SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: Prayers & Squares

12/19/13 Prayers & Squares. What a ministry of Roswell Presbyterian in Georgia!
The church quilters create prayer quilts for those in need. These tie quilts have an extra facet---extra ribbons to be tied by pray-ers. Those praying people include not only the quilters and other church members but also the recipient's family and friends as well. Prayers over the quilt for the one who will receive it begin at its inception and are continued each step and journey through the church itself.
A quilt created with love, hope and prayers.

Prayerfully sent, those prayers are continued at the recipient's home. That's how I came to tie a square knot on the "perfect" color and theme quilt of my special friend and sister in the Lord, Claudia. Thanks to Aunt Mary Manhardt and the quilting ministry along with  the pastors, staff and congregation of Roswell Presbyterian Church for that prayer privilege.

In loving memory of Claudia Lee Roberts Parlow---August 12, 1944-November 30, 2013

LIGHT vs Darkness

12/28/13 Gift to hubby---tickets for both of us to see The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

Definitely not my kind of movie, BUT God showed me me truths of the faith imbedded in it---stark similarities between Tolkien's fantasy and the reality of good and evil as it exists today.

Evil is afoot. Darkness is always looking to find a foothold in Tolkien's Middle Earth as in our world as well. 

Such is the nature of evil. "In time all foul things come forth!  We will hide with in our walls, live our lives without light and let darkness descend. We've been blind, and in our blindness, our enemy has returned." 

Smaug who is a "devil" of a dragon states, "The darkness is coming. It will spread to every corner of the land.""I am fire.. I am death!"

But Gandalf and Bilbo Baggins offer hope for the dwarves with daring and encouragement. Valuable assets even in these times.

Gandalf: Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay... small acts of kindness and love. 

Like Gandalf, I see the power of God in the land of the living. (Psalm 27) In the lives of His people is where goodness resides and takes action----even in the little acts of ministry, one step at a time. God's goodness and the kindness and love of His people give light and hope to others.

Light dispels darkness---(John 1:5)

Christmas Greetings 2013

12/25/13 Merry Christmas from our gang to yours!

MORE LIGHT

12/24/13 On the day Pastor Cole was preaching about the"life who is the light of all men," (John 1:4) I read the 12/22 entry by Dr. Sue Edwards in the DTS 2013 Christmas devotional, "In the Fulness of Time."Her reference to Simeon's revelation gave "light" to the fulfillment of God's promise to him. Simeon, a devout and righteous man saw Jesus in the temple and knew that this Child, brought for dedication by his parents, was the Messiah.
Praising God, with Jesus in his arms, Simeon prophesied ......a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people, Israel. (Luke 2:32)

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2)

May the "Light of the World" shine through believers this season, in order that many will come to the light.

More "light" for more people---what a Christmas that would be!

Hopeful Meditation #4

12/23/13 Having prayed verse 13 from the 15th chapter of Romans for a friend this weekend,  I realized that it was a perfect verse for meditation during this Christmas week. Hope began at Christmas.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Filled with hope. Abounding in hope. Overflowing with hope. Because of the One who gives hope.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: Reason for the Season

12/22/13 4th Sunday of Advent. Coming soon...the "Reason for the Season."

In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:4)

"the lifter up of mine head"

12/21/13 Psalm 3:3 is a psalm I have prayed for others lately----BUT GOD...... answered it for me as well.

A simple e-mail from Samaritan's Purse lifted my spirits. No request from me. No fanfare. Just a BIG God-wink. He knows of my "heart for Ukraine. He placed it there.

And then in order to lift my head, He sent my shoeboxes there!!!

Can you read it ???? Your shoebox has begun its journey and will be delivered to a child in Ukraine.

"Trusted Book Review"---Do you trust me?

12/19/13 Trust me---always read a book prior to seeing the movie. Let the author's words create your own mental images, not Hollywood.

 I actually read parts of the book years ago as a review for some of my high school students. I knew I would return to it in the future. My future was 2013. The reading began with an audio book. The reader was excellent but I kept a print copy bedside because some of Max's illustrations/writings added to the charm of the book.

Note: Both print & audio books were checked out from my local library. I'm a grateful library patron.

As much as I liked the Book Thief  by Marcus Zusak, I can understand why others would not. 

Understandably the holocaust topic is too grim for some readers. The book also has profanity, though much of it is in German and when translated, probably means dirty, filthy pig.

NYTimes review was not exactly favorable. "A little fussy---with some slack moments. Needs to be more certain of own strength. Young-adult fiction."

"It deplores human misery. It celebrates the power of language. It may encourage adolescents to read." Maybe that's why it tugged at my heart."

Regardless of the NYX  review I found the book riveting. Set during the holocaust and narrated by "Death," the novel is gripping as are most stories set during that horrific time.  

The author's words were powerful, yet realistic. 

I'm so glad I read it before I saw the movie!

Trusted Book Reviews

12/18/13 Reading Pastor Cole Huffman's 2013 Book List, I was excited that I had read 3 of his books and agreed with his insights and assessments.

• Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber--an all time fave of mine---"Beautifully written, great narrative tension...read bulk of it in one weekend." (CH) 
• Help, Thanks, Wow: Three Essentials Prayers by Anne Lamott --- More liberal than I, but has quite a way with words. CH's fave sentence was, "Gratitude begins in our hearts and then dovetails into our behavior. It almost always makes you willing to be of service, which is where the joy resides. It means you are willing to stop being a jerk. "(p.56-57) 
• The Little Way of Ruthie Leming by Rod Dreher who watched his former home town come together in community to aid his dying sister. "A powerful forgiveness story." (CH)

I am also glad to have a new Dorothy Sayers title, Letters to a Diminished Church, to add to my "to read" list----because I can trust the reviewer.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013...Prayer Question

Why is it easier to ask folks to pray for you when you have cancer than when you are just ill-tempered and having "come aparts?"