Country Church Music - From the Heart

Greetings dear friends and family,

The journey has begun. Yes, our long awaited journey into Advent has finally begun. Are we prepared for what lies ahead? More importantly are our hearts prepared?

This time of year there are so many distractions. It seems as if we need to be many places at once. We hurry around and in doing so we become weary and we begin to stray off the lighted path and into the darkness.

But not all is lost. There is hope. Hope in the one who was born in the manger. Hope in the one who stands knocking at the door of our hearts, Jesus. And he will keep knocking until we open the door.

So this Advent season may we remember to prepare our hearts for what lies ahead. To spend time in solitude and prayer so our hearts will be ready to receive the precious gift of the Christ child. He was born in a manger so he could journey to the cross, for you and for me. And now we await his return. Are we prepared?

And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. 1 Thessalonians 3:13.

Let us pray: Come, dear Jesus, enter into our hearts and prepare them to receive you. Amen.

With love and prayers,

Diane

Greetings dear friends and family,

The day after Thanksgiving has become known as Black Friday. It is a day when great savings take place as people shop for Christmas. In the secular world it is often referred to as the beginning of the Christmas season.

There was another Black Friday. It was a day when great savings took place. On that black Friday, Christ saved our lives by dying on the cross. He paid the full price so we could receive the savings. That black Friday led to Easter morning and the glorious resurrection of our Savior, Christ the King.

Next Sunday Advent begins. In the Christian world it is a time of waiting as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ. That babe, who was born in a manger, is the true reason for the Christmas season.

For us a child has been born, a son given for us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Let us pray: Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heav’nly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

With love from the heart,

Diane

Greetings dear friends and family,

Our closing hymn at worship on Sunday was On Eagles’ Wings. It is a song that stirs the souls of many. As we began to sing the refrain I felt Mason, our 8 year old grandson, put his arm around me. As I put my arm around him and looked down, there he was, looking up at me and singing the refrain by heart. His face shone like the sun. In those tender moments on each refrain as we looked at one another and sang, it truly felt as if God was holding us in the palm of his hand.

How blessed we are that God loves us so much that he was willing to send his Son to die for us. We have been set free to love as he first loved us.

No matter what this life may bring, good or bad, we can trust that God holds us in the palm of his hand.

Next week we will gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. It is a time of remembering God’s faithfulness in our lives. May our attitudes be ones of gratitude, not just at Thanksgiving, but each and every day.

Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 6:1

Let us pray: Faithful and loving God, you hold us all in the palm of your hand. Help us to realize that you have given us faith enough to journey through each day. Thank you for the gift of your dear Son, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.

With love and prayers from the heart,

Diane

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Greetings dear friends and family,

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart. Those opening words from Psalm 9 have kept coming back to mind as I have been sitting here pondering this morning.

Try as we might, we fail at times to give thanks with our whole heart. Earthly distractions keep us from focusing heavenward. We begin to trust in ourselves and not in God. We forget that all we are and all we have comes from him.

Each week as we gather in worship we can regain our focus. We can let go of what weighs us down. Our hearts can feel the power of God’s forgiving love. We take the focus off of ourselves and turn back to God with thankful hearts as we join together in prayer and praise for the bounty of blessings that God bestows upon us. We can also rejoice and give thanks that he will walk with us no matter what we may face. We then are able to journey through the week, refreshed by his Spirit and empowered to live for him.

l will give thanks with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:1-2

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, give us hearts of thankfulness and praise. Teach us to see that when we surrender our hearts to you, it is then we become filled with your love. May we live as your children, ever thankful, ever loved by you. In you name we pray. Amen.

With love from the heart,

Diane

Greetings dear friends and family,

I recently watched a video that my dear Grandpa Kem was in. A video I had never seen before. As I watched the video it was his hands that my eyes were drawn to. He had very large hands and those gentle, loving hands often held mine when I was young. When my hand was tucked in his I felt safe. Grandpa was by my side.

As precious as those hands were, there is another pair of hands even more precious. Christ’s hands. Hands that were nailed to the cross for us. Hands that lead us in paths of righteousness. Hands that won’t let go, even when we do. Jesus is always by our side.

I have many wonderful memories of Grandpa to cherish. Memories not only of his hand holding mine, but also of mine holding his. Nearly eight years ago I had the privilege of sitting by his side and holding his hand as his earthly journey ended. And because of Christ’s hands he trusted and I trust also, that it was not the last.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3

Let us pray: Loving God, you sent your Son to die, with arms wide open and his hands nailed to the cross. He suffered for us, bearing our sins so that one day we will be united in heaven with you. Help us to use our hands in loving service as we journey through each day, bringing glory and praise to your everlasting name. Amen.

With love from the heart,

Diane