HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2013!

11/28/13 So much to be thankful for---family all together, a rare occurrence.
Unbelievable food. "Adult kids" did all the cooking & table setting, under the tutelage of Josh & Megan----even pushing me out of the kitchen with the command, "just enjoy your grandchildren!" A command with a reward!

Love & gratitude to all our family and friends ! 

An "attempt" at a group picture at the end of the day....

Lucy wouldn't get in the picture, but she liked her Elmo hat.

Psalm 145:1-7---Our scripture reading before we asked our blessing.

1 I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.

2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.

3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

4 One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.

5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

6 They tell of the power of your awesome works and I will proclaim your great deeds.

7 They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Play Day with Play Clay

11/27/13 Stage set----great fun, great pix with grandparents while parents were at lunch at Mi Cocina.

Thankful Meditation

11/25/11 John Parker's (5) placemat provided the perfect verse for "Meditation Monday and throughout this Thanksgiving week.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: CELEBRATION OF FAITH

11/24/13 Dallas Bible Church celebrated 25 years of ministry today, It was son Buddy's church during his Dallas Theological Seminary days and beyond. He served in several areas of ministry; Young Adults pastor; preaching team; mission trips leader, as well as being ordained into the ministry by Dallas Bible. Ten years later, DBC sent Buddy and a team to launch Allen Bible Church with him as the lead pastor.

Today, as part of the continuing celebration, Buddy preached on "Looking Back to Move Forward." Couldn't begin to list all my notes from 2 Timothy 2:1-2. Just know that this "proud mom" sitting with the congregation "puddled"----especially as the songs chosen (by said son, I later found out) "Come Thou Fount" (my fave hymn) and "10,000 Reasons" (my fave praise song) were song. I was a mess.

A few "pithy with a punch" asides stayed with me: 

• Paces and faces of a church might change but NOT it's mission.
• A call to lead begins with a call to serve. (John 17: 4, 6) 
• In this world there are those who bring donuts and those who don't bring donuts but complain if there aren't any. Be a bring the donut kind of guy. 
• "You can impress people from a distance but you can only impact them up close (Howard Hendricks, DTS) 
• Legacy in the spiritual realm = you can only leave what you live

Good singing. Good sermon. Great celebration!

Saturday Snippet # 6: Life Questions

11/23/13 Questions to provoke thinking....

Where does one get strength to continue on in life?

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit strengthens our inner man, enlightens the eyes of our heart and, makes our body healthy. The Lord delights in flooding every nerve, capillary, and cell of our body with His might. (Watchman Nee, The Spiritual Man, Vol. III part 10, Chapter 3)

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.
 Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. (Psalm 143:8)

BOYS! BOYS!! BOYS!!!

11/22/13 What the world needs is more godly men. Tonight we had a house full of potential! Caleb celebrated his 8th birthday with a sleepover. 

Hooray for game room floors & a good Monster U movie to bed down the troops---2 younger brothers were already asleep out of camera range.

Psalm 127:3-5  Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! (Buddy & Day have 5 boys.)

Psalm 17:6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, And the glory of sons is their fathers.

Glory streams from heaven afar.....

11/21/13 Glory streams from heaven afar.....today seems more than lyrics from a Christmas carol----Some days heaven seems closer than normal

as we behold the glory of the Lord in the lives of others.

But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. (Psalm 3:3)

Ask yourself, Do others see God's glory in my life? 

When the Lord raises my friend Claudia's head as she comes out of some dark gray days, those around her know that she will once again speak of the glory of God and His goodness.

Declare His glory among the nations, 

His marvelous works among all peoples. (1 Chronicles 16:24)

ETERNAL HOPE

11/18/13 Life is full of struggles. There are many kinds of struggles.

What can one say to one in the midst of a struggle? 

Hope is the answer. Hope for a better tomorrow. 

Hope promotes the desire for a positive future, regardless of the circumstances of the day.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:5) 

 That hope is eternal. Eternity with the One who is our “Hope!”

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: Nativity

11/17/13 Nativity definition, per on-line dictionary---

Birth, especially the place, conditions, or circumstances of being born. Certainly for a Christian, the place is a stable in less that perfect conditions and the circumstances necessary to fulfill the Messianic words of Isaiah, Micah, Malachi and other prophets.

This year's Vesta Home show at St. James Place (off of Forest Hill Irene) had several homes with nativities as part of their holiday decorations. A great start to the Christmas season.

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING: ADDENDUM

11/15/13 PM 

Yesterday ended with prayers of thanksgiving as I sat in Claudia's new room praising the Lord for the only possible answer to an impossible situation---Him. I still don't know the answers to "how" but I do know the One who is the Answer.

Claudia's transport had not even arrived at the beautiful new, serene setting and wouldn't arrive until sometime after 10 pm. I began praying and thanking, and thanking and praying. Praise and Prayers all jumbled up together. The tears began to flow.

I had not cried since Dr. Mullins gave the prognosis, but I wept. Tears of relief. Tears of thanks. 

Tears of joy at seeing God's hand being shown in such a powerful way.

11/116/13 Today, Claudia told me that yesterday "someone from Baptist" came in with a form and said, "You've been accepted. They have a bed. An ambulance will be here to pick you up.

The form was blank. The ball was rolling but.....she didn't know how.

I don't have to know "how" or "why"----I just know Who!