Psalm 113

Blessed be the name of the LORD From this time forth and forevermore!

                                    

From the rising of the sun to its going down

The LORD’s name is to be praised.

vs.2-3

Prayer

"I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting"

1 Timothy 2:8

"Paul tells us to pray with confidence and certainty.  That is the attitude God wants us to have- to know that he is going to answer.  We don't know how he is going to answer, or when he is going to answer, or where he is going to answer.  But we know without a doubt that he will answer."
-Taken from Falling in Love with Prayer by Mike MacIntosh

And the LORD said to him: “I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 1 Kings 9:3

Romans 15:4-6

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.  May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,  so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (NIV) 

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”

Charles Swindoll

Psalm 71:19

"Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God,

You who have done great things.

Who, O God, is like you?"

(NIV)

"You spread out the skies

Over empty space

Said, "Let there be light"

To a dark and formless world

Your light was born"

-Wonderful Maker

Merry Christmas!

We've been waiting all year (literally, we love Christmas) for this special week! We are looking forward to heading home and seeing family and friends! The long 22 hr. over 2 days drive will be greatly rewarded when we arrive Thursday evening to hugs from people we love dearly. We are looking forward to seeing the sweet faces of our nieces and nephews (all 6 of them) and pouring on them love and kisses! All for the most special celebration- the Birth of our Savior! As I was buying and preparing gifts for the ones I love, I couldn't help but think of the greatest gift of all- He was born 2000 years ago in manger and lived to die for us! One of my favorite Bible stories is told by Luke in the 2nd chapter of his gospel and it goes like this:

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

Luke 2: 8-14

As we enter this most wonderful celebration let us remember the real reason for the season- Jesus and his birth and all that he has done for us!

And as we say here in Texas...