CENTERVILLE —
“Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky.” These are the beginning lines of a popular nursery rhyme. This rhyme talks about how a small light in the sky can help light our path at night. It may not be as mighty as the sun or the moon, but it still helps to shine a light for us to see.
The twinkling of this star in the poem has nothing to do with Christmas, but this season of the year is full of twinkling lights, and the sparkle that is still in the lives of children full of hope, before the cares of this world have trampled their wonder and amazement.
This sparkle is full of hope and love. The hope of presents received, and of presents given; the love that is shared with these presents. The music that fills the air waves is full of joy and happiness and helps us all to be in a good spirits.
At least most of us. Sometimes we feel we have no happiness, or hope for a better quality of life. We think that our financial condition cannot get better, or our health will never improve, or that certain someone will never notice me like I notice them. Because of these thoughts, we may feel that life is hopeless and not worth living. The sparkle of life cannot be seen when we think these thoughts.
When the angels lit up the sky near Bethlehem in Israel, and announced to the shepherds that Jesus was born, they proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” This statement can give us the best hope imaginable! This statement tells us two important thoughts. We can have peace if God is pleased with us, and the glory belongs to God. This glory is everywhere, especially in the highest heaven.
Grace is a wonderful thing. Jesus came to this earth to take away the sin that separates us from God. That is the original and greatest Christmas present of all. This gives us peace because God is pleased with us since He took our sin away, if we accept this gift.
So cheer up and be at peace with your life. God loves you! Don’t tell yourself a lie that you need this or that to be happy, and if you don’t have it, well, no happiness for me. It would be nice if we had some things that we might not currently have, but it is really God’s peace that is most important for us to possess.
Jesus said in Matthew 5, “You are the light of the world . . . Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
From this day forward, TWINKLE! If you are a Christian, you are a Christmas light, act like it. Take the focus of life off of yourself, and think about the glory that is all around our God. God will lift us up. Shine brightly so that people will see our good works and glorify God.
This year when you go around looking at Christmas lights, look for the sparkle of God’s love in people. Twinkle, twinkle people of Centerville . . . that God will be glorified.
Merry Christmas!
Religion
Twinkle, twinkle little star
Faith Notes
- Religion
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Vacation Bible School in Moravia June 4-8
Step back into the old west for an unforgettable Vacation Bible School.
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Lenten Cantata to be held tonight
You’re invited to attend the 2012 Lenten Cantata performed by the Centerville Community Choir, “The Weeping Tree,” a poignant portrait of the cross as a gathering place for the sorrowful and a sanctuary for the grieving Friday, April 6 at 7 p.m. at Drake Avenue Christian Church, 303 Drake Ave.
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What do Good Friday and Easter Sunday mean?
As we focus upon this Easter season in 2012, we begin by first looking at the cross which Christ bore for us. For we are so quick to jump to Easter Sunday that we forget about the cross, but it is really the cross that makes the difference.
- Appanoose County weekly meals off this Monday
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Easter program at Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene
Each year at this time the Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene in Moravia presents an Easter drama.
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Easter events at Centerville Church of the Nazarene
There are exciting family Easter events planned at the Centerville Church of the Nazarene at 15th and Bank Streets.
- Children’s Crusade to be April 8
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Cincinnati United Methodist Church’s annual soup supper and craft auction
- ‘The Living Last Supper’ Sunday in Seymour
- Appanoose County weekly meals menu
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Journey Bound Quartet to perform at Grace Tabernacle Church in Centerville
For nearly 20 years, Journey Bound Quartet has been bringing southern gospel music to audiences around the upper Midwest.
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Coming together as a community can transcend differences
We cannot live meaningful lives in isolation. Meaning is always communal...with God, with others and with creation.
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- Disciple Women Drake Avenue Christian Church meet
- Appanoose County meals
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Vacation Bible School in Moravia June 4-8
