Christmas Day~

I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.

````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
It's been a long , long time, since we went to church on the actual day of Christmas.  Most times, services are cancelled most places cause they're afraid nobody will come , I guess.  But we went yesterday to the new little church we've been going to for about the last 4 months or so.  It was actually a really nice service.  People seemed sincerely joyous to be celebrating the birth of Our Saviour.  Everyone was dressed in their favorite things, some new, maybe some not.  Everyone was fellowshipping and hugging and smiling.  Everyone sang at their best, and the Christmas carols rang out in the room.  Pastor Steve read God's word, and gave us some great things to think about.  Candy was given to little ones, or maybe a small gift, or card exchanged.  Mostly it was just wonderful to know that we still are able to gather to worship in our own churches, in our own ways for one more year.  It was wonderful to know that we were loved by the Saviour , and genuinely loved by those around us.  All in all, I can't think of the last time I had such a moving experience at church.  I hope all of your holidays were all that you wished them to be, and that the new year holds many blessings for everyone!

Here's to Christmas in the house of the Lord~ Ruby Jeanette

33~

33~ I turned 33 Friday, and thought it would be great if I could find one thing to be thankful for, for each year I've been alive.  So here are,

Thirty -three things to be thankful for~

1. My salvation
2. My husband
3. My children
4. That both my parents are still with me
5. My house is paid for
6. My vehicle is paid for
7. I am able to teach my children at home
8. I have 5 dogs, one cat, 4 fish, a spider , a turtle , and some chickens who like me
9. I am able to read and enjoy books
10.  I can hear and enjoy music
11.  Clean , fresh sheets to sleep on
12.  Good food
13.  Cold water to drink
14.  A team of doctors I respect
15.  A church family who loves me
16.  My husband is employed
17.  We have enough money to pay our bills
18.  We have a little money for extras
19.  I have 3 sisters that I love
20.  I have three brother in laws who I love
21. I can see and enjoy God's creation
22.  Chocolate cake
23.  Holding someone's hand
24. Hugs!
25.  Classic Christmas movies
26.  The smell of pine cones
27.  A little boys smile
28.  Knowing that you got someone the perfect gift
29.  Waking up to see the sun rise
30.  Seeing the sunset
31.  309 Face Book friends
32.  Living one day at a time
33.  and finally, NOT knowing what tomorrow will hold!

Morals from the Muppets~

We are enjoying watching holiday and Christmas movies.  We 've watched The Nightmare before Christmas, The Grinch who Stole Christmas, and The Muppet Christmas Carol.  I guess the  Muppets is one of my favorites.  Michael Caine, to me is the perfect Scrooge.  When I was young I had a hard time understanding how Scrooge could be so terrible. But if you watch the Muppet movie, it puts it before you in a way that you can't help but understand.  Would Christmas be the same to you or me, if we spent every one alone, as a child?  Or if our beloved left us on Christmas?  If we grew up that way, would we feel the same about the holidays? 
  It became easy for me to see that Scrooge felt it much easier to keep people away, then to risk being hurt again.  How simple it would be to feel that way. I don't have to let people in, and so that way no one can make me feel pain.  If I hurt them first, they can't hurt me in return.  I wonder how many of the people we see in town, and different places at the holidays, are the same?  What great hurt have they experienced to make them feel that way?  If we look at them through the eyes of Christ, what would we see? 


Just a thought, in case you run into a Scrooge~ Ruby Jeanette