This morning the weather is crisp and quiet after yesterday’s snowfall.  At the North Fork Community Church yesterday we wondered if the snow might keep people away, but no.  Here they came to have lunch with their fellow neighbors.  The ladies had been busy all morning fixing a lunch of barbecued chicken, twice-baked potatoes, peas, salad, rolls and for dessert a to die for peach and apricot cobbler.  Smiles were everywhere (and no waiting in line).

Every other year Bill and I travel south for the winter.  This year is our year to stay home.  I can’t tell you how happy this makes me.  It feels so right to be here with these people in this place at this time.

Christmas is right around the corner and I am filled with the spirit of Christmas.  Not the commercial Christmas, but the beginning Christmas.  The birth of our Savior who would come to earth to give His life for us.  It is amazing that we continue sinning and God still sent His only Son to save us.  What a Father in Heaven.  Each day our first thought should be about living according to God’s wishes and our last thought should be to thank Him for the day and ask forgiveness for having thoughts and doing things that are not according to His will.

I make a vow here and now that I will do my best to think of others in the coming new year and put myself after instead of before those who are important in my life and to those who are not important now, strive to make them more important.

God bless you all and Merry Christmas

Judy W.

Shared Memories

Every time I read Luke chapter 2 I think of our little daughter, Carrie.  She went to live with the Lord when she was just 7 years old.  She has just barely learned to read, when we bought her a children’s bible.  It was the NIV version, and had tons of wonderful pictures.  She just loved it and carried it around with her, even to school.  When she got home each day, She would open it to Luke chapter 2 and read it aloud to her baby sister.  She had only owned the bible for about 6 months, but it was dog eared by the time she actually left us to be with her beloved Lord Jesus.

She would tell us “I’m going to see Jesus pretty soon,  you know.”  The Holy Spirit had revealed to her the profound love of God in sending His only Son as a baby to secure our place at His side for all eternity.  He had also told her that He would be taking her home.  From these few verses of His Holy infallible Word, this little child discovered all any one ever needs to know.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified.  But the angle said to them, “do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.”  Luke 2:8-14.

I pray that you all can fathom the great depth of His love to you this Christmas, knowing that He came as He promised, as a babe, and that He lived with us as a man, and that He died for us on the cross.  So that each of us , just like Carrie, can say with assurance and joy, “I’m going to see Jesus pretty soon, you know.”

Marsha P.

Live in it and Rejoice!

Naturally we wish everyone a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS along with a joyous and happy new year.

I have been thinking quite a bit lately about where our joy and peace come from.  For the believer of course it comes from God.  But I think it requires more than just believing,  Satan believes and trembles.

Jesus came to set us free from all the garbage that Satan heaps upon us.  Jesus has already paid the complete price for our freedom.  It is up to us to accept what He has given us and walk away from Satan’s temptations and lies.  We can be completely free and victorious as we follow Christ and walk in His freedom.  That is the purpose of His coming.

Live in it and rejoice.

Phillip and Glady W.