Monday Quote

True Christians consider themselves not as satisfying some rigorous creditor, 

but as discharging a debt of gratitude. 

~ William Wilberforce 

 

Sunday Scripture

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

Saturday Links

After discovering the Cowboy Channel, found this on YouTube by accident and made me laugh: 

https://youtu.be/T6YnchLbVXw?si=t-oFKjPAlI41zuyl 

Another Denise Balog post sharing poetry, scripture, and pictures of Israel:

https://denisebalog.wordpress.com/2025/12/15/unshakable-rock/ 

God bless.

 

Favorite Book Friday

In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon's story of Americans who pledge to ask themselves, before they do anything, "What would Jesus do?" and then do it. An opportunity for self-reflection and recommit myself to following their example in following Him.  

 

Thankful Thursday

Service opportunities

Worshiping with other Believers

Re-reading favorite books

Blessed rain 

Volunteer alyssum in bloom 

Butterfly enjoying my lantana  

Warm and cozy fireplace

Warm enough in the afternoons to open the front door 

God's grace

for King and Country - World on Fire - ASL version

 https://youtu.be/OIEd3E1DvUc?si=X0hoEi_J1A7ZjxJO

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Quote

What the adversary meant for harm, God will turn for my good because the Great I Am is able to create beauty from ashes. Jesus defeated the adversary for Himself when the deceiver thought to tempt Him. Jesus defeated the adversary for all of us when He suffered in Gethsemane, died on Calvary, and rose from the dead. If I am asked to walk through trials and turmoil, I know God is with me. He is able to deliver me. If He does not, He has a different purpose for me that requires I align my will to His. He is good, and just, and merciful. I am His child, and He loves me. He is trustworthy.

 

Sunday Scripture

Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

 

Saturday Links

Over at Meeting Jesus with Donna Stearns, she shared sweet encouragement:

https://believe4147.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/a-writers-heart-praying-for-one/ 

My God My Music My Life shared Packing Christmas Away:

https://mygodmymusicmylife.com/2026/01/03/packing-christmas-away/ 

God bless. 

 

Favorite Book Friday

The Best Laid Plans (A Huntresses Novella) by Sarah M. Eden Regency romance. While this is listed as a stand alone story, it includes characters from other series. It was a fun read. Now I want to read the other series. Well played, Sarah M. Eden. Well played. 

 

Thankful Thursday

Blessed rain 

Fresh scent of cut grass 

Church

Opportunities to serve and help others

Warm and cozy fireplace 

Soft blankets

Favorite books 

Knowing God is mindful of me 

Visiting a dear friend

Blessed rain, again

God's grace

The Piano Guys - Love Me Like I Am

https://youtu.be/Kn9mCwezTGU?si=bOkYPTB29RO_Z7QX 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Quote

"'Come as you are,' a loving Father says to each of us, but He adds, 'Don’t plan to stay as you are.'" 

- Jeffrey R. Holland 

 

Sunday Scripture

Psalm 9:1 (To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David.) I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

 

Saturday Links

Sandra J's Photography shared Wide Lens info, exploring the camera, even the phone camera:

https://intothelightadventures.com/wide-angle-lenses/ 

I always enjoy an occasional dose of horses, like The Backyard Horse Blog:

https://thebackyardhorseblog.com/2025/12/08/snow-days-2/ 

God bless. 

 

Favorite Book Friday

A Wager on Love (Wedding Wagers Timeless Regency Collection Book 11) by Donna Hatch Regency romance. Sweet story.

The Final Wager (Wedding Wagers Timeless Regency Collection Book 11) by Heather B. Moore Regency romance. Nail-biting to the end.

An Improbable Wager (Wedding Wagers Timeless Regency Collection Book 11) by Michele Paige Holmes Regency romance. Loved this charming story. Keeper. 

 

Happy New Year 2026

Happy New Year

Visiting with friends and family

Worshiping with fellow believers

Pretty enough to open the door in the afternoons

Fun

Beauty

New books 

God's grace

Donny Osmond - Any Dream Will Do

https://youtu.be/z5Lg4trPUJc?si=myju-hqBKIQ_sISV 

 

New Year's Eve

Tuesday Toss Up

With Christmas freshly around the corner, I’ve seen a lot about pagan rituals and how Christians stole them because the pagans came before Christianity. No. No, they didn’t. Christianity is woven into the creation of the world. Jesus created it. Jesus existed before He was born on this planet. He lived to show us the way, following Him. He died to conquer sin and Resurrected to conquer death. He is the author and finisher of this world. He is the beginning to the end. Everything else is a copy or twist. 

Animals were sacrificed to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve. Animal sacrifices, a representation of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, continued down through the ages until Jesus offered Himself as the final physical sacrifice for sin. Thereafter, Jesus required a broken heart and a contrite spirit. 

This world is a three act play: Old Testament, New Testament, and from then to now with the final climactic ending being the coming again of Jesus Christ to reign on the earth. 

Did you know that Christian is not what the followers of Christ called themselves? It was a label created by unbelievers. The followers of Christ called themselves disciples and saints. Disciples and saints practiced the rituals Jesus started, the Sacrament and baptism, healing, teaching, sharing His words, and doing what He would do. As time moved on, they adopted the title Christian. They also adopted many traditions created by those around them, seeing the beauty and symbolism as it applied to Christ.

For the record, pagans or whatever you want to call anything that doesn’t follow Jesus twisted what God created to fit their own story. It continues, today, we just don’t call it paganism anymore, except as a specific sect. It has many names now. Perhaps the most common name we use is secularism, which tries to divorce God from His creation.

Jesus came first. He made paganism and secularism possible because He gives everyone a choice to follow Him or not. Those who choose not to will be separated from Him, from His light, His glory, His presence. They won’t be comfortable in His presence. How could anyone be comfortable in the presence of someone they derided or declared didn’t exist?

We are encouraged to embrace all that is good and beautiful because all that is good and beautiful comes from God. Is it really so difficult to believe that the merciful Lord inspired even those who don’t believe in Him to seek out light and goodness? 

A few examples: The evergreen remains green and living year around, like a true life centered in Christ. Jesus will come back to rule and reign on this earth dressed in red. Santa is the spirit of giving and joy. What the adversary means for evil, God is able to turn for good. Stockings and gift giving are all representative of all the blessings God gives us, small and large, every day. Followers of Jesus joyfully seek every little thing that reminds us of Jesus and His love and goodness and grace.

I’m able to be grateful to those who attempt to belittle and diminish and dismiss Christmas and/or Christ. They strengthen my faith because I know they are wrong. Even as they are wrong, God’s hand is stretched out still, beckoning, inviting. As long as there is hope for them, there is hope for me.

Celebrate the traditions, create new ones. Seek for every reminder of the goodness, mercy, and love of God. Christmas is more obvious, but in the dark of cold winter, we need the light and warmth of an everlasting Savior and Redeemer, Lord and King, born in obscurity for each and every one of us.

A whole year lies ahead to prepare.  

 

Monday Quote

Thanks to Donna Keevers Driver for creating this.