abandoned to Christ.

ADVENT ~ Day 10 December 9, 2008 Scripture Passage: READ Matthew 2:1-12 Our Advent devotional will be a little different today. As we draw nearer and nearer to Christmas, I've been praying and asking God to guide me to be more mindful of the celebration of our Lord Jesus' first coming. In an answer to my prayer, our sovereign Father led me to an article at CWO (Christian Women Online) . This article provides wise counsel on how to refrain from spending like the heathens! :-) Just kidding. Seriously, Marybeth shares how to keep from losing focus on why we celebrate, rather Who we celebrate and how we can keep our spending to a minimum by honoring God. She also gives us some great practical insight on how we can train our children to have a different mindset on the blessing of giving gifts rather than receiving them. After I read this wonderful article, I asked my Favorite to read it and suggested we implement these ideas, but maybe next year (since we're already s...

Today is the 8 th day of Advent Why Advent? by Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts Copyright © 2008 by Mark D. Roberts In my last post, I told the story of my Advent beginnings. When I started out as pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in 1991, for the first time in my life, I began to see Advent as a distinct season of the year and to experience its richness. In the years following my Advent beginnings, my appreciation of Advent grew slowly and steadily. At some point I became aware of the purple and pink Advent color scheme, something we had not emphasized at Irvine Presbyterian Church. I remember when, sometime in the 1990s, we started using three purple and one pink candle in the church Advent wreath. It was a change for church members, who had been used to all white candles. But soon they appreciated the connotations of the colors. (Photo: The Advent wreath on the chancel of the sanctuary at Irvine Presbyterian Church) I decided to go “whole hog” with Advent colors one year....

ADVENT ~ Day 7 December 6, 2008 Scripture Passage: READ Mark 5:25-34 On Saturdays, I will post videos that help us to remember why we worship Jesus alone and why we celebrate His birth, while we look forward to our Homegoing. On Sundays, I will post articles from Rev. Mark D. Roberts regarding the Advent; what it means and why it's important for all of us to stay in a continual state of awe and wonder of CHRISTmas. I can never watch this music video without crying...and I'm not a cryer. So girls, if you're cryers, or not, you better go get your Bibles and some tissues. Be sure to read the Scripture passage for today so you can gain the full effect of this music video. I think all of us can relate to someone or many someone's on this video. I've been the first girl, full of shame due to sexual immorality; looking for acceptance and control of my life. I've also been the little boy and girl who had rejected and unloved on their shirts. I think...

is... (As you can see, I was so excited about announcing the winner of this giveaway, I got a bit carried away and recruited my sons and husband [who took the video]....oh well, it's good for them! If they had any pride before this video, I obviously was a HUGE help in ridding them of it! Aren't I such a thoughtful mom? LOL!) Please visit our sister Raye Ann, read her entry and offer her your warmest, cheeriest congratulations! Raye Ann @ Heart of the Home CONGRATULATIONS sister Raye Ann! I've been praying about this contest as well as the winner. I've already prayed for God to bless you and use your heart to testify His love to the lost, so that they too, may know the rich treasure that is found in Christ Jesus alone - salvation from the bondage of sin and the penalty of death in the eternal Lake of Fire. May you be richly blessed as you faithfully administer the word of God entrusted to you! And may the LORD our God give you all spiritual wisdom and un...

Just a quick reminder that Thursday, November 20th. is the absolute last day for the "Keeping Christ in Christmas" giveaway. Click the button below for the details on how to enter. Bless you all! :-) If you REALLY want to be blessed, read all the comments and visit those who have entered and posted testimonies of how Christ saved them, how grateful they are for their salvation, and what they plan to do with the prize!

"He who has prepared for us this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So that we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." ~ 2 Corinthians 5:5-10 Therefore let us all live as if it were everyone's last day and redeem the time we have left here on earth. Let us compassionately do the work of an evangelist and preach the Gospel of Christ to the utter ends of the earth, while it is still Day. (this is as picture of my wonderful husband and fabulous youngest son, at their first "target "shoot" together) For more comfort and exhortation from the Word of God, visit:

As we are quickly approaching both Thanksgiving and Christmas, I thought it would be good if I did a giveaway that was not only generous, but also mindful of what we're most thankful for: our salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord. Every year, in this fallen world, children of God are always looking for ways to keep our Lord Jesus Christ the center of our Christmas. Therefore, I've chosen a package giveaway, for anyone who desires to demonstrate their gratitude and love for our Lord Jesus, in honor of the greatest giveaway this world has ever known - His very life. There is no greater treasure, than Jesus Christ Himself. And no greater gift we can pass on to others, than the Gospel of His sacrificial love - our Savior's sweet song of salvation. How To Enter: Copy and paste the giveaway button onto your blog (in your sidebar and/or a post); Leave a comment with your email address on it so I can contact you, if you win; Write an article on your blog, answe...