FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS...

May your Christmas be full of grace and peace because of the Father's Gift to us, Jesus Christ.  Thank you for your ever-present support and encouragement.  I'll see you sometime around the New Year!    In the beginning was  the Word, and the Word was  with God, and  the Word was God.   He was in the beginning with God.     All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.     In Him was life, and the life was  the Light of men.     The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. And  the Word  became flesh, and  dwelt among us, and  we saw His glory, glory as of  the only begotten from the Father, full of  grace and  truth. -John 1:1-5, 14 (NASV) O come, O come Emmanuel! ...

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DEVASTATED

Thank you so much to all of you who have sent word checking to see if we were ok.  We are on the north side of OKC in Edmond, and the tornado struck Moore which is on the south side of OKC.   I watched it all live on tv from the moment the funnel formed.  To hear the newscasters saying, "Oh, this is a deadly tornado" as you watch it blow by and rip up houses and buildings just makes your heart drop.  It's so shocking to watch such power and destruction and know there's not one thing you can do to stop it.   I've lived in Oklahoma my whole life (except for a few years away after we married), and unfortunately this is an all too common occurrence.  Today was just especially horrific.    source I'm sure you have all seen coverage on your news, so I don't need to share too many details.  Just sharing how heart-breaking this devastation is.   source As I write there are still many missing people and chil......

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HE IS RISEN! {JUST GIVE ME JESUS}

HAPPY RESURRECTION SUNDAY! "Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen!" Luke 24:5b-6a Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! This moving poem from Anne Graham Lotz has been one of my favorites since the first time I heard it.  If you're not familiar with it, listen.  Start it, learn back, close your eyes, and take it in.  It's worth every minute, I promise. HE truly is the answer to anything we face in this life.  Minutes after working on this post and preparing the video, I read "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young to my children this morning...it perfectly complements the Just Give Me Jesus poem I had listened to moments earlier: "I have a wonderful plan for your life.  But you may not always underst an d that plan.  Sometimes My blessings come to you in mysterious ways: even through pain and trouble.  I use tough times to teach you more about Me.  I can use trouble at home to help y......

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Sunday Morning Scripture

1  In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  2 (This was the first census that took place while  Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  3  And everyone went to their own town to register. 4  So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  5  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  6  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  7  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  9  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone a......

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Sunday Morning Scripture

We were blessed to host Keith & Kristyn Getty at our church for a concert Friday night.  This song was such a meaningful point in the evening.  Kristyn read from John 1 and then sang their song "Fullness of Grace."  Beautiful and so appropriate as we approach the Christmas season. In the beginning was  the Word, and  the Word was with God, and  the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life,   and  the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  There was a man  sent from God, whose name was  John.  He came as a  witness, to bear witness about the light,  that all might believe through him.  He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.  The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the wo......

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Sunday Morning Scripture

There was a man named John who was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him.  He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. -John 1:6-8 (NASB) ...

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Sunday Morning Scripture

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.  Serve the LORD with gladness;   Come before Him with joyful singing.   Know that   the LORD   Himself is God;   It is He who has  made us, and not we ourselves;  We are   His people and the sheep of His pasture.  Enter His gates  with thanksgiving  And   His courts with praise.   Give thanks to Him,  bless His name.  For   the LORD is good;   His lovingkindness is everlasting   And His  faithfulness to all generations. -Psalm 100 ...

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Sunday Morning Scripture

"Make a joyful short to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;  We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.   Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations." Psalm 100 ...

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Sunday Morning Scripture

My pastor occasionally speaks a benediction over the congregation at the close of the service.  I love them.  Here is the one he shared today: Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,  and to  make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with  great joy,  to the  only  God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,  be  glory, majesty, dominion and authority,  before all time and now and  forever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25 (NASB) ...

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Sunday Morning Scripture

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." -1 Corinthians 15:58 ...

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Sunday Morning Scripture

"And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." -1 John 2:28 (NKJ) ...

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Sunday Morning Scripture

He has shown you, O man, what is good;       And what does the LORD require of you       But to do justly,       To love mercy,       And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 (NKJV) ...

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Sunday Morning Scripture

This verse was from my Precepts Bible Study this past week.  I think it's beautiful and so full of warmth and hope.  The last line is my favorite. The people who were sitting in darkness saw a Great Light,  and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death,  Upon them a Light dawned. Matthew 4:16 (NASB) ...

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