ADVENT SUNDAY---a Liles tradition

For Christians thorough out the world, Advent is a time of "waiting"----waiting for the coming and acknowledging the birth of the Lord. It's a time of expectancy. A time to remember those who walked in darkness and then saw a great light. A life changing "Nativity" for us all.

At the Liles house, for as far back as I can remember, the 4 Sundays before Christmas have been a time of celebration and remembrance with an Advent wreath of candles, special devotions (mostly the same ones each year) and off-key singing of appropriate carols. Every one participates and younger ones get a small gift.

This year Owen was with us and he read Isaiah 9:6 and "lit" the "candle of faith". (Called by some the "candle of promise" as Jesus came as the Messiah promised by the prophet Isaiah.)

After we sang "O Come all Ye Faithful" Owen practiced "Scrooge-ing" out the candle---a Liles tradition since watching Barry Fuller as "Scrooge" in Theater Memphis' Christmas Carol, snuffing out his candle with his wet fingers!

Good job, Owen!

BLESSINGS UPON BLESSINGS!

It's Thanksgiving and so much to be thankful for---sweet fellowship in the household of faith & shared times with family and friends. 

Blessings---a real mixed bag----shared with family, friends & faith friends!

So I had to share a Blessing Mix recipe from sweet friend Ellen.

BLESSING MIX

Bugles--Shaped like a cornucopia, Horn of Plenty, a symbol of our nation's abundance.

Pretzels--Arms folded in prayer, a freedom sought by those who founded our country.
Candy Corn--The sacrifices of the Pilgrims' first winter. Food was so scarce that settlers survived onjust a few kernels of corn a day.
Nuts or seeds--Promise of a future harvest, one we will reap only if seeds are planted and tended with diligence.
Dried fruits--Harvest gifts from our bountiful land.
M&Ms--Memories of those who came before us to lead us into a blessed future.
Hershey's Kiss--The love of family and friends that sweetens our lives.

Click here for---Recommended Recipe Amounts for those "exact" cooks.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL! (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

A "SWEET" RX

Maybe "sweets" aren't the answer to everything....

...but sometimes "sweets" numb the pain until God's answer becomes crystal clear. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Just watch out for the side effects---sugar addiction and weight gain, NOT such a sweet RX.

ANXIETY--RX

So much one could say but....

...sometimes a Lockhart, Alabama "pithy grabbing" church sign can say it BEST....

along with God's word!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Visual road reminders and God's word, (Psalm 34:4) a great RX for anxiety.

B-B-B-B-B-B-Beach Bounty

So much to share---a week of B's at Blue Mountain Beach.
"Blessing upon Blessing."
Blackboard verses "bank" the chapel pews. (1Corinthians 13)....
& Bible verse (12) awaits at the altar (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

Here comes the beautiful bride & her best man.....

the "bow-tie clad bearer of the ring and baby boy, Rory....and

...bye bye in style

Biker ides, blue skies, and boogie boards in br-r-r- water, and followed by beaucoup beach adventures.

Butterfly "flutter-bys"---Monarchs and viceroys and more....

Berry bushes with bumblebees, which buzzed loudly as I closed in & then I bolted!

Birding Buddies

Even eating is an adventure at the beach---tho only room for a few pix.
Breakfast begins the day---with buns from the best bakery, La Loba.

or blueberry baby (Dutch Baby) in a black iron skillet at "The Perfect Pig," and on to...

....Bait shop, ala Stinky's, for shrimp po-boys on homemade bread at lunch and on to...

...dinners (without pix) at our best bargains yet & ole faves ---George's at Alyce Beach, where they will "split" seafood combo for us and Cafe Thirty-A with BOGO between 5pm & 6pm.
BULLETIN! BULLETIN! After a little over a year, Seagrove Market Cafeis re-opening in 2 days 11/19/16) to continue serving "deep fried love." (just 2 doors north of original address on Hwy 395)
....and a breezy balcony dinner at sunset with my "Baby Honey" of 47 years at Bud and Alley's at

Seaside on 30A with the rest of the Wright/Ritenour wedding bunch!
Bountiful blessings, indeed!

DISCOVERING DIVINE DESIGNS

Compulsive. Idiosyncratic. Strange. Weird. That's me.
But God.....tends to honor my uniqueness.
Today's quiet time was a real "heads up" as I saw my W "caricature creation" in My Utmost for His Highest devotional journal. From today's entry I could tell that I had been embellishing Ws in both my Bible and MUHH at least since 2009.
WOW--I noticed the entry title, "Discovering Divine Designs." Oh my, that's exactly what I've been doing all these years with Ws!
My own "unusual way of "highlighting" worship as I read---and sometimes with an "eye" for worship reminders in my surroundings.

This week's "Walk of Worship" (WOW walks) on the beach was not to intentionally see Ws everywhere but to see God's perfect design in creation and to praise & thank Him for the privilege of "seeing" it!
But God....showed me a W in the wings of a bird in flight as well as webbed footprints in the sand!

Even as we returned to the condo last night from Cafe Thirty-A, I saw an arrow pointing to a glowing W. It was for a road warning....but I saw it as one more reminder to thank the Lord for the day's blessings.

Ws are everywhere---when one starts looking! Little "God Winks" to remind one of His Presence and to "worship the King!".

Heart of Worship

Because you asked---link to hear me teaching, "The 3 Rs of Worship in the spirit of Hezekiah"
Be forewarned there are lots of Rs but the main three are Return, Restore & Rejoice."

http://firstevan.org/media#!/swx/pp/media_archives/127169/episode/65279?play=1
or this link if that one falters
https://soundcloud.com/user-338572722
Maybe the PP outline w/ verse citations will aid in note-taking,

1. HEART of WORSHIP pic

2. heart of worship lyrics

I'm coming back to the heart of worship

And it's all about you,

It's all about you, Jesus

I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it

When it's all about you,

It's all about you, Jesus

3.            TITLE  HEZEKIAH
3 Rs of Worship

4.             3 Rs of Worship to Revive a Heart….
in the spirit of Hezekiah

•RETURN

•RESTORE

•REJOICE 

5.            RETURN…..TO THE LORD                        2 Chronicles 29

•Repent                         2 Chronicles 29:3-5a

•Remove the Rubbish    2 Chronicles 29:5b-

•Refocus                        2 Chronicles 29:6-10

6.Principle:                        Return to the Lord

When the Lord’s people refocus, repent and return to Him, He is ready to receive them.

7.   RESTORE…..A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP

•Revere the Lord                                     2 Kings 18:3-5

•Rev up your prayer life                         2 Kings 19:14-19, Isaiah 37:15-20

•Rely on the Lord                                     2 Kings 18:6

8. Principle: Restore a Right Relationship

•When one reveres the Lord through a rejuvenated prayer life and complete reliance on Him, the Lord, Jehovah Raphah will heal and restore that right relationship.

8. REJOICE…..INDEPENDENTLY & CORPORATELY 

•Respond                                     2 Chronicles 29:30 - 30:19

•Refresh…worship anew                         Isaiah 38:9-20

•Revive….with singleness of heart                          2 Chronicles 30:12 & 26 

•Principle: Rejoice Again & Again!

•Responding in worship as God leads, enables one to rejoice afresh with a revived undivided heart! 

ELECTION DAY 2016

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE.......BUT REMEMBER....THIS SIGN! (John 1:29)

'NUFF SAID! (Revelation 7:14)

NEST & REST

Explanation to follow---

REFOCUS NEEDED

My heart hurts! Not necessarily for me, but especially for others. 

The last two weeks have been filled with tragedy for many in my "friendship circle" and in the household of faith. Physical pain. Emotional pain. Fear. Grief.

Sudden death of a grandson of a Pi  Phi sister, unexpected death of 39 year old girl racquetball champ from hubby's team, deaths of 2 mothers of Bible study chums & a high school chum, death of a younger brother of former Houston High teacher, painful treatments for multiple myeloma of a dear friend with a stem cell transplant looming, lung cancer of friends brother, neighbor's daughter facing surgery, and a less than perfect diagnosis for my MAC cancer mentor, Michèle.

What is one to do? Continue to pray comfort and strength for those with such great loss and Romans 12:12 for those in midst of struggles that they will remain joyful in hope, patient in affliction and fervent in prayer. Prayer might not sound like much "doing" but it's the best thing to "do" during those dark times---offer prayer..

Refocus & Recall... Michèle's Words

"Uncertain of the future, but sure of the One who holds it"