Author: admin

Good Morning!

As I get ready to write this, I am looking at a pile of books on my desk. These books are all about spiritual gifts and I am using them to get ready for a new study that will take place during the month of February. It’s a lot of work to get ready for something like this. And it is a big obligation for you to sign up for it, as some of you have already done. I would love to see a huge class as we learn together. But it dawned on me that if I want you to learn more about these gifts, I need to give you a little preview – like a trailer for a movie or that little taste of ice cream they let you have before you make your final decision.  So, here is a little bit of why I hope you will join the class – a little bit about what spiritual gifts are all about and why we should even care:

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Except for the lesson that our dog Cissy taught me. I guess she’s not too familiar with snow, because when I opened the door for her to go out early this morning, she looked out at all that white stuff and just looked up and me and said, “are you crazy?? I’m not going out there!” And she cowered down and backed away from the door back to her bed.  So, one hour passed and two and three and four and it was noon. Now, she is a stubborn little dog, but there comes a time when something must give. So, I put on my shoes and my coat and my earmuffs and opened the door and went out. She was watching me crunch around in the snow and soon stuck one paw out to get a feel for things. Once she was completely out, this surprised look came on her face, and I could see all her fears melting away. She started out by marching a few steps, looking around………. and then that gave way to four rip roaring dog races around the back yard. Before it was over, she was frolicking and loving every minute of the snow.

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Good Afternoon!

I hope you are all well and enjoying the beauty that is Christmas. Today (December 26) the church puts Advent behind and begins the season of Christmas (which will last until January 6). This season is called the Epiphany of the Lord, and it is the time we recognize the importance of the coming of the Magi to the Christ and along with it the sharing of the good news of the birth with gentiles all over the world. Epiphany will last all the way through March 2, which is Transfiguration Sunday leading to the beginning of Lent. I look forward to it all as we experience together our own journey with the Messiah.

During this time, I will be offering a very special 4-week class that will enable us to learn about spiritual gifts. We will end by actually taking a spiritual gifts self guided questionnaire to help you identify your own unique God-given gifts. I was thinking we might could do it as a bag lunch class after church. Think about it and we can decide together. I am really looking forward to this! Believe it or not, recognizing and growing your spiritual gifts can be life changing!

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Good Morning!

I was 12 years old the year I saw my mother at midnight on a cold, cold Christmas Eve all wrapped up in her sweater and scarf over her pajamas unloading something from the trunk of her car. My mother’s usual bedtime was 8PM. I was old enough to know something was up. And up until then, I believed with every ounce of my being that it was Santa who brought all those wonderful gifts my sister and I always found on Christmas morning. I didn’t know HOW he did it……I just believed he did! It was magic!

Realizing the gifts came from the trunk of Mother’s car rather than a sleigh pulled by reindeer was a terrible yet a wonderful time for me.  Terrible in that I had to let go of a little bit of childhood magic and that was hard. But wonderful in that I saw in a more grown up way the love my mother had for me, the sacrifice she and my dad must have made to afford all those sweet gifts under the tree and all those stockings stuffed with goodies.

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Afternoon Everyone!

On Sunday we will light the third candle on the Advent wreath – the candle of joy! And Christmas is a time of joy, isn’t it? The birth of Jesus brought a joy to the world that humankind could never have imagined. And we have not been the same since!

I’ve been decorating the house today and have been finding great joy in getting reacquainted with all the Santas who have been packed up in our lonely old garage all year. I love Santa Claus!! Except for the wonderful corn husk Nativity that Jim bought me in Kentucky, my Santas are getting a place of honor this year. Things have been a little crazy lately – a little stressful.  It’s easy to feel blue. Maybe we all need to seek some good old-fashioned joy this Christmas! Some Santa memory of childhood and what it means to BELIEVE!  To REALLY BELIEVE!!

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