The Hallelujah Chorus Stands Strong

    Why are there certain traditions? Who starts the traditions? Is there a reason they are still continued today? To end the Christmas season, let's take a look at one of the longest running Christmas traditions still standing to date.

    George Frederic Handle received an invitation from the Lord Lieutenant of Dublin in 1741 to write a new oratorio for a Charity. The money proceeds went to Mercer's Hospital, the Charitable Infirmary, and the Prisoners' Debt Relief.

    It was recorded around 700 people came to hear Handel's Messiah. It was a big event that they asked women not to wear hooped skirts and for the men not to have their swords. Most of the guest honored the request, including King George II. It was claimed that during the Hallelujah Chorus that the King stood up for the performance.

    But, what made the crowd stand?.... According to tradition, whenever a king or queen stood, it was expected of everyone else in the room to stand. They could not sit until the royal person sat first. To this day, people still honor King George II and Handel by standing today.

   As Christmas has come by this year and has already left, what will remain in your heart? Was there a Christmas tradition that stuck out to you? Was there something that you have wonder about? I wonder if my actions will bring a tradition that people will respect 200 years from now? Or if I will destroy one? People stood in honor of king, what will they do about my actions?... Probably nothing for I am not important; but something I do might stand out to a single person who could change the world. I base my decisions after my Messiah. For He is the one the king stood for and people continue to stand today. Who or what will you stand for?.....

"For unto us a Child is born,
unto us a Son is given:
and the government shall be upon His shoulder:
and His name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty Go
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace."

Christmas 1914: The Christmas Miracle

    Can a miracle take place in today's world? If you were to see one, how would you react to it? Would this miracle change the people around it? What would your role be in this miracle?

    The Christmas Truce of 1914 is history in the making. The story of soldiers freezing in the cold and having little hope have inspired many people. For this Christmas special, let's see what made this miracle so important.

    Pope Benedict XV had originally wanted a Christmas truce but was rejected. Though, could this idea of a truce been carried to the men in the trenches?... (No one exactly knows how the truce began, but all accounts have the common factor of Christmas Carols.)

    To partake in the war, the men had to make trenches. The early trenches were made poorly and mostly flooded. Depending how poorly the trench were constructed, the men were easily targeted by snipers. The men were surrounded by mud and fallen bodies.  There was little hope for any celebration.

    The first account of the Christmas Miracle. The British and the Germans received gifts their fellow-country. The men were boosting to each by yelling insults. Apparently, some of the trenches were so close together that yelling to each other was a daily task. The Germans gave the Brits a birthday cake and asking them for a cease fire that night. For the Germans wanted to celebrate their Captain's birthday. The Brits replied saying they would keep a cease-fire and gave the Germans tobacco as a return gift.

    The Germans planned on having a concert for their Captain. They asked the Brits if they would join them in singing. One British soldier replied "We'd rather die than sing German." to which a German joked aloud "It would kill us if you did." Eventually, men from each side would join in with the singing. This is when all the other accounts of the Christmas Miracle share the common element. It was through Christmas caroling that the men began to interact. Men sang Christmas carols in English and in German. the verses may say not matched but their spirits did. The most recognized song was Silent Night which was the inspired title to a book about that night.


    Unarmed Germans crossed over no-man's land to the Brit's side. They came over to wish them Merry Christmas. The men went back over to their side. Not long after, the Brits and the Germans were fraternizing with each other. This was against the officers orders. Men still went out and exchanged addresses, photos, and the very little that the had.

    One depressed account that was told was when the soldiers were gathering up their dead. They chose Christmas for the day because they knew the other side would probably not be in the mood to shoot at the men. While both sides claimed their dead men to bury them, they struck up conversations with each other. Some men could only communicate through singing. By the end of the day, the men were playing soccer and having a wonderful day.

 

 

    No matter how that day is seen or how different each lines started their truce. It is amazing to know that it happened through singing. That these men fighting for different sides made a truce with the enemy for days. Some even became friends and wrote to each other. What will you be remembered for? Will you be the person singing a song that the Lord hath given you?... Or will you keep your mouth quiet and never witness a miracle. Just remember, it was a few men that made the miracle happen.

Will you keep singing?

Christmas Shoes

    What stories have impacted in your life? Is there any one you see or hear that makes you want to make a difference. With the Christmas here, people tend to be in the Christmas. What does this mean?... People tend to have the spirit of joy, giving, love, peace, and tend to wish for a Christmas miracle.

    The song Christmas Shoes by New Song is very special to my family. It was Christmas Eve when my parents discovered that my mother had cancer. They kept it a secret from my siblings and I until New Year's Eve for they wanted us to have a special Christmas. My sibling and I were very young at this time. My little sister did not understand what was happening at this time. My two sisters love this song and listen to it every year. In fact, my sisters and my mother made it a tradition to watch the movie every year for Christmas. My brother and I refuse to watch the movie and listen to the song for it is too painful to bare.

    Christmas Shoes is a song heard around the world. How did this song become so popular?... The answer simple is because it was based off of a true story. Helga Schmidt came across a little boy and his sister buying shoes for their dying mother in Alco, Kansas. They were three dollars short which Helga Schmidt provided for them. According to Schmidt, the little boys words stayed in here head. He was quoted "these shoes will match the streets of gold in heaven."

    The story made it in Schmidt's church's bulletin before it was published in her book Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul. By the 1990s, the story circulated around the internet attracting many readers.

    DC Chymes from St. Louis Radio stumbled upon the story on the internet. He asked Eddie Carswell to write a song based on the narrative. It took two years for Chymes and Leonard Ahlstrom to complete the song. The song was first introduced on New Song's album the Sheltering Tree as a bonus track. The group was not impressed with their version of the song and later revised it. The song was later played on the radio and became an instant hit. A year later, New Song entitled their newest Album Christmas Shoes. 

    Carwell introduced his friend Donna VanLiere to the song who thought it would make an excellent book. There are six books in the series and four movies based off the books. In the early 2000s, the song was turned into a Christian Cantata.

    It amazes me how this story has had so many many outlets and affected so many lives. To this day, I can not hear this song without thinking of my mother and the impact she had on me. when I hear this song, I think of all the good Christmases I had and how the Lord has been kind to me. I can only pray that this story will have an effect on people's lives like had on me. What in life is a good remembrance to you? What story or song could be written about your life that will effect the ones around you?...

Jeremiah 29:11
God has an expected end for you

    I hope you will enjoy the song.

Can A Mistake Be Used For Good?

    Have you ever done anything wrong in your life before? Was the mistake a big one? Or a little one? Was the change for good? Or was it for bad? What if I told you one invention that became a failure ended up being a major company when shipping items....

    Bubble wrap was created in 1957. The invention at the time was not intended to ship items but to be made for wall paper. The inventors, Alfred W. Fielding and Marc Chanannes designed bubble wrap to be three-dimensional type of wall paper. Unfortunately, their product was a failure.

    The men could have packed up and left the bubble wrap in the back of their minds as a failure. The men realized that they still had a good product that could be used for something. In 1960, the men turned their bubble wrap into the invention of protecting people's items as they were being mailed and shipped.

    The first carrier for Bubble wrap was IBM. It was used to protect their IBM 1401 computer during shipment. They have new designs for their bubble wrap. The company is now worth billion of dollars. Though the company makes a ton of money, there is no greater joy than seeing a child playing with their piece of bubble wrap. No child nor adult alike cannot see a piece of bubble wrap without getting the urge to pop. Fielding and Chananners may get a lot of money with Bubble Wrap but it brings more joy to the players than the buyers.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he
is a new creature: old things
are passed away; behold
all things are become
new.

One God, One Love, Can Save All

    Could one person change the whole world? Would one action change everything? Would one person be the answer to everyone's cries? The answer is yes.

    Because of two people, sin was passed unto the entire world. There is none that doeth good, no not one. There is no one that is righteous. The world is filled with sin and sinners. The question might come to mind, why would a loving God let this happen to His creation?.... Why is the world filled with sin?... God truly loves everyone but it was mankind's choice to sin. God did provide a way for mankind to be saved. As prophesied in Isaiah 53, God would send a Suffering Servant who would take the punishment for every one's sin.

    One man, Jesus Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost. Jesus was the Son of God. He was perfect. Never once, did He commit a sin. Jesus was the picture of the perfect lamb. The substitution for man kind. Before Jesus's death, He was beat with the Cat of Nine Tails. His back was stretched out to rip off the skin. Vinegar was poured on Him to burn His body. His beard was plucked off His face. Isaiah said that Jesus would be mard and unwanted. God had to look down to the Earth and see His Son hurt. God let His Son be put to death on the cross because of His love for the world. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlating life. People only need to call on God. Now, that is love. It takes one action for sin to enter the world and it took one person to defeat death and sin.

One God, One Love,
can save all

One Rest. One Look. Forever Changed.

    Could it take one look to change your life? Could it be that one look will change your future and your family's future? One would quick thought of staying home affect your life in a deep way? There is only one person to ask.

    King David stayed home during a time of war. He thought that it would be okay to miss a few battles. After all, David was king; wasn't he? What would be so bad.... One night, David took a stroll in the castle. He ended up on the roof looking down at his kingdom. The sight must have been beautiful with the streets lite by candle light. Then, his eye saw something. David saw a woman bathing herself upon the roof.

    David called for his men to bring the woman to him. Bathsheba was a very beautiful woman. David's men warned him that she was already married. Sadly, David did not listen to the men and slept with her. David soon found out that Bathsheba was with child. David wanted to hide his sin. He called for her husband Uriah to come to honor him. Uriah would not meet with his wife knowing that his men were fighting a battle. Uriah could not enjoy please if his men could not do the same.

    David sent Uriah to the front lines to be killed. David caused a man to be murdered and his wife to grieve. David married Bathsheba hoping that no one would suspect that the child was before Uriah death.

    The prophet Nathan visited David for his actions on behalf of the Lord. Nathan told the king that the sword would not depart from his house. The child that Bathsheba bore would die. Though the Lord forgave David of his sin, there would be consequences. Later on, David's daughter was raped by her half brother. One of David's sons killed the brother who defiled their sister. Later on, that same son thought to over throw his dad and become king before he met his death.

    King David went through a tough time. His family caused him many hardships. There was some good passed through his family. The Messiah would come from his line but David would not be around to see it. I am sure David had some lonely nights when he was fleeing from his son. Some of his children broke his heart.

    The though of the day is, what do your eyes see that effects your life? Do you let your eyes control your life? It could be one look that will change your entire life and future, Please do not let David's life be your life in the area of the eyes.

Does Your Eye Control
Your Life?

One Decision. One Action. Everything changes.

    Can one thought bring a decision? Can one decision take on an action? Can one action change the world? There is a man who can answer that question.

    Abraham was a just man in the sight of the Lord. He followed God where God led him to go. But, did Abraham do everything the Lord told him to do? Abraham took a pit stop in the land of Egypt. There was a famine in the land. Abraham and his family needed food and water. He went to the land that could supply all his needs. While Abraham was enjoying the fruit of the land, his wife Sarah was taken to the Pharaoh. God intervened and restored Sarah to Abraham.

    Sadly to say, Abraham picked up a person in Egypt. Sarah had an handmaiden from Egypt. When Sarah saw that she could not bare any children, she asked Abraham to take her handmaiden and bare children through her. In Abraham's day, a women needed to have children to show the blessing of the Lord and to have respect. A man who did not have children especially sons, was considered an outcast. With a heavy heart, Abraham conceded to his wife request and laid down with a woman who was not his wife nor with the person God promised the seed to come through.

    What could happen? It was only a child that was born. A baby boy is not that dangerous. A child is not destructive at all. That is what Abraham believed. Little did he know the strife that would cause.

    Tension grew between the two women. Abraham got rid of the handmaid once but was sent back by the Lord. Thirteen years later, Abraham had to let the handmaid and his first born son leave. For Sarah's and the handmaid's son could not grow up together. Sadly, this children became a father of a great and strong nation.

    Ishmaelites were the nation that bought Joseph when his brothers sold him. Tension had grown over the centuries between Ismael and the Ishmaelites. The Ishmaelites today are known as Arabs. What could be wrong with Arabs? Nothing. The Arabs and the Israelites are still feuding today. Their anger and hatred of each goes all the way back to Abraham's lack of faith in the Lord.

    Who knew that such hatred could come from one child? That one decision to do things your way would bring about wars and massacres? That a simple choice would change the world? That one thought about how the Lord has forgotton you would bring destruction to the world? Remember what you do can and will effect the generations after you. You might not see the effects now, but they will come.

When Jesus preached the sermon
on the mount, He knew that
people's thoughts controlled
their actions.

    Remember; to him that knowth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Please remember  that the tiniest thought has a reaction. What will your reaction and ripple be?

A Bite of an Apple?

    Could one action change the whole world? Would the world changed instant? Or would it be a slow change? The two people you could ask would be Adam and Eve.

    When God made the whole world, He made everything perfect. The sun, the moon, the stars, the plants, the trees, the animals, and humans. There was nothing bad on the earth. Everything was perfect. God made Eve out of Adam's side to serve as the perfect helper. Someone Adam could look to as an equal to love. Their marriage was perfect until Satan tempted Eve through a serpent.

    The serpent told Eve to look at the fruit of the Garden. She could have whatever fruit she wanted expect of the tree of good and evil. Eve saw with her eyes. The fruit looked so good that she touched it. After Eve saw and touched the fruit; she pressed it against her lips and did eat.Then Eve brought the fruit unto her husband and he ate of the fruit as well. What would happen? It is just a piece of fruit. What would God do to two people eating something He said no to?

    The pain was more than what Adam and Eve could bare. The serpent was punished to slither on his belly. Adam was cursed to til the ground and to eat of it. Now, when he would work the ground, he would sweat. Not only work would be hard but thorns would grow from the ground. To Eve, God commanded that he child birth would be very painful. Was this all the causes of Adam's and Eve's sin?

    Sadly, this was just the beginning of their reaping. Their son, Cain committed the first murder. Cain killed his brother Abel. Soon the world would be corrupted with evil. Adam and Eve's sin was passed unto the entire world. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; an so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" Romans 5:12. and Roman 3:23 says "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Who knew that because of one action, there would be so many problems in the world?

    Just remember when there is something that you want to do for yourself, will it help the people around you? Or will it cause everyone pain like Adam and Eve? Everyone is responsible for the actions that they take. So, please make your actions a good one.

What will your butterfly leave behind?

May I be a Pirate?

What question have you've asked recently? Is it a question that can change a life? Will it change the world? Who knows?....But if your question was "Can I be a pirate for Halloween?" what would that produce?

Three year old Keaton Weimer wanted to be a pirate for Halloween. It broke Keaton's father's heart knowing the could not be a pirate. The problem was, Keaton has Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Keaton is to remain in a wheelchair for his entire life. Keaton's father, Ryan could only do what a Dad needed to do. Ryan built his son a pirate ship around the wheelchair.

Keaton's First Costume

Ryan spent endless hours working on a design for his son wheel chair. Ryan's motivation was for Keaton to feel that he belonged with the other children. Ryan wanted his son to realize that being stuck in a wheelchair wasn't a bad thing. He wanted his son to see that there were special opportunities for him. It did not take long for Keaton to be the most popular boy in town. His wheelchair made the first page of the new paper.

Following the success of Keaton's wheelchair in 2008, Ryan decided to make wheel chair for other children who were stuck in wheelchairs. Parents began to request costumes for their children in wheelchairs. In 2015, Magic Wheelchair was born. Ryan designed the non-profit organization to provide a smile on every's child face.

The Organization has so made made 25 costumes. Ryan would love to make more costumes but there is so much time and money that goes into the process. Hopefully in the future, they will be able to put more smiles on children's faces.

Who knew that one little boy's question would inspire so many disabled children?...

Here are some picture of the costumes that Magic Wheelchair has made.

"There is nothing quite as magical as seeing a smile

on the face of a child in a wheelchair and knowing 

that you had a part in making it possible."

Ryan Weimer

Yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
James 4:2b

A Shake Passed Around the World

What would you do at your work if a lady came to you crying? What if this situation happened at a drive through? What would be the result? Let’s take a look and see….

    The Whitey’s Ice Cream shop in Moline, Illinois has its own butterfly effect. The manager Rhonda, wanted to have a special ice cream shop. She taught every employee how to serve and be serve everyone with kindness. Her message of kindness, she passed down to Brenden. Brenden McGee was 16 when he landed his first job. He wasn’t working there long when a lady sobbing drove up to the drive-thru window. She was upset and could barely speak. Through communication, Brenden understood the lady wanted a shake. Brenden personally made her the shake and told the lady “Your shake is on me tonight. You have a good night.”

Brenden's back room note

    Brenden did not think of the situation till a few days later when the lady returned to the shop but this time, to speak to the manager, Rhonda. The lady told Rhonda that she recently lost her husband and was still in mourning. When Brenden gave the lady the shake, she was touched by his gesture.

    The lady asked if Brenden could be employ of the month but Whitney’s Ice Cream Shop does not have an employee of the month. The management instead gave Brenden a card and note in the back room.

    Two months later, Brenden heard the news that he had cancer. People from all over the world gave money to Brenden through the GoFundMe and Facebook. For Brenden’s kindness, he was also able to receive a four year scholarship to go to the University of Iowa.

    One company taught a young man about kindness that reached out unto the entire nation. What have you taught someone? What has someone learned from you?

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God for Christ sake hath
forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32

The Butterfly Effect

Can one person really change the world? Do people influence each other? Does a small action become a huge step for a person? Is a thought important to a person? I believe that everyone major event, every huge decision, the main situation started with one small thought or action. The choices that we make today, started back early on in a decision from the past.

When I hear of the phrase “The Butterfly Effect” I would think of time travel. “Why?” Might you ask? Because Ray Bradbury wrote the story A Sound of Thunder (1952). The year is 2055, time travel is now possible. Wealthy adventures can travel to the past and hunt extinct species. A group of hunters go to the past but are warned not to leave the levitating path. For any small alterations may change the future. One man runs off the path after seeing a Tyrannosaur Rex. When he returns to the group to go back to the future, they find many changes. The English language is written and spoken differently. It turns out, that the man accidently stepped on a butterfly.

I will not finish the story. You can read it for yourself. But the idea about the butterfly effect sprang from this story. One simple butterfly changed the whole future. How important was this butterfly at the time? Probably not that special but; he influenced the world in more ways than what man could imagine.

I do not know if Edward Lorenz read A Sound of Thunder but his research resembled the idea of the story years later. Edward Lorenz present his research in 1963 that a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil can produce a tornado in Texas. Lorenz’s research was for predicting the weather and rippled into many different theories about the world we live in. The main concept of his theory is that small change will change the world.

The Butterfly Effect blog is written to encourage people in the world. So many sad and depressing stories flout around the web. I want to encourage people that they make a difference. God created you for reason and has a special plan. You might not see it at the time but just like that butterfly, you can change the world. No matter what little actions you do; it may be helping an elderly person cross the street or losing your tempter; but someone is watching. Someone is listening. That tiny little action will affect someone else’s life. So may this blog be an encouragement to you as your decisions and actions affect the world around you.

Whenever you hear the term “The Butterfly Effect” or see the logo….. Remember that you are special and important.
I am Evangelin Lovett and I am praying that as a little butterfly that I might help you to spread your wings and fly.

You are the butterfly

1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.