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Morning Devotional...


A New Beginning - An Everlasting Newness

Isaiah 61:1-6.  "'The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;  that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.'  And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.  Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the foreigner shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.  But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, they shall call you the servants of our God."

Many people at this time of year think about the coming of Jesus Christ our Lord into this world.  Dear ones, He is the One Who fulfills every word of Isaiah's prophecy!  The first paragraph quotes His very words.  They are words of salvation and joy, a message He Himself fulfilled, a message still being sounded forth by His Spirit through His people in our own day!

While they are still preaching it is still the "acceptable year of the Lord, and when they cease it will be the "day of vengeance of our God."  Which one will be true for you in this coming year?  Oh may we be lovingly sharing this message with our neighbors and coworkers, our friends and relatives every day of this coming year!
Al Moak

Thanks Al Good devotional.

Well I have to tell you about the children's and youth programs we had at church tonight. 

A dear friend organized and put together the childrens Christmas program.  A lot of work and firmness on her part about 25 - 30 excited nervous children did an amazing job of presenting the traditional Christmas story, complete with a choir that sang (nostly from memory) many of the old carols.  The speakers were loud enough to be heard from the back  of the church, without them shouting.  They remembered their lines and no one stumbled. if they did I certainly did not notice it!  Melaura had a part in the program as well as in the youth program.

The youth did an updated version of the christmas story, complete with Joe and Mary.  They brought to life what it must have been like for MAry to have been expecting a child from God, and the scepticism that entailled.  It was humerous, but also very real and down to earth.  Melaura concluded the "skit" with the importance of following Giod, that it is not easy but you have peace as a result.  This is a proud mama speaking, I have an amazing young lady as a daughter.  Her best friend from school was there and Melaura really planted a seed within her tonight.

On another topic, does anyone have a salad recipe using fresh cranberries as part of the salad?  If so I could really use that recipe for a pot luck tomorrow (Monday today) night.

Well after a very full day and evening, I am turning in and will be back later in the day monday!.

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Howdy folks.  I just came in to say hello.

I just watched Love's Enduring Promise, part 1 and 2, on TBN.  What a neat movie.  Michael Landon Jr. directed it.  A really heartwarming story of a pioneer family.  I kept thinking how my husband would have liked it.  He always felt he was born too late.  

I didn't go back to yesterday so I don't know what everyone is talking about. 

Our weather has really warmed up and we have rain now.  Weather man says we will have a storm at sea on Tuesday with big waves.  They are warning people to stay away from the beach, but I might get out to a safe place and get pictures.  I love a storm.

I didn't leave my house today.  Even the boys didn't want to be out long.

Well, I guess I've told you everything I know, so will hush and get to bed.  I didn't sleep last night, so hope I do tonight.  I have a doctor's app in the morning, and I hate to go all tired. lol

Nita

Today will be a busy day for me.  I have an Urologist appointment to see if any nasty tumors are in my bladder.  Then this afternoon is Euchere Club.  Then this evening since I am not going to Small Groups, Kaye Don, Barb, Ivalou and I are going out to eat for our Christmas together.  Kaye Don are going back to Florida Wednesday morning. 

So gotta run!! 

Have a God-blessed Day!!

Karen I pray that you have a wonderful birthday today and the  the next year will bring you many more wonderful and blessed days.

Good Morning from the rainy Lost Coast.

I was hoping to have some time  tonight to  make some pumpkin bread  here at home. However  there is an important union meeting that I have be requested to go to. When they called me  on Friday  they said" Marilyn we need people who won't just sit there and say nothing, we need you  because we know that you will  ask questions and get them answered by your persistence," or words to that effect. In other words I won't be quiet.

Tomorrow night  our church is going out Caroling and we will invite people to come to our "house" for Christmas. The Church platform will be transformed into a living room and Pastors Danny and Michele will be doing a drama with some of the others of our congregation on Sunday Morning. It will be Sunday School as usual before that.

Anyway it is a busy time for all of us. Wednesday night will be Bible Study as usual too.

Our church is starting a lot of new things.  The Youth will be having their service on  Monday nights. On Thursday nights there will be a Men's support group. On Sunday Morning from 9-9:30 our kitchen will be open for coffee and snacks etc. Then at 9:30 Sunday school will start. In Sunday School we will be having our lesson, taking prayer requests, laying on hand to pray for others, etc.  This is still int he planning stages. I will be promoting this new program as people come through the doors for church.

Our sunday School class and the Wednesday night Bible Study has been dwindling in attendance for close to a year. People just are not coming out except just to the service. When I tell others that they are missed in Sunday School they tell me they are just sleeping later.

I am the Sunday School sect'y and the the Main greeter at the front door for the service so I have a lot of contact with each person in one way or the other.

Opps this is getting too  long.

TTYL

Marilyn's right - it's raining a bunch out there.  And from the looks of the satelite picture of the Pacific area, we'll be seeing lots more of the same for the next week or so.  Not so cold, though.  It's been up to about 62F and down to about 42F at night. 

We've got to go to the fitness ctr. this AM, so that's my schedule.  Hope we don't drown.

Hi everyone.  My internet service last evening and again this morning has been very slow, although at the moment it seems to be back to normal.  How easily we get spoiled.

Al, thanks for the devotional today.

I have not been feeling up to par the last few days and seem to be very tired today.  I went to bed about 8:15 last evening and slept good.  We had planned to have our family Christmas this evening but our son and his wife made a trip to visit her mother over the weekend and our daughter-in-law is pretty worn out.  Therefore, we are going to do it tomorrow night.  This suited my wife just fine as it gives her a little extra time to get ready. 

Last evening she made some pumpkin fudge but it didn't turn out too well, it is a bit sugary but certainly has the pumpkin spices taste.  I think it is made with white chocolate (which seems a contradition in terms).  I'll just say it is not as good as her regular fudge.

Etta Sue, sure hope your doctor visit today is a good one.  Friends of ours are leaving for Florida on Wednesday also.  They have a lovely mobile home in Inverness, Florida.  We visited with them in February down there and plan on stopping to see them when we go to Florida this next February.

Maryland, thanks for the info on Costco.  Hope the new efforts at your church work out well.

Happy Birthday Karen.  Sorry to read that Rolan still has the blockage.  Hope that will clear up today. 

Nita and Al, is that a cold rain out your way?  I sort of get the impression that it is.

Jeanne, hope you will be able to find your tree today. 

Janet, glad to read that your program went so well.  I hope you and Darrel will decide to continue with your church choir. 

I am sort of watching a program on TBN about Nativities, the history, and the differences.........very interesting.

Larry, unfortunately, our small church doesn't have a choir, only a worship team, and various people are asked to sing on the team.  But we are growing, so.......

I Hope you will feel stronger and stronger, Larry.  And maybe it's good that you have another day to recouperate, too.  I never heard of pumpkin fudge, but I'll bet it's good.

I went by and invited our friends, Oscar and Maxine, both well into their 80s, for Christmas dinner.  They seemed thrilled with the invitation.  All of their kids came for Thanksgiving, so none are coming for Christmas.  I think we will attend the church they go to for Sunday morning services.  We will also go by and get Mom for dinner.

We are having our family Christmas on Saturday night.  Diane and family will come, we will go to the candlelight service, then come home, have dinner and open gifts.  What are YOUR plans? 

I had a really good workout this morning, now it's time to get busy and do my final Christmas preparations.

My loving husband ordered these for me over 2 weeks ago & so I am the one who usually gets stuff for him but WOW this time he surrpzied me so ... take a look see ! There is about 1 dozen long stem red roses w/ a snowman in the middle and so what a nice special surprize for me !!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/gigglebear/presentfromhusband.jpg

If your all wondering how my husband is well ... I am sorry to say that he is not any better and it looks like he will be in for a few more days and so thanks for all the prayers so far & keep them coming !! See you all soon !!

Ooohhhh KAREN! What a beautiful surprise ... and what a thoughtful hubby.   

I am still praying for Rolan as well as for you and the family.

Janet, my one regret at having to cut back on my cable to just the basic was that I'd be losing TBN.  I sure miss that channel.   

No luck finding the Christmas tree.  All I could find was the little table top size that we bought to try having a smaller one a couple of years ago and that I didn't like at all.  It's so small that there's really no room for any ornaments.  But it looks like Gene got rid of the full size one we had for years.  I gave up and am using that this year, but when the sales start I'm going to try getting another.  For now I have just a string of lights and one garland on it, on a table in front of my living room windows.  It looks pretty, but...    I want ornaments! 

Karen, Happy Birthday and congratulations on that beautiful floral arrangement! 

Karen, that flower arrangement is lovely!  And I pray your husband gets well quickly, and comes home in time for Christmas.

Awww, Jeanne, I'm sorry about your tree.  I have an extra you can sure use. 

My heart is very heavy tonight.  I called Beth and she could barely keep from crying on the phone.  She isn't doing well at all, and is having so much pain.  She said she lay awake half the night last night crying and praying.  She said "I just want my miracle!"  We have believed for and waited for her healing for so long...........  But I KNOW God loves Beth and has her in the hollow of His hand.   

Hi, Etta Sue!  Sounds as if you had a great day and evening planned.  You aren't like some I know, who think they can only do ONE thing in 24 hours.  I'd never catch up at that rate.

My computer says I am the only one here just now, so I'm locking up early and opening the Tuesday Room.  [CLICK HERE]