Merry Christmas

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. We do things at Christmas that we seldom or ever think about doing. This morning I sat at my table and drank Browne & Ashley Lemon Tea and ate Hershey’s Extra Dark Chocolate with Pomegranate flavored pieces. These were gifts from our neighbor who always brings us food during the year. Sometimes freshly made food just for us or sometimes leftovers from his family. Both are always delicious, however, he sent us an extra special food gift for Christmas. The tea, the chocolate and lots of fruit, most of which he grew.

Last night Brenda, Chris, Chesed, Chara, Jonathan and Ashley, Judah and Kimberly, Charis, McKinley, Brandon, Madelyn, Mauri, Brady and Madison and Aunt Sarah came and had supper with us. I have not decorated this year. I have two poninsettas, a candle behind a small nativity scene and a Florida football Santa. Still the Christmas Spirit was here. Lots of fun and laughter very few gifts. Chesed wanted to give her gifts before she left to go to North Carolina to spend Christmas with Patrick and his family. She gave us a DVD of all the Thanksgiving pictures to which she had added music and captions. I know we will enjoy that.

Papa and I have had fun this Christmas season making goodies of which I have eaten way too much and am feeling the consequences right now. We have made TV Trash, Puppy Chow, Spiced Pecans, two Coconut Cakes, White and Chocolate covered peanut, pretzels and peanut butter crackers and a pound cake. We have delivered the two coconut cakes and the pound cake. The pound cake has become an annual Christmas gift to our local mechanic. We bake it and Papa takes it to Mr. LaOrange while it is still hot. He stands in pretty good with Mr. LaOrange. Delivered a sweet potato pie for Seth who will be coming home tonight. Still on our list is a tray for Ben up the street. He’ll get a tray of assorted goodies. Jerry Brogdon will probably get one too. Tomorrow we plan to make pralines for Uncle Bob. That is about it for the food part.

This morning I sat down to do my daily devotion. It was so good I want to share parts of it with you all. It is taken from a my devotional book “Morning and Evening” by Charles H. Spurgeon, a gift Cheri gave me last year. I have really enjoyed it all year. Hear is an excerpt from today’s devotion.

“The night also is Thine.” Psalm 74:16

Yes, Lord, you do not abdicate your throne when the sun goes down, nor do you leave the world all through these long wintry nights to be the prey of evil. Your eyes watch us as the stars, and your arms surround us as the zodiac belts the sky.

The night of affliction is as much under the arrangement and control of the Lord of Love as the bright summer days when all is bliss. Jesus is in the tempest. From the first watch of the night even unto the break of day the eternal Watcher observes His saints, and overrules the shades and dews of midnight for His people’s highest good. We hear the voice of Jehovah saying, “I create light and I create darkness; I, the Lord, do all these things.”

Gloomy seasons of religious indifference and social sin are not exempted from the divine purpose. When the altars of truth are defiled, and the ways of God forsaken, the Lord’s servants weep with bitter sorrow, but they may not despair, for the darkest eras are governed by the Lord, and shall come to their end at His bidding. What may seem defeat to us may be victory to Him.

“Though enwrapt in gloomy night,
We perceive no ray of light;
Since the Lord Himself is here,
‘Tis not meet that we should fear.”

I've enjoyed the Christmas music so very much this year. One of my favorites is “Mary Did You Know.” Another is “O Little Town of Bethlehem." Long, long ago in the little town of Bethlehem Jesus was born. He was and is Emanuel, God with us. The words to "O Little Town of Bethlehem were written in 1865 but the words are very meaningful for us today. Here are some of the verses of that song

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above the deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in.
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell,
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel.

Merry Christmas To ALL

New Adddition to Our Family

Today we have a new member to join in the animals of our family. Chara now has a new cat named "Sophie" Welcome Sophie. You are in the minority with all the dogs but you will have some cat cousins in New Harmony. LOVE YOU Chara

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARA

Today is Sara's 30th birthday. 30 years ago was one of the happiest times in my life. Papa and I went to Knoxville and helped take care of Mary Jo and Sara. I enjoyed it so much. Mary Jo pretty much let me do whatever and I played and rocked. Sara you are a wonderful person. One of the most thoughtful people I know. Hope you have had a GREAT BIRTHDAY!! LOVE YOU. papa and ma

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY JO

A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR BABY DAUGHTER

We LOVE you Mary Jo and hope you have had a wonderful birthday.

Questions

Questions?? Questions?? Questions??

We all have questions. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do evil people gain riches? Why does that six year old have cancer?

On and On the questions go. We cry out to God and we don't understand.

Today I found this in Jon Courson’s Application Commentary. It really spoke to me and I hope it will bless you.

God comes to us not to answer, but as the Answer. The peace He brings doesn’t come from understanding. It transcends, passes, surpasses, and supersedes understanding. You will never have an answer for many of the questions stirring within you. But you’ll find that God Himself is the Answer and that He’ll give you a peace that passes understanding.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Home From My Journey

My "Walk to Emmaus" was a wonderful experience. 72 hours without TV, camera, ipod, radio, and cell phone. 12 hours of NO TALKING. That alone was a Blessing. Try it sometime. During this 72 hours there were many inspirational talks. Grace Grace Grace. I think the one that touched me the most was the one on Prevenient Grace. I had not heard this expression before. So if some of you like me have not heard it, the word prevenient means going before, preceeding. And Grace is giving us what we don't deserve. The gist of the talk was how God's Grace goes before us and draws us to Himself. When we are not aware of His directions, He is guiding us. I looked back on my life and saw so many many times God's Grace brought things or people into my life that prepared me for the things He wanted me to do in life. As a little girl I always loved children. Whenever there was a child around I was right there playing with him or her. Little did I know at that time God's Grace was preparing me for all these precious Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren I now have. The love God had given me for children just flowed right over into these grands and greats. And it has been and continues to be a journey of joy, fun, and hope for the future. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God's Prevenient Grace is working in the lives of these grands and greats. He is going before all of you preparing you and calling you to receive His love. Going before you preparing you for the work He has prepared for you to do. His plans for you are good and not evil. Even now you older ones should be able to look back and see God's Grace in your life. I certainly have seen it and continue to see His watchcare and protection over you. Thank you God for your prevenient Grace

Latest from Papa and Ma

Papa and I went down to Destin today to meet Chesed's friend, Patrick. We both really like him. He is extremely friendly and very smart. Nice looking too. Papa has been enjoying his golf cart. Wish we had videoed the installing of the back seat on the cart. I think we probably could have sold the video for comedy. Anyway we have it installed and ready for some children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to come and ride on it. I'm thanking God everyday for all his blessings. Tomorrow we plan to take the "old agers driving class." We are really looking forward to Norman and Mary Jo, Joshua, Karin and Mario being here this weekend. Also Josh and Summer and their friends. Think Karin's brother Mike and his wife and son will be here too. We will be celebrating Mario's first birthday Sunday. We do enjoy all of your blogs. So much for this blog.