Is anyone else out there all excited about the ‘Christmas Star’ we will get to see tonight? Dec 21st is the darkest (darkest because it’s the longest) night of the year.
I’m not well versed in astronomy, although I do love dark nights and stargazing…. Saturn and Jupiter (the two biggest planets) are going to be the visibly closest together they’ve been in over 800 years.
Praying for clear skies tonight to see this beauty. NASA recommends looking towards the low southwest about an hour after sunset. For those of us in north Texas, sunset happens at 5:23pm today….. so head on outside around 6:20pm CST and take a look!
(I’m attaching a link that offers a live stream of the event courtesy of the Lowell Observatory. It starts at 6pm CST if it’s hard to see the night sky wherever you are: https://astronomy.com/…/jupiter-and-saturn-will-form...
xoxo ~ liz
#wearyworldrejoicing
#Godspeaksinthesky
#taketimetoprayandbestillthisseason
#4daystilChristmas
#ThanksYL
(Why am I grateful to Young Living, and how does this play a part in viewing the star tonight? 🧐 I’ve spent the majority of my life behind a pharmacy counter unable to participate in small… but big things… like this. God and YL have given me the second half of my life to participate instead of being sidelined by employee duty. 🙌)
Prayer & Meditation
Frankincense & Myrrh
Two of the most well known essential oils, 💧Frankincense and 💧Myrrh, pretty much owe their claim to fame to three wise men over 2000 years ago. Now that’s some kind of successful advertising campaign! 😉
I’ve been celebrating this Christmas season by walking thru a 25 day devotional, “The Soul Felt its Worth”. Each morning has been like an Advent calendar for me as I learn history and relevant Bible verses and theology expressed through 25 traditional Christmas carols.
As I write this, I’m on day 11: “We Three Kings”…..written in 1857 by American clergyman John Henry Hopkins Jr. Spoiler alert…. The Bible never put a number on the wise men who travelled to see infant Jesus ….. Nevertheless, this carol is where we get the 3 kings/wise men from!
Although it’s considered a Christmas hymn, “We Three Kings” is really a poetic tribute to Jesus’ whole life, with Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh representing some very key attributes:
(verse 3)
“Born A King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign.”
Gold (referenced in verse 3) has been a sign of royalty, wealth, and power since nearly the beginning of time. Giving the gift of gold to Jesus was an acknowledgement to the birth of the King of Kings.
(verse 4)
“Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Prayer and praising, all men raising
Worship Him, God most high”
💧Frankincense was used in the temple as an incense and anointing oil, and was a symbolic acknowledgement of God and spiritual leadership. (You will be learning so much about the historic healing properties of Frank and Myrrh next week! Stay tuned!!❤ )
(verse 5)
“Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.”
💧Myrrh had many historical uses, including that as a key embalming agent. Its name comes from the word ‘marar’ which means bitterness. For myrrh oil to be attained, the tree’s heartwood must be pierced/tapped allowing the gum resin to trickle out in red droplets called ‘tears’. The gift of myrrh symbolizes Jesus’ earthly a bitter death and subsequent burial. .
And finally, the phrase “Guide us to Thy perfect Light” in verse 2 leads us to the truth of the matter. The kings/magi-astronomers were looking for something far more significant than the bright star they were following. They were looking for THE Light. ☀️
God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. ~ I John 1:5.
Enjoy the journey this coming week friends!
xoxo~liz
#Hegaveusthetoolsinthegarden
#sharingiscaring
#WiseIndeed
#GoldFrankincenseandMyrrh
#oilsoftheBible
#ThanksYL
Christmas Bells
I’ve been diving in to the history behind some of our well known “vintage” Christmas carols this December. Some of you may have seen them in my FB stories. (I’m doing my best to highlight one per day). 🎄 It’s been so interesting and I’ve gained a much greater appreciation for songs and their backstage stories.
Today’s archeological dig was especially compelling because it seems like it could have been written this year, and I wanted to share.
🎶” I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” 🎶was written as a poem in the middle of our country’s Civil War in 1863 by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
His wife of 18 years had just passed away unexpectedly, and his son had gone to fight for the freedom of all men to parts unknown. Longfellow was notified by telegram on December 1st, that his son was seriously wounded at a battle during the Mine Run Campaign. He was emotionally devastated by both events and the stress of everyday life during war time.
Yet in his deepest despair, he retained his devout faith in Christ.
As I read thru the verses of the original song (some of the modern versions have been altered), I was struck by these two in particular:
🎶’And in despair I bowed my head;
“There’s no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men!”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”🎶
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
God’s not dead friends. He’s very much alive and He corrects injustices in His own timing. Keep the faith. Goodness and loving kindness will ultimately prevail. ❤️🇺🇸🙏
I’ll forever see this Christmas carol in a different way. May the peace that passes all understanding be with you today!
xoxo~ liz
#goodmedicineisknowingourpast
#peaceonearthgoodwilltomen
#thewrongshallfailtherightprevail
#GodBlessUsEveryone
#relyontheGreatPhysician
#Faithisthebestmedicineofall
Yoga Day
Prepping to teach tomorrow. I love my people, and I love watching their bodies and faces transform into relaxed peace in less than an hour.
Enjoy your Friday friends and live life fully! As my sweet and insightful hubby said yesterday,
“Fear does not stop death, it stops life. Be bold today.”
If you are local to the McKinney Texas area and would like to attend my class, please message me for details!
xoxo~ liz
www.goodmedicine.info
#yogaismedicine
#caringissharing
#beboldandlivefully
#ThanksYL
#faithcenteredYoga
40 Dandelions
Have you had a chance to flip thru the first issue of 40 Dandelions?
“Holistic healthy” doesn’t separate body from mind or spirit. It’s one of the reasons my business plan is in the form of a prayer rather than an accounting spreadsheet. #Godwillprovide
To learn more about why I do what I do, check out pages 11 thru 13. 😘 https://www.40dandelions.com/
xoxo ~ liz
www.goodmedicine.info (Did you know that I am a certified health coach and incorporate that ( as well as advanced blood work analysis) as a way to bless my YL community? Message me for details! )