Faith, Folklore, and Friends

After a week of Thanksgiving celebration, these things must not be forgotten: 151. The way light can push back darkness 152. Seeing relatives again 153. New traditions 154. A house that doesn't leak 155. Expectation 156. Clouds at dawn 157. Naomi, a rock 158. Things made from the earth 159. Neighbors who take care of your dog until you find him 160. A house full of laughter 161. Stacks of dirty plates 162. Safe trips home 163. The "fancy" dining table full 164. Digging Christmas ornaments out of their boxes 165. Living in freedom in the United States 166. Living in freedom in the kingdom of God 167. Walking 168. Warm clothing 169. Wandering in the woods 170. Wisdom in unexpected places 171. Whipped cream on chocolate 172. Worship 173. Babies learning to walk 174. God can use anything for his purpose: a star, a donkey, me 175. A forty year milestone Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lo...

Celebrate this Saturday getting ready for the Christmas celebration. Enjoy the old fashioned Christmas hosted by the LaGrange College Site near Tuscumbia, Alabama. The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel-which means, "God with us". Matthew 1:23

Thanks to my friend Amy who blogs at Hope is the Word, I am a recipient of the Superior Scribbler Award. This inspires me to continue capturing my thoughts with the hope that others will enjoy them. As a recipient of this award, I am honored to pass this award on to five other bloggers, in addition to the rules of the Superior Scribbler Award. The rules: Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends. Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award. Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award. Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor! Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog. I am awarding this to: n' stitches designs J...

Born to missionary parents living in China, Eric Liddell was sent to school in England at age six. At school, he excelled in all sports, and became known as the "fastest runner in Scotland." He attended the University of Edinburgh, with his brother Rob, in 1921. Again, he excelled at running and other sports. His numerous awards sent him to 1924 Olympics held in Paris. Liddell was a committed Christian. The 100 meters race, his best event, was being run on Sunday, the day he worshipped, and he refused to run. He felt he had no choice but to withdraw from that competition. Liddell had seen the schedule months earlier, and began training for the 400 meter race. Eric Liddell ran the 400 meter race with a slip of paper in his hand that read, "Those who honor me I will honor. 1 Samuel 2:30". He not only won the race, but broke the existing world record for that event. Eric Henry Liddell ran for God. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your he...

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving." -H.U. Westermayer The most detailed description of the "First Thanksgiving" comes from Edward Winslow from A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, in 1621: "Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, among other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed upon our governor, and upon the captain, and others. And although it b...

No one escapes this life without some bumps (or canyons) in the road. We are assured of trouble...everyone, saved and unsaved alike. Jesus tells us "in this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world." (John 16:33 NCV) My sister and friend is in a battle right now. She has fought for months; surgery, treatments, chemotherapy. One would think she would look weary, defeated. She has exploited this evil, this vicious blackness, slapping Satan's face with it, upgrading it for the glory of God. She continually praises God for His healing, points others to the great Healer. She chose to stay in the background before. Now, with joy and thanksgiving, she tells multitudes about His love and power. There is something about her that cannot be explained with mere words. Always beautiful, with flawless skin and a smile that could light up a room, she's different now. She glows. She radiates the glory of God. Is it God's peace? Is it the innumerable pr...

Worship is loving, being thankful. Worship is spontaneous, voluntary. It's not a science. Worship is not something that can be taught or learned with theories and formulas. We can't train for it, we can't buy it. If worship doesn't ignite and expand in the heart, it's not worship at all, but something man-made, not God-made. The first disciples worshipped. Can you imagine what it must have been like when Jesus walked the earth? When word spread of his miracles, they ran to Jesus for help, bringing the lame, the blind,the mute, the discards of society. Jesus healed them. The crowds gasped, astounded, confused about how this was happening, but knowing God was among them. They worshiped Him. They didn't call a committee meeting to decide proper methods of worship. They didn't wait until Sunday when they had on their best clothing. They probably didn't worry that they were outdoors and in public. It really didn't matter to them that there were unbeliever...

The wonder of continued blessings.... 126. Warm air from vents 127. Advent 128. China full of coffee 129. Little acts of kindness that are so big 130. Promises kept 131. Ancient things that are still useful 131. Seeing a sister at church after a long illness 132. Having a student ask if I could teach what they're taking next semester 133. Found treasures in old boxes 134. Little girl eating pancakes 135. Teenager working earnestly on a book she is writing 136. A season to remind us to be thankful everyday 137. Leaves falling like rain 138. Finding new beauty after change 139. Honey 140. New neighbors 141. The way a tiny candle can change a whole room 142. The best department head ever 143. First-born son is such a good daddy 144. Baby boy found his soul mate 145. Debbie 146. Dreams 147. Ding-dongs 148. Determination 149. Dancing 150. Distortion, different but beautiful Since you are God's children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and the Spirit cries out, ...