Before and After

A symbol of what we look like before we confess our sins to the Lord.

A symbol of what we look like after we confess our sins to the Lord.

Israel

Please pray for the situation in Israel. The Palestians had a large protest on Sunday near the Galleria. (I am not sure why they did not protest near the Israeli Consulate.) I think we will see violent protests spring up in numerous countries.

Karen's friend Diana is in Israel through January 6, please pray for Diana's safety as well as the safety of her group.

We know how the story ends, we know through the prophet Ezekiel what happens to those who align themselves with countries against Israel.

Time to pray for those against Israel to get delivered from their false religion and take all that devotion and use it in the Kingdom.

Jesus Loves Me This I Know

Sunday I attended church with my mother at my former church. It is so nice to see friends and worship with them. During Communion, we sang Jesus Loves Me, Father Frankie had mentioned it to the children during the children's sermon. My eyes welled up with tears as we sang it. God reconciled us to Himself through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ - Emmanuel - God With Us.

Men have given religion a bad name, just like the Saducees and Pharisees in the New Testament. The only people who did not like Jesus were religious, they knew the laws inside and out but did not have God in their hearts. Believers in Christ should follow him, but not be legalistic and hard hearted religious (dare I say) idiots like the Pharisees. My prayer is Lord Jesus stun the Pharisee right out of me. Believers must take the love of Jesus where ever they go. It's not our job to preach at people and beat them over the head with the Bible; it's our job to love and pray. Jesus saves through the power of the Holy Spirit, so get out of the way and let Him do His job.

Gandhi said, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." Examine your hearts, your words and your actions today as you are out and about. Keep it simple just like the song we learned as young children:

Jesus loves me! This I know,For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; They are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! This I know, As He loved so long ago, Taking children on His knee, Saying, “Let them come to Me.”

Refrain

Jesus loves me still today, Walking with me on my way, Wanting as a friend to give Light and love to all who live.

Refrain

Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven’s gate to open wide; He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in.

Refrain

Jesus loves me! He will stay Close beside me all the way; Thou hast bled and died for me,I will henceforth live for Thee.

Refrain

A/C's, Fires in the Fireplace & Friends

Christmas Day was quite warm and humid, though we had a little freezing rain and sleet December 23. (Sometimes you can experience 3 to 4 seasons in 1 day in southeast Texas.) So to add to the ambiance of Christmas we set the A/C down to 66 and built a fire in the fireplace. My husband thought my parents would enjoy it. (Mind you my parents have a fireplace, they don't need firewood and can use a remote to light it, we need firewood and matches to start a fire at our house and there is certainly no remote.) So the point of this is: my husband wanted to build a fire in the fireplace.


After all the company left and the last of the dishes were in the dishwasher, my husband and I sat outside talking. We could hear the children across the street playing football until it became too dark to play. They were so happy because their oldest brother had leave and was home for a visit before he ships out to Guam, he is proudly serving in the USMC. Semper Fi!


I mentioned 2008 had been a long year, but it has also been a great year. My friends supported me with prayer and love while my father was in the hospital, they have cried with me, they have rejoiced with me. Friends visit my parents and offered to deliver meals to mom when dad was in the hospital and when he returned home. Cousins have visited from Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota and will be back for another visit soon. (I think they are already tired of winter.) Friends and family are more valuable than all the gold and diamonds in the world. I was a good friend yesterday and didn't wrap Doug's house, it was raining off and on, soggy toilet paper would not be funny.

One of the greatest examples of friendship we see in the Bible is found in Mark 2:

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

We don't know if the paralytic had any faith, we don't know if he prayed for his situation, but we know he was physically carried by his friends who had faith to Jesus and we know Jesus healed him. When we pray for each other, we spiritually carry our friends to the Lord. If you need prayer, please do not be afraid to ask for it. If you are so exhausted you cannot pray anymore, ask friends to pray for you and the situation.

And once more I say: Continue to celebrate Christmas...spread the joy and love of Christ where ever you go today.

Merry Christmas!

December 26th

The day people celebrate Christmas has come and gone but it's still Christmas until January 6th.

Today a few women are coming over for lunch, we met in school between 5th & 8th grade and graduated from St. Thomas' Episcopal Church & School together. We have threatened one of our male classmates who moved just down the road from me with wrapping his house. We have to get a little exercise in after lunch and his neighborhood is so new, I think we can manage to throw rolls of toilet paper over his 6 foot tall oak trees. (Don't worry Doug, we haven't wrapped your house in 4 or 5 years and probably won't do it today....)

This meal with dear friends extends Christmas for me if you will. There is joy and love around the dining room table and it's great, but nothing compared to the pure love God has for us. Just imagine what it will be like when we are dining together in heaven! I try to find God's love in every day situations and events. I really find it in dining with friends who love me warts and all.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Continue to celebrate Christmas....

O Come Let Us Adore Him!

Merry Christmas!

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas! 2008 has been a long year for my family due to my father's 8 months in the hospital plus the normal ups and downs of life. Many of you have experienced hard times this year. Keeping our eyes on the Lord is the only way to move forward. He understands our pain, our disappointments and the reasons we cry out why Lord, why? Each day is a new day with Him, His mercy and grace are poured out on us daily, they never run low or run out, He is ever faithful even when we are not.

Over 2000 years ago on a starry night, whatever time of year the shepherds were in the field with their flocks, in the City of David, Jesus our Emmanuel, the long awaited Messiah was born. Our heavenly Father trusted Joseph and Mary to raise this little baby Who would bring Salvation to all people. The Prince of Peace, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings was born in very humble circumstances to a humble couple who loved Yaweh.

As we celebrate Christmas with our family and friends, let us remember those whose children are serving in the military, those who work at the hospitals, the police officers and firefighters, the sick, the lonely, the disenfranchised, the homeless and all those who are in physical and emotional pain. Please pray for them.

My heart is filled with joy this Christmas because no matter what, I know our Lord loves me and He loves you, too. Remember earth is our temporary home. Our real home is in heaven where there is no sickness, no disease, no tears, no sorrow. So I say it once more: Merry Christmas!

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “ Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

O come let us adore Him, Christ the King!

Annual Coffee

Pictures from my annual coffee, Ann & Karen on the love seat, they were talking to Annette of Annie's Eyes Blog, Penny (1 of my dogs) recovering from being shut out of all the excitement...Joann is sitting on the couch, she is my neighbor...then sadly I started drinking coffee and eating red velvet cake and quit taking pictures...Oh well, there is always next year.

Since it's only 38 degrees this afternoon which is cold for people in southeast Texas, I am going to make a cup of tea and warm up. Have a good afternoon. Spend some time with our Heavenly Father:

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 God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

The 4th Sunday of Advent

Today is the 4th Sunday of Advent, the last candle in the wreath is lit until we light the white candle in the center on Christmas Day. Hard to believe how fast the season of preparation flew by this year.

Yesterday I had several friends over, we drank coffee, ate sweets, and laughed. Annette of Annie's Eyes blog made the trip from the northwest side of Houston to my house southwest of Houston. It was a joy to see her in person. (She brought the most wonderful gift, I need to find out if she made it and I need to thank her for it.)

My husband made his escape, he decided to spread joy and pink eye to his plumbing shop. (I don't think his employees were there.)

I hope y'all are prepared for Christmas spiritually and in the natural realm. I have 1 gift to buy, a trip to the grocery store later this week, and a little baking to do. I hope we have prepared Him room in our hearts and let the things of this world that don't matter in the next world fade away.

I pray we spread joy and love this week, because the Lord has come...

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
All things were created through Him,
and apart from Him not one thing was created
that has been created.
Life was in Him,
and that life was the light of men.
That light shines in the darkness,
yet the darkness did not overcome it.

Handel - Messiah - Hallelujah

When I was in school I had to be in the annual Christmas Choir Concert. I loved some of the songs we sang and really didn’t care for others. I remember in 5th grade when I was 10; we sang Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming, I hated it. As I got older I liked the words and still hated the music. I have not heard it in so many years; I no longer have an opinion. We also sang a song called Fum Fum Fum (rhymes with zoom, not gum), the opening line is: On December five and twenty fum fum fum, I think we all loved it and I think we even sang it at a Christmas party a 2 or 3 years ago after a couple of glasses of champagne. Another song we liked to sing was:

While Shepherds watched their flocks by night,
Glad tidings brought an angel bright:
How great their joy, great their joy,
Joy, joy joy!
Joy, joy joy!
Glory to God in heav'n on high.
Glory to God in heav'n on high.

We would belt out the echo of the JOY JOY JOY chorus to annoy the organist Mr. Moseley, but he could never prove it. I heard the song the other day and it brought a big smile to my face. I belted it out in the car. Bring some joy into your day, belt out some Christmas Carols, you’ll feel the joy and so will the Lord.

Buc-ees' Fudge

As many of you know from a previous post I wanted a truffle last weekend but did not want to go to the Galleria. My husband not knowing about the desire for a truffle; stopped at Buc-cees on the way home from the deer lease and bought fudge for me. What a guy, stopping to buy fudge at the service station. Buc-ees have not been around all that long, but has a loyal following. One of my friends has been known to drive to Buc-ees to buy jerky, it's 1/2 way to San Antonio. Thankfully they have opened a few locations around the greater Houston area and one will open soon in Richmond. You can pull in pump gas, go in grab a Coke, buy freshly baked cookies, have some jerky and get back on the highway. Buc-ees is basically a massive convenience store. I love them.

It can be very easy to treat God like a convenience store. We just utter a prayer which is like a fast food order and go on down the highway of life. I am not talking about when a crisis pops up or we need a quick refreshment from the Lord. I am talking about this kind of prayer:

Lord, Did you see what Susie Q did to me? I am glad you saw it and know I don't need to forgive her. I hate my boss. Lord, the sermon was so boring Sunday, and the choir - did you hear the choir!!! Did you put your hand over your ears? I am going to buy a lotto ticket, please bless it. In Jesus' Name. amen (I did take some of this from a prayer I heard someone pray.)

Not to be legalistic and say there is a right and wrong way to pray or a set amount of time and a set place to pray, I will say pray when you have time to listen to the Lord's response. He has a lot to say to us, He will impress our hearts with answers, He may answer through other people, and He will speak to us through His word. I normally begin prayer with praises and establish Who He is, Yaweh - the Great I Am, enthroned in Heaven, then I confess my sin (I do make confessions through out the day, especially as I drive down the road, I tend to have a problem with my thought life concerning other drivers.), I then talk to Him about situations or incidents in life and pray for people with needs, and end with thanking Him. This is not the only way to pray, it's just how I pray. I also spend some time sitting quietly. Sometimes I journal. I have not journaled in a month or so, I want to be intentional about it in the New Year.

The Bible gives us the model prayer we call the Lord's Prayer. So much has been written about it, that I will sum it up in a nutshell - Jesus began by establashing God's sovereignty, asking for provision, asking for forgiveness, asking for protection and ending in praise.

If I were going to pray the convenience store prayer for real, it would be similar to this:

Heavenly Father, I know You are the Father of Lights, You are my Abba Father, enthroned in Heaven, You never change. I would then confess my sin. I would talk to Him about Susie Q. I would ask Him if I should talk to her about whatever hurt my feelings or drop it. I would ask Him to fill my heart with love for her and would pray for forgiveness because I was angry with her. I would ask the Lord to grant me favor and grace with my boss, I would pray to be the Light of Christ in the office at all times. I would pray for the Lord to anoint my minister and pour out His message through the minister in the sermon. I would thank Him for the choir and the time they give Him and the church. I would ask Him to bless them and anoint them. I don't think I would pray over the lotto ticket! I would end the prayer thanking Him.

Make time for Him. He loves you! He loves you so much, He sent His Son Jesus - Emmanuel, He trusted humans to raise Jesus. Jesus thought it was worth leaving His Father to live on earth and ultimately be our Passover Lamb.

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a manger." Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!

The Post Office & The Holy Spirit

Does anyone relish a trip to the post office this time of year? I knew there would be a bit of a wait as parking places were scarce. I had 2 choices: stand in line and think nasty thoughts or stand in line and pray for friends and family who need prayer. Part of me wanted to do the nasty thought thing so I could contemplate the woman who told the postal worker to wait as she talked on her cell phone. He called the next customer, she hung up the telephone quickly and glared at him while he waited on her. Remember, these are people - God's children, not idiots, I am reminding myself of this point as well as telling myself I am Kingdom minded.

The Holy Spirit can change our mood in a heartbeat if we ask Him to do so. Ephesians tells us:

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

I want to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit everywhere I go, I want the Light of Christ to shine from my eyes and His words to pour forth as I talk to people. I know a lady named Wanda Plummer, she's 86; who in regular conversation without mentioning the Lord pours forth His words. People are drawn to her because His love is such a part of her. I don't know how many young hippies she prayed into the Kingdom in the 1960's and 1970's. People were set free from drugs in her front yard, numerous people were saved in her living room; she drew them in with love.

In Isaiah we are told: I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Remember under our armor, we are clothed in Salvation and robed in Righteousness. Bring the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness with you - don't leave home without it!

I'll end today with this video clip Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, the scenery is beautiful, I know our sisters up north will not appreciate the snow scenes like many us on the Gulf Coast and in south Texas...and Ang, never fear the word Hippo does not appear in text, is not said or sung in the clip. Freezing rain is supposed to begin falling soon...I prefer snow, it's time for a cup of Sugar Free Swiss Miss hot chocolate.

No Galleria, Godiva, or Starbucks

My father ate seafood gumbo for lunch Friday which contained an ingredient he was allergic to, as a result we did not go to the Galleria today. He feels fine now. I took my parents to dinner to the Italian Maid here in Richmond, we had a great dinner and then drove around looking at Christmas lights with Christmas Carols playing on the radio. KSBJ played beautiful music tonight; KSBJ is a wonderful station, you can listen online.

My husband called from the deer lease, he has pink eye and the wind was blowing 40 mph. I don't think his evening was as nice as ours was.

I gave dad some great news today about one of his best friends, dad has been in prayer for 6 to 7 months over a situation and the prayer was answered yesterday afternoon. The Lord's timing is always perfect, He's never late. We may think He is, but He's not. I join my parents and friends rejoicing over the answered prayer.

I will attend church with my parents tomorrow, it will be nice to worship with them and many of my close friends. I was a member there for about 20 years. Goodness, I was in my 20's when I joined that church, probably wore Laura Ashley every Sunday for a couple of years and had only 1 chin!

It's hard to believe it's the 3rd Sunday of Advent. Annette of Annie's Eyes gave me a beautiful Advent Wreath, I will light the 3rd candle tomorrow. I hope y'all have a wonderful Sabbath.

Love, Annette

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

I Am Kingdom Minded, I Am Kingdom Minded

Lord help me, my father wants to go to the Galleria tomorrow. His watch is losing time again; so Tourneau here we come with 10,000 other shoppers. (My figure is not scientific and may be inflated for entertainment purposes.)

My first thoughts were:

All the idiots - oh wait - Lord, I repent they aren't idiots - I mean all the people
All the traffic
All the people
All the chaos
All the people

I thought well, maybe I'll stop by Godiva while we're there, it's less expensive than Gucci. They sell a truffle I love. The Christmas decorations are beautiful and will be fun to see.

I may take dad to Starbucks across Post Oak from the Galleria to kill a little time then take him to Goode Company Seafood so he can eat an oyster po-boy. Dad has never been to Starbucks. I think it's time he experienced it.

I intend to stay patient and Kingdom minded which will require spending quality time with our Heavenly Father tonight and tomorrow morning. I will never look back and say I wish I had stayed home and not spent time with dad to miss traffic and hoards of people.

Spend time with our Abba Father, the stress will lift and you will be refreshed. Scripture tells us:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

So tomorrow, I want to take kindness, love, joy, warmth, and hope wherever I go. I want to be the light of Christ in the midst of harried salespeople and customers.

I also want a truffle...

Have a great weekend and a blessed Sabbath - 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 the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

A Little Snow & A Lot of Smiles

I wonder how many people across south and southeast Texas went a little berserk over the snow fall yesterday? I know I did. Everyone was outside laughing and smiling. Joy was all around.

It really takes so little to bring joy and warmth to those around us, as we are living in hard times for many people, try to think of ways to bring kindness, peace, joy, faith, hope, and love wherever you go.

As we near the day we celebrate the birth of our King, let's be Kingdom minded. We can renew our hearts and mind in the Word, we can be filled with His love for even the people we consider unlovable - we just pray to be filled with His love, ask the Holy Spirit to guard your lips against unkind words as well as gossip. It can be easy to fall into gossip while visiting without ever meaning to do so.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Snow

It doesn't happen often, so excuse me for being over the top...it's SNOWING...78 yesterday, 34 for a high today. Most people in Southeast Texas love snow. What a great gift after a hurricane.

Christmas Past

What makes you nostalgic during the Christmas season? I think of merry times with my family laughing and singing. I have so few relatives left on my father's side of the family and many of them are serving the Lord in Europe and South Korea. I remember being 9 or 10 and we had so much fun visiting, sharing our Christmas meal and playing Christmas music we opened gifts at 8pm as we were about to leave my aunt's house. I wanted gifts when I was a child, but that was not the biggest part of Christmas.

I look back at the doll buggy, the Chrissy Doll, the various Barbies and their accessories (anyone else remember when Barbie's dorm room, kitchen, and house were made of cardboard?) clothes, games, Creepy Crawlers and books, it was all fun, but I remember running into the arms of family members who were in town for Christmas. I remember my Uncle Bob sitting on the couch in his mod clothes smoking a cigarette looking at the children as if we were Martians. He was not into kids, he did however become one of my best friends when I was in my mid twenties, he died of complications from AIDS in 1994, I still miss his dry humour.

Bing Crosby singing Do You Hear What I Hear and White Christmas send me down memory lane as do children's choirs. I think of all the music I belted out at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church and School and Westbury United Methodist Church - let's just say I made a joyful noise! (Real joyful)

My maternal grandmother lived to be 87, she gave us Lifesaver Books each year. I traded my cousin Wayne all my Butter Rum rolls for His Wintergreen and Peppermint rolls. When they quit selling Lifesaver books Grandma moved on to giant cans of Popcorn. I think she bought them in July.

I know Christmases past were not perfect, but I never saw the problems, the imperfections. When we confess and repent, God no longer sees our imperfections. His love is complete and whole. His Word says:

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Monday Morning Musings

Apparently asking a man if age spots look lighter is right up there with the following questions:

Do you like these shoes?
Do I look fat in this outfit?
Does my derriere look big in these jeans?

After getting over the shock of being questioned about age spots at 6:43am central time, he answered yes they look lighter. I was handing him a cup of hot coffee at the time, but I am sure that had no bearing on the answer. ha ha ha

So as I think Palmer's Age Spot serum is working, I know and believe with every fiber of my being the following words are true:

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

2nd Sunday of Advent - Mark 1:1-8

If I attended an Episcopal Church today, I would hear the following passage of the Gospel read:

The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' "And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

We are so fortunate, we live under the New Convenant as opposed to the Law. Jesus did not come to do away with the Law - the Old Covenant but to complete it. God our Father loves us so much, He sent His Son to save us, to redeem us from bondage, to heal us, to restore us, to deliver us. Jesus the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings loves you and me so much He took the cup that was given to Him by His Father to save us. He was obedient unto death for us. Worship Him today. Thank Him today. Live for Him and no other today and always.

The Grinch & Joy to the World

When I was a young girl, either 3 or 4 years old I received the book How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I loved it and had my parents and Sandy read it to me frequently. At the end of the book there is picture of the Who's and the Grinch holding hands as they sing. For some reason, I decided they were singing Joy to the World. A year or 2 later in 1966 the Grinch cartoon debuted with Boris Karloff (sp). The Who's and the Grinch were not singing Joy to the World, I could not believe it.

I watched the Grinch cartoon the other night which caused me to remember the Joy to the World notion I held over 40 years ago. My dad told me my uncle read the book to me the 1st time I heard it because he and his wife gave it to me for Christmas. Uncle Howdy read it, some of the adults listened because they had never heard the story, as he finished he said this book makes no sense. (I think the rhymes got to him as he read.) I piped up and said you can't steal Christmas it comes every year whether we have homes, gifts, or Christmas trees.

I always have compassion for those in need as I am sure you do too, but it really doubles this time of year. I want to do more. I worry about people being cold as well as hungry.

As culture tries to steal Christmas by turning it into a season of spending, business, and about anything but the birth of our Savior, let's continue to prepare Him room in our hearts, let's bring joy to the world by serving our God and King.

When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

A Litle Holiday Cheer

Hope this brings smiles to your faces.

Can You Say SELF-Indulgence?

Monday was a long day due to taking my dad to the ER, though the others trips have been 9 to 13 hours before he was seen, our total time from my house to the ER and back was 5 hours, which includes picking up sandwiches and salads to go at Sandy McGee’s in Richmond. I was so tired physically; I was relieved no one was able to attend Bible Study Monday night, though mentally I was sad.

I decided I wanted to eat chocolate; I didn’t have anything chocolate in the house. I could not ask my husband to stop on the way home from work and buy a candy bar because he was at the deer lease. Far be it from me to get off the couch and go to the convenience store and buy a Snickers Bar. I looked in the pantry; I had everything I needed to make brownies. I don’t even care for brownies that much. I baked them; I cut them in 2 x 2 pieces and proceeded to eat 4 of them – FOUR, I can’t believe it – FOUR of them.

That is called self-indulgence. Hopefully my husband will eat the rest this week. I looked at them this morning and the “siren” of chocolate was no longer calling. I thought about Samson and what a self-indulgent man he was. He was called by God to be set apart as a Levite before he was born. We know he touched a dead animal, gathered honey from the lion’s carcass and ate the honey. He was a prankster, I have the feeling he was very crude. We know Samson loved the ladies and eventually sold his soul to one.

Fast forward to the book of Daniel, he was the polar opposite of Samson. Daniel was offered the food of royalty and wine, however he asked for water and vegetables. He spent much time in prayer. We know he knew the words of Jeremiah the prophet, it is found in Daniel 9:2:

in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.

Daniel knew the Word of the Lord; he remained set apart in Babylon, he remained in prayer. I want to be a Danielle not a Samsonette. I want to serve the Lord, I want to have a healthy body and be a good witness to the power of Christ Jesus and His power to transform lives.

My prayer today is that I as a Christian am not self-indulgent in anything, but I am a woman who is set apart to serve God and not her flesh. I am sure many of you have prayed something similar, maybe not over brownies but over an issue in your life. Let’s get prayed up and prepare spiritually during this time of Advent for more of the Lord in our lives; for His light to increase in our lives; for His love to pour out of us onto the people we cross paths with in our day to day lives, not our Sunday selves but our everyday selves.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

ER's and Enduring Love

I took my father to the ER at St. Luke's Sugar Land today. It was our 1st time at this location. (And hopefully the last!) We are so thankful to the Lord we did not have to go to the medical center in Houston. We are so thankful the ER doctor was concerned and listened to my father. This trip was all because of a torn ligament in his shoulder and a torn rotator cuff. He is so much better now. He had not slept since Thursday, as a result mom had not slept, they are both exhausted.

All the way home they were thanking the Lord for everything that worked out today, as in someone saw us getting dad out of my car as they were coming in to work, she ran into the hospital and came out with a wheelchair. The doctor began treating my dad immediately and we were only gone a total of 5 hours. The Lord's timing was everywhere through out the day.

My friend Sandy (who led me to love Red Velvet Cake, OJ's Beauty Lotion, and Pepperoni Pizza in the mid 1960's as well as Go-Go boots and frosted lipstick) reminded me of Psalm 136 today. Here are a few verses, they are so meaningful to me:

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.
4 to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights—His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.