Christmas Eve — it is the most enchanting night of the year. I can only imagine how cold it was centuries ago in Bethlehem when Christ was born. A little baby born in a stable was wrapped and placed in a manger while his mother, Mary, and Joseph hovered over him. Many times in the Bible it is noted that Mary “pondered these things in her heart.” No doubt she pondered many things that beautiful night when her baby was born.
I feel the significance of the phrase in one of my favorite carols, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” and think it is just as relevant today as when the song was written. “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” It was sung in our church last week, and behind me sat a little girl who was singing joyfully with not a care in the world. I pondered in my heart those words and thought about how fearful we are today after some of the events that have occurred lately. As she sang the song, I prayed that peace would come to our world so that the innocence of children may once again be experienced. Our hopes and fears are met in the Christ Child.
I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a time of love and peace. May the joy of innocent children reside in your hearts during this beautiful holiday.
Merry Christmas with love,
Phyllis
Comments 55
A little late for this but reading your comments made me think of my mom 90 years ago when I was born on Christmas eve-
Thank you for your wonderful “Journal” and wishing you a Happy New Year.
Betty
Since I’m reading these posts on “Boxing Day”, December 26th, I’ll wish everyone a “Happy New Year” and God’s peace and blessings for this coming year, 2016. Thank you,, Phyllis, for all the joy and beauty you add to our lives all year long. In a world where coarseness seems in vogue, it is a wonderful thing to be reminded each day that we do not need to be thoughtless and unkind. Let us all go into the new year choosing to add a bit of gentility and beauty to the world in which we live. It could make a big difference in our surroundings and indeed in our own hearts. God bless Ruth
Just finished reading all the blessed messages from so many people who love the Lord Jesus brought tears to my eyes for the true meaning of the Christmas message. Phyllis I so do enjoy your journals. May the Lord truly bless you and your family in the coming year. Dorothy
Your message was beautiful and reveals a beautiful soul. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
A Very Merry Christmas to you. Thank for bringing us the “Victoria”, as I have all the copies and enjoy each one. We enjoy French Onion soup, cookies, cakes and fruits on Christmas Eve and always open one present. It is a time for memories and catching up on what has happen during the year. We usually watch a Christmas Show or Movie on TV. Lots of tradition and we wish you all a Blessed Christmas.
A very merry Christmas to you and your families…..may the new year bring you much joy, love and laughter. Cheers to 2016!
Pa…. Guess you WERE NOT spared a lengthy note after all
MERRY CHRISTMAS DAY!
XO,
CJ
My dear Phyllis, I read your lovely words yesterday and as I was writing a lengthy response thanking you again for the inspiration you send in your “Ribbon” yet sgain …..my darling grandchildren (4) awoke and jumped on the couch with me…. Their parents still sleeping. I lost my words to you as I visited with them. So you are spared a lengthy note.
But, as I pray my thanks each day… For my loving husband….two wonderful children and their spouses….. And my sweet grandchildren… I will add you again to the list of things I am thankful for. For your thought filled words and great recipes and beautiful books and on and on are an inspiration to me!!
Merry Merry Christmas to you and your sweet family. When my words were lost yesterday…. As the five of us sat with the tree lights on…. Snuggled on the couch before their parents awoke… We talked of the baby Jesus’ birth again and the true meaning of Christmas.
May God bless us all with the peace we sooo wish for all.
Lovingly.
CJ
This is a most useful cotbtirunion to the debate
I have a question regarding how you upload your videos to YouTube. In QuickTime I export “Movie to QuickTime movie” using H.264 compression, high quality, frame rate 15, key frame rate 75, bitrate 220 kbits/sec, frame reordering set to yes, multi-pass encoding and 320×240 dimensions. And they look like poop when they are finally processed by YouTube. Far worse than when I sent them. What settings do you use?
Natura dała nam dwoje oczu, dwoje uszu, ale tyko jeden język po to, abyśmy więcej patrzyli i słuchali, niż mówili.www.inspirowana.blog.onet.pl
I have been listening to this voice since age 22 ( 8 years now) when I discovered his series of tapes/ cds of motivational series at the local libraries. I borrowed it for free and brought them at the book store there for the past seven years. I ever knew how he looked like- I am so happy I found him on YOU TUBE- Yippee!!!
Yummy! Would you call that beautiful creation with the prosciutto and penne and cheese some kind of “pasta bake” or is that too pedestrian? Haha- would love to find out what happened to the asparagus- your ordering of photos is like leaving clues to a murder mystery, and my curiosity is pulling hard at the leash!
puedes hacer el portal si tuviera el tools mny item, hay varios videos sobre eso, y tambn puedes buscarlo utilizando los ojos de ender, una observacion importante es que tienes que acomodar todos los ojos en una misma direccion o si no no se abrira.un saludo +10
Nå sover endelig bitteliten og jeg har mulighet til å legge igjen spor etter meg også :)Å, misunner deg dette prosjektet. Har så lyst på stort bad og vaskerom, men det er foreløpig bare ønsketenking! Wallstickers er så fint. Jeg liker ofte å bruke det i stedenfor bilder, da ser ikke rommet så rotete ut.Ha en kjempefin dag videre.Stor klem
Really trustworthy blog. Please keep updating with great posts like this one. I have booked marked your site and am about to email it to a few friends of mine that I know would enjoy reading..
Blev bange for om det var ulovligt at tage fotos pÃ¥ store fastfoodkæder, og grine af at deres mad lignede dillere? SÃ¥ fjernede indlægget igen… Og ærgrer mig – syntes ogsÃ¥ selv det var sjovt.
Thank you so much for the beautiful Christmas message. I pray God will richly bless you at this wondrous time of the season and that you and your loved ones will have a happy, healthy 2016. Thank you for your wonderful publications that give inspiration not only at Christmas but all year through. We serve an awesome God!
Be Merry,
Kathryn Schwegman
Tennessee
Christmas Eve, 2015
Phyllis,
Thank you for today’s beautifully expressed inspirational thoughts.
The Ribbon is always interesting; but, sometimes your soul touches my mine…
As evidenced by the thoughtful replies, faith, civility and refinement still do exist in this often unsettling world.
“[May] the Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, … guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.” —Phillipians 4:7
Merry Christmas and God Bless Us Everyone,
afa
Thank you for this beautiful and powerful message. We can hold the peace of God in our heart even though the world seems to be spinning out of control. Your faith is evident in all you do. We are all so grateful to you. Merry Christmas.
Thank you for your heartfelt words and prayers for our future. Merry Christmas!
Me too☺
Ma’am with deserving respect I do not see how you find racism in the reader’s comment or anything untoward. She sincerely holds a different opinion than you, but nothing malicious, my dear gentleperson. Your comment comes forth as far more aggressive but that’s ok. Hope you feel better and have a blessed Christmas and a Happier New year.
To one of your loyal readers As a true Christain , she should try to be a better citizen of our great country and respect our President who is honest, and a caring person
She should try to reject her racism and be a good Christain
Your thoughts are truly inspirational and empowering. Thank you so much for saying the important things that need to be said. Will you please run for president? You’ve got my vote!!
I couldn’t agree more! If only we could find a honest, caring person to lead our wonderful, free Country! I am constantly inspired by all the lovely things you give us, Phyllis. I am a loyal, long-time reader of many of your gorgeous magazines. In fact, I hope to visit Alabama soon; I’ve never been to your part of the States and look forward to visiting many of the elegant homes. I live in San Diego, California, as well as part of the time in New Zealand, with my dear “Kiwi” husband.
Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas.
Janice Woodward-Lonsdale
So beautifully said. Thank you and Merry Christmas.
This is why I buy your magazines, because your values reflect mine. Thank you for being authentic.
Thank You so much for expressing the Reason For The Season, Your words were spoken so beautiful & with warmth. I agree with 1 of the postes that is why I read your company’s magazinesl. God Bless You!
Thank you Phyllis for your beautiful words. I pray we always ponder this night.
Merry Christmas Phyllis, I can still hear your awesome sounds from your keyboard as your fingers did joyful sounds through your Christmas CD. You are truly blessed and talented, I cried and had a big lump in my throat as we drove joyfully to visit Aunt Pricilla just couple hours drive from us yesterday. Our Christmas CD and you are some of the real meanings that can make our Celebration of Jesus birth so extra meaningful. It all matters….Hallelujah! as always, Carmel
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones. God Bless us each and everyone!!!
Such beautiful and moving words,Phyllis,and not just at Christmas but throughout the entire new year that lies ahead of us. Merry Christmas!
Goodmorning Phyllis
Merry Christmas to you and all the people you love.
And also a really nice,healthy and peaceful 2016
Looking forward to more of your beautiful blogs,I love them and always looking forward to it,so much inspiration.
Thank you so much for that!
Season Greetings from The Netherlands
Anja van Leusden
Merry Christmas! Wishing you peace, joy and happiness in 2016.
Blessings and joy to all. May we, too, follow the star.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
May the joy and blessings of Christmas fill your hearts and homes. Happy New Year to everyone!
Peace and Joy to you and your family! Thank-you for the lovely message!
Thank you for sharing what Christmas is all about. Our beautiful Savior, Christ the Lord. God Bless you and your family! Have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year!
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Phyllis! You don’t know how much you inspire me to continue to make a better home, try a new recipe just be a better person. God Bless you Your staff and your readers. Let’s all pray for a peace in the world.
Merry Christmas Phyllis and to your family and staff! Mary’s pondering all things in her heart is replicated in today’s brag books new Mothers carry to show there little babies to all. Mary continues to show us her Son, our Savior when we draw near to her in our prayers. She is a perfect intercessor for each of us.I think of the delight Jesus feels as his Mother comes to him with our prayers,fears and love. May our sweet Lord fill your hearts this Christmas,to everyone reading this. Peace of Christ be with you all.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Phyllis! You and your family are in my prayers. Your work inspires me to create a more beautiful home for my own family. God bless all of you at Hoffmann Media for bringing us so much joy throughout the year.
Today’s blog was more of a devotional reading. I am so thankful for you and your company and the fact that your magazines still have scripture verses and Christ is not ignored. God bless you and yours in the coming year. You are loved.
Merry Christmas Phyllis and everyone reading!
God bless you all!
Love Janet
Merry Christmas to you and your family! Thank you for sharing your thoughts here with us, and may there indeed be peace on earth!
What a beautiful tribute to our real reason for celebrating, the birth of our
Lord Jesus Christ! Have a day of rejoicing with family and friends.
Melanie Breckner
My favorite hymn at this time of year is Mary did you know? May there be peace on earth this coming year. Wishing you a blessed Christmas
Phyllis, I wish you and your family a beautiful Christmas, with much laughter and joy. I too pray for a peaceful world, one in which everyone will know the love of Christ. Love, Lidy
Thank you Phyllis and Merry Christmas to you too! God bless you, your family, your staff and subscribers – and each and every page of your magazines which bring us so much joy over the course of the year! We look forward to 2016 with great anticipation and delight as each issue is published!
Merry Christmas Phyllis to you and your family. Truly Jesus is the reason for the season.
May the coming year be filled with with the love of Jesus for you and your family. I truly enjoy “The ribbon
in my journal”
Lucille M.
Beautiful! God Bless you and your Family and all your enterprises. Merry Christmas.
In a world of fear and unrest, Victoria magazine and your blog provide a haven of calm and beauty. Thank you for the inspiration and generosity you send to each of us all year through. Merry Christmas and God bless.
God Bless you and yours. We must remember the real reason for Christmas and leave the worldly things behind.