Hello my friends! Hope your day is going well. Today an unusual blessing, but it's a blessing to us, our electric fireplace needed a flicker motor, and the maintence man came and got it going nicely again!! Before the flames kind of stuck up in the air, now it's going like a real fire! Another blessing here in the apartment is that it's never cold. Hardly do we ever have to put the heat on, the fireplace is enough! Heat rises. The garage downstairs is heated to about 50 degrees, and the heat rises up. Also an extra key was given for Lori so she can check up on us here, our caretaker. So that's all good. She has always had a key to our houses. May you all have a happy and blessed Tuesday!!
The choices we make will affect our lives for better or for worse. Lord, You
have given me all that I need to make wise choices. May I always take time
to listen to You.
S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the
mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and
foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult." ~Psalm 46:1-3
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
We can constantly claim God's strength. Once convinced of the right
of a course of action, once reasonably sure of God's guidance, we can
claim that strength. We can claim all the strength we need to meet
any situation. We can claim a new supply when our own supply is
exhausted. We have a right to claim it and we can use this right. A
beggar supplicates, a son appropriates. When we supplicate, we can be
kept waiting, but when we appropriate God's strength in a good cause,
we can have it at once.
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y
I pray that I may claim God's strength whenever I need it. I pray
that I may try to live as a child of God.
Prayer for Trust in Jesus
O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.
St. Ignatius of Loyola
THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3 :20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 )
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13 )
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph.2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
Who you are?
Keep this bell ringing...pass it on
'The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you;
The LORD turn His face toward you
And give you peace...
Numbers 6:24-26.
A PRAYER WHEN YOU FEEL WORRIED AND UNCERTAIN
O Lord, each of us has fears that betray; worries that capture and shake
out our joy. We find ourselves in limbo because we are neither here nor
there. We are in a time of transition, of getting ready. Change and
chance surround us. Help us, O Lord, to return to your presence. Cause
us to find the point and purpose of each day. All we ask is that you keep
us on our feet so that we might walk with you. Bless us this night and
grant us rest. Amen.
TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED
-- Author Unknown
Sometimes people come into your life
and you know right away that they were meant to be there,
they serve some sort of purpose,
teach you a lesson
or help figure out who you are
and who you want to become.
You never know who these people may be:
your neighbor, child, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete
stranger
who, when you lock eyes with them,
you know at that very moment that they will affect your life
in some profound way.
And sometimes things happen to you
and at the time they seem painful and unfair,
but in reflection you realize
that without overcoming those obstacles
you would have never realized
your potential strength, will power, or heart.
Everything happens for a reason.
Nothing happens by chance
or by means of good or bad luck.
Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer
stupidity
all occur to test the limits of your soul.
Without these small tests,
whether they be events, illnesses or relationships,
life would be like a smoothly paved straight flat road to nowhere,
safe and comfortable,
but dull and utterly pointless.
The people you meet who affect your life
and the successes and downfalls you experience
create who you are,
and even the bad experiences can be learned from,
In fact, they are probably the poignant and important ones.
If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart,
forgive them,
for they have helped you learn about trust
and the importance of being cautious to
whom you open your heart...
If someone loves you,
love them back unconditionally,
not only because they love you,
but because they are teaching you to love
and opening your heart and eyes to things
you would have never seen or felt without them.
Make every day count.
Appreciate every moment
and take from it everything that you possibly can,
for you may never be able to experience it again...
Talk to people you have never talked to before,
and actually listen,
let yourself fall in love,
break free and set your sights high...
Hold your head up because you have every right too.
Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself...
for if you don't believe in yourself,
no one else will believe in you either.
Create your own life
and then go out and live in it!
"Live Each Day As If It Were Your Last...
Tomorrow is Not Promised"
Ready For Christmas
"Ready for Christmas," she said with a sigh,
As she gave a last touch to the gifts piled high.
Then wearily sat for a moment and read
Till soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.
Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream!
"Ready for Christmas! What do you Mean?
When only last week
You wouldn't acknowledge your friend on the street."
"Ready for Christmas, while holding a grudge!
Perhaps you better let God be the judge.
Why, how can the Christ child come and abide
In a heart that is selfish and filled with pride?"
"Ready for Christmas, when only today
A beggar lad came and you turned him away
Without even a smile to show that you cared!
So little he asked, he could have been spared."
"Ready for Christmas! You've worked, it is true,
But just doing the things that you wanted to do."
"Ready for Christmas, your circle's too small.
Why, you are not ready for Christmas at all."
She awoke with a start, and a cry of despair,
There's so little time, and I've still to prepare!
"Oh, Father, forgive me, I see what you mean;
To be ready means more than a house swept clean."
"Yes, more that the giving of gifts and a tree,
It's the heart swept clean that he wants to see,
A heart that is free from bitterness, sin,
Ready for Christmas means ready for Him!"
~~Unknown~~
--A CHRISTMAS ALPHABET
A is for Angels, appearing so bright,
Telling of Jesus that first Christmas night.
B is for Bethlehem, crowded and old,
Birthplace of Jesus by prophet foretold.
C is for Cattle, their manger His bed,
There in the stable where He laid His head.
D is for David and his ancient throne
Promised forever to Jesus alone.
E is for East, where shone the bright star
Which Magi on camels followed afar.
F is for Frankincense, with myrrh and gold,
Brought by the Wise Men as Matthew has told.
G is for God, who from heaven above
Sent down to mankind the Son of His love.
H is for Herod, whose murderous scheme
Was told to Joseph in a nocturnal dream.
I is for Immanuel, "God with us,"
For Christ brought man back to the Father's house.
J is for Joseph so noble and just,
Obeying God's word with absolute trust.
K is for King. A true king He would be,
Coming in power and authority.
L is for Love that He brought down to earth
That night in the stable in lowly birth.
M is for Mary, His mother so brave,
Counting God faithful and mighty to save.
N is for Night, when the Savior was born
For nations of earth and people forlorn.
O is for Omega, meaning "the last;"
He's eternal: present, future and past.
P is for Prophets, when living on earth
Foretold His redemption and blessed birth.
Q is for Quickly, as shepherds who heard
Hastened to act on that heavenly word.
R is for Rejoice. The sorrow of sin is
Banished forever when Jesus comes in.
S is for Savior. To be this He came;
The angel of God assigned Him His name.
T is for Tidings related to all,
Telling of Him who was born in a stall.
U is for Us, to whom Jesus was given
To show us the way and take us to heaven.
V is for Virgin, foretold by the sage,
God's revelation on prophecy's page.
Matthew 1:23
W is for Wonderful, His works and His words,
The King of all Kings, the Lord of all Lords.
X is for Christ. It's X in the Greek,
Anointed, Messiah, mighty, yet meek.
Y is for Yes, called God's Yes in His Word;
God's answer to all is Jesus the Lord.
Z is for Zeal as it burned in Christ's heart.
Lord, by thy Spirit to us zeal impart.
December 21 - Jesus Calling
My plan for your life is unfolding before you. Sometimes the road you are traveling seems blocked, or it opens up so painfully slowly that you must hold yourself back. Then, when time is right, the way before you suddenly clears—through no effort of your own. What you have longed for and worked for I present to you freely, as pure gift. You feel awed by the ease with which I operate in the world, and you glimpse My Power and My Glory.
Do not fear your weakness, for it is the stage on which My Power and Glory perform most brilliantly. As you persevere along the path I have prepared for you, depending on My strength to sustain you, expect to see miracles—and you will. Miracles are not always visible to the naked eye, but those who live by faith can see them clearly. Living by faith, rather than sight, enables you to see My Glory.
I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
—Psalm 63:2
We live by faith, not by sight.
—2 Corinthians 5:7
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
—John 11:40
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