Burn Through Prayer

FAITH:
Nehemiah 1:1-2:20

Nehemiah, a Jew displaced by the Babylonian captivity, served in the king's court. When he heard of the decrepit condition of the gates and walls of Jerusalem, he wept and asked the king to send him to rebuild the walls.

When Nehemiah heard bad news, he prayed. After praying, he developed a plan.

Nehemiah 1 is a blend of prayer and action....Why is prayer so important? Here are the four shortest reasons I know.

...Prayer forces me to leave the situation with God; it makes me wait.

Secondly, prayer clears my vision.... When you first face a situation, is it foggy? Prayer will "burn through". Your vision will clear so you can see through God's eyes.

Thirdly, prayer quiets my heart. I cannot worry and pray at the same time....

Fourthly, prayer activates my faith. After praying, I am more prone to trust God....Prayer sets faith on fire.

Don't just fill the margins of your Bible with words and thoughts about ways a leader prays. Do it!....Pray! Prayer was the first major step Nehemiah took in his journey to effective leadership....

...The Lord is the Specialist we need for those uncrossable and impossible experiences. He delights in accomplishing what we cannot pull off. But He awaits our cry. He listens for our request. by Charles Swindoll

Applying it: What was your first response to an unexpected medical bill, a car breakdown, or a layoff at work? Did you respond in anger, by worrying and complaining, or did you first go to God and ask for his help and guidance through the hardship?
Exploring it: Prayer during difficult times--1 Samuel 7:7-9; 1 Kings 17:17-24; Psalm 34:4-7; 61:1-2; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

FAMILY:
Father, We know that the real reason for prayer is first to Praise you, to give you honor and glorify your name. You are truly the King and you have saved your people when we could not save ourselves. We often forget to pray when life's troubles hit us unexpectedly and for this we ask your forgiveness. Even more we ask you to forgive us when we forget to Praise you. We thank you now and worship you and glorify your name forever and ever. In Jesus' name, Amen.

10 THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR
1. Good preaching
2. Friends who say, "please come, I need you" (being needed)
3. Party invitations (being included)
4. A smile of welcome from a child
5. Memories of those who are gone
6. A really good sandwich
7. Sunshine after the rain
8. Having the heart to give (does more for the giver)
9. Hope that comes from Christ
10. Shared laughter

FOOD:
Easy Meatballs

* 1 16-ounce can Ocean Spray(R) Jellied Cranberry Sauce
* 1 12-ounce bottle Heinz(R) Chili Sauce
* 1 2-pound bag frozen, pre-cooked, cocktail-size meatballs

Directions

Combine sauces in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat,
stirring until smooth. Add meatballs. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or
until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally.

Makes 30 appetizer servings.

Slow cooker Preparation: Place meatballs in a slow cooker. Combine
sauces and pour over meatballs. Cover and cook 4 hours on HIGH.

FUN:

Where is your citizenship?

FAITH:
Isaiah 65:1-66:24

God answered the prayers of his people. Those who remained faithful would receive life, joy, and peace beyond imagination. The disobedient would receive judgment and death.

God cannot overlook sin, and he will punish it; but the faithful will know the eternal blessings of God's new kingdom.

While the kingdom is full of righteousness, peace and joy, it isn't a physical, tangible thing. It isn't something we touch or see....

Furthermore, this kingdom isn't verbal, something we can actually hear with our ears, even though it is powerful....

It that isn't mysterious enough, I should add that while it is unshakable, it isn't visible either!

....How about that! We're supposed to seek something we cannot feel, or hear. And we're expected to embrace something that is intangible, inaudible, and invisible.

....God's kingdom is a synonym for God's rule. Those who choose to live in His kingdom (though still very much alive on Planet Earth) choose to live under His authority.

Maybe a super-simple outline of the Bible will help us understand the definition of God's kingdom even better. But first let me warn you--it's so basic you'll probably sneer!

l. God creates the heavens and earth and all things in them, including mankind. That's Genesis 1 and 2.

ll. Mankind, alone, rebels against God's authority. That's covered in Genesis 3.

lll. God moves through history to reestablish His authority over all creation. That's Genesis 4 through Revelation 22.

....And if you are wondering where you and I fit into this outline, take a look at category three. For centuries God has been at work reestablishing His rulership...

All this leads me to some helpful news, some bad news, and some good news! The kingdom is the invisible realm where God rules as supreme authority. That's helpful news. The bad news is the we, by nature, don't want Him to rule over us; we much prefer to please ourselves. We;d much rather serve mammon (the word means "money") than the Master....More bad news is this; Most people do serve mammon. Just look around. Who's in charge, God or mammon? What's happening? The mediocre majority have bought into a mammon lifestyle.

Now, the good news. We don't have to live that way. God has given us an avenue of escape. It's called a birth from above .... Not until we experience a spiritual rebirth will we submit to God's rule.

So when I write of God's kingdom, I'm referring to His right-authority over our lives. Only then can we experience true excellence. by Charles Swindoll

Applying it: Become a citizen in God's kingdom today by trusting in Jesus. Reserve your place in his new creation by making him Lord of your life. You can have permanent hope and eternal life! There is no better way to live than by following him.
Exploring it: Kingdom of God--Matthew 5:3-12; Luke 4:43; 9:2; John 3:3; Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 1:2

FRIENDS:
Father, You've given us such a great promise, the promise of salvation. Forgive us, Father, when we sometimes put more hope in the things of this earth than in the incredible promises of your heaven. In Jesus' name, Amen.

10 THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR
1. Having a God who knows what I need and providing it.
2. Laughter with a friend
3. The reassurance that God has a plan for me
4. Sunshiny days (recurring theme with me)
5. Not being charged a late fee when I forgot to pay my rent on time (oops)
6. Being able to cook nutritious meals
7. The laughter of a little child
8. People who care about me and let me know they do
9. God's grace concerning my health
10. The ability to stay connected with my friends afar via the Internet

FOOD:

Brown Sugar Shortbread
From Every Day With Rachael Ray
Makes 16 cookies

1 c. flour
1 stick (4-oz.) unsalted butter
1/3 c. brown sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Using an electric mixer, combine the flour, butter and sugar. Press the dough evenly into a 9-inch square baking pan. Bake until golden around the edges, 18 to 20 minutes.

2. Let the shortbread cool slightly in the pan, then cut into 16 squares and transfer to a rack to cool completely.

FUN:
People are always asking couples whose marriages have endured at least a quarter of a century for their secret for success. Actually, it is no secret at all. I am a forgiving woman. Long ago, I forgave my husband for not being Paul Newman. --Erma Bombeck

How's your furnace?

FAITH:
Psalms 116:1-117:2
After a close call with death, this unknown psalmist thanked God for answering his prayers and praised God for his deliverance.

Praise should be the natural result of answered prayer.

Worshiping in spirit is the opposite of worshiping in merely external ways. It is the opposite of empty formalism and traditionalism.
Worshiping in truth is the opposite of worship based on an inadequate view of God. Worship must have heart and head. Worship must engage emotions and thought.

Truth without emotion produces dead orthodoxy and a church full (or half-full) of artificial admirers,like people who write generic anniversary cards for a living. On the other hand, emotion with our truth produces empty frenzy and cultivates shallow people who refuse the discipline of rigorous thought. But true worship comes from people who are deeply emotional and who love deep and sound doctrine. Strong affections for
God rooted in truth are the bone and marrow of biblical worship.

Perhaps we can tie things together with this picture: The fuel of worship is the truth of God, the furnace of worship is the spirit of man and the hear of worship is the vital affections of reverence, contrition, trust, gratitude, and joy.

But there is something missing from this picture. There is furnace, fuel and heat, but no fire. The fuel of truth in the furnace of our spirit does not automatically produce the hear of worship. There must be ignition and fire. this is the Holy Spirit.

Now we can complete our picture. The fuel of worship is a true vision of the greatness of God; the fire that makes the fuel burn white-hot is the quickening of the Holy Spirit; the furnace made alive and warm by the flame of the resulting heat of our affections is powerful worship, pushing it way our in confessions, longings, acclamations, tears, songs, bowed heads, lifted hands and obedient lives. by John Piper

Applying it: Have you ever been in a desperate situation? did you ever thank God for saving you? If you are at a loss for words, read this psalm as your prayer to God.
Exploring it: Thankfulness - 2 Chronicles 7:3; Psalm 8:2; 30:11-12; 107:31-32; Luke 17:15-16; 1 Corinthians 15:56-57; 2 Corinthians 1:10-11; Ephesians 5:19-20.

FRIENDS:
Father, help us to always remember you, to remember who is in control. We want to remember your goodness from the past and thank you for it. We want to remember your closeness to us in the present situations we are in and to praise you for your power for our futures. We want to see you and to know you better. We ask you, Father, to help us see Jesus and to deepen our faith and our gratitude upon seeing him more clearly. In Jesus' name, Amen.

10 THINGS I AM GRATEFUL FOR
1. A finished project that turned out well
2. The way most people will get in and help when needed
3. Invitations to dinner
4. The excitement of Christmas
5. The way God resolves a difficult situation
6. The patience that comes with getting older
7. My home (I know I say this often but I am so grateful for it all the time)
8. How God has provided friends for me
9. Seeing my children succeed
10. Having a wonderful church to worship in

FOOD:
Are you going to a cookie exchange and want something new to take?
Instead of one recipe, here is a link to many cookie recipes:
http://www.northpole.com/Kitchen/Cookbook/cat0001.html

FUN:

Christmas Ornaments


Customer at a counter of a lawn ornament shop "Give me four of
those elves, two of the big reindeer, two of the small reindeer,
and one of those bent-over, fat Mrs. Santa's with the ridiculous
bloomers."

The shop owner "That'll be eighty dollars for the elves, fifty
dollars for the big reindeer, twenty dollars for the small
reindeer, and a big apology for my wife!

Donations anyone?...all parts of this days post were donated by readers. If you have something you want to share, please do so. Thanks!!!

FAITH:

Romans 5:2-4
"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope"

Perseverance is the key to every great accomplishment because nothing of lasting value has ever been achieved without it. Industrialist Henry Ford is one of the great success stories of American history, but he failed in business five times before he succeeded. A Ford Motor Company employee once asked his boss the secret of success, and Henry Ford replied, "When you start a thing, don't quit until you finish it."

The path ahead of you is strewn with obstacles. People will oppose you. There will be financial setbacks, time pressures, illnesses and misfortunes. Some of the biggest obstacles will be inside of you: self-doubt, insecurity, procrastination, and worry. You must give yourself permission to succeed.

When we persevere through adversity, we win the approval of our Lord Jesus Christ, who told the suffering church at Ephesus, "I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. . . . You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary" (Rev. 2:2-3). That, I'm sure, is the same commendation Joseph received from God when he passed the perseverance test.

Perseverance is a refusal to quit. It's falling down 100 times and getting back up 101 times. We need to remember that perseverance is not a matter of forcing doors to open; it's standing in front of the doors as long as it takes before God chooses to open them.

Life is a marathon, not a sprint. The race doesn't go to the swiftest, but to those who don't give up. We need endurance in order to deal with the stress of adversity. We must maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and get plenty of rest. People give up or give out when they feel depleted?
When they physically, emotionally and spiritually run out of gas.

When going through adversity, watch out for pessimists, blamers and toxic personalities. Beware of people who try to talk you out of your dreams and goals. Spend time with optimists and encouragers. Seek out people of faith.

Persevere to the end. by Os Hillman

FRIENDS:

Father, You know my heart and my heartaches. You have showered me with blessings and carried me through the valley of pain and sadness. Thank you for the godly influence of special people in my life. Thank you for those who pray for and encourage me. I even thank you for the hard times and trials I have been through, for they have strengthened my faith. I praise you for giving me a spirit of hope, love, and acceptance, rather than allowing me to become angry, bitter, and downcast. I praise you God, from whom all blessings flow. May I, in return, be a blessing to you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

10 THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR
1. The way food tastes
2. The church Christmas party
3. A spirit of helpfulness in others
4. Uncle Rube
5. My laptop
6. Christmas lights and decorations
7. The first Christmas card I received
8. People caring for each other
9. Retirement
10. If I say the Farmers Market again it's not an oversight, just
me being grateful every time I eat something I bought there.



FOOD:

this got rave reviews on one of the food lists I belong to

Hollywood Squares (LIKE Reese's Peanut Butter Cups)

Ingredients:
2 cups peanut butter
2-1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup butter, melted

Topping:
2 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate
1 tbsp. peanut butter

Directions:
Combine all ingredients except topping ingredients.
Mix well and press into a buttered 9-inch pan.
Melt the topping ingredients together (the microwave works well for this) and spread over the top of the peanut butter mixture.
Chill until topping is firm.
Cut into squares.

FUN:

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots
on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the
Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots,
leave immediately. Go next door, where
they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And
quickly. It's rare.. You cannot find it any other
time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares
that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not
as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic
or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it.
Have one for me. Have two.
It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the
whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone.
Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed
potatoes. Fill it with gravy.
Eat the volcano.
Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're
made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's
skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a
sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a
party in an effort to control your eating.
The whole point of going to a Christmas party
is to eat other people's food for free.
Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise
between now and New Year's.
You can do that in January when you have
nothing else to do. This is the time for long
naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet
table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food
and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good
at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies
in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself
near them and don't budge. Have as many as
you can before becoming the center of attention.
They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave
them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat.
Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like
mincemeat, have two apples and one
pumpkin. Always have three.
When else do you get to have more than
one dessert? Labor Day ?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake?
Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory
calories, but avoid it at all cost.
I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible
when you leave the party or get up from the table,
you haven't been paying attention.
Re-read tips; start over, but hurry,
January is just around the
corner. Remember this motto to live by:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave
with the intention of arriving safely in an
attractive and well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
chocolate in one hand, body
thoroughly used up, totally worn out
and screaming "WOO HOO what
a ride!"

Have a great holiday season...

Look out for the bugs.

FAITH:

Book of Jude

A redwood tree fell in a California forest. It wasn't destroyed by lightening. Storms had come and gone, but the tree stood. It wasn't felled by winds. Bent by their force, but never uprooted. The tree didn't fall to fire. It had stood when others collapsed.

What destroyed the redwood?

Insects. Termites devoured it from within. It had stood for four centuries against the elememts from without, but collapsed because of an attack within.

Jude warns that the same can happen to the church.

He wanted to write "about the salvation we all share" (v.3). But he felt compelled to address a more somber issue--the danger of false teachers.
Apparently, some had entered the church, (v.8). they were not students of the Word but, rather, promoters of sexual sin. They used God's grace as a license for passion (v.4). The only solution, "Fight hard for the faith that was given the holy people of God once and for all time" (v.3).

Jude is urgent in his warning, What destroyed the redwood can destroy a church. But he is equally urgent in his encouragement. "God is strong," Jude concludes. "and can help you not to fall" (v.24).

Can God really keep you from falling? To answer that, go to another tree on a barren hill. A tree older than time. A tree which covers the mistakes of your past and the problems of your future. Be assured--that tree will never fall.

See also: Grace and Sin--Leviticus 19:2; Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Galatians 5:13; 16-17; 6:7-8; Hebrews 12:14; 2 Peter 2:1-2, 17-20; 3:11,14 17.

FRIENDS:

Father, We know you are a compassionate, feeling parent who hurts when his children hurt so please forgive us for the times that we have questioned you; forgive us for the time we have doubted you; forgive us for the times we've shaken our heads and pounded our fists against the ground and cried, "where are you?" For Lord, we know that you have been here, you've carried us through the valley, and you've given strength when we've needed it. In Jesus' name, Amen

10 THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR
1. Sleep. It is often elusive these days
2. Advice from friends because they care
3. The new exercise class just started where I live
4. A friend who invites you to dinner "just because"
5. A retired preacher friend of mine, for his kind words
6. This blog and the blessing I get from doing it
7. The fabric blessing I received on Thursday
8. Laughter in the morning with my little friend
9. The sun streaming in my window
10. Having a day to look forward to.

FOOD:
Something to put under those great holiday spreads

CHEESE WAFERS

1 Cup All Purpose Flour
1/2 Pound Grated Cheddar Cheese
1/2 Cup Softened Butter
1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
2 to 3 Tablespoons of Water

Mix all ingredients, cutting the butter into the cheese and flour much in
the same manner that you would if you were making pastry. Add only enough Water (one Tablespoon or less at a time) to hold the dough together. It should be like a pastry dough.
On a floured dough board roll the pastry out to about 1/4 inch thick.
Using cookie cutters, cut into wafers and bake on a cookie sheet in a
450° oven for about 6 minutes.
You will need to watch these closely as they cook quickly. Remove
to a wire wrack to cool.

FUN:

There was a preacher who was an avid golfer. Every chance that he could get, he could be found on the golf course swinging away.

On one particular Sunday it turned out to be a picture perfect day for golfing. The sun was shining, the temperature was just right and there was very little wind. The preacher was in a quandary and wasn't sure what to do....play golf or give the Sunday service. The urge to play golf overcame him and he called in his assistant to take care of the Sunday service for him. The preacher packed up his car and drove 3 hours to a course where no one would recognize him.

An angel above was watching the preacher and was quite perturbed. The angel went to God and said, "look at the preacher. He should punished for what he is doing." God nodded in agreement.

All alone but enjoying it immensely, the preacher teed up on the first hole. He swung at the ball and hit a perfect drive. The ball ripped through the still air straight as an arrow and 400 yards later it landed the green where it gently rolled into the cup. A tremendous hole in one!

The preacher was amazed and excited. The angel was in shock. The angel turned to God and said, "Begging your pardon, but I thought that you were going to punish him?"

God smiled and said, "I did....think about it....who can he tell about this?"

Chin Up

FAITH:
"Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions." Ephesians 2:4-5

One of my all-time favorite kid's stories is Charlotte's Web, starring Charlotte the barnyard spider and Wilbur the pig. The farmer's daughter, Fern, loved Wilbur and adopted him as her pet—until he was too big for the house and had to move to the barn. Wilbur missed Fern and felt sad about being away from her. Just when he thought things couldn't get worse, the mother hen came on the scene.

She told Wilbur that her purpose in life was to lay eggs for people to eat, and the cow's purpose was to give milk for the people to drink. Then came the real stinger: "Hey, Wilbur, do you know what your purpose is? Bacon!"

Needless to say, the hen was not a very encouraging friend!

Thankfully, Wilbur had a true friend. When Charlotte the spider found him wallowing in the muck of despair, she encouraged him with a resounding "Chin up, Wilbur!" She wove beautiful webs over his pen with words that made him feel loved and important. The webs attracted media publicity, and people from all over the area came to marvel at this "special pig." When it was time for the county fair, Wilbur feared again for his life and asked Charlotte to weave one more web. She knew that she had only one more web to weave and that then she would die. But out of her love for Wilbur, she wove the most spectacular web yet to prove how special he was. The townspeople were so taken with the web that Wilbur's impending death was no longer an issue.

I love the biblical parallels in this story. The most significant one being that Charlotte gave her life to save Wilbur's. Not only that—but she made him a special pig!

Most of us can probably identify with Wilbur at some point. All of us face problems in life when we desperately need someone to come along and encourage us—a "chin up" friend. But, at the end of it all, before God we are all losers at heart and deserve to die as the penalty for our sin. Yet God in His grace died to save us from eternal death and condemnation. And, as though that weren't enough, He makes us children of the King and fills us with hope and confidence regardless of life's threats. Jesus is a friend for the doomed! We can either mope around our little barnyard of life, or we can get our chin up and believe that our friend Jesus is making something special of our lives.

Next time you're feeling down in the dumps, rejoice in the fact that you have been rescued from the grave, promised eternal life, and are a child of the King.

Now that's a "chin up" thought that can keep you going with hope and strength! by Joe Stowell

YOUR JOURNEY…

* What is your attitude toward the "Wilburs" you encounter?
* What is your reaction to the reality of God's purpose and promise of eternal life?
* Will others find you wallowing in self-pity or rejoicing in the hope you have in Christ?
* In what ways can you be a "Charlotte"—bringing the good news of salvation and purpose to someone today?

FRIENDS:
I received some very sad news Wednesday about some people who are very dear to my heart. I would appreciate it if you would pray with me for them. It will not be made right for a long time.
Father, we're not perfect but we are yours. We're not what we should be, but we do claim your salvation and your grace. We ask you to make us every day more and more into the image of Jesus Christ. We stand amazed that you would have such mercy upon us to forgive us time and time again, Thank you for the immeasurable depth of your grace. Help us to turn our hurts over to you, Father. Remind us that your touch can make us stronger at our broken places. In Jesus' name, Amen.

TEN THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR:
1. When a project just goes the way one had hoped
2. If there is more money than month at the end
3. People who aren't afraid to ask for cabbage
4. I have had three old friends speak well of me in the last few days so that is also #'s 5 and 6
7. Having a God that we can go to when we are burdened and just give it over to him.
8. My decision to give up television
9. You can now play Netflix instant movies on Mac
10. The price of gas going down

FOOD:
This is a really good vegetarian dish......
Mushroom Casserole

Use any cooked grain you like. Feel free to use low-fat cottage cheese or sour cream if you prefer.

1/2 pound (8 ounces) brown mushrooms, cleaned and chopped
1 large onion, well chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 cups cooked brown rice, room temperature
2 large eggs
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
a bit of fresh tarragon, chopped

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Rub a medium-large baking dish with a bit of olive oil or butter and set aside. The pan I use is slightly smaller than a classic 9x13 baking dish - just grab for something in this ballpark.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat saute the mushrooms in a glug of olive oil sprinkled with a couple pinches of salt. Stir every minute or so until the mushrooms have released their liquid and have browned a bit. Add the onions and cook for another 4 or 5 minutes or until they are translucent. Stir in the garlic, cook for another minute and remove from heat. Add the rice to the skillet and stir until combined.

In a medium bowl whisk together the eggs, cottage cheese, sour cream, and salt.

Combine the rice mixture and cottage cheese mixture in a large bowl, stir until well combined and then turn out into your prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with 2/3 of the Parmesan cheese, cover with foil and place in oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 20 or 30 minutes more or hot throughout and golden along the edges. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan and enjoy.

Serves about 8

FUN:

Three buddies die in a car crash, and they find themselves at the pearly gates.

They are all asked, "When you are in your casket and friends and
family are mourning upon you, what would you like to hear them say
about you?

The first guy says, "I would like to hear them say that I was the
greates doctor of my time, and a great family man."

The second guy says, "I would like to hear that I was a wonderful
husband and school teacher who made a huge difference in our
children of tomorrow."

The last guy replies,
"I would like to hear them say... LOOK!!! HE'S MOVING!!!!!"

Traffic, long lines, congested malls.....aaahhhh, the Christmas Season is here.

FAITH:
Jeremiah 27:1--29:32

Jeremiah responded to the false prophets. One false prophet, Hananiah, said that the "yoke" of Babylon would be broken in two years.

After seventy years the people would seek for God and would find him (29:10-14). Daniel wrote of the fulfillment of this premise seventy years later (Daniel 9).

As I write this I'm at 35,000 feet. It's 5:45 p.m., Saturday. It should be 4:15. The airliner was an hour and a half late.......

It all started with the delay. "Mechanical trouble," they said. "Inexcusable," responded a couple of passengers. Frankly, I'd rather they fix it before we leave than decide to do something about it en route. But we don't like to wait. Delays are irritation. Aggravating. Nerve-jangling. With impatient predictability we are consistently, and I might add obnoxiously, demanding. We want what we want when we want it. Not a one of us finds a delay easy to accept.....

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace.....

And what else? The first three are the necessary style along with the buttons and zipper of the garment. The rest give it color and beauty.

...patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control....(Galatians 5:22-23)

The ability to accept delay. Or disappointment. To smile back at setbacks and respond with a pleasant, understanding spirit. To cool it while others around you curse it. For a change I refused to be hassled by today's delay. I asked God to keep me calm and cheerful, relaxed and refreshed. Know what? He did. He really did! No pills. No ooze. No hocus-pocus. Just relaxing in the power of Jesus. by Chuck Swindoll

Applying it: Are you impatient with your present situation in life? Are you wanting to move on to graduate, get married, get promoted, or get a new house? Remember, God calls you to be content and compliant. Ask him to help you accept his perfect timing for the changes you desire.
Exploring it: Patience in Circumstances--Psalm 37:7; Isaiah 33:2; Acts 1:4; Romans 12:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; Hebrews 10:36; James 1:2-4; 5:5-11.

FRIENDS:
Father, sometimes it seems like we go one step forward and three steps back when it comes to just accepting things and letting go of all the angst of things not going fast and smoothly. You never promised that this world would be gridlock free and easy. But you promised to give us peace if we just ask for it. And all of us can look ahead to the peaceful city that's set on a hill, to the lights that call us to eternity. And we take hope. In Jesus' name. Amen

10 THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR:
1. Still wearing flip flops in December
2. Friends that call and say "do you want to....."
3. Leftovers
4. Farmer's Market here at the building
5. Having something to look forward to the next day
6. A neighbor that knocks and says, "I haven't seen you,
have you been all right?"
7. The sun beating through the car window while waiting at a light.
8. Plans for the holidays
9. Kids who call and ask me to join them in their festivities.
10. Elastic waist pants.


FOOD:
Planning a brunch over the holidays? Nice way to entertain friends with much less fuss that dinner. Here is a great Breakfast Casserole to make that even a little easier.
1 pound ground pork sausage
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs, beaten
2 cups milk
6 slices white bread, toasted and cut into cubes
8 ounces mild Cheddar cheese, shredded


DIRECTIONS

1. Crumble sausage into a medium skillet. Cook over medium heat
until evenly brown; drain.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together mustard powder, salt, eggs and
milk. Add the sausage, bread cubes, and cheese, and stir to coat
evenly. Pour into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
Cover, and chill in the refrigerator for 8 hours, or overnight.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
4. Cover, and bake 45 to 60 minutes. Uncover, and reduce
temperature to 325 degrees . Bake for an additional
30 minutes, or until set.

Change it up and make it for more people and even easier to put together by using:
3 bags Marie Callendar's Cheese & Garlic Croutons
20 eggs
1/2 cup sliced scallions
1/2 cup chopped onion
6 cups of milk
2 teaspoons mustard powder, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 2 teaspoons
of salt
1 pound each of Monterrey Jack and Mild Cheddar Cheese
Put shredded cheese on the top of it in the last 15 minutes of baking.


FUN:
Thanks Tender Mercies for this cute joke to share.

A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it
seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door.
Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote "Revelation 3:20" on the
back of it and stuck it in the door.

When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message,
"Genesis 3:10."
Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of
laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock."
Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked."