WIRED!

How are you wired? Are you wired for God's purpose specifically "Younique" to you? How will you know?

God's Word reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.....that He knows the plans He has for us and He will guide our steps. That's how He designed us for the purpose He has called  us to as His children. 

Call unto Him and he will answer and show you the great & mighty ways He has wired you!

HEART CONDITIONS

Heart problems---a diagnosis none of us like to hear. My cardiology appointment is the 25th of this month. Dr. Infeld, cardiologist, will deal with my physical condition.

What about the spiritual condition of one's heart! How does one "deal" with that?

Whole-hearted

Half-hearted

Cold-hearted

Heavy-hearted 

Ask.....where am I spiritually on the heart spectrum?????

Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10, KJV)

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10, NIV)

No matter how you say it, assessment of one's heart condition is important and needs to begin with God and continue with encouragement & fellowship of friends.

RESOLVED!

Resolution to Reality.

In Christ alone.

I resolve to return and finish this entry before 20023.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE NEW YEAR'S DAY....

......of course, at our house, New Year's Day looks virtually the same every year. 

All the Christmas decorations are down---that's a Gigi rule. (Mother)

Familiar.........from prayer chair with new devotional guides. 

Starting with...

Rose Parade.....Theme: Dream. Believe. Achieve.

I dream this: Rise. Shine. Read.

I believe this.....Jesus Teaches!

Greens, Blacked-eyed Peas & Cornbread

Jesus Listens for morning prayer and evening gratitude journal, Dear God, today I am thankful for.

From beginning to end, it's the way New Year's day is in this traditional Southern household!

CUPPA GENEROSITY

Generosi-TEA! Let's start our last day in 2021 with that cuppa!

As we turn the corner to a New Year, lets turn from getting to giving!

Robert Morgan would punctuate the above sentence with a divine exclamation point! (All to Jesus, Day 365) 

Where do you find yourself? 

I have to give. GRUDGINGLY

I Need to give. UNDER EXTERNAL COMPULSION

I want to give. CHEERFUL, EAGER & READY TO GIVE

How is your spending trending?

A year in Paul David Tripp's, New Morning Mercies has kept me focused on More of Thee and less of me......aka give to others more than to self. "Give us the grace to look at ourselves in the mirror of God's word. Powerful redeeming grace to remove of our heart of stone and replace them with hears of flesh"----giving hearts. (New Morning Mercies, December 10)

TAKEAWAYS:

Give self first to God.

Generous Giving is rooted in the grace of God.

Generosity is about Spirit, not resources.

Donate to your church or favorite charity. Give your time to pray for others.

Keep sipping your cuppa generosity-TEA throughout the coming year!

UNFORGETTABLE!!

Remembering Dr. Louis Carter........who passed away yesterday, December 25, 2021

Five decades of service with wife Anne at his side, even in remote mission hospitals.

Founder of Plastic Surgery Group for Missionary and National Doctors

Co-editor of Principles of Reconstructive Surgery for Surgeons in Africa

Awards;

• McCallie School Alumnus Award, 
• Wheaton College Distinguished Humanitarian Award, 
• American College of Surgeons Surgical Humanitarian Award, 
• Christian Medical and Dental Society Educator of the Year, 
• Crichton College Doctor of Humane Letters,
• UT Medical School induction in Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society

What more could one say about Dr. Carter?

I say....."Dr. Carter saved my life as he blessed me and guided me through every step of my rare facial disfiguring cancer journey. He will forever be in my heart!"

NOEL

NOEL....NOEL from the Latin phrase, "natalis dies Domini" is also a biblical name meaning "the Lord's birthday." It's a short form  of Hebrew "NOrad EL" meaning born of EL"" or "born of God." 

"Noel, noel......born is the King of Israel!" Enough said. 

BEHOLDING WONDER!

Christmas Eve journaling.....

Hark (Behold) Pay attention.

Dr. Luke invites us to behold the birth of Jesus. Behold God's mercy in the manger.

Christmas Eve Service @ Allen Bible Church

Unwrap Jesus in His humanity.

Unwrap Jesus at the cross. 

At the cross, He was wrapped in our sins, to give us His righteousness.

Come let us adore Him.

Changing gloom to gladness.

"The essence of the Christian message is not Behave! but Behold!" (Jared Wilson)

Beholding changed to wonder is where life begins!

SECRET SANTA

What a privilege to be a "tiny" part of "my" Molly's Christmas Joy Project which she shared with many of her friends & social media contacts. Unbelievable response. Toys, clothes, shoes, monogrammed Bibles, small gifts, big gifts, some that had to be put together to gift cards & all the stockings stuffers. 

Some from folks she didn't even know. 

Generosity galore. 

Many of her friends & neighbors had their own children participating as well. 

A lot of God pleasing, cheerful giving going on this Christmas in Memphis! 

(Hebrews 13:16, 2 Corinthians 9:7)

It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:30) 

One person gives freely, yet gains even more....(Proverbs 11;24a) 

I've been blessed watching those blessed on both sides of this Secret Santa spectrum.

FAITH AGAIN!!!

I need any mnemonic, acronym or acrostic that helps my memory, especially in the spiritual realm!

My recall and retrieval are flagging.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

But.....when I'm lagging a bit in my zeal, one quick glance at this faith reminder, which has been hanging askew for years, I'm back on the faith trail!