MERRY CHRISTMAS 2025!

The banners at Bryson City First Baptist Church say it well!

May the Peace of the LORD find its way to our world and into the hearts of its people!

IMMANUEL----A HALLELUJAH WORD FOR ME!

CHRISTMAS EVE 2025!

HALLELUJAH---A quiet time of reflection for me. 

One thought that says it all. 

Fulfillment of Scripture. Isaiah 7:14

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel. (Matthew 1:23, ESV)

One Word in one verse stands out to me. IMMANUEL!

Immanuel...."God with us."

Christ in Christmas in one word says it all for me. Immanuel!

Now and Forever. HALLELUJAH!

WISDOM PSALMS!

Psalms of Wisdom or Wisdom Psalms---during my season of medical maladies, this book of the Bible is where I have camped out! The rockier the path of "life" became, the more I turned to wisdom found there! The perfect law of the LORD refreshes the soul and makes wise the simple. 

(Psalm 19:7, DAL, PPP)

Psalmists often looked to God for insight.(Psalms 1,73, 91,119) 

For me, Psalm 1, 3, 16, 25, 27, 34, 37, 90 & 121, are at the top of my "wisdom" list as I have reflected on God's word. 

Think..... Considered. Focused. Meditated. 

Psalms Personally Paraphrased. (PPP)

• Blessed...delight in the law of the Lord & meditate day and night. (1)
• You Lord are my shield, glory & lifter of my head. (3)
• You make known to me the path of life. (16)
• I lift my soul to God in whom I trust (25) I take refuge in you, for I wait for you.(25)
• Be strong, let heart take courage; wait for the LORD! (27)
• His praise will continue from my mouth (Psalm 34) Blessed take refuge in Him. (34)
• Delight yourself in the LORD, (37) Commit your way to the LORD;trust in Him and He will act. (37) Be still before the LORD ...wait patiently for Him. (37)
• Teach us to number our days to get a heart of wisdom (90)
• My help comes from the LORD who is my keeper.(121)

True wisdom is followed by alignment with one's actions based on truths found on each path/circumstance with Him, rocky or not. 

A path of life walked in humility. AMEN!

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT = LOVE!

Since December 30, 2025, at our church we have celebrated 3 different aspects of advent each week.

Hope, Peace, and Joy.

Today....LOVE! LOVE!! LOVE!!! LOVE !!!! is our focus!

Today, as we wait in remembrance of Christ's nativity,

 we light the purple candle of LOVE.......

to celebrate the coming of Jesus the Christ Child.....

.......our Savior! 

It also points ahead to His promised return. 

Christ's return in the Second Coming.

Reflection, prayer and expectant celebration!

GOD IS LOVE! (1 JOHN 4:8)

NATIVI-TEA: MY FAVORITE DECEMBER CUPPA!

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

"for unto us a child is born."

In the mailbox.....

Outside.....

......Swain County Heritage Museum

Inside.....

.....a church

.....and within view of my prayer chair

and a warm cuppa Bewley's Irish breakfast!

HIS WISDOM = WELL-BEING!

God's Word gives wisdom.

• (Wisdom's) ways are highways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. (Proverbs 3:17, AMPC)
• A wise man keeps silent. (Proverbs 29:11,NLV)
• She speaks with wisdom...(Proverbs 31:26a, NOG)
• If any....lack wisdom,...ask of God. (James 1:5a, KJV)

Proverbs 3:1-4 summarizes the benefits of God's Wisdom.

God's Word gives wisdom in abundance for our well-being.

Thanks be to God!

JOY = THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT!

JOY! JOY!! JOY!!!

Whether in person, live-stream or later on YouTube, we celebrated 3 Advent services today; blessed by each as we focused on the coming birth of our Savior Jesus. Each had a church family light the candle and explain its color and place in the wreath.

A small church celebrated their Christmas Cantata as a UMC choir 35 miles away joined a FBC to add voices to Advent celebration. Singing. Sharing Responsive reading among the choir including verses from Luke 2. Having a children's lesson at the altar to explain the first pink candle to be lit known as the shepherd's candle. Congregational singing "Joy to the World."

Live-stream church FEC in a later time-zone had a large sanctuary and choir loft filled with the city orchestra plus church members seniors and teens played instruments as well.

A children's choir joined the adult choir as the service began.

Little man in plaid, front row knew all the hand motions & could have led the entire group. A special treat was the acceptance of one little fellow, whose family I know well, who treated all to a view of his belly-button a couple of times. (Adorable front row little guy in black & white to far right)

A hymn/carol included, 'Silent Night, Lonely Night" was new to me but the words rang as the words told of the difficulties of life that can darken ones life and weary ones  with trials..... BUT God offers peace and comfort for one's soul when His son Jesus entered bore sorrows and offered eventually offered his redeeming blood Christ the Savior, in whom is all our hope. All is calm and bright.

YouTube Service had excellent visuals as the Matthew 1 responsive reading was led by the two lighting the candle together. I chose a few of my favorites; to reflect the reason for the Advent season. 

Thank you LORD for blessing me over and over again as each church today included HARK THE HEARLD ANGELS SING  as one they chose to sing. 

A Christmas carol close to my heart

3 great ways to celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent!

BEAUTY FOUND IN TANGLED WEBS!

Photographer friend, Anne B., has a way of finding and highlighting beauty in the messes of life!

I, on the other hand, lately have a way of making messes in life or walking in fear that my decisions might mess things up for everyone. Decision making is so difficult as "what ifs" flutter all around in my mind.

My Uncle John Edward learned during WWII to "pull self up" by his boot straps. I don't even have any bootstraps. Plus, it sounds self-reliant to me!

If I have been constantly reminded of anything since our move to NC.....it's the need to lean into the Lord every day. It's His strength I need. His path I want. Leaning in to Him gives both strength and a straight path.

Today, even in the tangles, may I find fulness of joy in His presence as I follow the path of life He has made known to me. (Psalm 16:11)

WOW = WORDS OF WISDOM!

All true wisdom comes from God.

Trust in Him = Help!

A thrust of trust for Thursday!

WISDOM IN PRACTICE!

Wisdom in practice is action.

Think walking in wisdom.

A practical way to live out wisdom is to pass on the truth God has taught us, from His Word, to neighbors, nations and the next generation. (Allen Bible Church) 

Live it out. An RX for applying Scripture in our daily lives allows others to "see" Christ in us.

Fellowship with other believers is mutually strengthening.

Walk with the wise and become wise. 

(Proverbs 13:20 NIVa)

May we make this a true Walkabout Wednesday!

Let's practice wisdom together.