradition to watch it each Advent season. As our kids get old enough to sit for a movie, we plan to have them join us. Hmm, but if my movie ADD is genetic, that may never happen. Well, we’ll just have to wait and see.

My one issue with this movie is that the angel Gabriel looks like Cat Stevens, so says my husband. I didn’t know who Cat Stevens was, so I guess it wasn’t my issue. Still, you’ve been warned.

What are some of your favorite Christmas movies, and why?