Country Church Music - From the Heart

Greetings dear friends and family,

Happy New Day! No, it’s not a mistake. I’m wishing you a Happy New Day.

Each and every morning we receive a new beginning, a fresh start to a new day. It is a gift from God. Like the thick new blanket of snow that now covers our back yard, we too are covered. We are covered by the warm and loving blanket of God’s mercy and grace. Unlike the blanket of snow, God’s blanket will not melt away. His love covers us for all eternity.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians13:13

Let us pray: Loving God, each day we begin anew, blanketed by your merciful love. Help us to remember that you have given us faith enough for the journey that we are on and that our hope lies with you. May we love as you have loved us. In your name we pray. Amen.

Have a blessed Happy New Day today and every day.

With love and prayers from the heart,

Diane

Greetings dear friends and family,

“Come and see.” That was our pastor’s invitation to someone who had asked him how things were going at our church.

As this season of Advent nears an end, we are being invited to the manger. We are being invited to “Come and see.” Come and see what the angels were proclaiming. Come and see what amazed the shepherds. Come and see what the star that shone so brightly over Bethlehem what pointing to. Come and see what brought such joy to Mary’s heart.

So come, let’s go! We have been invited to “Come and see.” And as we quietly approach the manger and peer inside, may our hearts be filled with wonder, joy, and amazement at what we see……the baby Jesus. But remember, we must not linger there too long. For it is there at the manger the journey begins. The journey that leads to Calvary and the reason Jesus came.

As we prepare to enter the blessed season of Christmas, may our hearts be filled with and reminded to share the peace, hope, and love of the dear Christ child.

But the angel said to them. “Do not be afraid; for see-I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12

Let us pray: Be near me Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay close by me forever and love me I pray. Bless all the dear children in your tender care and fit us for heaven, to live with you there. Amen.

I wish each of you a blessed Christmas season.

With love from the heart,

Diane

Greetings dear friends and family,

As I sit here typing I can see some of the lights on our tree in the front yard. Each little light brightens up the space around it and together they fill the darkness with light. But what if there were only one little light? And what if that one light had to do all the work? There would not be much light would there?!

We are like those little lights. Each of us has been given gifts to use to help light the way. Each of us is to light up the space around us and together fill the darkness with light.

So as our Advent journey continues may the light/love of Jesus that is in our hearts help to spread, peace, hope, love, and joy to others as we await his return. O come O come Emmanuel……….

No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but on a lampstand and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:15-16

Let us pray: Continue to fill our hearts with your love dear Jesus, so that we shine brightly for you. Amen.

With love from the heart,

Diane

Greetings dear friends and family,

Several e-mails have arrived in my inbox warning me to watch and be alert. They continue to advise me to prepare for a winter storm that is coming.

During this season of Advent many of the bible readings are filled with reminders to be alert and to prepare for the coming of Christ.

Are we prepared? Are we alert? Do we heed the warnings of God’s Word?

In a few weeks we will celebrate Christ’s birth. But we must remember that his birth was just the beginning. We need to look ahead. We need to focus on the journey that Christ took for us. A journey of love, that led him to the cross. There he died for our sins, was buried, then rose from the dead and returned to the Father. And now we await his return.

While we wait we have choices. We can live for ourselves or we can live for Christ. The choice is ours. Daily may we choose wisely, remembering that it is our souls that are at stake.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.” Mark 13:32-33.

Let us pray: Help us dear God to listen to the warnings, to be alert and prepared. Pour into our hearts a desire to live for you, to reach out and care for one another just as you care for us. In your everlasting name we pray. Amen.

With love and prayers,

Diane