FROM ME TO YOU … MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Dear family and friends,
It’s been a very busy, beautiful year filled with much love; but also life’s tears.
The highlight for us was the stunning wedding six months ago, where two precious hearts became one.
Life is a gift.
A gift we are given.
To find another to love, is a blessing beyond love.
Some of you don’t celebrate Christmas.
I still send wishes to you for a wonderful season.
Some don’t celebrate because they don’t know Jesus.
Others because they do, and believe it’s too worldly.
I’ve been in both places.
We have a very simple one now.
In saying all of this, I send Christmas blessings, and much love across the miles.
The oceans that separate us, or the few streets around town.
I want you to know how very much you mean to me.
Each of you in different ways.
Some I’ve grown very close to, you know who you are.
You’ve walked with me through the valley.
You’ve shared the joy on the mountaintop.
Others … just a hello here and there.
But you are all precious, and I’m so thankful for each and every one of you.

Have a beautiful Christmas with your loved ones.
Know that you are loved.
You have a heavenly Father.
He’s waiting for you.
He wants to bring Jesus into your life, as your Lord and Saviour.
May you hear Him calling your name.
May 2019 bring much healing where needed.
Love Liana.

PS … I’ve attached a little ‘surprise’ for you. You’ll certainly be surprised when you hear it lol!!
I absolutely love the hymn ‘O Holy Night’ … rarely a time goes past, and a tear doesn’t fall. So I wanted to sing it, and add it to my Christmas letter. I found some instrumental music with the lyrics on YouTube and sang over it. Then I was concerned about copyright. So back to the drawing board. I thought maybe I could just have the lyrics on the screen, and mute it. That was a mission in itself. Between trying to push the record button on my phone, and the play button on YouTube, only to find each and every version played at varying speeds, and with different lyrics. I kept getting ahead of myself. Sounds like my life. Anyway between that issue, I had these to also contend with … trying to record, so that no cars passed by our house, the cats or family didn’t want something, messages didn’t come in (with their arrival ping on the phone) etc etc at the same time … Like I said, a mission. On top of that I haven’t operatic lungs lol!! Finally it came to me, why don’t I just look for the lyrics on Google, and sing it at my own pace, which I did. Isn’t that just like … ‘All I need to do is look at the Word’. Big lesson in all of this. I hope you like it. It took quite a few attempts.

© 2018 Liana Wendy Howarth

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from the Orient land.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weaknesses no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.

John Sullivan Dwight’s version 1855