Santa~The Bishop

Wondering the story of Santa Claus: Here’s one version I found.

From St. Nicholas to Santa

How did this St. Nicholas become a North Pole-dwelling bringer of Christmas gifts? The original saint was a Greek born 280 years after Christ who became bishop of Myra, a small Roman town in modern Turkey. Nicholas was neither fat nor jolly but developed a reputation as a fiery, wiry, and defiant defender of church doctrine during the “Great Persecution,” when Bibles were put to the torch and priests made to renounce Christianity or face execution.

Nicholas defied these edicts and spent years in prison before Constantine brought Christianity to prominence in his empire. Nicholas’s fame lived long after his death (on December 6 of some unknown year in the mid-fourth century) because he was associated with many miracles, and reverence for him continues to this day independent of his Santa Claus connection.

A religious icon representing St. Nicholas is shown.

PHOTOGRAPH BY HEMIS/ALAMY

Nicholas rose to prominence among the saints because he was the patron of so many groups, ranging from sailors to entire nations. By about 1200, explained University of Manitoba historian Gerry Bowler, author of Santa Claus: A Biography, he became known as a patron of children and magical gift bringer because of two great stories from his life.

In the better-known tale, three young girls are saved from a life of prostitution when young Bishop Nicholas secretly delivers three bags of gold to their indebted father, which can be used for their dowries.

“The other story is not so well known now but was enormously well known in the Middle Ages,” Bowler said. Nicholas entered an inn whose keeper had just murdered three boys and pickled their dismembered bodies in basement barrels. The bishop not only sensed the crime, but resurrected the victims as well. “That’s one of the things that made him the patron saint of children.”

Above excerpt from National Geographic Article that you can read the complete story here: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/12/131219-santa-claus-origin-history-christmas-facts-st-Nicholas/

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus tomorrow, Christmas Day, we can also celebrate a Bishop who loved people and his Lord named for us as Santa Claus. Sure, we’ve elaborated on the whole Christmas scene, but what fun it has been over the years from childhood and continues to adulthood. I always felt that I was being truthful when I told my children that Santa Claus would be coming. He came in the back door of our house the whole time my children were growing up. Yep, he came in the back door from the garage where he collected the presents that we would place under the tree. His name was Dad. He worked, he made the money to pay for the presents, and I considered myself as his helper as I worked and contributed also to the joy our kids would know as Santa Claus. We merely took over where the original Santa Claus left off; maybe in different ways, but the wonder on a child’s face is Christmas. And, I don’t think it takes away from the birth of Jesus in any way. They’re both wonderful in their own ways, and to me, I think Santa is a gift from Jesus. One more miracle.

Wishing All A Blessed Merry Christmas, A Happy Birthday to Jesus, and Peace On Earth

Peabea

Enjoy the Songs ~

Furbaby Poses and a Free Gift

Sometimes, just sometimes, Razzy cooperates. I asked him to sit in front of the tree so that I could try a technique that Jill Wellington  (you will find some awesome photo tips that this photographer shares on her site and newsletter) mentioned in her newsletter about Kevin and Amanda’s blog on how to make the lights on the tree look like snowflakes, hearts or whatever you choose. Well, as you can see, I didn’t achieve it, but kind of like how the home made filter captured the picture. You can find the technique HERE on their page.

The sparkles were made using a star brush that Jill shared.

Razzy sat as long as I wanted him to until I told him he could go. Sometimes, just sometimes, he listens…but then other times, he’s the boss with a mind of his own.

 

This one, I think he’s thinking, Please someone walk in and make her stop

The Coffee Shop Blog has this free Santa hat give away on her site and I thought would be fun to put Razzy under it in this photo using her Santa hat. I left it big but can be resized. 😄

 

A gift for you from Razzy. Made using Photoshop Elements. You can download it  free HERE without my watermark.

Razzy and I are wishing you the best and safest and happiest holiday season ever. Merry Christmas. 💕 🎅 ✨ ✴

Joining others at Life Thru The Lens…come visit and see what they’re up to with their posts. 🙂

 

Advent ~ JOY

Week three of the Advent theme with the group I’m following is JOY. As a child we have so much JOY when we anticipate Christmas. The belief that Santa will bring us delightful surprises. Same with our Faith. Jesus is a wonderful gift who will and always brings us delightful surprises as we travel through this earthly life. One surprise was the way he arrived (a babe born in a stable), and another unknown surprise at his birth was that he was sent to make a sacrifice that would give us unconditional forgiveness. All he asks is Love One Another.

God is peace, and if you let him, he will work in us a comfort and peace beyond understanding. Stay faithful and blameless awaiting the return of Jesus. Live in Love and Peace and enjoy the JOY that life brings.

Lord of Peace
God of Peace
Great Shepherd
A babe born for you and me

(c) Peabea Photography

 

 

(c)opyright peabea 2015

 

Love this that my Grandson drew for me. Love Kid’s drawings..all I added were the printed words for him.

 

Merry Christmas week three.

Peabea

Hebrews 13:20-21
Romans 16:20

From Little Hands

My grandson who I call grandbabykins (he’s now eight so soon I may have to abandon that, but I really think he likes it). Anyway, since he came to our house with his parents as a newborn, and was here over the years, he has one of my bedrooms that he still claims as his own even though he no longer lives here. There, he keeps a desk, crayons, markers, papers that he borrows from my printer among other things. Last week when school was out, I had him for the day. He decided to cover a box with printer paper and decorate it. I think drawings that little ones make are so cute so I decided to turn one into a Christmas card to say:

As the Birthday of Jesus is quickly approaching, hope everyone enjoys their holidays with family and/or friends and have a Blessed 2015. Seems unreal that this year is almost over already..seems it just started a few months ago.

Sharing with Texture Tuesday and textured with kk_hughes and Texture Twist

Peabea

If you like my cross brush, you can download it HERE or click on the brush above. Enjoy!!

  

True Light of Christmas

Sharing with Quotography and Texture Tuesday.

As foretold by the angel Gabriel, she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them at the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them: and they were sore afraid. The angel brought great tidings of great joy to the shepherds that a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord has been born.

The birth that night brought light into our lives of Hope for our salvation. Through him all things are possible because in him was life; and the life was the light of men.

I love Christmas and Santa Claus. To me, they are definitely two separate events. There are many stories about St. Nick who gave Christmas to children. There is also a baby born that gave Christmas to all mankind. I remember and celebrate both, Happy Birthday Jesus AND Merry Christmas. (I never X the Christ out of Christmas).

As we head into this holiday season, I pray all families everywhere are blessed with the Christmas spirit and loving hearts abound.

Peabea