Message to a Friend

What you are experiencing right now in this state of rebellion is the grace of God. He alone is the Giver of all life. He is our very breath, (Gen. 2:7). He chooses when and how long we breathe. There is only one God who gives us life. Physical, spiritual and emotional life, and when we rebel, we waste that precious life He gives.

Did the way get too narrow for you? Have you taken offense at someone? The way of rebellion is the broad way and at first it will seem like it gives freedom, but it's a trap. It all leads to captivity and eventual death. There is nothing you will find in this world that will match the love of Christ in your life. Why would you ignore His great love when you need it the most?

This may be a hard saying (John 6:60-64), but faithful are the wounds of a friend, Proverbs 27:5-9. If you are courageous, read Proverbs 27, the whole chapter. In it you'll find what grace gives, and also what rebellion gives when we insist on living our own way.

We are almost at the end of the first decade of the twenty-first century. Time is moving quickly my dear friend. I challenge you to take a great leap of faith, put away the lust of the flesh. You will never be satisfied fully in this world, but in Christ all of us are heirs to all things. Make 2010 a new beginning, the grace of our Christ is about restoration of all things. Let your alls be all.

TRC this Sunday, 9:30, 11:30. We're saving the seat for you. Friends are waiting.

My Christmas Thank You List

Did anyone watch AFV with a little boy that had a Christmas gift list a mile long and he didn't stop! The Santa would say is that all, when the little boy took a breath then he would start in again. He remembered the entire list in his head!

That video reminded me we should have a thank you list to Jesus that long. What other people have a God like our God? No one. So, this is my blog about the main things I'm thankful for.

The list starts out with Jesus, He is the center of everything. He is the reason for everything in this life; all we are, all we have, all we have accomplished. He is the reason we breathe. He is the Giver of life and salvation. Without that, nothing else adds up or makes sense. Second is my family. My husband and friend Jim for over 52 years and all the children we have together, and that's a lot! We are a blessed family. Third, is TRC, the best church we have ever been a part of. I'm thankful for faithful, loving pastors who diligently watch over our souls with our elders. I'm thankful for the life lessons I have learned at TRC. I'm thankful for being part of a
GIVING church. When criticism comes, it's a signal to give more!

I'm thankful for friends, in church and out of church. One friendship is over 30 years long. That's a treasure. When we see each other, we pick up where we left off. Friends are those who stick with you no matter what. When they have something to say, they say it. When there is nothing to say, they come to comfort. The greatest friend we all have is Jesus, He sticks closer that a brother, (that's in Proverbs.)

I'm thankful to Jesus for my cousin Jan. We have been watching God bless her life the last several decades. God has blessed her with a loving, faithful husband who loves the Lord, two beautiful daughters and a passle of grandchildren that make grandma and grandpa so proud. God has been taking good care of Jan as she has gone through some tough procedures for breast cancer. She has had her last chemo and radiation treatment and we are so thankful to God.

So what's on your "thank you God" list? Bless the blog world with your list.

Merry Christmas to everyone and God bless you.