Happy Sunday Morning!

 Happy Sunday Morning!  I hope you have remembered to turn your clocks back last night, so you have had that wonderful extra hour of sleep this morning!  Did you wake up in time to see that gorgeous full moon out there? It was really something.

Wondering how many of you had any Trick or Treaters last night?  We had a lot less than we did last year, so I am guessing that many were not too sure about going out due to the threat of the virus. We were ready for them if they did come,  with plenty of candy and a friendly Scarecrow to greet them:

We don't go all out with decorations, but we have a good time, and it is always fun to see the little children in their cute costumes. There were some really creative ones last night, and I wish I had taken more pictures, but here is one special family who came to visit. They are the grandchildren of our good church friends:

Precious children who have stolen our hearts too!

A couple of them entertained us with cartwheels, which was great fun to watch!

Happy Times!

My hubby, our new Scarecrow Friend, our friend Sherrie, and me, all ready to pass out the candy to the kiddos! 

So now, it is Sunday morning, and the Halloween excitement is over, and it is time for Sunday morning worship.  I am getting ready to go to church in a little while, but wanted to share our service with you if you would like to worship along with us. Please tune in and hear our Praise Team singing 

"Precious Lord, Take My Hand."

I've copied below the history of this song, which our worship leader Carol sent to us this morning via email:

"The Praise Team is going to share Precious Lord, Take My Hand. For most, this is a very familiar song. I thought I would start sharing why certain songs were written, if I can find the information. This song was written by Thomas A. Dorsey, who was a blues musician, known as the "Father of Gospel Music." He was a musician and songwriter who began penning songs about God and faith in the early '20s. In 1932 while away working, Dorsey received horrible news that his wife and child died in childbirth. Wrecked by the news, Dorsey, in interviews, said God led him to the piano where he penned "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," which has become his best-known work.

God gave him this song to comfort him and I believe it has comforted many others since that time. If you are having difficulty dealing with the craziness around us, or difficult times in your personal lives, hold out your hand and let God take it. Sing with us."

Precious Lord take my hand, lead me on, let me stand

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.

Thru the storm, thru the night, lead me on to the light

Take My Hand, Precious Lord, lead me home.

When my way grows drear, Precious Lord linger near

When my life is almost gone

Hear my cry, hear my call, Hold my hand lest I fall

Take My Hand, Precious Lord, lead me home.

When the darkness appears and the night draws near

And the day is past and and gone

At the river I stand, Guide my feet hold my hand

Take My Hand, Precious Lord, lead me home.

Precious Lord take my hand, lead me on, let me stand

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.

Thru the storm, thru the night, lead me on to the light

Take My Hand, Precious Lord, lead me home.

Following the song by the Praise Team, our pastor has a wonderful sermon from Matthew chapter 18, followed by The Lord's Supper. So if you'd like join in, have your bread and cup of juice ready to participate at the close of the message.  

Matthew 18:21-22

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, until seventy times seven.

Have a blessed and Happy Sunday! The first day of November too!

It's a Beautiful Day for a Beautiful Day

It's a beautiful day for a beautiful day!! 

From the Psalms of David, 

"A Psalm of Unmixed Praise" (per my NKJV Bible)

Psalm 103:1-5

1.  "Bless the Lord, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2.  Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all His benefits;

3.  Who forgives all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

4.  Who redeems your life from destruction,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

5.  Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

We took a little ride in our own neighborhood. We had kind of forgotten this beautiful place was there, practically within walking distance....(but not quite yet for me)

 Hubby is on the lookout for a quiet, safe spot to have our own personal Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday Morning.  Since we can't gather in crowds or groups, we are looking for a  secluded spot where we can just sit and praise the Lord at sunrise on Easter.

 Although this is a public boat ramp in our neighborhood, there was no one there today. So we are hoping perhaps it will be the same on Easter Sunday morning, and perhaps we can go there

to spend that quiet time rejoicing in the Risen Christ.

We shall see. If it doesn't work, then we will do our time of rejoicing here at our own home, but

we were kind of hoping to see the sunrise from a special location.

Maybe people from all over will also be rising early wherever they are to celebrate

the risen Christ at sunrise on Easter Sunday.

Perhaps something to think about, if you haven't already.

We would be celebrating together across the land, even if it is at different times for the different time zones, but it might be a special way to celebrate together.  

So, why not set your alarm clocks next Sunday morning to be sure and rise early enough to watch the sunrise wherever you are...and spend that time rejoicing in the fact that Christ is Risen!

He is Risen indeed!

Meanwhile, back at home, I am preparing for another special "celebration." Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. Our Pastor will be speaking to us online, and he has also promised that we will be sharing Communion (The Lord's Supper) together, since it is also the first Sunday of the month.  So we are each to prepare our own elements for observing this wonderful Sacrament together.  

I decided this was a good reason to bake some bread.

Yes, I know, I do cheat a little by using this bread machine. It was a gift from my parents many years ago, and I honestly don't use it often enough anymore...but felt this was a good opportunity to put it back into service...to prepare bread for our remembrance of the Lord's Supper.

For a complete personal Communion Service Please click HERE and share in this service with me.

So, what special plans are you making for the observance of this Holy Week? It will be largely up to us as individuals to set apart a special time to worship and remember the Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, His Last Supper, His brutal death on the cross, His burial in the tomb, and His glorious Resurrection three days later.

If nothing else, during these difficult days, let us remember what Jesus said to the sleeping disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night He was betrayed:

"What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.  

The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Matthew 26:40-41

May Jesus find us awake and watching, for we do not know the hour that He will be returning to take us all home.

Have a wonderful, beautiful, blessed Holy Week.  Remember, it's not really about the Easter Bunny, or the eggs or the baskets  or the dresses...It's all about Jesus. Let us never forget.