He Is Good

You are my God, and I will give You thanks;

    You are my God, and I will exalt You.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;

His love endures forever.

Psalm 118:28-29, NIV 1984

God Is Love and Love Came Down

I love this time of year - the pretty lights, dark nights, Christmas music, sparkling decorations, cold weather, hot chocolate, presents, and happy smiles. It is a season of celebration. Everywhere you turn there is a reminder to celebrate! There is a purpose to this season, a reason to be joyful and have hope.

I started listening to Christmas music over a month ago. Why? Because it is never too early to celebrate our God coming to earth! What wondrous love God has shown us in sending His Son!

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:7-9, NIV 1984).

Love came down. God sent His Son, Jesus, the Messiah. Immanuel. God With Us. Prince of Peace. Bread of Life. Light of the World. Savior.

Jesus came to earth as a baby. The God of the universe came to dwell among fallen people - doesn't that just astound you? Doesn't it make your heart sing? God loved us so much that He came down to live among us and save us from our sins. He lived and suffered as we do. He was tempted, yet was without sin. He was a perfect and holy sacrifice, and He willingly gave His life to redeem all who will believe.

Love came down, died for us, and rose again. If that isn't a reason to listen to celebrate, then I don't know what is.

My prayer for you today, dear friend, is that you will know the mercy and grace of God, that you will have His peace and joy in your life, and that this Christmas season you will truly celebrate God coming to earth.

I like the Love Came Down collection from DaySpring because the items are not just beautiful decorations, but they have words that express the meaning for the celebration of this season. Every piece of this collection is a reminder that Jesus came to earth, a reminder to celebrate.

One of my new favorite items is this  reversible Table Runner. It is just beautiful! Our table is too small for this large table runner, so instead I am using mine for a tree skirt. It works very nicely, I think!

DaySpring has provided me with these lovely items in exchange for a story/review post.  All words and opinions are my own. I appreciate these items from DaySpring very much, but I do not have enough space to use them all.  I would like to give these Tea Lights and Advent Calendar to one of my readers!  Just leave a comment to enter.  A winner will be chosen and notified by email on Monday, November 26th.

* This giveaway is now closed. *

Pecan Pie, Purple Ribbons, and Thanksgiving

This summer I discovered that Adelaide really likes to bake.  We had some special times together as we made pies and zucchini bread.  I love to bake, but don't often get to do so because it is too energy consuming.  I either need a really good day or a lot of help to get baking done.  This summer Will was able to help me a few times, and it was so much fun! Will did most of the walking around the kitchen to get the ingredients I needed, while Adelaide and I sat at the table to stir, pour, mix, sprinkle, and roll.

Pie crust was especially messy and fun!

There was a reason for all of the pie baking.  For many years I have wanted to enter something at a fair, and our county fair in August was the perfect opportunity!  My Gramma's pecan pie recipe is my favorite ever, and I knew that I wanted to enter pecan pie.  I made some practice pies a week before, and then I made a pie for entry on the day of the fair.  I was really hoping for first place in my pie category, and I anxiously awaited the judging results that were coming the next day.

I was delighted to learn that I didn't get first place in my category, but I received a purple ribbon instead!  That means that my pecan pie, using my Gramma's recipe, was the best of all the pies at the fair.

I think I was the only grown up who took pictures with her ribbons at the fair.  

I was just too excited to let this picture opportunity slip by. :)

We entered many other items at the fair too.  I entered some crocheted hats that I had made for Adelaide.  I also entered okra, kale, and tomatoes from our garden.  Adelaide entered a flower and a picture she colored.  William entered Lego projects and lots of produce from our garden and his Grandpa's garden.  You can see that William received a purple ribbon too!  That was for Wealthy Apples.

This week we have been enjoying some of the summer produce that was preserved by canning or freezing.  We've had vegetable soup, corn, and zucchini bread.  The vegetable soup stock and corn comes from Grandpa and Grandma's garden.  The zucchini for the zucchini bread was from our garden.

Tomorrow I plan on making a pecan pie for Thanksgiving.  We have had this pie many times for Thanksgiving over the years, but this is the first time that we can say it is a prize winning recipe!

Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving

           

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is He who made us, and we are His;
    we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving
    and His courts with praise;
    give thanks to Him and praise His name.
 For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
    His faithfulness continues through all generations.

               Psalm 100 (NIV, 1984)

               

Strong, Firm, and Steadfast

"The God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:10, NIV

Photo Credit: Tim Green

William's Baptism

This summer William decided that he wanted to be baptized. Our church held a baptism service at Camp Shetek, and William was baptized in the lake. Will had the privilege of baptizing him. What a joy it is to watch William grow in the Lord and choose to follow Him. I am delighted to have William as my son and as my brother in Christ. Here are some pictures of William from the day of his baptism.

Pastor Ryan, William, and Pastor Will

 William was one very happy boy that day!

4 Generations of Godly Men

William's great grandparents were able to come to his baptism that day!  Having 4 generations of Lundys there was pretty special. 

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" (3 John 1:4, NIV).