Saturday, December 30, 2023

Getting Ready for the New

 

Nothing we can do

can change the past,

but everything we do

changes the future.

~Ashleigh Brilliant

 

For the past several weeks, Larry has been diligent about mowing the grass and catching and bagging up the dead thatch.  All the extra work now will give the lawn the best chance of coming back healthy in the Spring.  Yards aren’t the only things that need to be prepared for the upcoming days. 

 

With a new year approaching, we have the opportunity to be intentional about:

 

* making God our priority

* choosing how we spend our time, talents, and efforts

* participating in productive activities

* speaking words that build up and encourage

* managing and guarding our time

* investing in others and causes

* cleaning out the old or unnecessary to make room for the new

* saying no to good, so you can say yes to the best

* investing effort and time to make changes

 

What we consider important will be how we use our time, talents, attention, and efforts.

 

Happy New Year!

 

 Show me your ways, LORD,

      teach me your paths.

Guide me in your truth and teach me,

     for you are God my Savior,

    and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 25:4-5

   

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it. ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:36-40

 

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Saturday, December 23, 2023

CHRISTmas Begins with CHRIST

 

He is still found

by those who seek Him.

 

 

Christmas is not a myth,

not a tradition, not a dream.

Christmas is a glorious reality.

~ Billy Graham

 

 

Jesus isn’t just the reason

for the season.

He’s the reason for every

day of our life.

 

 

It’s not what’s under the

Christmas tree that matters.

It’s who’s around it.

~ Charlie Brown

 

 

Be grateful for every day…

Unwrap each one

like a beautiful gift on

Christmas morning.

~ Jane Lee Logan

 

 

What if Christmas, he thought,

doesn't come from a store.

What if Christmas, perhaps,

means a little bit more.

~ Dr. Seuss

 

 

DON’T LEAVE JESUS

IN THE MANGER.

DON’T REMEMBER HIM

ONLY AT CHRISTMAS.

INSTEAD, LEARN TO WALK

WITH HIM EVERY DAY.

~ Billy Graham

 

 

Each of us

is an

Innkeeper

who decides

if there is room

for Jesus.

~ Neal A. Maxwell

 

 

WISHING YOU THE

Spirit of Christmas

which is

Peace,

the

Blessing of Christmas

which is

Hope,

from the

Heart of Christmas

which is

Christ!

 

 

For to us a child is born,

   to us a son is given,

   and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

 

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”).

Matthew 1:23

 

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Luke 2:10-11

 

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Galatians 4:4-5

 

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.

2 Corinthians 9:15

 

 

Merry CHRISTmas!