Friday, December 23, 2011

Luke Chapter 2




And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

 

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

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!”


Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Sad News

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that Ryan, the young man from our town I had asked for prayer for, has passed away.  Please pray for his parents, his wife, his sister, and their extended family. 

I know that even though God did not answer our prayers in the way that we had hoped, God did not ignore our prayers.  He just had a different plan.

Please lift this family in prayer.  Thanks to each of you for praying.  God bless you.

Immediate Prayers Needed

I have just become aware of a young man in our community who needs prayer immediately.  He is a "local boy" and those of you who live in small towns know what I mean. His parents and grandparents have been in our community for as long as I can remember, he graduated from the local high school about 10 years ago, and everybody in town knows this young man.  Yesterday afternoon he collapsed at his home, and was rushed to University Hospital in Columbia with a brain aneurysm.  The doctors have operated, but evidently there was a lot of blood loss and a lot of damage to his brain.

I am asking each one of you to pray as you would want others to pray if this were your son.  I know that our God is a Healer.  His Word says that the prayer of faith SHALL heal the sick.  I want you to stop what you are doing, right now, and pray for Ryan, for his wife, and for his parents.  I cannot imagine what this family must be going through right now.  They need comfort.  They need the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.  And Ryan needs a touch from the Great Physician.  I ask you to pray for Ryan right now, and as the Lord brings him to your mind over the next few days.

Thank you for your prayers. 

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The Night Before Christmas

I want to share with you my absolute favorite Christmas song.  Now don't get me wrong.  I love the old hymns.  Silent Night.  Joy to the World.  Beautiful Star of Bethlehem.  Those are classics and they are beautiful Christmas songs.  But this song, by Brandon Heath, gives a different perspective to The Night Before Christmas.  This song always brings a tear to my eye when I think of that night so long ago and what it meant for me, what it meant for everyone on earth. 



I hope you enjoy this song as much as I do.  And I hope it warms your heart when you remember how that night before Christmas changed the world.  Because a Savior was born.  My Savior.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Stationery card

Flurry Of Snowflakes Holiday Card
Create photo holiday cards this Christmas season.
View the entire collection of cards.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Christmas Card WINNERS!!!!!

Good day to you!  I hope your days are Merry and Bright, and that you are basking in this wonderful holiday season.  It is going by much too fast for me, but these next two weeks I hope to truly enjoy the wonder of the season.  I'm going to turn up the Christmas music.  Have lots of holiday goodies on hand, and remember to thank God for sending His Son Jesus to die for us, so that we might live.

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway.  I am pleased to announce that the winners of TWENTY-FIVE FREE SHUTTERFLY CHRISTMAS CARDS are Mary of Merry Yon (my blogging buddy from Oklahoma) and Tanya of The Sweet Seasons (my blogging buddy from Kansas).  I hope you enjoy the Christmas cards, and I would love to see what you chose.

Have a blessed day!!!!!  And again, a great big THANK YOU to Shutterfly for sponsoring this giveaway!  Their cards really are gorgeous!  You can check it out at SHUTTERFLY!!!!!

Monday, December 5, 2011

A Christmas Card Giveaway!!!!!



There are just EIGHTEEN more days until Christmas!!!  I can't believe it. I actually plugged our outdoor lights in yesterday.  Yeah me!!!!  I went out to the "entrance" of our farm, (that makes it sound kind of fancy, but really, it isn't), took down the Thanksgiving decorations, and put up some artificial greenery and a couple of wreaths.  I actually decorated our fireplace mantle.  I had to, because a friend of mine was coming to take family pictures for our Christmas cards yesterday!  We did some outside pictures, and some inside pictures, 'cause it was COLD here yesterday.  Actually, it's cold here today too!  But, I digress!

You might remember that last year I was selected by Shutterfly to receive 50 free Christmas cards.  They were absolutely AWESOME! The picture above is our 2010 Christmas cards.  I loved them, and had planned to order my cards through Shutterfly again this year when, lo and behold, I was offered 50 free Christmas cards from Shutterfly again this year.  And the great thing is, they gave me a couple of "coupons" for 25 free Christmas cards to offer to my blogging friends!  Aren't you excited ? ? ? ! ! !

So, here's the deal.  To enter the giveaway for 25 free Christmas cards from Shutterfly just leave me a comment and describe your favorite Christmas memory.  Or, you can share what your ultimate Christmas would be.  Or, you can just say "Merry Christmas!"  Your choice.  If you want to share the news about my giveaway on your blog, that would awesome, but you don't have to.  Just leave one comment between now and Thursday evening.  Two winners will be selected at random Thursday evening, and the winners will be announced on Friday.  That will still give you PLENTY of time to order your FREE Christmas cards from Shutterfly.

This giveaway is generously provided by Shutterfly.  I received 50 free Christmas cards from Shutterfly this year, but I can say without hesitation that their Christmas cards are the nicest I've seen, and I would order my Christmas cards from there anyway, whether they gave me any free cards or not.  That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!!!

Good luck . . . and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!