Happy New Year

"Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before."  (Philippians 3:13)

The New Year is not present with us.  Only a new day!  So it will be continually.  We shall see but one day at a time.   As I read that I thought how true this is.  The year is like a journal.  The page is white to begin with.  At times I will write and then have to mark something out.  It is then that I start over.  But not so with each day.  When the day is gone we can't go back. 

There are a few things I want to write in my journal this year.  First, I want the will of God done each day.

Sometimes it isn't easy to know His will so that means I will have to spend more time in the Word and Prayer to get the will of God.  This I want to do.

Next, I want to be more compassionate and thoughtful of others. I want to make a difference in someone's life.  Do you know that just a "Thinking of you" card might make a difference in someone's life?   (Just a Christmas Card that we got from our grandson meant more to me than all the other presents.)   It was the message in the card that made my Christmas.  It is not a great big difference so that others will notice.  It is all the little differences that will add up at the end of the year.  

I want to write encouraging words down.  As I have grown older I realize that young people need to be encouraged.  Pastors need encouragement.  The Saints need encouragement from each other.  Let's be an encourager!

I want to write pleasant thoughts.  Positive thoughts!  I don't want to dwell on negativity.  I don't want to dwell on self.  "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight."
If we would pray that prayer each day we might  find ourselves saying less.  I want to watch my heart and my mouth.

I want to be a peace maker.  Sometimes being a peace maker is not easy.  Especially when it comes to family.  But if giving up something to keep peace in the family, then keep peace.  It is worth all the effort.  The lord will make up the difference.   This is just a few things that I want to do in 2011.

At the end of the day, look back over your journal and take inventory.  Whether your journal is written on the fly leaf of your mind or written down on paper, just take a peek at it.  Tomorrow  is another day.

I have always like this poem.  It has such a good meaning.

THE BRIDGE BUILDER

"An old man going a lone highway,

Came at the evening, cold and gray.

To the chasm vast and deep and wide,

Through which was flowing a raging tide.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim:

The sullen stream had no fears for him;

But he turned when safe on the other side,

And built a bridge to span the tide.

'Old man' said a fellow-pilgrim near;

'You are wasting your strength building here;

Your journey will end with the closing day;

You never again will pass this way.

You've crossed the chasm deep and wide,

Why build this bridge at eventide?'

The builder lifted his old gray head.

'Good friend, in the path I have come,' he said,

There followeth after me today;

A youth whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm which has been as naught to me,

To the fair-haired youth may a pitfall  be;

He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;

Good friend, I am building this bridge for him."

Now that I am older and have crossed many bridges that someone built for me ~ I realize how important it is to be a bridge builder for the younger generation.  This I want to do.   I may not accomplish everything I set out to do in 2011 ~ but we need a journal to write some plans.  At the end of the year I want my journal to be pleasing to God.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR WITH ALL OF IT'S 365 DAYS.

Can anyone help me with my Template?  I can't seem to conquer it.  I just want my original back.  I saved the old one but don't know how to go in and retrieve it. My html is all messed up.  I have no idea how to fix it.  I have read all manuals and that is why I am in the mess I am in.  If anyone out there is willing to help me please let me know.   I am helpless.  I mess up even trying to start a new blog.  I am dumber than a Computer Dummy.         Thanks!

DELIGHT

"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. "

 

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I know that you know this is my favorite verse in the Bible.  
I have a desire to delight myself more in Him as the 
New year approaches.  Last year is behind us.  There
were things that I intended to get done last year that
I did not.  There were things that came that I did not
fore see. That's life!  What we do with them is what
counts.  We can accept what the Lord sends and with
His help get through or we can dwell on the negative
and get bitter.  Better or Bitter?  It will be up to us!

We had a good Christmas.  Saw all the children and 
most of the grand children.  Hopefully we will see 
them  New Years Day.


We are looking forward to a Watch Night Service
Friday night.  Singing, preaching, fellowship ~ Just
bringing the New Year in thanking and praising Him.  
Some of our Preacher boys will be preaching.  I don't 
know how many of our young boys are called to 
preach.  I know they won't all get to preach but it is 
a joy to see young people wanting to serve the Lord.

As the year approaches a lot of people make New 
Years resolutions.  I don't make them.  But there
are a few things that I want to do.  I will write a
post on that later.  

I am sitting in front of the fireplace watching the 
fire and hearing the crackling of the wood.  Nice 
and cosy!  Makes a person sleepy.  Need to get up 
and get things crackling in my house.
Need to be careful of my words.  My sweet daughter
gets a laugh out of my mistakes.  She is my critique!  
Just so she knows when she reads this, crackling in 
my house is to make a little noise and get things 
straightened back up. 

  

FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS!

Wishing all of you   a very blessed Christmas.   May we never forget the Babe of Bethlehem.   Remember also that He did not stay a Babe.  His purpose in coming was to die on a cruel cross that we might be saved.  He came to redeem us, to set us free that we might serve Him.

Thank God f0r giving us His Son!

 THAT NIGHT

That night when in the Judean skies

The mystic star dispensed its light,

A blind man moved in his sleep ~

And dreamed that he had sight!

That night when Shepherds heard the song

Of hosts angelic choiring near,

A deaf man stirred in slumber's spell

And dreamed that  he could hear!

That night when o'er  the newborn Babe

The tender Mary rose to lean,

A loathsome leper smiled in sleep ~

And dreamed that he was clean!

That night when in the cattle stall

Slept Child and mother cheek by jowl,

A cripple turned his twisted limbs ~

And dreamed that he was whole!

That night when to the mother's breast

The little King was held secure,

A harlot slept a happy sleep ~

And dreamed that she was pure!

That night when in the manger lay

The Sanctified who came to save,

A man moved in the sleep of death ~

And dreamed there was no grave!

We don't know what else happen that night but ThanK God 

A BABE WAS BORN!

WRAP YOURSELF IN HIS LOVE  THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON,

COUNSELLOR

"And He shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor."  Isaiah 9:6  
One of the offices of our Lord is that of  Counsellor.  I read this and thought as I travel through this Christian journey how often I have needed a Counsellor.   I have needed someone to show me what to do and which way to go.  I have come to cross roads several times in my life and had no idea whether to turn right or left.  Or just keep going straight ahead.  I needed advice.  I needed some Counselling.  The right kind of  advice is what we need.  We are often tempted to confine in a good friend.  It is good to have someone we can talk things over with but we need to remember that they are human.  They may give the wrong advice, although they meant well.

We are blessed to have a good Pastor to go to with a problem.  I will have to admit that in the past  we have gone to our pastor with a certain problem.  He helped us pray about the situation at hand and is there for us.  But we can't run to our pastor every time a problem arises in our life.  Poor fellow!  How heavy his load would be if all the members ran to him?  I am not saying you should not talk to your pastor.  If the time ever comes that I need to talk to him again, I will. 

Our  Counsellor in this Scripture is very near.  We can come to Him and say, "Lord, I seem to be in the dark.  I don't know which way to go.  I don't know how to act in this circumstance I am in. Show me the way and help me to walk in that way."    

George Mueller  said:  You need never take a step in the dark.  If you do, you are sure to make mistake. Wait!  Wait until you have the light.  Remind the Lord Jesus that He is Counsellor to the Church of God.  He will be, in your particular case,  Counsellor, and Guide, and you will find that waiting is not in vain, and that the Lord will prove Himself a Counsellor both wise and good.

Aren't you glad we have One to go to that can help us solve every problem.  There seem to be a lot of problems as we celebrate the birth of our Lord.  I know of  four just this week that have lost their jobs. They
don't know what they are going to do.  I would say to those ~ Just celebrate Him, just praise Him during this time and see how this all works out.  Our Counselllor and Guide will  make a way. 

We have been passing out Christmas baskets to the needy at church.  Children ride the buses that come from homes that are really in need.  I have tried to look around me and see how I can lift someone's load.  Just be a friend and pray for them.  You don't know what a phone call will mean to some.  It  may mean a little of your time but it will be well spent.  Spread some Christmas cheer.  You will never know what it will mean to someone. 

                              

We had our Christmas Program at Church Saturday Night.  The youth and children worked very hard and long hours.  Ms. Danielle, the director, sacrificed a lot of time to make this a success.  The theme this year was CHRISTMAS IN EGYPT.   It was about Jesus first birthday which was, most likely, spent in Egypt.  When the Lord warmed Joseph to take the Child and flee to Egypt was just a fulfilling of the Scripture.

Have you ever thought that Jesus may have been in Egypt on His first birthday?  I don't guess I ever really thought about it.  But the program was beautiful.  The costumes were Egyptian clothes.  I mean royal clothes.
I wish I had a picture to put on here so you could see.  But we had misplaced our camera.  Shh!  Don't tell anyone~ but it was in my purse the whole time.  I don't know how that could have happened but it was way down in the bottom.  I was pretty aggravated with myself when I found it.  All during the program  it was right on the seat  with me.  Just have too much on my mind or getting old ~ maybe a little of both.

Just got the rest of my Christmas shopping done.  Now I need to start wrapping.  Most of  the gifts are home made.  A few are not.  We are trying to place the most emphasis on Jesus ~ the real meaning of Christmas.
We want to have a gift for Him for Christmas in the form of a special offering.

Today was my first day in the stores.  I have no desire to go again.  People go nuts.  I wondered with all the packages and long lines ~ how many are thinking about the real meaning.  Very few, no doubt!

Guess I have rested long enough.  Have a good and blessed week.

 "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Philippians 2:13

The Lord did it again!  Last night service was another service where the Lord just took over and blessed and encouraged and helped.  I don't know what He is trying to do, but I just know that I want to stay out of the way.  We have to come as empty vessels so the Lord can fill us.  Last night my vessel was full and running over.  What is so amazing about the Holy Spirit, He never comes in the same way.  Every service is different.
 He is so full of surprises for His children if we are a willing to let Him be first. 

I thought of the times I messed up because I tried in my own strength to work things out.  What a tangled mess we can make of our life's in our own strength.  But how sweet it is to just turn lose and let the Lord be in control.   I heard someone say just recently that Jesus was their co-pilot.  That is the problem with a lot of Christians.  They wonder why their Christian life is stale mate.  It is because they need to switch places and
and become the co-pilot.  I, frankly don't want to be in the Pilot's seat.  I don't know how to work the controls.  I thank God that He is my Pilot and He is in control. 

I just wish you could be in one of these services.   Just to be under the spout where the blessings pour out.
I feel so unworthy that God is so good to me and my family.  So honored to have a good place to worship
and  to see my grand children under the influence of  the workings of God.  Honored and blessed to have a Pastor and people that encourage and up lift others. 

I am entering into a new adventure in a few weeks.  Many of you are pros at this but this is brand new to me.
I am going to home school my youngest grandson.  He is in the 9th grade.  I know I will meet with new challenges and have to ask for help.  But most of the families at church home school and they are willing to help me if  I run into a problem.  I just ask that you, my friends, pray for me as I go into this. 
                                                                   Always, Aliene

REINDEER

This is a pair of reindeer that my sister made me about 8 years ago.  They are so simple.  Made with wooden spoons, cotton balls,  pompom and decorate with felt and ribbon.   The spoons on the legs are turned upside down.  They are glued onto a handle going across to  make the body.  The head is a spoon.  When  you get the body glued together ~ let it dry good and dress the Deers up as you like.  The tail is two cotton balls aand a pompom.  On the front on the chest part is two cotton balls. Then the nose and on the head are more.

Some of you may have seem this ~ but I have not seen any on the blogs that I look at.  If you try these let me know.  They are so cute to set around.
Have a blessed day!                                               Aliene

This and That

While we do "this and that" let's keep in mind what this season is all about.  

Thought I had better get something on here.  I have been helping out in the office at church.  Trying to get everything ready for Christmas and doing up dates etc.  I still don't have any Christmas decorations up. I hope to get that started tomorrow.  I also need to do  a little more shopping. 

We have had some cold mornings.  Tonight is suppose to be 27 degrees.  That may not seem cold to you who are in the North but to Southern folk ~ it's cold.  My husband has been keeping the fireplace going almost all day.  He had to pick all the tomatoes that were still green.  I put up 5 pints of  Pickled Green Tomatoes.  I have more to put up tomorrow.  Then I need to bake more friendship loaves for Christmas.  I have it all ready to go. Just need to stop long enough to bake.

I am making Bath Salt for my Sunday School Girls.  My grandson put the labels on the jars yesterday.
Tomorrow I need to get them filled up and ribbon tied around them .  I am making twenty at least.  I had 19 in class last Sunday.  

Just thought I would let you know I am still here doing "this and that."  Maybe I can get back to blogging more often after the holidays.  Seems almost everyone is having the same problem.  Not enough time.  What have you been doing?

HOME AGAIN!

Nothing like home!  I made it home with a car full of "stuff."  A big rose bush sitting in the passengers seat!
It was a rose my sister had in  memory of our Momma and she did not want to lose it.  Since my husband
has a green thumb ~ we first pruned the thorny rose and then dug it up, put it in a big plastic bag, and drag it to the car.  The only place we could put it was in the passenger's seat.  The "thorny thing"  smiled at me all the way home.  I would look over once in a while and wonder what I would do if it took a tumble.  I was right in it's path.  But it was halfway sitting on the floor board and we made it fine.

Silas did not open the trunk last night.  Boy, I am glad.  He did get the back seat unpacked this morning. 
Some of the "stuff" was for different ones.  I might even be surprised at what is in the trunk.  Need to go see and get all that cleared away.  I want to decorate a little for Christmas.  But, first things first. 

Have a good day.                                        Always, Aliene