At the brink...

As we stand on this side of the end of this year my prayer is that this year will stay where it is–in this year. If God chooses to give us 2011, I hope you'll leave 2010 behind. Any sadness and any disappointments need to be left behind. Yes, even the joy. You can't live on the joys of yesterday or yesteryear. Joy must be something we obtain from the Lord on a daily basis, not something we try to live on from another day in our past. Sure we can enjoy those memories, but we need joy for today. Get it from the Lord. He is there for us. He is there to give us strength for today, hope for today and joy for today. Let's grasp those as He hands them out to us on a daily basis.

I hope your journey to the new year finds you with an empty backpack ready to collect all the Lord has for you in 2011. May He bless you and strengthen you and remind you of His presence daily.

Christmas with the Beemans

Christmas is a special time of gathering for the Beemans. I grew up listening to the Christmas story read out of Luke's gospel, chapter 2, praying and then opening gifts. Each Christmas we did that. I am thankful my father insisted on doing that. Sometimes we'd even read a different translation. Always, it was to help us focus and remember who we were celebrating. What a joy!

My prayer for you is that you will be able to stop, focus and be thankful for what God has done in the sending of His only Son. Thanks be to God for His marvelous gift!

Thankful

I'm thankful today for a church who has sensitive and caring people who love each other and their pastor. What a church!! God has placed me in a place to serve Him where I feel I don't deserve to serve. Wow. Thank you for all that you do, God. You are awesome.

I'm praying for us all during this Christmas season. Don't forget there are some who are hurting over the loss of a loved one. Minister to them. Pray for them. Love on them. They need to know someone remembers.