12/16/09

The Love Chapter - Christmas Style

I got this poem in my daily e-mail devotional, and I just had to share it with all of you. Enjoy!!

1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style

©By Sharon Jaynes

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family - I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family - I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family - it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of your way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.

AMEN!

To learn more about Sharon Jaynes and her ministry "Girlfriends in God", go to www.girlfriendsingod.com.

12/7/09

The Wonder of Christmas

I hope you are enjoying this wonderful Christmas season with your family and friends. I want to share a poem that I wrote several years ago and remind you to that this season is about the greatest gift of all - JESUS.

Can you see the angels singing as their praise lights up the sky
Rousing shepherds from their keeping of the silent flock by night?
Glory in the highest, shepherds gazing up in awe,
Oh the beauty, oh the splendor, oh the wonder of it all.

Can you hear the wise men's footsteps trodding on toward Bethlehem?
Bringing gifts of greatest value to a baby's lowly bed -
A star their only compass, knowing not what might befall
Oh, the beauty, oh the glory, oh the wonder of it all.

Can you see the mother weeping as in her arms she holds
The One for whom all prophets and the angels have foretold?
Knowing that all God's glory rested in one so very small
Oh the beauty, oh the mystery, oh the wonder of it all.

Can you hear the voice that whispers, "Here's my great redemption plan.
I have sent my Son to earth to restore the souls of man.
Each December as you hurry, take the time to recall
The beauty, and the splendor, and the wonder of it all."


Merry Christmas!

12/3/09

Happy Birthday Jesus! Party

Join us this Sunday, December 6 for our annual Happy Birthday Jesus! Party. Breakfast will be served starting at 8:30AM in our fellowship hall. To celebrate the birth of our Savior, we ask that each person bring one baby item for our new mom baskets which we will donate to Come Alive Minstries. After breakfast, we will have a time of testimonies and music in the sanctuary prior to the morning service. All LIFE School classes will be participating!

Thanksgiving Leftovers

Sorry, I missed posting last week. I pray that everyone had a very blessed Thanksgiving and took some time to reflect on all that God has brought you through in the past year. We had a very blessed thanksgiving in our family and even though there were some rough patches, we know that God is still in control. How many of you ate thanksgiving leftovers for days? If your family is like ours - you eat on them for several days. We turn the turkey into turkey salad, add some vegetables where needed, cook some fresh bread and feast again. Thanksgiving food is some of my very favorite, and I enjoy every morsel, so much so that I can't wait to heat it up and enjoy it all over again. As I ate my thanksgiving leftovers I thought about the wonderful feast I have enjoyed this year in God's Word. Personally, this was a year where God deepened my love for His Holy Word. I can't wait to open it up each day and see what God will say to me. Sometimes I find myself spending several days reflecting on one verse or one passage and like my thanksgiving leftovers - I come back to it again and again, looking at it from different perspectives, adding some different study tools, and asking God for new insight. Each time he doesn't disappoint. I get something new and fresh each time I open His Word. I enjoy it as much as I do my physical food. I feel full and satisfied when I spend time with God reading His word and feasting on His promises. I am grateful that God has chosen to speak to us through His word and that He never forsakes or deserts us. As we close out our study of the Counterfeit Armor I am truly thankful that God does not leave us defenseless against our enemy, but He has provided all that we need to live victoriously in this present world. Sometimes we forget that our enemy is predictable - sneaky, yes - but still predictable. His tactics have not changed in thousands of years and he continues to use deception, pride, fear, preoccupation, religion, and our own words to keep us ineffective and weak in our daily walk. Don't let him win! Now that you know his counterfeit armor, be bold and courageous and pick up God's armor to slay him. He cannot stand against the word of God for greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. Feast daily on God's word. Meditate on it. Then, put on your armor and be ready always to fight the good fight of faith.