abandoned to Christ.

ADVENT ~ Day 14 December 13, 2008 Scripture Passage: READ 1 John 3:11-18 Extravagant adj. - excessively high; exceeding the bounds of reason; going beyond what is deserved or justifiable I'll make a list of God's gracious dealings, all the things God has done that need praising, All the generous bounties of God, his great goodness to the family of Israel— Compassion lavished, love extravagant . He said, "Without question these are my people, children who would never betray me." So he became their Savior. In all their troubles, he was troubled, too. He didn't send someone else to help them. He did it himself, in person. Out of his own love and pity he redeemed them. He rescued them and carried them along for a long, long time. ~ Isaiah 63:7-9 (The Message) Our Father God's love for us is extravagant: excessively high, exceeding the bounds of reason and goes beyond what any of us could ever deserve. He didn't pay for us with the fleeting, ...

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: