Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

December 23, 2007

Today’s Announcement

Happy Birthday David Fox: davidirafox@yahoo.com  from all your friends at Storytime Tapestry.

Father God in the precious and holy name of your only begotten Son Jesus Christ I come to you at this time right now and ask for special financial favor for our dear Winterose. Carol Roach I ask that you lay the burden of giving to her from "men's" (People) bosoms MONEY to pay her utility bills.  MONEY to pay her other payments and blessings of food and money for her needs and desires this special Holiday Season as we celebrate your dear Son's birth.  

Father she is such a wonderful generous loving person to give of her self in time, and her gift of sharing the stories written and told by others.  now Lord God I am believing you for a miracle blessing of finances and other things to thrill her soul as well as a healing in body for her and her dear Matt.  Thank you Lord God in Jesus name again I trust you to bring this to pass and with it starting this very day.  Amen and Amen! 

Dear Carol, my lovely Winterose, I await anxiously your e-mail of a very quick and good report. In HIS Word HE tells us " If you ask anything in my name I will do it." Found in John's gospel chapter 14 verse 14.  Love you always Leona

*** Important notice, the two poems presented yesterday in the contest do not have an author.  Would the author please step up so that I can enter you in the contest.***

The Christmas Contest is under way, everyday I will add stories and poems that were published so far, if your work has not yet been published it will not show on this page under it does.

Christmas is just around the corner and most of you have already started to think about Christmas gifts for this season.  Why not help out Storytime Tapestry with its ongoing commitment to provide you with free wonderful stories and poems daily by purchasing the publisher’s newest book for someone special on your holiday gift giving list this year.  Angels Watching Over Me can be published through lulu press in both hard copy and e-book.  Just click on the link:  Angels Watching Over Me

Important notice: Storytime Tapestry is a free e-zine, however donations are always needed to help with the operating expenses of running the newsletter and to keep Storytime Tapestry the quality newsletter you are so accustomed to.   You can make your donations to paypal at: winterose@videotron.ca, or if you would prefer to use the mail system contact the publisher at the same email address: winterose@videotron.ca

Today’s Christmas Stories

~**~**~

Christmas Lights
Bill Walker
missourisage@yahoo.com

Well it is Christmas time again, and here is old Scrooge thinking again.
The Church had a Christmas Dinner last evening. I thought it was very
nice, different ones brought a pot, a pan, or a dish of something. I
noticed the different preachers that showed up, none backed off of
making at least two trips past the loaded table of food. After the
feed, there was about an hour of singing, and one preacher gave a short
sermon. You know I like this guy, he sets a small clock, and watches
it. His sermons run so long, and he will say that's all folks, and sits
down. Well to be honest about it, he don't really say that is all, but
he does cut it off at a point. I know of some that says, "in closing"
but then in a bit you will get, "and in closing," again. That in
closing can run at least three, in closing deals.

Anyways, I was motoring for the house, after all the dining,
singing, and the preaching. I noticed the Christmas lights different
houses and yards were all decked out in. Anyways I got to thinking about
all the different lighting set ups, and different things in the yards,
and on the roof tops, and the trees.

I saw little that was about the reason for the season. Oh if you're
thinking of that Santa fellow, and his gang of deers, and other things,
I guess you've got the season. Some people  spent a great amount of
money, and time on putting things on the trees, and on the house, and in
the yards. But there was little to be seen in way of the real reason
for the season.

I noticed in one block, there was a great amount of things, and
lights. Put me to thinking on one thing. Each was trying to
see who could put on the biggest splash. Kind of like I have the
biggest, and most fancy car deal. Look at me and how much I have, or
can put on the act of trying to out do the others here abouts.

Now old Scrooge was thinking, a little might be just fine. I remember
the days of putting up a tree in the house, some lights, and so on. Some
have said that there is some meaning to the tree. Maybe putting some
lights on a tree growing in the yard, that's pretty you know. Maybe that
is where the " have to out do the people next door, and cross the
street deal started."

The people of the world has taken something that happened a bit over
2,000 years ago, and turned it into a circus. I wonder, is God happy
with what has happened to his Son's birthday?

I see, and I think on this line. In the book of 1 John, chapter 5.

20, And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an
understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him
that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and
eternal life.
21, Little Children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen..

My friends, we have made idols of a most Holy Day.
Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-35741-5

~**~**~

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     Some of my earliest memories from childhood are of sneaking under the Christmas tree to see what gifts had my name on them. I can remember lifting, shaking, and even peeling back some wrapping paper in order to see what toys my parents had gotten me. One Christmas before I could read I even opened every single gift under the tree. The December after I turned five, however, I was in for a shock. I looked under the tree and found not a single present with my name on the tag. There were gifts there for everyone else but nothing with a "to Joe" on it.

     I was heartbroken. It wasn’t so much that I was getting no toys. It was the fact that they had forgotten about me. Never in my young life had I felt unloved until that moment. With tears in my eyes I went and got some old toys of mine and some leftover wrapping paper. I had started to wrap them so that I could have something under the tree when my Mom caught me. Taking me in her arms she lovingly explained that I hadn’t been forgotten. They had gotten me presents but had decided to hide them from my prying eyes and fingers until Christmas Day. Looking back now I can’t even remember what I got that year, but I will always remember that reassuring moment in my Mother’s arms. The gift of love she gave me then remains in my heart to this day.

    It is the gifts of love that are the greatest gifts of all. Jesus’ entire life was a gift of love. As we celebrate His birthday this year then let us all seek to give the gifts of love as well. The gentle hugs, the caring looks, the joyful smiles, and the warm words of love we give will mean more than anything we buy in a store. The time we share, laughter we spread, and kindness we shower on others will live on in their hearts forever.

     Leo Buscaglia once said that, "Life is God’s gift to you and how you live it is your gift to God." May your gift be a loving one at Christmastime and always.

Joe Mazzella

joecool@wirefire.com

Christmas Poetry Corner

~**~**~

   Come Into Our Christmas Parlor
Carol Meeks

 
The last month of the year
again is here,
the Omega one.
Family’s come,
friends drop in
to share our Christmas Cheer.
 
Upon entrance into our home,
a Christmas Village adores the shelf
with Snowmen dancing round.
 
Angels echo through
our Poinsettia lane.
A close ear might hear a tune
and sweet messages that they bring
about our King!
 
We’re covered in green and red
with bows and bells and holly.
We celebrate the season
and hope our visitors will leave jolly.

© Carol Dee Meeks

c_pmeeks@hotmail.com
http://home.comcast.net/~pkmeeks/
2007 New Mexico Senior Poet Laureate
 
 
Thanks Carol.  I hope your season is bright and filled with God's blessings and mercy.  MERRY CHRISTMAS.
 
carol dee meeks
http://home.comcast.net/~pkmeeks/
2007 New Mexico Senior Poet Laureate
 

~**~**~

Readers Feedback

~**~**~

 In his article, Mary Did You Know Bill Walker has a good feel for historical times, and writes in a simple and engaging style.  Biblically, spring was the usual time to go out to war, and I too think it likely that Rome would have taxed crops harvested just after the spring rains.  Fall is also possible since some crops also grow through the summer months.  Bill has a practical sense about historical events.

Chris Hansen author: "Revelation Revisited," "Secret of the Psalms," "Grandfather's Journal." www.xlibris.com 1-888-795-4274 bookstores.

God bless you dear Sharon Bryant for sharing your Christmas Story with us and making it all so real.  I too agree with the same feeling from my heart.  To me God is a reality and has always been for as long as I can remember.  And Jesus has always been the main reason for this season.  Though I too let my children have the fantasy of Santa when they were all young and they have not been hurt with the delight they experienced as we all listened and thought maybe Santa's sleigh bells were flying by  and they had better band stay in bed if not asleep.  (Smile)  God bless you and yours from a fan Leona 

 P.S. Dear Winterose, our lovely Carol, love to you and appreciation for your labor to keep us reading and sharing.  HUGS! 

~**~**~

Here are the Published Christmas entries to Date.  If you want to review the stories or poems before voting which will come only at the end of this contest, just go to the archives:  http://archives.zinester.com/98907

Stories

Name                    Story                                                 Date

Williams, Cheryl           Christmas: Look forward to it ….         December 20,

Haley, Ellie Braun         A Christmas Story                                December 20,

Bryant, Sharon I Walked The Halls                               December 21

Bryant, Sharon Believing                                               December 21

Lock, Joyce                 Abbreviated Christmas             December 21

Smith, Michael  Memory Tree                                       December 22

Walker, Bill                  Mary Did You Know?              December 22

Levine, Arthur              The Troubled Geese At Christmas        December 23

Walker, Bill                  Christmas Lights                                   December 23,

Mazzella, Joe                Christmas Gifts                         December 23

Poems

Name                    Poem                                                 Date

Cardinal, Conrad          Make a Wish Come True                                 December 20,

Cardinal, Conrad          Why?                                                               December 20,

                                    A Gift Of Love                                     December 21

                                    God’s Decorating                                             December 21

Meeks, Carol               Joseph’s Example                                             December 22

Meeks, Carol               Stable Born King                                              December 22

Meeks, Carol               Come Into Our Christmas Parlor                       December 23

Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank those of you who chose to be a silent angel and gave an anonymous donation to keep Storytime Tapestry up and running.

Clara Westerfer, Mark Crider, Rosanne Catalano, Paula Booher, Kay Seefeldt, Mariane Holbrook, Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker, Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, Ginger Morgenstern, Ellie Braun-Haley, Surinder Jandu, Bob Shaw, Carol Meeks, Charlotte Hilliard, Maria Keller