Tuesday 4~Holiday Express

 

Holiday Express


Welcome Friends.. to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.
The holidays are coming fast! They are loaded onto the Christmas Express train and there is no stopping them now.
Are you ready for them this year?

As ready as I can be. I've had a slow start due to being sick earlier this month, but I am feeling better now and playing catch-up.


1. Is your tree up? Yes  How tall is it? 7 feet.
what color lights?  White. Here's a picture:

 
Are there lights in the window? Not really in the window. On the door? On the front porch and yard.

This is our grapevine tree that we actually made from our own grapevines at our last house in the forest. It has held up very well, even if today the wind was so hard that it blew it over and I had to go pick it back up! Thankfully nothing was broken and the lights still work.

This little tiny Nativity scene is on the very top:

Our front yard  tonight:

2. Got a menu for Christmas Eve and Day?

I haven't thought about Christmas Eve yet. We do have a church service to go to, so we will probably have a simple supper before church.   On Christmas day (after discussing it with my sweet DIL Rose)  it sounds like we will be baking a ham and scalloped potatoes this year.  That's just simpler and we haven't had ham in a while, so that will be fine with me. I'm all for keeping things simple when I can. LOL.

3. Who is coming for Christmas or who will you visit?

It will just be our kids here with us on Christmas Day.   Our extended family lives too far away to come on Christmas Day, so we always try to meet them on another day usually after Christmas. So far I know that we will meet up with hubby's brother and family on Saturday, Dec. 27th, at a restaurant about 1/2 way between our homes, which is an hour's drive for each of us to get there.  I haven't  talked to my sister yet to see when we might meet them. We may end up meeting  at the same time as with the rest of the family. We've done that before and it saves us from having to make two separate trips.


4. What is your favorite Christmas memory.?

I will have to sit here and think about that for a while. There's so many. Do I go back to my childhood, or to my own children's childhood? They were all so wonderful.  

Here's a Link to a post I did a few years ago entitled "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas".  I've shared it before, but I don't think most of you have seen it. It has memories from when our own little family was young and we were away from "home" for Christmas and feeling kind of blue...but it has a happy ending.

And THIS link goes back to my own childhood Christmas memories.  Rather than write them all over again, it's probaby easier to just click on those links and see what those special memories were.  I enjoyed re-reading them and re-living the sweet memories.

I know you've probably seen all of these things before, but there's really nothing else new to report right now.  This week will be busy with finishing up Christmas shopping and then onThursday evening our church choir goes to sing at a church in a neighboring community and join them for a candlelight service. We do that every year and it is always very special. I'll share more about that afterwards.

Lately we've been listening to excerpts from Handel's Messiah, in which the words for each song come straight from the Bible.  Here's a couple of passages that are included.  Next time you listen to Handel's Messiah be sure to listen for these verses.   An interesting study is to look up each of the different passages that are included in the music throughout the whole musical. You will be amazed!

Isaiah 60:1-3  King James Version

 1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Isaiah 40:9-11 King James Version

9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

10 Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Matthew 11:28-29 King James Version

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Okay, that's my post for this Tuesday 4 and more. I hope you enjoyed it.  You can join in HERE if you wish.  Thanks, Annie, for another good post!

Wednesday Treasures All Around Us

It was a lovely morning, so we took a ride down to the Kenwood Recreational Park, a lovely park and boat ramp into the Rodman Resevoir and Lake Ocklawaha area. We try to go there several times throughout the year, to see it in different seasons and to just enjoy the beauty.  Today was no exception! Here are some pictures that I took...and I have coupled them with Psalm 1 for today's Scripture reading. I hope you will enjoy the beauty of both the pictures and the Word together...

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so,

But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,

Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

A fitting ending to this passage...

Don't be like the ungodly...instead be like the man (or woman!) 

whose "delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night."

Sometimes it is good to get back to the basics, isn't it? In this world we are easily led astray by all the flashy things being offered on the internet or TV or in stores and places all around us.  But soon enough we discover that those things do not bring lasting peace or happiness. They might fill a void for a little while, but there is only one way to fill the empty places in our hearts and lives...

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-29

  

"28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest. 

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, 

for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls."

He also said in Matthew 6:19-21 the following:

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, 

where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 

where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Today was a good day to be reminded of these words, and to spend some time alone with the Lord, enjoying His beautiful creation all around us.  Now that fall is on the way and the temperatures are hopefully going to begin to cool down a little bit at a time, it is a good time to get back outside and take advantage of all the beauty that He has provided for us to enjoy.  I'm so thankful we were able to take this little walk today. It was a soothing balm for my soul.

How about you? What wonders or beauties have you noticed in God's creation around you lately? I hope you will share them on your blog if you can, or tell us about them here. Let's focus on what is lovely and wholesome, and try to stay away from the negative influences around us. That's what I want to do...who will join me?

Thank you for your kind comments on my previous posts. It's always so good to hear from you and also to read your posts to see what's going on in your lives! You are all a part of my special "Wednesday Treasures" (and beyond). Have a lovely week.

Monday Monday~Sanctuary

The other morning I sat out on the back porch overlooking Still Waters Pond and was determined to "listen" for the ways that God would be speaking to me.  The past few weeks have been challenging, to say the least, and I have been needing some time alone with God, away from the distractions of what's going on in the world at large, as well as in my own little world.  

As I sat there watching and listening to the birds singing while they were going about their morning routine of finding seeds and berries for food...I thought about this lovely spot as a bird sanctuary...

and then my mind went to the words of this song, "Sanctuary", and I began to sing.

"Lord prepare me

To be a sanctuary

Pure and holy

Tried and true

And with thanksgiving

I'll be a living

Sanctuary, for You"

As I sat there singing and thanking the Lord for this little sanctuary, I prayed, 

"Lord, prepare ME to be a sanctuary."

(these Bluebirds have been spending a lot of time around the birdhouse lately...I don't think it's nesting time for them, but maybe they just need to feel like they are in a safe place...)

Psalm 63

1"O God, You are my God;

Early will I seek You;

My soul thirsts for You;

My flesh longs for You

In a dry and thirsty land

Where there is no water.

2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,

To see Your power and Your glory.

3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips shall praise You.

4 Thus I will bless You while I live;

I will lift up my hands in Your name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,

And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips."

Matthew 11:28-29

28 "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: 

and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

As I sat there thanking God for this time alone with Him, I also did a little reading and research about the word "Sanctuary".  I found a website entitled PreceptAustin.org,  and found this information that was very helpful: 

"A SANCTUARY is a sacred place, a place set apart for a holy purpose, a place to commune with God in intimate fellowship, a place to worship Him "in spirit and in truth" (Jn 4:24), a place to "find rest for our souls" (Mt 11:28-29-note), a "place of refuge from the raging wind and tempest" (Ps 55:6-note), and "a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat." (Isa 25:4) In the New Covenant, our Lord Jesus is our Sanctuary and place of refuge. To use a modern expression, Christ is our "Safe House" now and forever. "How blessed is the one whom Thou dost choose, and bring near to Thee, to DWELL IN THY COURTS. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, Thy holy temple." (Ps 65:4-note) "Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is fullness of joy; In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever." (Ps 16:11-note) "How blessed are those who DWELL IN THY HOUSE! They are ever praising Thee. Selah"

Since the past month has been filled with many interruptions to our normal life in the way of medical issues, recuperation and changes in routine, we have not been able to go out of the house except for doctor appointments and other necessities, so therefore we've not been able to attend church or our regular Bible studies, choir practice, etc. Even though we keep up with our daily devotions and prayer times, it still isn't quite the same as being able to worship and fellowship in person with our church family.  Therefore, this place of "sanctuary", beside Still Waters Pond, (Psalm 23:2..."He leadeth me beside the still waters") has become a sacred place of worship and thanksgiving.

I must add, however, that we had good visits with our kids this weekend. Scott came home and mowed grass and took care of several little jobs that needed doing around the house. Benton and Rose and the grandpups came over last night and brought fried chicken for supper, and we had a nice visit with them. So I count those as extra special blessings!

This Eastern Phoebe has also been spending a lot of time in and around this part of Still Waters Pond,

carrying out her duties of catching bugs and singing "Phoebe! Phoebe!" to let her mate and/or family know where she is.  Maybe she's thanking God for the food He provides for her.

The Sand Hill Crane family comes and goes, and they always announce their arrival and departure with loud and raspy trumpet sounds.

Personally, I think they want us to know they are here as a way of showing a kind of friendship.

Here's what popped up on the this little daily devotional calendar for today:

So appropriate for this season of life we are in...

"When you pray, I will listen. You will find me when you seek me..."

Jeremiah 29:12-13

Psalm 23 KJV

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

I hope you enjoyed spending a little bit of time with me today in "The Sanctuary".

I am thankful for each and every one of you and look forward to visiting with you again soon.

Meanwhile, is there a special place that is your "sanctuary"?  Maybe you can share it with us in one of your posts. 

Have a blessed and wonderful day my friends.

 

Advent Rest - Revisited Again!

This is another repeat Advent message, written in 2017 (and repeated last year too). I will leave it just the way it was written...it is still very much applicable today. I still need to learn about "rest"...  I hope you will enjoy this message and be blessed by it.

Original Message:

In preparation for the beginning of the Advent season we read in our devotions the following passage from Ezekiel 34:11-16:

Ezekiel 34:11-16(NKJV)

God, the True Shepherd

11 ‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 

12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. 

13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. 

14 I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 

15 I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. 

16 “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.”

After reading this I couldn't help but think about this following passage in Isaiah 40:11, followed by Christ speaking to us in Matthew 11:28-29.  I have inserted a video excerpt from Handel's Messiah with this beautiful message.  

Isaiah 40:11(NKJV)

11 

He will feed His flock like a shepherd;

He will gather the lambs with His arm,

And carry them in His bosom,

And gently lead those who are with young.

Matthew 11:28-29 (NKJV)

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Listening to this helps me to calm my spirit and prepare my heart for the Advent of our Lord...yes, as a babe in the manger at Christmas...but also as we look forward to His soon return to redeem His beloved sheep..., for "WE are His people, and the sheep of His pasture"...

Psalm 100 (NKJV)

A Song of Praise for the Lord’s Faithfulness to His People

1 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

2 

Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.

3 

Know that the Lord, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

4 

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.5 

For the Lord is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations.

As we approach this Christmas season, let us pause to reflect on the true mission of that babe in the manger...it was not to give us a reason to go out and buy expensive gifts and shop til we drop and do all kinds of crazy things in the name of Christmas...but to celebrate the One who came to seek His sheep as the True Shepherd, Who came to "seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick;", and to "feed His flock like a shepherd;

He will gather the lambs with His arm,

And carry them in His bosom,

And gently lead those who are with young." 

and to "give you rest."

As we approach the end of this year it is fitting that I should be reminded of the One Who came to give me REST...Yes, rest for my body, my mind, and my soul...

If you recall, my "One Word" for 2017 was "REST"... and I am not too sure that I followed that admonition too well all year long...but I have learned that when I am weary Jesus is always there to give me rest...I just need to allow Him into my busy-ness...and take His yoke upon me, and learn from Him.

My prayer for you and for myself as we enter this busiest of all seasons of the year, is that we will indeed let Jesus give us "REST" in the midst of our celebrations and joyous activities with loved ones and friends. Take time out to spend time alone with Him, reading His Word, meditating upon Him, and enjoying all the beauty and wonders of the season around us.

Have a blessed, peaceful, restful Advent Season!