Shiny Brite Ornaments

A couple weeks ago, I found boxes of Christmas ornaments at my mother's house. They were the ornaments we hung on our tree when I was very young, in fact, they were old when I was very young. (They are very old now.) I was surprised she still had them. I thought they were donated or tossed when my parents purchased new ornaments. I brought them to my house and decorated my tree and mantle with them. They are faded and a bit tarnished, but then again so am I. 

However as believers, no matter our stage of life, spiritually speaking, we are not faded or tarnished, we are new creatures in Christ Jesus. Remember that ladies. 

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!

We are reconciled to God. 

And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.  In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation. 

We are ambassadors. 

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”

Advent 2019

It's December 1, this year has been so long and yet so short. I spent many hours at the hospital and hospice in January and February, Spring arrived on schedule in March, I was semi-aware of it as I began the probate process, cleaning out my mother's house, and battling pneumonia. Summer arrived, it was not so terrible, no horrible drought no horribly high temperatures, just a tropical storm named Imelda. We rolled into fall and have a little fall foliage this year which is very rare down here!

Thanksgiving was a nice day, we took a day trip to the beach, grilled burgers, ate chips, and roasted marshmallows to make smores. My husband had never made or eaten a smore in his life. I find that astounding, I thought all Texas children from our era had straightened wire coat hangers and roasted marshmallows over a fire to make smores. He liked them, he ate 2. We sat there watching the waves break, the pelicans, and a large Great Blue Herron who strolled by while looking for his dinner, he was at least 4 feet tall and watched us watching him. Next year, I will resume all the cooking and baking for Thanksgiving. (Unless I can talk everyone into heading down to the beach!)

And here we are - December 1, 2019. Advent has arrived. a season to wait with expectation and prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christmas and Christ's return. I remember the thrill as a child of lighting a candle in our Advent Wreath each Sunday. Some years, I had an advent calendar, I opened the door each morning after breakfast. So many cosmetic companies have Advent calendars these days, Advent is becoming more secular by the year. (And now people celebrate the 12 days of Christmas before Christmas. I do find that odd.)

I pray I do not take the Advent season for granted and get caught up in the worldly aspect of the holiday season. May this season of waiting and preparation be a time of blessing to you.

 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,  and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.’ ”