Christmas memory...again....

I shared this memory of Christmas last year, but every year it comes to mind again. So as we get ready to turn the calendar to December, this seems like a good place to begin...

Years ago my mother went to visit a friend at Christmas. She was a widow and former minster's wife who grew up near us and our families were close. She now lived in a retirement condo. When my mother got there she rang the bell and greeted her with a hug and a big platter of homemade cookies...

Our friend had her dining room table set with her best Christmas china, silver, crystal and serving pieces... and beautiful Christmas decorations everywhere. Everything sparkled and the Christmas music was playing in the background.

My mother said, "Oh, I didn't know you were having a party. I'll just drop these cookies and run". Her friend quietly said..."Oh no, no one is coming, the family is all scattered and far away and it's just me now, but I always set the table for our family dinner like I did in the old days, it makes me feel like they are still all around me and I can remember how it was when they were all here...

My mom left with tears in her eyes that day....

A gentle reminder to me and to each of us that there are many lonely hearts out there who need to be remembered this Christmas. Lots of families are hurting this year, for many reasons. Emotions intensify during special holidays, and maybe most of all during Christmas.... it takes so little to reach out and give a smile or a word of encouragement, maybe some Christmas cookies, or sharing a favorite recipe.

There is always room in our lives to help someone when the need is genuine, and... as with all gifts from our hearts...

WE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE BLESSED!!

Come on Ring Those Bells...

When our 3 kids were growing up, all of us fell in love with EVIE, from Norway. We literally wore out her Christmas album... so today as we finish this beautiful Thanksgiving season and begin to look toward Christmas, my selections for Then Sings my Soul Saturday are the following songs by Evie.

I'm sure many of you will remember her... if you click on the links below, you will be singing along with her before you know it...

The first one is: Come On Ring Those Bells... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULHn978OJh4

Another favorite was this one, 1000 Candles.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6L8b7x8eFms

Click over and join Amy on http://signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/ for some more great Saturday singing!

A few THANKSGIVING reminders....

HOPE....

GRACE.....

LOVE....

SALVATION...

STRENGTH FOR TODAY....

COURAGE FOR TOMORROW....

BLESSINGS.... 10,000 AND MORE...

My 'short list' this week of Thanksgiving..... and I wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving!

It's Called CHRISTMAS...

I heard this song last week and it sure reflects what I'm feeling about the way that CHRISTMAS seems to be left out and HAPPY HOLIDAYS and SEASONS GREETINGS is okay!

It's a bouncy tune, but the message is clear, and I love their enthusiasm in shedding light on what probably bothers you as it does me.

CHRISTMAS... the very word brings me right back to the manger, and to ... the GIFT.

Thank God for CHRISTMAS, and enjoy this song as we join Then Sings my Soul Saturdays over at http://signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/. The links there provide some really special music on Saturdays. Have a great weekend!

The Love of God... Thanksgiving to me...

My husband was reading in Romans 8 last night, and shared one of my favorite passages with me. As with all of God's word, the familiar old passages... become new... again.

From Romans 8...

..."what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture...
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." (The Message)

Of all that I am thankful for this year, through the ups and downs of life, and the blessings that abound, it is God's LOVE for me...

I can't think of THE LOVE OF GOD in song, without hearing in my head this song, sung by George Beverly Shea... Remember???

Take a minute to listen, and to thank God for HIS great love for you. It's because of HIS love, and HIS gift of life to me, that I have hope in my heart, and joy that this world does not offer. Words are not enough....

faith or fear?? ...

There are so many times when life 'comes at us', and the trusting heart I claim is mine, seems to falter in fear. And then, I am reminded, as I was this morning, of what God's word clearly says about fear...

"Don't panic. I'm with you.
There's no need to fear for I'm your God.
I'll give you strength. I'll help you.
I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you." (Is.41:10 The Message)

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Is.41:10 KJV)
and...

In reading "When Your Heart Cries Out to God" this morning, Harold Sala tells the story of Corrie Ten Boom during World War 2 when she was trying to smuggle a suitcase filled with Bibles across the border of what was then the USSR. ..."Her heart was filled with fear, and the very fact that she was afraid perplexed her. She reasoned, God has never failed me, so I must trust Him now... Quietly she prayed, 'God, I believe it is in Jeremiah that you said 'God watched over His Word'. Those Bibles are your Word. Now I claim that, Lord. Watch over your Word, my Bibles.' As she prayed, her fear disappeared. A customs agent approached her sternly, asking 'Is that your red suitcase?'... 'yes sir, a heavy one',Corrie replied... 'I am just through with my work. I will help you.'... And with that the man picked up her suitcase and carried it through customs and out to the car that was waiting for her." ......

I remember as a child coming home from school one day and Corrie Ten Boom was sitting in the den having coffee with my parents. It wasn't until years later when I read "The Hiding Place" and understood the kind of faith she had, that I really appreciated the Godly jewel who was in our home that day.

That is the kind of faith I want, the kind that really KNOWS that I KNOW that God IS FAITHFUL!... He says He is...ALWAYS! I'm convinced that in my own life, I often lack the full faith that wholeheartedly takes God at His Word. It's the faith that I desire, and it's the faith that God desires for me.

"Trust and Obey"... they are one and they go together. God says TRUST ME, and in doing that, I am obeying Him.

...Sometimes the most profound becomes the most simple, and the simple is the profound....

Happy Birthday Lainey...9 years old today....

then...

and now....

Joyful...

Filled with giggles...

Smiling face...

Cares about her friends, and is a friend to everyone...

Loves to have her back scratched...very lightly...

A great acrobat, dancer and cheerleader...

Loves to please....

Loves Jesus and loves to pray...

Teacher, instructor, helper and 'little mom'...

Looks beautiful in chocolate brown!

Melts our hearts and makes us smile.

HAPPY 9TH BIRTHDAY LAINEY! WE LOVE YOU TONS!

"It Is No Secret What God Can Do"...

Thanks again to Amy at Signs, Miracles and Wonders for this Saturday blessing!

Okay, now we are going WAY back in time...

I grew up in a preacher's home, not one of the mega preachers or big church preachers, but one of those rare ones that lived by faith. We had some times that I am certain tested their faith, but always, ALWAYS God proved faithful...

My parents were friends with Stuart & Suzy Hamblen for many years. I remember getting a huge box of 'hand me down' clothes from their daughters who were a little older than my sister and I. I couldn't find a single thing to wear in the whole box. I'm sure in looking back, that they were designer clothes.... NOT what we were used to. I was reminded of that story as I remembered this song written by Stuart Hamblen. I remember him as having a big heart, and finding God in a new and deeper way as he grew older. This song will always stir memories of them....

...and to top it off... a tea party!

Today we finished our Bible study at church, "Annointed, Transformed, Redeemed", with Beth Moore, Kay Arthur & Priscilla Shirey. It is an AWESOME study. If it comes to your church, I whole heartedly recommend it!

And then... our leader planned a beautiful tea party for all of us. The variety of teacups on the table has to represent both time and thought for many years. Each of us had a cup of our choice filled with many flavors of tea to choose from, and then she had colored tissue and bags for us to wrap our cups and bring them home. This was such a treat for each lady who took this study. I will always treasure my cup and remember the lessons learned from the life of David.

I thought of the pattern in David's life, and the words that also apply to my life and my walk with God:

...CHERISHED

...CHOSEN

...CHERISHED

...CHASTENED

...CHERISHED

...CHANGED

...CHERISHED

A few more 'nuggets' from my dad's notes....

My Dad had a special way of saying things, I can still see the smile on his face as he said them. These are a few that were listed in the bulletin at his memorial service:

..."Put all your begs into one ask-it"...

..."Supply and demand.. is the economy of the land.

Need and supply... is the economy of the Lord"...

..."If we do what God tells us to do, He will do what He says He will do"...

..."A man is never taller than when he is on his knees before God"...

..."There is nothing which stretches our faith like praying, and nothing which so tests us as to whether we really believe the plain Word of God. And there is nothing more humbling than when we check our praying with the answers we receive."...

..."God's Word does indeed change a lot of our thinking about prayer. And in the process... it changes us too!"...

..."The lesson is clear: let's keep the umbrella handy when we pray for rain!"...

Wednesday morning with Beth, Kay & Priscilla...

If you've ever done a Beth Moore bible study, you will understand when I tell you I have just spent another rich morning with Beth Moore...X3, this study also has Kay Arthur & Priscilla Shirey!! We are on the final week of study. It has been such a HUGE blessing to me. There are so many relevant and meaningful truths in this study. Just this week...

Kay Arthur NAILS the costliness of wrong choices at the crossroads of our lives.

She gets very specific about the consequences of sin. Honestly, it makes me want to RUN in the other direction! I wish I could say that I always do that, I don't. But I do know that I have the source of strength living in me to choose NOT to sin. (I Cor.10:13)...

But, like she says...I also know that God in His GRACE, fully forgives and loves a heart that truly repents.Once again, through this study, comes my favorite word... GRACE... what does that word mean to you?

The timeless message of God's GRACE is that it is never too late for any of us. He meets us right where we are and His GRACE is sufficient!

"Grace, Grace, God's Grace
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace, grace, God's grace
Grace that is greater than all my sin"

about Worry.....

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. -- Corrie Ten Boom

Faith ends where worry begins, and worry ends where faith begins. --George Mueller

One more thing I'm reminded of.... "I have crossed many bridges that I never came to"....

"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matt.6:34 KJV)

"So don't be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.." (Matt. 6:34 Living Bible)