MORE OF THEE & LESS OF ME!

A Saturday Short that reminds me to keep meditating..........

...........MORE OF THEE.....less of me.I get it!!!

It is my meditation for this Monday---so I will keep getting it!!

Thanks to Doris for sharing!

REASON FOR THE SEASON!

Drive into Bryson City on Friday, December 1, and the signs, manger scenes, lights and decorations shine with a glorious Friday Focus!

Praises for a community whose focus is on the One who is the reason for the season! (Luke 2:7)

I LOVE A PARADE!

I love a parade especially in Bryson City, North Carolina where Jesus is the reason for the season!

Candy might be shared with the children....

 but so are tracts passed out along the parade route and in store windows. 

From Mayor Tom, the Grinch in the Sheriff's car....

and Santa Claus to the Fire Department, high school bands, teams, floats and lots of horses, 

and others animals provided fun for all!

with a great reminder to close the parade! (John 3:16)

Merry Christmas from small town America!

POLAR EXPRESS 12/5/2023

Tripping to the North Pole can be done in no better place than on the "Polar Express" in Bryson City, North Carolina with a 5 year old.

Loading not 'til 8:30 pm but we have our PJs ready for the trip!

AWAY IN A MANGER

When one’s  5 year old grandson sets  up a manger & re-sets it again and again & again, it’s a great way to pass on the true meaning of Christmas!!

He knew the one in the manger was baby Jesus. When I tried to tell him that Joseph was Jesus' Daddy---he said, "NO"---"God is His Daddy!"

How right he is!!

SATURDAY SHORT IN SOUTHERN SPEAK

Hooray for Interpretations I understand from Scotty Smith. Siri creates words I don't "get." I prefer Pastor Smith's familiar words.

Mind-bogglingly loved.

Diddly-Squat matters.

Just what I will need for a Saturday morning after a 9 hour drive to arrive in the the Smoky Mountains.

PERFECT GIFTS!

It's hard to believe---December will be here in just a few hours! 

That will mean there's just 24 days until Christmas. Ads on TV are already calculating the number of shopping days left to spur the buying frenzy!

Having trouble with your shopping list?

This past week, ABC's Reading List had us reading in the book of James---right where I found the perfect answer. Tonight as I changed the calendar on the kitchen table. I was affirmed in that answer.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, (James 1:17a)

Share Jesus, a true and perfect gift from the heart!

PLAY ON WORDS!

Play on words is a literary technique usually used to give men choice of meaning...in a humorous way.

Lately, for me. it's been a way of reducing words to an acronym to help me remember. 

AGOG---I am keen to remember God's love and mercy! The gift of His Son on my behalf. There is no greater gift.

A

Gift

Of

Grace

Word Play. "Play on words" techniques offer many new possibilities.

A recent word play was shared in Sunday School.

For those whose disposition is a bit grumpy.....

...Drop the D and add an H to give one an entirely new outlook!

Dis-position -D + H = His-position! 

Don't "dis" me about that word play; I think it speaks volumes!

In everything you do, put God first. (Proverbs 3:6a, TLB)

What position does God hold in your life?

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS!

This morning it was so-o-o easy to give thanks! I live with a bird-loving, 

bird -feeding, bird-watching man.

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than the birds. (Luke 20:24)

A goldfinch singing outside our window no more......

......Even though the goldfinches are gone, bluebirds are still thumping at the kitchen window......

......& dove are are perched on the feeders while Carolina chickadees are playing in the patio fountain.  

The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. (Palms 104:12)

I am thankful!

BUT GOD!

Yesterday, our "Pulpit" Pastor, Wayne Smith Jr., mentioned "The Gospel Message in Two Words" as his sermon title. Immediately, "But God" came to mind. Those 2 words have gripped me time and time again.

But God....(Ephesians 2:4) in His love and mercy keeps us from being Deceived, Depraved and Doomed.

Smith encouraged use to remember that God works "in us," "for us" and "through us" as we serve Him.

How do we serve Him? 

By Identifying our passions, our experiences and our gifting, and using them to share God's love, mercy and truth with others.

Apart from Him we could not do that.

But God, in His love and rich mercy has made us alive together with Christ (Ephesians 2:5) and that's all we need!