NanaSue57 Loc: Georgia

AMEN and AMEN!

How is my friend doing???

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

Good morning Nana Sue.. We have been out of own for a few days so have to catch up. The surgeon who did NPP's heart surgery wanted to run a few additional so we had to go up there for the weekend. Reports are great, thanks to God's grace. I fully believe that God had this planned from the time that the surgeon adopted the abused boy who is now a happily married man, and with whom we stayed last weekend, and while NPP was recuperating from the surgery. God DOES work in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. May He bless us and keep us in His lowing arms always. AMEN.

SWMBO

bahmer

Amen and Amen

BearK Loc: TN

Getting very impatient to move into my space - which it is obvious will not be until after Thanksgiving - well, when that time comes I will be giving thanks.

Going north for the Holiday, see all of you when I get back.

bahmer

Take care and have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family. Will look forward to your return. Don't eat too much it will all be delicious I am sure. Have a good Holiday BearK take care.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

DITTOs

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What Are You Thankful For?
by Ryan Duncan, Crosswalk.com Editor

“I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.” – Psalms 69:30

A while back, there was an episode of The Simpsons in which the family is celebrating Thanksgiving. When the time came to say grace, Bart Simpson bowed his head and said,

“Dear God, we paid for all this stuff ourselves, so thanks for nothing.”

The first time I saw this clip on TV I remember feeling a mix of emotions. On one hand, I was angry that such cynicism was being shown toward God and a day celebrating thankfulness. On the other hand, I couldn’t help but relate to Bart a little. I was at a time in my life when everything seemed out of control. I had no money, my life felt like it was stuck in neutral, and my future was looking pretty bleak. Why should I be thanking God for anything?

If you’ve ever been in my situation, I want to point you toward a passage of scripture that helped me put things in perspective,

“On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.’” – Luke 17:11-19

It’s easy to spend our lives worrying and obsessing over the problems of life. It’s also easy to overlook a blessing in times of need, or forget to be thankful when troubled times have been put to rest. Be sure you don’t become one of the nine lepers, who were so happy to be cured that they forgot who cured them. This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to spend time remembering what God has done in your life.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Whatever your situation may be, count your blessings and take a moment to thank God for them.

Further Reading
>Psalms 95:1-6

bahmer

Amen and Amen

bdamage Loc: My Bunker

Amen...

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A Countercultural Christmas
by Sarah Phillips, Crosswalk.com Contributor

"Brothers and sisters: You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh." -Romans 13:11-14

The first purple Advent candle is about to be lit. The once dark wreath will shine unevenly with one solitary light.

Advent is one of my favorite seasons in the Christian year. It's a special time where we reflect on the darkness and trials of this world in the light of our hope in Christ. We remember how, after centuries of waiting on the part of the faithful, God bridged the chasm between humanity and divinity through the humble birth of Jesus.

I've always loved Advent for its joyful anticipation of the Christ-child, but I also love it because it's a bit countercultural. Its sparse purple and pink decorations stand in stark contrast to the glitz the rest of our culture displays often weeks before Thanksgiving arrives. You see, Advent was not designed as a simple memorial of a past event, to bring us up to Christmas day and leave us there. Its purpose is to point the faithful towards a future event - Christ's second, glorious coming. This is why churches that celebrate this liturgical season read about the Lord's coming in both the Old and New Testament throughout the month of December.

The dramatic imagery found in these readings is far removed from the quaint Christmas decorations that currently surround us. They have a jolting effect as they remind us that our lives now should be lived in light of eternity, not in keeping with the current standards.

In this first Advent reading, Paul's words to the faithful carry a tone of urgency. He uses the image of awakening from a deep sleep. But notice he is not shaking his brothers and sisters out of their sleep at sunrise, but while "the night is advanced." In other words, it's not enough to simply wait for Christ to show up, but we must prepare beforehand. We need to seek God's grace now to help us eliminate sin from our lives

This is where the hard work of Advent comes in. This joyful season requires an examination of conscience. It's a time to reflect on the areas where we lack or on the recurrent sins in our lives, and to seek God's grace to help us to change.

Perhaps this seems like a real downer of an activity during the most wonderful time of the year. But let me share with you why, for me, it's never really been a downer. Have you ever failed to prepare for a big event (or had nightmares that you did?). Have you ever found yourself awake at night, panicking because you're envisioning yourself without a dress on your wedding day or lacking your PowerPoint slides for an important presentation? Needless to say, the joy and success of these events would seriously be compromised should these nightmares come true.

Surely, all good things in life require preparation. And God, in His mercy, has given us the gift of time to prepare for His arrival, which no doubt, will be the most important event we ever experience.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Take time this week to reflect on the joy of Jesus' first arrival and then, confident in His love for you, ask God to reveal to you the ways in which you need to prepare your heart to meet Him on Christmas Day.

Further Reading
Matthew 3:1-2
Psalm 139:23-24

bahmer

Amen and Amen

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

When God Whispered
by Fred Alberti, Senior Director of Social Media, Salem Web Network

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17

My four year old son had to learn 2 Timothy 3:16 for AWANA. One of the leaders was concerned and stated that there was just no way the children could grasp the idea of Scripture being "God-breathed." So we decided to ask my son to explain what "God-breathed" meant.

You know I think we are sometimes too quick to underestimate a child's ability to understand the truths of the Bible. We are so quick to dismiss their abilities yet this is what Jesus had to say in Matthew 11:25, "At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children."

Jesus knew what children could understand.

I recently was walking through a nature trail. The leaves rustled underfoot and the sun shone out over the lake next to the trail inviting me to stop and reflect on God's glory. I found a bench and while I sat there I heard the breeze whispering through the tops of the trees. Just a slight hushed sound and my thoughts. That's when I pondered on my son's words.

What did my son say?

He said, "Well, God-breathed means that..." and here he lowered his voice, "God whispered it."

Wow... God whispered His Word.

Peter said, "...you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:20-21).

Our Bible isn't just some compilation of stories. It is the very Word of God whispered into the hearts and minds of men who were selected to be his special vessels to communicate His good news.

How about you?

Have you, like Elijah, heard the "still small voice" of the Lord bringing you comfort, encouragement, and guidance?

If not, maybe you need to spend some time to just be still and maybe in His time you'll hear His whisper in your heart too.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Go for a walk in a park or through a quiet museum and find a quiet place where you can be still before the Lord.

Further Reading

1 Kings 19:9-18
Hebrews 4:11-13
Inward Stillness

bahmer

Amen and Amen

BearK Loc: TN

Amen, Amen. Yes, a small still voice, whispered in your ear - listen closely or you will miss it.

BearK Loc: TN

Prayer for 11/30/16

Heading home from East Tennessee, yesterday, we could see the smoke from the fires billow above the treetops. A fire raged like a roaring lion on a rampage through a wildebeest herd, as it ravaged the landscape. They had received some rain to slow it's progression, but then the winds kicked up to rekindle and spread this scourge on its way . Men and equipment came from all around the state attempting to hold it in check, but not until after it had taken lives and decimate property. More rain, less wind, and prayers are needed.

What a difference I experienced this morning. As I sat on the deck I could hear the rain climb the hill. Gentle at first, then the sound grew louder until it was like an approaching train with its wheels gripping steel rails. Finally, it reached the house, pounding the earth with fury, beating everything down. May this blessed rain reach the fire scared earth of East Tennessee. The Lord is in control of His elements, He can stop this blaze in its tracks. What a welcomed sight that would be for everyone there.

Fire and water, they represent a contrast in elements. Both can be mesmerizing and fearsome, and yet when controlled they can benefit mankind. In this case, dear Lord, we pray that You will take control of the fire that rages by bringing torrential rains to quell its destructive force. We ask that You be with those who have lost loved ones, and with those who have lost their possessions. We pray for our country as well, for it seems the present atmosphere has become a contrast of opposites. We need You, Lord, to bring us together. Amen