For Sunday, December 1st, 2024

 

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE 

SUNDAY DECEMBER 1ST, 2024

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades.  May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks,  and boring grays of your every day.

Slightly adapted from one of my morning devotionals

20 DAYS UNTIL WINTER 

In TEXAS

 Sunrise:    7;09 am

   Sunset:    5:32   

pm

WELCOME DECEMBER!

Life is a special  

occasion!

Hallmark!

The month of December is:  Adopt a Monkey Month, Aids Awarness Month, Bingo’s Birthday Month, Give the Gift of Sight Month, National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month,  and National Pear Month, National Tie Month, Operation Santa Paws, Safe Toys and Gifts Month, 

Universal  Human Rights Month, And Younsters on the Air Month.

Today is the First Sunday of the Advent Season, a time of preparation for the celebration of Christmas, and it’s often called Advent Sunday.  It is the first day of the liturgical year in the Western Christian Church.  The colors of the candles are usually jj3 violet, but I’ve seen some use blue, and one pink candle which is lit on the 3rd Sunday of Advent.

Advent dates differ but it is the Sunday after the first Thursday of December. Celebrate Advent today and light the first violet candle on your Advent wreath today.

If you can not find the bright side, polish the dull side

THOUGHT  FOR TODAY

The word advent means: expectation.  What advent can do for us is create a sense of hope.  

Louie Giglio

Hopefully today we’ll be lighting that 1st candle on our wreath, providing DD can find hers.  Slowly but surely she’ll have all of her Christmas decorating stuff out.  There are so many bins she is hoping to condense some so she doesn’t have so many next year.  I need to tell her when she packs them back away, that the one with the wreath should be marked: Christmas - open first.  

She did, however set up two trees in the house this year.  One in the living room, and another upstairs in the family room they use.  The one in the living room is fancier with new silver and blue decorations, the other is going to be more traditional with all of her old ornaments on it.   So it possible she’ll need more for the new stuff she got unless she gets rid of some of what she already had.  I don’t go upstairs very often at all.  So I may or may not see it.

I used to have 3 trees in my old house, but they were small table top trees which stayed prelit and decorated.  All I had to do is pull them out of the storage bin, and plug them in.  

I have a new little ceramic Christmas tree for my bed room.  I got it from a Sentsy booth at one of the market day fairs we went to and it has a place to put a wax melt in it for fragrance in my room.  So now when I light up my little tree it will make my room smell like sugar cookies.  

 I hope you all have a RELAXING Sunday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

The Lord is coming, always coming. When  you have ears to hear and eyes to see you will recognize him at any moment of your life; life is recognizing the coming of the Lord.

Henri Nouwen

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

12,923.For the Advent Season reminding us to prepare for Christmas

12,924.for beautiful Christmas trees and decorations

 12,925. for my daughter and all she does

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

 

Almighty and eternal God,

Protect our military

as they discharge their duties

with the shield of your strength,

may the power of your love

enable them to return home in safety

that with all who love them

they may ever praise you for your loving care.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters and EMT’s.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

At this Christmas when Christ comes, will he find a warm heart?  Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving others with God’s own love and concern.

Mother Teresa 

a smile,a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma