Love

LOVE

Always
...protects
...trusts
...hopes
...perseveres

Never
...fails.

(I Corinthians 13: 7,8)

Christmas Day

"The truth must dazzle gradually, or every man be blind."
Emily Dickinson
I love this quote, for myself, for those I'm praying for, for all of us. This journey of faith is not a sprint, but a long, slow distance run. We should be patient with ourselves, and with others.

Merry Christmas!! The Swede beans are cooking, the Ostkaka is made, the ham is ready for the oven, and many gifts are waiting to be opened. We're waiting now for the rest of our family to safely make it home to Downs from Winter Park, then we'll eat, open, smile, relax and enjoy.

Christmas

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year~singing carols, Christmas shopping, wrapping gifts, family, food, friends, fellowship, time to play games, watch football, take naps, eat sweets and baked goods, Sunday School programs, brown paper sacks full of nuts and candy and fruit, peace, good will toward others, family traditions, and relaxing.
But, even in the Christmas season, life goes on. And for some, life is difficult. And for them this holiday season can bring more stress than joy.
Remembering that the Baby Jesus grew up to suffer and die that we might know the true meaning of life and the peace that only He can give... is the true meaning of Christmas.
To our friends and family who are going through difficult times, who are suffering physically or emotionally, who are separated from family for any reason, we send our prayers that you might know the true Peace of Christmas, Peace that is even deeper than your struggles and fears.
This Christmas we pray for Jonathan, for Baby Lucy, for Grace, for Emma, for Sam and Karen, for Jon, for Elly, for MR, and for all of you that are clinging onto the Hope of Christmas during this season.
As Tiny Tim said, "May God bless you all this Christmas".

Wisdom and Humility

I was reminded the other day how these two words/qualities walk hand in hand together. I was reading in Proverbs 11;verse 2 says, "but with humility comes wisdom".
I'm thinking that is why so many leaders, both spiritually and politically, have so many problems. With their power, their pride repels wisdom. And humility, on the other hand, attracts wisdom.
"A wise person is not a proud one. Pride and vanity are like poison to the spirit of wisdom...wisdom is given to the humble of heart." (Charles Stanley)
I thank God for the people in my family and in my life that have both wisdom and humility. In the presence of those people, there is grace and peace.
Like a magnet, we can either attract or repel wisdom. Let's turn our pole of humility to the Lord, and attract wisdom.