A Christmas Album

No explanation needed for these photos which I took during the past couple of weeks. Just pictures of Christmas or Christmasy sights that I saw here and there but mostly in our house. No, no Christmas tree. I haven't done that for a few years now. Too much stress for this old girl. *smile*

So...
MERRY CHRISTMAS    EVERYONE!

                                                                   6 lb fruitcake!! 😋

                                                                        😍My favorite!☝

                                                                                    😊

 Thanks be unto god

for his 

unspeakable gift.

II Corinthians 9:15

A Centennial Celebration

Dad. Today is your 100th birthday! You have been with the Lord for over eleven years. For sure, you aren't celebrating the life you had on earth but rather the glorious life you now have with Him. But I, I'm still here on this old planet earth, doing earthly, human things. And so I celebrate this centennial year since your birth.

You were SO blessed! God rescued you from a hopeless, miserable life to one of purpose and joy in serving Him. I am so thankful for your life, your example, your faithfulness. You were a wonderful father. In fact you still are! Hardly a day goes by that I am not reminded of you and I wish you were here so that I could garner more wisdom. 

My celebration is really to the Lord, the One who gave you to me...and to all of us, your children. I am positive that they, too, are thankful for your life and example. You gave us such fantastic memories and an amazing heritage that will always be with us and with the generations to come.

I love you, Dad.

 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. (Proverbs 23:24)

To Whom Are You Giving Thanks?

I am amused, but sad, at some of the "Thanksgiving" messages that show up, whether spoken or written. 

The best that one writer could muster was "This American holiday has come to represent a time to celebrate family bonds, the spirit of friendship, good will to those around us, and gratitude for the blessings of the previous year." Yes that is true...but not all the truth.

Here's another one: "Gratitude is good for you!...Try it out for yourself and watch how it transforms your reality." That smacks of egoism in my opinion.

I realize that the majority of Americans doesn't consider God to be the author and giver of their wonderful daily gifts.But it just does not make sense to say you are celebrating Thanksgiving Day yet you fail to direct your thanks and gratitude towards "...the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy"(I Tim.6:17b).

To whom are you giving thanks? To yourself? To your lucky stars? (Whatever that means) To God? I sincerely hope it is the last one.

We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.

(Colossians 1:3)

I'm Thankful For...#4

Rain.

I love rain. And knowing that many parts of the world are suffering because of the lack of it makes me realize how blessed this area of Brazil is. I love how it has the ability to "paint" the landscape green and to dress up flowers with crystal clear drops of water. And I love love love the music of it!

I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

Who does great things and unsearchable;

Marvelous things without number:

Who gives rain upon the earth, and sends waters upon the fields.

Job 5:8-10

I'm Thankful For...#3

Beautiful music. And beautiful words with beautiful music is a bonus!

This seems to be harder to come by these days. One has to purposely search for it and that's what I do once in awhile. I could put a list of several that have become my favorites this year but I'll just limit it to two for now. The first is sacred and the other is secular (which also has a touching background story at the end).

I call to remembrance my song in the night:

 I commune with mine own heart:

and my spirit made diligent search.

Psalm 77:6

I'm Thankful For...#2

November 2
I am thankful for the fantastic number of visitors that came for the Dia do Seminarista (college-for-a-day) at our seminary here yesterday. There were at least 90, the most they have had in a long time! The time spent there was wonderful and even the weather was fantastic. God was gracious to bless us to this extent.

                                                                                                                                                      (photo credit: M. Hogrefe)

                                                                       

The Lord has done great things for us, whereof we are glad.

                 Psalm 126:3                                  

I'm Thankful For...#1

For the past few years I have wanted to do this, list something I'm thankful for every day during the month of November. I'm 3 days behind getting started but I don't think anyone is grading me.

My first I'm-thankful-for will be the HUGE blessing from last month of getting to visit my island home of St Lucia (and St Vincent). First time in 35 years! Yes, I know it was last month but every day since I returned home I have been reliving moments of the 7 days that I spent on the two islands.

This blessing deserves a full album of photos, which I certainly have, but I will post just this one to go along with this post. This beach called Vigie Beach in St Lucia is a precious place to me.

The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land.

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Psalm 95:5-6

Courage

“Courage is not at all

about the absence of fear

but about obedience

even when we are afraid.”

-Katie Majors

Fear thou not; for I am with thee:
be not dismayed; for I am thy God:
I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

-Isaiah 41:10

Simply Beautiful Vocal Music

I discovered some beautiful vocal, sacred music recently. So simple, so meaningful, so lovely. Her name is Lauri Lou Jones. I hope the link above works for you to listen to her. 

And some photos during our recent months for you to enjoy while you listen. Love to all!