Longings and Disappointment

So it's coming down to a matter of hours now - 3 days = 72 hours.

 And if you aren't super busy and chaotic it can creep in - the Longings of times past and "the way it used to be".

This little book brings up some thoughts to muse on...

"Even in laughter the heart may ache." Proverbs 14:13

"Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, ...

is one who sings songs to a heavy heart." Proverbs 25:20

Think back on your Christmas past - 

when you were a kid and didn't know what a Credit Card was...

When you were a teenager and were invincible...

When your kid's faces lit up with the gifts you bought them...

And now...

the chair now empty

the family member who is only in a photo

the words you wish you could take back

"Each heart knows its own bitterness,

and no one else can share its joy."  Proverbs 14:10

Or maybe it's the elusive goal of Christmas Contentment...and the Disappointments that come instead.

Read the book of Ecclesiastes - that other book that Solomon had a hand in writing. The author who had everything still wonders what it's all about and why he even bothered.

So, this Christmas - don't, don't, DON'T forget that we have someone much better than Solomon and all his riches and wisdom to CELEBRATE!

   Looking forward to that 
Happy Birthday Jesus Party!!! 

Christmas - A time for forgetting self.

"He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25

"He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done." Proverbs 19:17
  

  This past Thursday, Howard and I went to the Lethbridge Correctional Center and brought Christmas to the inmates who are there during the holidays. They were given a paper bag colored by children from local schools, filled with cookies and treats, a tube of toothpaste, some Irish Spring soap and a bottle of Gatorade. Given in the name of Jesus with Christmas Carols sung and many handshakes given.

This coming Monday, December 19th, we will celebrate Christmas with our Amazing Kids and their families. It will be a packed house I am sure. We will sing, and eat - CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN ANYONE?,  and learn a bit about Jesus through the story of his birth. 


  Next Tuesday I will go again to the Lethbridge food bank and help hand out Christmas hampers to those in our area who are out of work during this time of year, or just need a little extra to make it through the month. I have been volunteering there since last June when a group of folks from Tennessee helped us get acquainted with their work. I meet so many great people and hear their stories.



  
    Tomorrow morning I will ask the kids of Amazing Grace Community Church what they think they need for Christmas during the lighting of the Advent candle. Pastor Rohan will share a message called Christmas is about A Savior – “Fulfillment of what you Need” 

 What do I really need for Christmas?   I need to get out of the house and move into the neighborhood....
  Just as Jesus did those many years ago.

The Word became a human being

and lived here with us.

We saw his true glory, 

the glory of the only Son

of the Father.

From him all the kindness

and all the truth of God

have come down to us.             

John 1:14 

Kids and Christmas!

     Day 4 in our little holiday book with musings from Proverbs has the theme of Children. Beginning with the familiar "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it" Proverbs 22:6

      Every Monday afternoon here in Lethbridge a small group of us bring together local children and spend time with them.  The Amazing Kids program has us sharing time, food, fun, and the gospel message with these kids. We are working on training children in the stories of Jesus.  

      This Monday the Kindergarten to 2nd graders donned costumes and practiced our little Christmas story to share with our parents next week at our annual Christmas Party.

      Enjoy some of our "dress-rehearsal" photos -  Remember to pray for our Amazing Kids and their families during this Christmas season. 

Mary, aka Selena

King Herod, aka Jigme

Soldier, aka Justice

Magi, aka Zakyra

Angel, aka Akayla

Angel, aka Chloe

Shepherd, aka Hader 

Joseph, aka Josie

"I don't want to be in the play", aka Kiya
(2nd year for her to say this - ha)

       

Inn Keeper, aka Loxie

What's in a BBQ?

I learned a valuable lesson here in Lethbridge:

    A BBQ does not necessarily involve any BBQ sauce at all!

Earlier this year, in the Spring, I put an announcement in the church bulletin - I do the bulletins for Amazing Grace Community Church - for a "Cookout" to be held on a Friday night.  It was to be the first for the new season - everyone was excited!

We met at Henderson Lake park and had a great turnout - it was a bit cool, so we were very appreciative of the family who brought their gas fire pit. We enjoyed huddling around it and visiting.

At the event, someone came up and pointed out that they weren't sure what this was going to be, because here in Canada - whenever you cook-out and have a picnic - it is called a BBQ.  They came to the evening wondering if we were doing something different since it was labeled as a cook-out.

Now you know! And I know!  And so here are some photos of several BBQ's (and cookouts, and picnics, or "food events!" we have had this year. It was a great time to celebrate being a church family, meet new friends, and relax.

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

Now - go have a BBQ of your own!