2022 The 4th Sunday of Advent

Today was the 4th Sunday of Advent.  

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through Me." 

John 14:6

We lit the 4th candle on the Advent wreath in church. I've been wanting to get a picture of this unique advent wreath, and finally did today. I love that it is set in a beautiful crown, symbolizing the royalty of Christ, the Son of God, Prince of Peace, and Lord of lords!

I snapped this picture at the close of our service today, which was a full house, praise the Lord!  We had just had the benediction and were singing "Go Tell it on the mountain...that Jesus Christ is born!" I love that we sing that at the close of the service as a fitting reminder to go out and tell everyone about Jesus!

Today was our choir's presentation of "Light of the World".  This recording was done during our dress rehearsal this past week. If you want to sit back and enjoy some happy music, please click on this and enjoy. Please excuse my coughing toward the end (and possibly somewhere in the middle). Other than that, I made it through!  This morning for the real performance I don't think I coughed until the very end, so that was an improvement. LOL. The words and music were a beautiful way to tell the Christmas story, so I hope you will enjoy it. As I've said before, we are a small country church, and our choir is very down to earth with no professional singers or musicians. We just sing for the glory of the Lord, and that is what I hope shines through.

After church we went out to eat at one of our local eateries, (Hog Wild Country Cafe'), and Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus were there! What a surprise! He was listening to children's requests, and I told him I'd been a good girl and I hoped he'd bring everything on my list.  He said he'd try really hard. LOL. As it turns out this couple used to attend our church but they have moved to another church in the past year or so, so it was a surprise to see them.  And yes, it was cold enough for that fire in the fireplace today! And I understand by next Sunday it will be in the low 20's here, so who knows what might happen? Santa just might get to ride in his sleigh after all! He may have to revive that reindeer on the wall first. LOL.

I was looking back in my blogpost history and found these posts from previous years' 4th Sunday of Advent, so if you have some extra time and want to go back and re-read these old posts, you are very welcome to.  I mainly have them here for my own reference so that I can keep track of the different things that were written for this Sunday in Advent.  It seems like we do something a little different each year, which is good. There is no absolute format for each Sunday in Advent. You can do it any way you want. The important thing is to think about the wonderful story of the Birth of Christ, and His purpose for coming here to earth in the first place. Each Sunday in Advent we share a little more of the story that helps put the whole big picture into focus.  Christmas is all about Jesus...not just as that baby in the manger, but looking ahead into God's plan for our redemption through His Son. He came to redeem us from our sins and give us hope for eternity. And that's what Christmas is all about.  

With that I will say good night for today.  

 2016 4th Sunday of Advent

2018 4th Sunday of Advent

2019 4th Sunday of Advent

2020 4th Sunday of Advent

2021 4th Sunday of Advent

Monday Evening Christmas Vignettes

 Good Monday Evening!  December Mondays are busy days for us...since we are helping out at Dixie Cottage most every other day (except Sunday and Monday), Monday is really the only day we have to get caught up on things at home or otherwise. Today my goal was to get the Christmas tree set up and decorated. I started the day out full of vim and vigor and eager to get going. Hubby helped me get the tree in place and put together, and then he had to leave for an appointment. No problem. I am used to putting on the lights by myself. I've done it for years. Once in a blue moon our son Scott has taken that job over, but he's not living here anymore, and so I am technically on my own.  Things were going fine with the first strand of lights, and the second...and then from then on all of the strands of lights that we had, which were working just fine last year, were no longer working. I couldn't believe it...I had to throw away about 4 or 5 strings of lights!  I know, there's supposed to be a way to change a bulb or fix a fuse or something, but I've never had much luck with that and since lights aren't really all that expensive, I decided it was time to get some new lights obviously!  So that job of decorating got put on hold until hubby came home and we could go to the closest Dollar General store to get some new lights. Which we did, but they had very few boxes of the correct lights left. I guess everyone needed new lights this year! Must have been defective lights last year (although honestly most of mine were probably several years old).  So I purchased what they had and hoped it would be enough.  Therefore I spent the afternoon putting on the lights and by then I was exhausted and ready for a nap! (I'm still not 100% running on all cylinders yet from my bug of the past two weeks I guess).  Finally, after supper I was able to start putting on a few ornaments, but had to take a break from that to wash dishes and now my back is tired and I'm sitting down so I can write to you and read some posts from many of you.  The tree can wait until tomorrow to get finished...after we get back home from Dixie Cottage, if I am feeling energetic enough...this might end up being an all week project! LOL.  So here's what it looks like now, with mostly just lights and a few ornaments:

It does have plenty of lights now...that's for certain!  Once it is all finished we will cover the bottom with a white sheet and then one evening this week our kids Benton and Rose are going to come over and we will do our new tradition of setting up the train set and village together. We will miss having Scott here to help out as he is the most agile one of the whole bunch to get down there on the floor and put things together, but we will manage somehow.

So I named this post "Monday Evening Christmas Vignettes".  

vi·gnette

/vinˈyet/

noun: vignette; plural noun: vignettes 

1.a brief evocative description, account, or episode. "a classic vignette of embassy life"

2.a small illustration or portrait photograph which fades into its background without a definite border.

3.a small ornamental design filling a space in a book or carving, typically based on foliage.

So these pictures will be "a small illustration or portrait photograph which fades into its background without a definite border", but also a "brief evocative description, account or episode" of our Christmas decorations in our home, which I have also been working on and are pretty much done except for finishing the tree and the train village, which I will definitely share once it is complete. Once you see all of this you will know why my back hurts and I'm so tired. LOL.   

I will start with the most important one, which you've already seen on last night's post:

Everything else is secondary to this.  We could just put out the Nativity Scene and be done with it, and it would definitely be Christmas.

But there are other little places here and there throughout our house that are getting ready for Christmas.  Everything is decorated with the purpose of getting ready for Christmas...the REAL Christmas, the Birth of our Savior and Lord.  Everything else is in preparation for that all important event.

We'll start with the little family in Pamela's Victorian Cottage:

They have decorated their tree and there are gifts wrapped and ready. Some of the children are dressed in their Christmas outfits, and even the more angelic members of the family are in place and ready for their part in the grand event of announcing Christ's birth!

The woodland creatures and the Carolers are all getting ready to sing Carols of Praise

As they "Let Heaven and Nature Sing"

The Martin Sisters are gathered around the piano and are tuning their voices to sing along as well...

There are a couple of Santas preparing to join in the happy song...

The angels are gathered around the Tea Cup tree, tuning their instruments as well...

Oh, we mustn't forget the snowmen and reindeer and folks at the Cabin preparing for the exciting events about to unfold...

And here's Lily Grace and her lovely friends Rebecca, Valerie, Margie, and Anne (of Green Gables!) all gathered to celebrate Jesus' Birthday! They've even baked a cake!

Mustn't leave out our dear Baby Elva...She all dressed and ready for the celebration, and enjoying looking at the pretty tree...

Oh, I see the word "Believe" on the tree...do you? Do you Believe? I believe...I believe that Christmas is all about Jesus...it's all about His love reaching out to us when we were lost and without hope...and God saw our sins and fears and anxieties and confusion in life, and He knew there was only one way to rescue us...

He sent Jesus, His only Begotten Son, to come to earth as a little child, Who would grow to be a man, pure and holy and sinless...and He would be the only spotless Lamb of God who could take away the sins of the earth...

John 1:29 

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

Revelation 5:11-12

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, 

the living creatures, and the elders; 

and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,

12 saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

To receive power and riches and wisdom,

And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

And that's what Christmas is all about...Jesus left the splendor of heaven to come to earth to rescue me and you and all who will believe. He was the precious pure and spotless Lamb of God, who came to rescue me,  a smelly and dirty lost sheep...because He loved me.

Yes, that's what all the excitement is about! That's why we decorate and celebrate and give gifts and sing songs of praise and joy!

It's all about Jesus...it's all about the Lamb.

Amen.

Processing Christmas-Day Two

 If you read my last POST HERE, you will know that our Christmas celebration came in two parts. I thought I'd take a little break between posts to give you (& me!) a chance to get caught up with everyone else. We are all sharing our Christmas stories and it's so wonderful to see and hear how you all celebrated The Birth of Christ in your homes.  We each have our own special traditions and foods and decorations and things that we like to do at Christmas time...it's fun to hear all about it.  And even for those who don't have a lot of family nearby, it is good to do something to commemorate the day and honor Christ's birthday in whatever way is meaningful to you.  I've really enjoyed reading your posts. We are like one big family here!

So speaking of family...on our "Day Two" of Christmas, my sister and her hubby and daughter and her hubby traveled a couple of hours to spend the afternoon with us. This was the only picture I got of our family together, as the rest of the time we were too busy either eating or opening gifts, or just enjoying visiting and I totally forgot about taking pictures! (Something must be wrong with me! LOL)

I love this picture because our son Scott, who you see at the very top of steps in a teal colored shirt on the left side, actually set up my phone camera with a timer on the bumper of a truck in the driveway, and ran and leaped up to the top of the steps between all of us and managed to pose for the picture before it snapped! Amazing! And it still turned out this good! These young people with such quick minds and agility just blow me away! LOL.

Anyway, our original plan had been to go out to eat for lunch at a local BBQ place since my hubby and I would be going to church (he teaches the Adult Sunday School class and I sing in the choir, so we didn't feel like we could skip it just because company was coming), and I knew I wouldn't have time to prepare any kind of meal for everyone who would be arriving right at noon.  However, the day before, after our own family's Christmas dinner was over we determined that we had a LOT of leftovers, and I called my sister and asked her what they had for leftovers, and we decided we both had enough that we could put them together and have a great pot-luck dinner instead of having to go out to eat!! Great idea! And it worked out perfectly. We still had leftovers! LOL.

One fun thing we did was make a bowl of Christmas punch, with lime sherbet, cranberry juice, ginger ale and orange juice. (or you could use pineapple juice, but I didn't have any). We used this beautiful green punch bowl set that my mother in law gave me years ago. It has been used for many Christmas parties at church and our home over the years.  I put my niece to work making the punch right away and she laughed and said now she felt like "an old church lady" making the "church lady punch".  I guess that's what we'll call it from now on! LOL. (Sorry, forgot to take a picture of the finished product).

Lunch being done, our next event was our annual "White Elephant Gift" exchange...where each person brings a wrapped gift  that is something you'd like to get rid of...or it could be something nice, but the idea is to not have to go out and buy gifts for everyone.  We play this game, which is like what some of you call a "Chinese Auction" or "Dirty Santa", where people can take your gift if they want it and you have to get another one, etc., etc., but everyone still ends up with a gift, whether you like it or not! LOL.

There were some very "interesting" gifts passed around.

Like this "Mark the Moose". LOL

Or this "Ginger and Chili Chutney" and other interesting delicacies...

Which really aren't bad, but their expiration date is next month, so we'd  better eat them up fast! LOL. 

Anybody want some marmalade or chutney or relish? You have to come here and get it!

But we did also exchange some very special gifts between us...

One thing that is a tradition from my family is that my father used to buy each of the ladies one of these Amaryllis plant kits each Christmas, so we could plant it and watch it grow:

So, I have kind of taken over that tradition and make sure to find these every year for each of the women who will be present at our Christmas gatherings.  Sometimes they aren't as easy to find, or they may be already starting to grow in the box, like that one above was doing...I just planted it in the pot yesterday, and look at it already!!  But it will grow and have beautiful flowers, and then in the spring you can plant it outdoors and it might bloom again later. They do come back each year as well. (here in Florida)

I also received some very special and meaningful gifts from my sister and my niece as well. They just really touched my heart.

The "Devotions from the Front Porch" (by Stacy Edwards) book was from my sister, and the "O Holy Night" book was from my niece. Just a couple of examples of what is inside these books will show you how special they are:

"A Rocking Chair" on the front porch invites you to

  "Come unto Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28

And, can you imagine why I was drawn to read this one?  "The Lily Tree", a special tree planted in loving memory of an infant named Lily who never got to be held in her mother's arms...

"His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Lamentations 3:22-23

The other book, "O Holy Night",  (illustrated by Sarah Cray) has beautiful water color paintings accompanying the lyrics to several different beloved Christmas carols, including "O Holy Night",

And "Joy to the World"

Amazing to me how my sister and my niece both knew what I would love and enjoy. I was very humbled by these sweet gifts.

But I've been talking too much here and not getting to the very best gift of all, that literally brought me to tears!

Can you read what is engraved on the handle of this little baby spoon?

Yes, it says "Pamela Anne".  My sister gave this to me...and when I saw it I just couldn't believe it. This was my baby spoon!  Somehow she ended up with it among other silverware from our mother's things, and she said it was so tarnished she didn't realize what it was until she polished it. I'm not sure why it affected me so much, but I couldn't help but shed some tears as I held this tiny little silver spoon in my hand and thought about how my mother had actually fed me with this spoon when I was a baby...and the fact that it had my name engraved on it...well, that just blew me away. Then someone broke the spell and said, "Gee Mom, now you can say you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth!" LOL. Yeah, right!  I don't know who gave this spoon to my mother when I was born, maybe my grandparents.  I wish I knew. But no matter who...it just made me think about the baby Jesus, and how there were no silver baby spoons for Him when He was born in a manger, and yet He was the King of kings! He left the Ivory Palaces of Heaven to come to earth, to be born among the cattle and sheep and in a lowly feed trough...the Bread of Heaven, given for all mankind. And He did it for me, and for you! He knows my name!  It is written down in His Lamb's book of life...and He knows your name too...

How special is that???

Well, there were other special gifts in addition to this, but I think I will stop here. Maybe some others will show up in future posts. But I just want us to stop and think here about how much Jesus loves us!

He knows your name. It is written down in His book of those who love Him and those for whom He gave up His life.  

"Greater love has no one than this, 

than to lay down one’s life for his friends."

John 15:13

Now maybe you see why I am still "processing Christmas" in my mind. 

It's been rather "mind-blowing".

It's almost New Year's...and I still haven't come up with my "One Word for 2022".

Have you? I am praying about it. I am sure God will reveal it to me on time.

He always does.

Until next time,

be blessed my friends...Jesus loves you.

An Advent Message: "A Baby Does Change Everything" Updated

A Baby Changes Everything updated from 2015...nothing to change about this message.  That precious Baby in the Manger truly did change EVERYTHING for this old world, and for each of us, if we will pay attention to the message He brings...and claim it for our own.

Merry Christmas dear friends!

Do you remember what it felt like when you first learned you were going to have a baby?  Depending upon your circumstances, it was either great joy and elation, or it was possibly great fear and concern. If you were unmarried, not only fear, but shame, anxiety over how you would be able to take care of the child, what would your parents say...what would your boyfriend say? Would he stand by you, or run away? Would he demand you have an abortion, or force you to give the baby away? Would he love you enough to marry you and give the child a home?

Even if you were married, there were a lot of questions and concerns. Will the child be healthy? Would your husband be a good father? Will you be a good mother? Will you be able to properly provide for your child? Will it be a boy, or a girl? What shall you name him or her?

Regardless of your situation and how long you've waited for a child or whether or not you were prepared for this event at all...one thing is for certain:  "A Baby Does Change Everything!"

Now think about Mary, the mother of Jesus...single, yet betrothed to a man named Joseph. Young, pure, a virgin, and faithful to her fiance' Joseph.  Can you imagine what it must have been like for her? First of all, there was the Angel Gabriel...making such a strange announcement...and the fear and wonder over how that could even be possible.  (Luke 1;26-38).  "A baby? Me?  But I haven't even known a man that way!"  But the Angel told her "For with God nothing will be impossible..."

And then there was Joseph, a carpenter...hard working, honest, a good and noble man. And his beautiful young fiance' is pregnant...and he knows it can't be his child.  And another Angel...this time in a dream...but a very real dream  (see Matthew 1:18-25) comes to Joseph and tells him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife...because the Child she is carrying is conceived by the Holy Spirit...and His name will be called Jesus..."for He will save His people from their sins."  Can you imagine how Joseph must have felt?  Talk about shock and awe!  But what an amazing young man he was!  He did just as the angel told him, and not only took Mary to be his wife, but he did not "know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son."    He did not claim his rights as a husband until the Child was born.  And he called His name Jesus.

Yes, a baby certainly does change everything!    In this case, this Baby changed the world!  This Baby changed my life from being lost and without hope to being found and full of hope and assured of a heavenly home forever. How?  Because this Baby didn't just come to live and be a good man, a carpenter's son...but this Baby came to die.  He came to die so that we might have everlasting life. This Baby was not just any baby.  This Baby was the very Word of God:

"In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

And the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness did not comprehend it."

John 1:1-5

"And the Word became flesh

and dwelt among us,

and we beheld His glory,

the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,

full of grace and truth."

John 1:14

Yes, a baby does change everything!  Especially this Baby,  

who came to save His people from their sins.

I woke up this morning singing a song...and then when I got into my car to go to work, that very song was already playing on the radio..."A Baby Changes Everything", by Faith Hill.  So I knew I was supposed to tell you about it...click on the picture to enjoy this beautiful message in song.  I hope you know this "Baby"...and that He has already changed everything for you.  If not, I pray that before this Advent /Christmas season is over, you will come to know and love Him...like He already knows and loves you...yes, you!  Why not let Him change everything for you? That would be the very best Christmas present ever!

Third Sunday of Advent & Sermon Notes "Joseph's Dreams"

Our Home Advent Wreath for the Third Sunday of Advent

Click HERE for "The Angels Were Talking" from our home advent service.

This morning in our church worship service we were blessed to have the children from "Children's Church" sing for us.  This was my view from behind them in the choir loft as they were singing...

And this was the view of them after they were finished singing and headed to Children's Church for their own service...

Aren't they wonderful?  It is always such a blessing to see the children in church and to hear them sing. We are so blessed to have so many sweet and wonderful children...and the willing workers who do so much to teach them from God's Word.  Thank you, Lord, for these blessings!!!

Then we settled back down and began our regular service with the lighting of the Advent Candle. This week's candle was reflective of Christ as our Light and the source of our JOY.

We read responsively:

"In the season of Advent, we celebrate with Joyful hearts.
Christ is our light and the source of our joy.
We count our blessings, and give thanks for God's goodness and grace.
Christ is our light and the source of our joy.
We strive to search for the good in neighbors near and far.
Christ is our light and the source of our joy.
We remember that God has promised us full and joyful lives.
Christ is our light and the source of our joy."

As the third Advent Candle was lit, the Pastor prayed:

"Gracious God, as we continue our Advent journey, we ask that you open our eyes to the beauty and goodness around us, and fill our hearts with grateful joy.  Remind us that Christ is our light and the source of all joy, and that we are here to serve You and to spread that joy to others. Amen."

Following the sermon and during our Communion service, I was blessed to sing the following song in a quartet.  What a beautiful message about our Savior, Who is the very "Breath of Heaven".

Our message today was about "Joseph's Dreams", which came from portions of Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 2:13, Matthew 2:19, and Matthew 2:22.  I commend these scripture portions to your reading while I share the interesting points from therein.

I wonder how many of us realized just how often God actually communicated with Joseph, Mary's espoused husband, regarding not just the birth of Christ, but also regarding His safety and protection to preserve His young life.  I think we are all aware of that first encounter that Joseph had with the Lord in a dream (Matthew 1:18-25), when Joseph was thinking about having Mary "put away secretly" because she was "found with child of the Holy Spirit" before they had come together as man and wife.  Joseph was obviously concerned and afraid of what people would think when they found out his betrothed was already pregnant.  He knew that he was not the father of her child...so what was he to do?

But "an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream," (vs. 20), telling him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, "for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit." The angel goes on to explain to Joseph that her Son will be called "Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." The Angel further explains that this Child, who is to be born of a virgin, shall be called "Immanuel", which is translated, "God with us."   

Joseph awoke from his sleep, and did exactly as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife...and did not know her (as his wife in a physical sense) until she had "brought forth her first-born Son.  And he called His name Jesus."

• Joseph obeyed God in spite of the stigma, the possible ridicule from others, and probably loss of respect for both of them.  He did not hesitate to do exactly as the angel had commanded him.

Then we go to Matthew 2 and see the story of the Wise Men who came from the east in search of the King of the Jews.  This was most likely about two years or more after the birth of Christ. They had seen the star in the sky back at the time of the birth of Christ, but they traveled many, many miles in search of this King.   When they finally reached Jerusalem, they asked King Herod where they might find this "King of the Jews."  Herod was rather troubled by this news, but nonetheless, he told them that according to prophecy, (Micah 5:2), the "Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel" would come out of Bethlehem. When the Magi went on their way, the star reappeared and led them to the Christ Child Jesus, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and then went on their way.  

Joseph was once again warned in another dream by an angel of the Lord (Matthew 2:13) to

"Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."

• Joseph arose, "he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt."
• He obeyed the word of the angel again explicitly...and saved the life of the young Jesus.

You can read for yourself in verses 16-18 what King Herod did to all of the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts from two years old and under.  Had Joseph not obeyed the angel of the Lord, Jesus would have been killed.

But the story doesn't stop there.  In Matthew 2:19, after news came to Joseph that Herod had died, an angel of the Lord appeared again to Joseph while they were still living in Egypt.  In verse 20 he said to Joseph, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead."

• Joseph again obeyed and arose, "took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel."
• Verse 22:  "But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. "And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.
• Verse 23:  "And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

The thing that stands out in all of these events between Joseph and the messages from angel of the Lord is that Joseph never questioned the angel of the Lord once.  Instead, Joseph awakened from his sleep, got up, and obeyed the word of the Lord.  He did not object or argue or  question.  He obeyed. He said "yes" to God.  God said it, and Joseph obeyed.

What did Joseph get out of this whole experience?  We really don't hear a lot about Joseph from this point on in Jesus' life, but we do know that Jesus later was known as "The carpenter"...(see Mark 6:1-6), so he apparently had taught Jesus his trade as a carpenter.  And in Luke 2:41-52, when Jesus  was twelve years old and the family had gone to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, Jesus stayed behind in the Temple...and Joseph and Mary were very concerned when they could not find him...and it says in Luke 2:51-52 "Then He (Jesus) went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them...", "and Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."  Joseph had the opportunity to give appropriate training, discipline and guidance to the young boy Jesus.  Joseph was a major player in the story of Jesus' life, all because he obeyed God even in the face of possible ridicule, danger, and fear for their own lives.

What does this story have to do with us?  Well, in what ways has God asked us to obey Him? We may not have such an important role in life as Joseph did...but then again, maybe we do. When we choose to obey God, we get to see God restore broken lives, relationships...and we are rewarded with the joy of living a life of peace with God.  We are given the opportunity for eternal life when we choose to obey the Lord...and we may be instruments for leading others into a personal relationship with Christ...when we obey the Lord.

We are invited to adopt this attitude of obedience as a part of our Christmas time of worship and celebration.  In what ways is God asking me to obey Him today? What about you?

Sermon Notes: FUMC, Interlachen, FL., Pastor A.C. Myers, 12/16/2018

Please Note : I want to repeat this disclaimer here...the notes, outline, and content included here are based upon my own personal understanding of the message that was being given. I am not attempting to completely quote or reproduce this message or any other message I've shared previously. Just as each person reading these notes may glean insights and thoughts that seem to directly apply to one's own situation and interpretation, my own delivery of these messages is skewed by my hearing and translation of what is being said. Some may read my notes here and wonder if they were hearing the same message as I...and I say, God speaks to each of us as He wills...there are things He is trying to get across to each individual that may be entirely different than what the person sitting next to you in the pew is needing to hear... That is how the Holy Spirit works! He knows what we need to hear and how to apply it to our hearts. So it is with that understanding that I present these sermon notes to you.

Friday Foto Friends Already?

It's been a rather busy week and Friday Foto Friends kind of crept up on me! Here it is Thursday night, and it just hit me that I really haven't planned anything for this post.

So I will start out with some photos of a few of the Christmas decorations I've been doing this week.

If you are a Facebook friend, you've probably already seen some of these.

As you enter our foyer of our house, this is what you will see. I want Jesus to be the focus of our Christmas decorations.

We've had some chilly weather this week, and our little electric "wood stove" has felt pretty good, especially early in the morning...

I absolutely love this cabin picture that lights up, with the deer standing on the snowy banks alongside the frozen stream.   I've said that I'd love to live there...but maybe just for a little while...not sure I really want all that ice and snow to deal with at this stage in life.

When you step up on our front porch, this is what you will see...our little wild grapevine wreath, made with our very own grapevines the first year we moved to this house in the forest.

Here is how it looks at night....

And again, "Jesus is the Heart of the Holiday"

Changing scenes a little bit...Just a few pictures from the week...

Out on our road someone put up this new sign below the speed limit sign.   Our road has a different street name now, but for many years it was known as Kerr Key Road, as it winds around through the woods out to a "key" into beautiful Lake Kerr. We live at the beginning of the road, not out on the lake.  But it is still beautiful, and I can understand why it could be called "Paradise".

Okay, on a different note, I may have shown this picture below before....it was an unripe persimmon:

Well, we visited this place again, and here is that same persimmon...looks like it is ripe for the picking now....

And I thought these azaleas were lovely...it may be a little early for them to bloom, but I believe these are the type that bloom throughout the year.

I've mentioned that we are anticipating selling our house sometime in the near future, and this week we have had some serious "lookers", but no contract yet. Someone will be here tomorrow (Friday) about the time you are reading this, so please say a little prayer that if they are they ones who will love this house like we do, then they will make a reasonable offer that we cannot refuse.

Because it is becoming more apparent that our house could sell all of a sudden and catch us with no place to go, we have been seriously thinking about what to do. We can't buy anything until our house has a solid contract on it.  We don't want to get the cart before the horse and get ourselves in a bind if things don't work out.  However, that doesn't keep us from "looking". There is one particular house that we have had our eye on for a little while...the same one where that persimmon is ripening and the azaleas are blooming... anyway, as we decided to take a little ride just to go look at the house again (from the outside), we noticed this big "X" up in the sky as we rode along.  Hubby and I both were remarking about it being "X Marks the Spot", and wouldn't it be funny if it was over that house?  Well, at first it appeared that it was way too far to the west of where that house would be, but as we got closer, we realized that it was pretty much right over the house...

Pretty interesting, huh?  Well, time will tell if this was truly a "sign" from God or just a funny "coincidence".  Gave us a good chuckle anyway.

Today we read in our morning devotions about "signs in the heavens..."  Luke 21:25-28 is where we were reading about the return of Christ to earth at the close of the tribulation.  We are not in the Great Tribulation yet, but there are many signs that would lead us to believe that the Lord's return could be soon. Luke 21:29-33 explains it this way:

"Then He (Jesus) spoke to them a parable: 'Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.

When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.

So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."

Now look back at verses 27-28:

"Then they will see the Son of Man 

coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Now when these things begin to happen, 

look up and lift up your heads, 

because your redemption draws near."

As we enter this Advent Season, we are focusing on the first Advent of Christ to the earth as a humble little baby in a manger. We remember how the Wise Men saw the star in the sky, and they followed that star until they came to the place where the Christ Child was born. Little did they know at the time that He would be the very same One, returning to the earth at the end of the age, coming in a "cloud with power and great glory", and that He would be the One Who would redeem our souls from death and hell.  Yes, we need to be watching the skies for the signs of the Second Advent of Christ's return...and to be sure that our hearts and souls are ready to meet Jesus.  That is what Christmas is truly all about...preparing our hearts to make room for the Savior to enter in, for eternity!

Is there room in your heart for Jesus this Christmas? Are you watching the signs for His return?

Some things to ponder as we prepare for Christmas...

Okay, friends...I do hope that you have had a wonderful week and that you will be blessed in every good way today.  Now let us travel over to Deb's place at Breathing in Grace and see what our other Friday Foto Friends have been up to this week.