Favorite Things of the Christmas Season...Tuesday

12/12/8/15

                         Crayon colored wish lists, and peppermint candy twists

New winter fashions, and cinnamon apple crisps

Children preparing to sing “We Three Kings”

These are a few of my favorite things

White paper snowflakes, gazillion fruit pies to make

Keeping the secret of Santa from neighbor Jake

Popcorn and fruit loops are hung on a string

These are a few of my favorite things

Red and green paper chain, sound of a stormy rain

Steamy hot cocoa and bubbly white champagne

Toast our flute glasses, they click a ring

These are a few of my favorite things

Jimmy Stewart

Julie Andrews

Chevy Chase with some blonde

Enjoying a few of my favorite things

Is like waving a magic wand!

Tree with a side that’s flat, dog with a Santa hat

Santa brought baseballs and shiny new bats

Mom gets a stocking that’s full of new bling

These are a few of my favorite things

Grandpa’s old choo choo and sweet Cindy Lu Who

Shaking the presents to find a good clue

Searching the attic for white angel wings

These are a few of my favorite things

Warm Toll House cookies, ivory nativities

Getting together for presents at GG’s

Bundling up to go caroling

These are a few of my favorite things

Bing Crosby

Tim Allen

Will Ferrel in tights

Listing a few of my favorite things

Could take up the rest of the night!

Tinsel filled holes and cinnamon rolls

Charlie Brown Christmas

And the one the Grinch stole

Sneaking around to fill the stockings

These are a few of my favorite things

Deacon Dave’s Christmas lights

Butterball cooked just right

Getting the children tucked in for the night

Dreaming about what Santa will bring

These are a few of my favorite things

The birth of our Lord 

    and how He’s adored

Insisting the reason  

    is never ignored

Let’s not forget, He’s the King 

    of all kings

These are a few of my 

     favorite things

                   Oh Tannenbaum

                                   Oh Holy Night

                                          What Child is this?

                                                      

                                                        I could not be singing of favorite                                                                                        things

                                                                  If it weren’t for the birth of                                                                                         Jesus!

Written by
Amie Spruiell

Deeply Ingrained....Monday

All eyes were on the doctor as he walked around our class showing us the snack trays of some current dialysis patients. As possible future dialysis patients this nutrition class was intended to serve as an intervention and an education to help us manage our health and risks a little better.

Basically, if you found out that consuming your favorite drink (caffeine, soda, whatever) and your favorite snack (salt or sweet) was making your body work harder and complicating your health - would you be able to give it up?

In a brilliant show of understanding the doctor answered that question for us, "Probably not." Our eating is an extremely emotionally ingrained activity, he explained, but they hoped each of us would grasp one gold nugget from the class and work to apply it to our lives.

It's funny how similar eating is to thinking. I know it is not good to keep letting worry, frustration, concern, fears, and doubts run circles in my brain, and yet, as soon as I have a moment's quiet, those very thoughts are making themselves front and center. As I consider whichever issue from as many angles as I can- looking for a resolution- it is frequently many minutes before I remember to just stop and pray. This is the only way I know how to take captive every thought. I say "No" and put the thought aside and pray for God's will to be done in my life and everyone else's.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding."

Proverbs 3:5 ESV

"Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

James 4:7 ESV

Dear Lord, Your patient and loving care overwhelms us with gratitude and relief. Thank You for helping us get back up on the path of life no matter how many times we end up in the roadside ditch. Whether the struggle is in our hearts or bodies, we can trust that You are watching over us. Please help us to recognize when someone around us needs our patience and kindness. In Jesus name, amen.  

Written by Mary M. Wilkins

Amy Grant performs "Better Than A Hallelujah"

SLOW DOWN!... Sunday

Devotional for 12/6/15

There is always so much activity this time of year.  Decorations to get out, go through, decide which and where to use, inside and outside, etc. Some things may need replacing, so a trip to the store may be in order. Then there are the Christmas cards - first a check of the list to see if there are any addresses that need to be removed or updated or added, a trip to get the cards if they weren't bought on clearance the year before, then a note to write to include in them, signing, addressing... and at least one trip to the Post Office for stamps and/or mailing them. For those who haven't shopped ahead of time, a gift list is started, refined, added to, and used as a guide with another trip - shopping for the gifts that can't be found on line, wrapping and... did I mention another trip - to the shipping place of choice?

Traveling around town at this time of year can be unusually busy on the roads. Everyone seems to go so slowly, especially when you are in a hurry. And if someone is going to do the speed limit, for goodness sake, they should get in the slow lane!  We're in a hurry here, trying to get all our regular things done and also trying to have time to squeeze in the extra stuff. As we get more tense and anxious, just maybe this thought may come to mind: "Perhaps God wants me to slow down!"

This is the season of Advent, the 4 weeks before Christmas. It is supposed to be a time of preparation, but more of a quiet, reserved waiting with anticipation than what we often turn it into.  Advent is a time to slow down, to enjoy the season of anticipation. Joseph and Mary must have been full of eager waiting as Mary came closer and closer to delivering the Son of God. At least they had a slow mode of travel to that historic destination - walking or riding a donkey. This gave them plenty of time for reflection on God's purpose for their lives.  May we also take time to reflect on this season of preparation and quiet our hearts, filled with awe at this most amazing moment in time. We pray that God keep us strong through all trials, and give us the ability to share the news of the coming Christ with others as we await his second coming!

Psalm 27:14 NIV  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. 

Come, Lord Jesus, come!  Amen!

written by Jan Andersen

HEART HEALTHY...Saturday

12/5/15

"Since, then, 

you have been raised with Christ, 

set your hearts on things above, 

where Christ is seated at the right hand of God."

Colossians 3:1

     Most people are very health conscious today.  If nothing else, they know their  blood pressure and cholesterol levels.  There are lots of books written on nutrition, exercise, herbal supplements, dieting, and the like.  The goal is to keep your heart healthy so you can lead a productive and fulfilling life.

     The one thing many people neglect today is the spiritual aspect of their lives.  Many have little or no time for God.  Some don't even recognize God at all.

     God wants us to get our focus into the proper perspective.  Yes, it's good to take care of your body -- you need it healthy to live.  However, no matter what, we are all going to die.  No one is guaranteed tomorrow when you lie down to sleep at night.

     Eternity awaits us all.  God the Father has given us the gift of eternal life forever with Him in heaven to all who believe in His Son Jesus.  The Holy Spirit indwells believers to keep our hearts healthy by the Word of God infusing into our hearts and minds.

     Want to truly be heart healthy?  Set your heart on Jesus Christ.

Written by

Carol Steficek

Keeping In The Spirit Of Christmas...Friday

12/4/15

The Christmas season is here. One only needs to go out after dark to see the lights that proclaim joy to those of us who see them as a the announcement that on that day long ago Jesus was born. He came to teach people about God's plan for our salvation and to live a life that brought that to us,

There’s such a special feeling in the atmosphere at this time of year, with holiday parties, Christmas plays, decorations aglow, music in the air, the excitement of families gathering together, and, of course, the sparkling eyes of children young and old.

But there is also an element of sadness as we listen to old familiar Christmas songs such as “I’ll be home for Christmas if only in my dreams.” Or maybe it’s the memories of Christmases of the past, loved ones that are no longer with us, or maybe it’s financial burdens that we put upon ourselves as we desire to give our loved ones gifts that have become a part of the tradition.

We must not let the secular observation of the season override the miracle of that birth.

                                                  Here is the reason of the season…

Let us “Behold”

JESUS

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, Counselor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.

(Isaiah 9:6)

The LORD our God be with us,

as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us:

(1st Kings 8:57)

May all of the days before Christmas Day be for you and for me a true celebration of what God provided for His children on that birth day over two thousand years ago. Keep the reason for the season...JESUS...uppermost in our minds and hearts!

Edited and shared by
   Corinne Mustafa

   
        from an original devotional

           written in 2011  by          
                  Glenna Williamson

                                                                           

Our Beloved Brother...Thursday

 12/3/15

Immediately after John baptized Him, He cane up out of the water ad the heavens opened up to Jesus. And John saw the Spirit of God descending out of heaven like a dove landing and settling on Him.

And when that happened, John heard a voice from heaven saying, “This is my dearly loved Son, chosen and marked by My love. I am very pleased with Him, He is the delight of My heart, and He brings Me great joy.

Matthew 3.16-17

When Jesus was baptized three things took place.

1.    The heavens opened up to Him.

Lord, we pray that the You will cause the heavens above us to be opened, releasing on us the anointing that will bring freedom and victory to those we know and those we will meet. We pray that He fills our lives with grace and causes the favor of God to follow our lives life and our daily ministry, in Jesus name.

2.    John saw the Spirit of God descending upon Him.

Lord, we ask that your children will see the work of the Holy Spirit within them and to give them the results now that they have desired for a long time.  May the next few days be exceptional at every level, in Jesus name.

3.    The voice endorsed Jesus saying “This is my Son.”

Oh Lord may we go in Your endorsement to bring down the walls of the enemy. May we go in the strength of the Spirit to dismantle every obstacle and every barrier on our way, in Jesus name.

We proclaim success into our lives and into our work in the coming days. Crown our efforts with accomplishment for the eternal, in the name of Jesus Amen

Written by Brother Thomas Ukwute, Anchor of Hope, Nigeria 

        Edited by Jody Ward

"Make Known His Wondrous Deeds!"...Wednesday

12/2/15

Today was a pretty eventful day as I and many others had an opportunity to minister to the homeless in the heart of our city. Unfortunately there are literally hundreds and hundreds in our city. Many are homeless by choice and many are homeless by "no where else to go."

We circled the area several times praying for the Lord to touch their hearts and bring life to them, as well as pushing back the darkness. We prayed a protective covering over everyone and the power of God's blood to soak us. We then begin to move inside the area and reach out to the people asking if they would like prayer. Many of them accepted prayer and some were not interested. 

One particular person I reached out to immediately said yes to prayer. As I asked him what I could pray for, his eyes lit up as he begin to share. He said he was very grateful that after being on the streets for 10 years he now had a home. He also had recently lost his wife. He specifically wanted me to pray with him on thanking the Lord for providing a home for him. He wanted to make known the glorious deeds of the Lord.

We prayed together and rejoiced together for God's great provision for him. He was one grateful guy! I also prayed for his heart in the loss of his wife. He walked away with peace and continued gratefulness!

God's Word tells us in 1 Chronicles 16:8 

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
 Call upon His name;

 make known His deeds 
among the peoples!

We are to always be thankful at all times for all of God's goodness just like the man that shared with me. God is pleased with thankful hearts and he wants us to share with others His great deeds!!

So the next time the Lord blesses your life, make it known among the peoples and rejoice and tell of all of His glorious works!!! For He is ever worthy for His wondrous works all the days of our life!!

With Rich Gratitude, 

Sandy Billingham