Christmas is around the corner. Are you making a Christmas list? Before you finish, please watch this power testimony of a young woman, Maureen, who was rescued from a Kenyan slum by Compassion International, my favorite charity. Perhaps you will be moved to ask Santa to

deliver one of your gifts to someone who needs the Hope of Christ. Maureen, an amazing Christ follower, is now leading an effort with an American family to build a maternity home to rescue pregnant teens from the streets in Kenya. I hope you will take the time to listen to how she was rescued with a simple gift from someone who cared. Maybe God has led you to deeply care about another part of the world or a different cause. Could you be someone's Christmas gift this year?

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
It's that time of year for Mom's turkey and trimmings, and going home to Grandma's. One of my fondest memories is the table filled with pie and cake; not knowing which one to pick!
As I grew older the day turned toward the true meaning of thanksgiving and counting my many blessings. This year I find myself smiling when I think how thankful I am to have such a precious granddaughter. What are you thankful for? Is it a long list? Do you record your blessings so you will remember God's goodness? When we meet this weekend, I hope you will share some of them with the group. Don't you think it's time for a happier subject than all the injustice in the world?
As you take time to thank God for His gifts, I hope you will thank the Giver himself. Sometimes we get caught up in what He gives us, but forget to get "caught up" in Him.
He alone is our perfect gift from above!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Sometimes we just groan. Sometimes words cannot be found. The heaviness of this broken world renders us speechless. Is evil, illness, injustice swallowing us?
Sometimes we just groan.
Our Advocate groans as well. He divinely sighs, rescuing the broken one who has no hope of escaping his condition.
He yearns for our likeness to the Son. He intercedes for our eternal security.
He groans on our behalf, offering our silent weight to the Heavens.
Sometimes we just groan.

The probate petition arrives in the mail. It might as well be stamped: Final.
God, I don't think I have the energy to travel this road of rememberance again.
Grief sucks the life out of me. Yet, You remind me that You go before me and that You hold all things together. So the journey begins with one trusting step after another while You lead.
Each painful memory of being a second thought will be soothed with a sweet reminder that You loved me first!

Pray for Rebecca

I love our Rebecca! As you know she is having serious surgery Friday to remove blood clots from her lungs. Let's devote ourselves to praying for her throughout the next few weeks.

Think of something creative to put on your mirror and computer to remind you to pray.

I'm placing a rose on each as I know she loves roses.

Here is her CaringBridge site so you can check on her. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/isaiah268
She loves each one of you more than you will ever know so lets show her the love by asking God to heal her. Have a wonderful week!

Samantha's One!

Happy Birthday Samantha!!!

You are the love of our life... xoxo Granddaddy and Gigi xoxo

Katie Roberson, a former student from Tallowood, shared with me one her essays for a recent Christian college application. I asked her if I could share a portion that really touched my heart.

There are those who thirst, those who are consumed by hunger, those who are imprisoned with eyes without sight and ears that cannot find sound. Every last soul crafted by the hands of God shall hear of His name. It is our mission as a family and foundation of Christ to prove to this dying world that kindness continues to dwell among the thresholds of those who have been rescued by love.

Love is not only ours to keep but to give away. It is a well submerged in a sea of compassion, grace and sacrifice that society today seems to sail by without recognition. Human nature so often forgets that love is not infatuation with lust, love is no amount of money, love has no relationship to judgement nor a companion to selfishness. Love is no amount of time nor an item which can be bought. Love is sacrifice. Love is now. When pieces break, when hearts are shredded, when all that is seen is a veil of black, what is better than that of God to unmask the translucent culprit of darkness? Love will defeat the absence of light. Behind such walls of temptation do we hide. Come and listen, unlock the heart, and let the light of God illuminate every fiber of your being. Through obedience will those walls submit to the hand of God.

Thanks, Katie, for a profound guest post!