HAPPY NEW YEAR!! EAT UP!

BLESSINGS FOR 2023!

Black eye peas. Black-eyed peas.

Nothing spiritual....just traditional. Southern traditional.

Mildred Davenport Adams aka Gigi traditional. Black-eyed peas cooked with hog jowl, served with a side of fresh turnip greens and piping hot cornbread.

A can in the pantry with 3 "just-in-case" freezer packs in Memphis.

Hoppin' John from a food truck in Bryson City, North Carolina.

Perfectly delectable from Brooklyn, New York by the resident chef.

Hopeful for a "bean" of some sort in Panda Express take-out in Allen, Texas---anything to appease Gigi! More importantly to please God.

Enjoy your New Year's Day meal to glorify God/honor God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Regardless of the translation* of the tradition---Whether then, you are eating or drinking or whatever you are doing, let everything be done to the glory of God. (Weymouth New Testament)

So eat your meals heartily, not worrying about what others say about you - you're eating to God's glory, after all, not to please them.....but Him.

*Whether therfore ye eate or dryncke or what soever ye do,

do all to the prayse of God. (Tyndale Bible of 1526)

SO LONG! FAREWELL!!

MONARCH MOUNTAIN!

TWO FOR THE ROAD!

My morning cuppa with hubby's coffee gave us a jump start to our day.

Our last 11 days have been a labor of love coupled with ups and downs. It has certainly helped to have hubby be a part pf it. (Ecclesiastes 4:9) Yesterday as we headed up to Monarch Mountain to watch our Texans ski---as if we could actually spot them on the slopes & have lunch.  

We encountered new experiences that were better done as a pair. Snowy parking lot and steep, slick stairs to the lodge area.

Two are better than one....If either of them falls down.one can help the other up. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES: AN ADDENDUM

OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES: AN ADDENDUM

Identifying incorrectly the one whose birthday Christmas was as... "Me," Jack, with Mommy's finger pointing to the manger hint---

Jack replied. "Baby God!"

He's right; it was the Lord who laid down his sweet head.

Then he went out to the porch to swing in the mountain air and sang over and over to his fuzzy puppies...     

Frosty the snowman  

he was a jolly happy dude

.....the only 2 lines of Frosty the Snowman that he knew...with his own "dude" substitution.

My prayer is that by whatever name Jack calls Him; baby Jesus, Lord Jesus or baby God, He will be near, close by forever and  "bless all the dear children in His tender care"

GOD'S LOVE! GOD'S GIFT!

GOD'S LOVE! 

God's Gift. The time came. Good news brought.

Praises. Wonder. Thanks. Love.

Keep yourselves in the love of God......(Jude 1:21)

Tea in hand, I read Margie's card again and again.  Then, I picked up hubby's Bible and read more good news.

The Savior, the Messiah came. (Luke 2:11)

The Son of Man will come again.....in glory! (Luke 21:27)

ALL IS CALM!

Calm!

These days is "calm" used much any more in our multi tasking society?

Do we know how to be still?

Be still before the Lord?? (Psalm 46:10)

In today's terms, is this God's way of encouraging us in our time of worry, busyness and anxious thoughts? "Relax. I got this." (Psalm 94:19)

His consolations certainly can bring "bright" to our lives and delight to our souls.!

JOY! JOY!! JOY!!!

JOY to the World! How about JOY in the world!

Where does JOY begin? Years ago I learned that true JOY begins with Jesus. The Lord is our cup of blessing as He is always with us. JOY continues as we serve others well...as God loves us, by putting others before self. Self is last in the recipe for JOY. True JOY comes to us as we put Jesus and others first.

This acrostic has helped me remember that.

Jesus

Others

  Yourself

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

NATIVITY!

Nativity aka creche. A tableau representing the scene of Jesus Christ's birth. Jeannie Jones and Karen Martin did an exquisite nativity tablescape that caught my attention.

During Christmas these displays open our hearts and bring brightness to our inner being! 

Years ago nativity scenes could be found in community spaces, on courthouse lawns and even on floats in annual parades. In 2022 the few seen are often on lawns of the town churches. "O Come let us Adore him" ring from the mouths of carolers as they took the old familiar carols to doorsteps in the neighborhoods.

Yet, there is a remnant who continue to "Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness." (1 Chronicles 16:29)

BEST GIFT EVER!

We spend time and money searching for the perfect Christmas gift.

We fret. We fume--often for naught.

Immanuel--God with us.

For the best gift, share Jesus.

He's the true gift. The "best yet."

He keeps on giving.

ANSWERED PRAYER!

No prayer is too small or insignificant to be heard and answered by God.

Some are answered immediately.

Sometimes we must wait. 

Others are not quite the answer we had sought.

There's an answered prayer here. Look closely!*

It's only significant to me. Hubby knew so he searched. He found it yesterday. It was after I accepted the loss. Acceptance. Then Gad answered  It was like a "trust" lesson.

Call unto me and I will answer thee and shew thee great and might things which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3, KJV)

When our prayers align with God's will (Thy will be done.) and purpose He always answers for our good and His glory. 

*Look carefully in the top right rectangle & it's in the lower left corner of that rectangle.