Lord, I thank You that into the deep engulfing darkness of this world You have come as a light that can never grow dim. All the world has to offer doesn't hold a candle to the light of your presence. You are a radiant fire that illuminates the shadows of our souls and warms the coldness of our hearts. Just like the Wise Men who followed Your light to find You, I, too, have followed Your light and found You. Now, because I believe in You, Your light dwells within me forever. I have found the way of truth, and my darkness will never be the same. Thank You, Lord, that You can be found by those who seek You. Thank You that those who follow You will never walk in darkness.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
God's Promise to Me:
I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. --Jonn 8:12
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Our 6th and final celebration!
This documentary was so good. It pointed out lots of things from Matthew 2 that I hadn't realized was even there. 9 clues that the Star of Bethlehem was a real event! Very interesting. Very inspiring. Very informative.
We had dinner first. I made chili dogs from a recipe in my trusty cook book. Linda brought the potato chips (which I forgot to put out, so they didn't get eaten. Sorry, Linda), and Susan brought orange jello. We finished off the pie from our Christmas dinner. Susan, Linda, Jeremy, Dad and I were here. It was good to see Jeremy show up.
Karen called while we were eating and cleaning up. She sounds so sick.
We prayed for Janet for her birthday. And all the rest of the Eve's on the planet, too!
Then Jeremy went to see what his friends are doing, and Dad went downstairs to watch football, and Susan, Linda and I watched a movie.
Susan had to be home by 7:00 so Jean could go to mass, and Linda had to go, too, since Dad gave them a ride home. Jeremy took the car they came in.
If you did not get a chance to watch these DVD's, I highly recomment that you try to watch them sometime when ever you can. They surely are worth the time you spend with them. We all did enjoy this time together with each other - and with you! This was our last one.
We had dinner first. I made chili dogs from a recipe in my trusty cook book. Linda brought the potato chips (which I forgot to put out, so they didn't get eaten. Sorry, Linda), and Susan brought orange jello. We finished off the pie from our Christmas dinner. Susan, Linda, Jeremy, Dad and I were here. It was good to see Jeremy show up.
Karen called while we were eating and cleaning up. She sounds so sick.
We prayed for Janet for her birthday. And all the rest of the Eve's on the planet, too!
Then Jeremy went to see what his friends are doing, and Dad went downstairs to watch football, and Susan, Linda and I watched a movie.
Susan had to be home by 7:00 so Jean could go to mass, and Linda had to go, too, since Dad gave them a ride home. Jeremy took the car they came in.
If you did not get a chance to watch these DVD's, I highly recomment that you try to watch them sometime when ever you can. They surely are worth the time you spend with them. We all did enjoy this time together with each other - and with you! This was our last one.
Friday, December 28, 2012
"The Star of Bethlehem"
Sunday is Janet's birthday! And it is our 6th - and final - time to get together and ponder the greatness and majesty and miracle of the birth of Jesus. This film is "The Star of Bethlehem" by presenter Rick Larson, from the producer of "The Passion of the Christ" - Stephen McEveety. I previewed it today, and it is really an interesting, amazing and thought-provoking documentary about the actual star that led the Magi to the Christ child in Bethlehem. Is it possible that the star was a real, astronomical event? This presentation, as seen by tens of thousands in the U.S. and in Europe, explores the exciting truth of scripture and reveals the eveidence for God's existence as seen in the stars above. Discover the secret of the Star - - a secret of magnificent beauty . . . www.bethlehemstarmovie.com
See you Sunday! Hope you can see this one.
See you Sunday! Hope you can see this one.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Our celebration tonight
We had a great time today at our advent celebration family time. Susan and Linda and Dad and I were here. Was anyone else with us today?
The DVD was so good. Louie is a great preacher. He told us about the Christmas Story from Luke, chapter 2, in a way I've never heard it before. If you didn't get a chance to see it today, you could go to google and google it in and watch it on the internet anytime.
We ate dinner first. I made meatloaf with a recipe from my cook book I've been having so much fun with. Also some creamed potatoes with peas, and a raspberry salad. Susan brought cookies. Linda brought rolls and carrots. Everything was so delicious.
Then we watched the movie "Faith Like Potatoes". It was quite good, too.
Next week we will have our final celebration. This one will be "The Star of Bethlehem". Very appropriate for after the birth of Christ. It is a documentary on the Star. Very interesting. You can find that on the internet, too.
Linda and Dad are at the airport right now picking up Jade and Jeremy. It will be so good to see them. I am sick, so Dad wouldn't let me go. It is too cold outside - only 4 degrees! Brrrr. I'm on my way to bed. G'nite everyone. Sweet dreams.
Oh - and be sure we keep praying for Tammy and Terry. And Karen texted Chuck to tell him she couldn't talk 'cuz she's sick, too. Please pray for her. She will be going to Bev's for Christmas if she can feel good. The roads are very nasty to get here for Christmas. And she only gets tomorrow afternoon (Christmas Eve) until Christmas day at 5:00 off. Not enough time to come here, anyway. I'm so thankful that Bev has invited to her join them. So nice of you, Bev!
The DVD was so good. Louie is a great preacher. He told us about the Christmas Story from Luke, chapter 2, in a way I've never heard it before. If you didn't get a chance to see it today, you could go to google and google it in and watch it on the internet anytime.
We ate dinner first. I made meatloaf with a recipe from my cook book I've been having so much fun with. Also some creamed potatoes with peas, and a raspberry salad. Susan brought cookies. Linda brought rolls and carrots. Everything was so delicious.
Then we watched the movie "Faith Like Potatoes". It was quite good, too.
Next week we will have our final celebration. This one will be "The Star of Bethlehem". Very appropriate for after the birth of Christ. It is a documentary on the Star. Very interesting. You can find that on the internet, too.
Linda and Dad are at the airport right now picking up Jade and Jeremy. It will be so good to see them. I am sick, so Dad wouldn't let me go. It is too cold outside - only 4 degrees! Brrrr. I'm on my way to bed. G'nite everyone. Sweet dreams.
Oh - and be sure we keep praying for Tammy and Terry. And Karen texted Chuck to tell him she couldn't talk 'cuz she's sick, too. Please pray for her. She will be going to Bev's for Christmas if she can feel good. The roads are very nasty to get here for Christmas. And she only gets tomorrow afternoon (Christmas Eve) until Christmas day at 5:00 off. Not enough time to come here, anyway. I'm so thankful that Bev has invited to her join them. So nice of you, Bev!
Friday, December 21, 2012
Soldier Brian - Staff Sargeant in the 1st Infantry Division - the Big Red One.
Our next Advent celebration - Sunday, Dec 23
This week's film - "The Twelve Words of Christmas" - Louie Giglio - is so good. I do hope all of you can find it on the internet. Or at the store. I may have given some of you this one, so go look in your DVD library, too. The scripture for it is the Christmas Story in the bible - whatever book you want to read it from. Pot-luck. discussion. Post comment on here when you are done. Even if you haven't been able to see any of the previous DVD's, watch this one. It's about an hour.
See you Sunday!
P. S. Did you all receive the prizes I sent you? What did you think?
See you Sunday!
P. S. Did you all receive the prizes I sent you? What did you think?
Brian's blog
Look to the side panel and find Brian and click on it. It's quite interesting. Good pictures. Thanks, Brian. And Bev is on there, too. I wish we could hear from Bev sometimes on here. Anyway, go read those and all of the ones on the side panel, if you want to.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Advent Celebration #3 - Dec 16, 2012
What a wonderful afternoon and evening it was today. First we ate. I made a turkey. It was delicious. Linda brought mashed potatoes and cookies. I also made some sweet potatoes. And I made a peach bavarian. I found this recipe in my recipe book and it was really good!
Then we watched the part 2 Louie Giglio film "HOPE - When Life Hurts Most". It was very timely with what has happened this week in the school in Connecticut. Very consoling. Louie is good. Dad thought it was the best one yet!
Then we drew the names for the prizes. I will be mailing them out tomorrow.
Thanks for participating, all who did. Four down and two to go! Next week is "The Twelve Words of Christmas" - Louie Giglio.
Then we watched the part 2 Louie Giglio film "HOPE - When Life Hurts Most". It was very timely with what has happened this week in the school in Connecticut. Very consoling. Louie is good. Dad thought it was the best one yet!
Then we drew the names for the prizes. I will be mailing them out tomorrow.
Thanks for participating, all who did. Four down and two to go! Next week is "The Twelve Words of Christmas" - Louie Giglio.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Advent celebration #2
This film was so good - "How Great is Our God". Very powerful teachings on life and the universe and the miracles we are - There surely is a God. An awesome God! I love lamenin!
We enjoyed a meal of corn chowder and bisquits and chicken and chocolate cupcakes. Very good. I took some pictures to post of us enjoying the cupcakes - Susan requested that we do that. Now I can't figure out how to get the pictures onto the computer so I can put them on here. Somehow I'll do it, just give me a day or two.
We discussed the film and then we watched the movies "Analyze That", and a movie called something Moon. (I can't remember the name of it!) The last one was such a good movie. Linda brought it home from Minnesota.
All in all it was a great time and a good celebration.
Next time our film will be "Hope" - Louie Giglio again.
We enjoyed a meal of corn chowder and bisquits and chicken and chocolate cupcakes. Very good. I took some pictures to post of us enjoying the cupcakes - Susan requested that we do that. Now I can't figure out how to get the pictures onto the computer so I can put them on here. Somehow I'll do it, just give me a day or two.
We discussed the film and then we watched the movies "Analyze That", and a movie called something Moon. (I can't remember the name of it!) The last one was such a good movie. Linda brought it home from Minnesota.
All in all it was a great time and a good celebration.
Next time our film will be "Hope" - Louie Giglio again.
Monday, November 26, 2012
First Advent Celebration
Did any of the Hanson's get to participate in the 1st one? If so, or if not, go to my blog and post your feelings and thoughts about it. And read other's comments, I hope. At least I have one on there! http://momsblog-lonnie.blogspot.com/
Sunday, November 25, 2012
This was our Advent celebration - 1st one
We were going to gather at 3:00. Linda and Susan showed up at 2:00. Linda thought it was 3:00. Her clock was wrong. But, oh well - we got an extra hour of time with them!
Our dinner turned out so good - after we got it all done and started the meal. Linda brought a Papa Murphy's pizza called Cowboy Pizza. It was delicious! She cooked it in our basement oven, as I was getting my corn casserole ready to cook in the upstairs oven and they were different temperatures. She put hers in and I put mine in and we had the pizza as an hors deuvre before the main meal. Dad brought Chicken Cordon Bleu, which he put in the downstairs oven after Linda's pizza came out of the oven. Susan brought her famous brownies. Yummy. She was wishing we had thought to get the camera out so we could have taken a picture of everyone eating her brownies and enjoying them so much! And then put that picture on here. Next time. I made the corn pudding casserole. If you want the recipe I'll post it. And Dad's recipe for the Coron Bleu, too. The dinner was very good, and we had all we needed and wanted. Worked out good for not knowing what the other person was bringing!
After that we read some of the scriptures that were mentioned in the film. I knew what they were because I previewed the film first. I meant to post those on here, so everyone could pre-read them, too. They came alive when we watched the film. And after you watch it, they would still be very meaningful scriptures to read. Here they are (late better than never, right?): For the film titled "Indescribable" -
I thought the film truly is indescribable. How can we, in our human minds describe a God who is so big, who has everything in His hands. How can I ever understand His undying love for me, little ol' me?
I loved the ending of it when Louie showed the picture of the cross in the middle of the galaxy! Indescribable. That whole film is amazing.
We ended with prayer. We prayed for you!
And then we had popcorn while we watched the movie "Analyze This".
How was your first Advent celebration?
Next week we'll have the film "How Great is Our God". I sure do hope you all can find these films somewhere and have a blessed Advent with us!
Next Sunday - 3:00 P.M. - Hope to see you here!
I'll post the scriptures for How Great Is Our God so you can all read them ahead of time. If you own the DVD they are in the case of your DVD - in the discussion questions.
Our dinner turned out so good - after we got it all done and started the meal. Linda brought a Papa Murphy's pizza called Cowboy Pizza. It was delicious! She cooked it in our basement oven, as I was getting my corn casserole ready to cook in the upstairs oven and they were different temperatures. She put hers in and I put mine in and we had the pizza as an hors deuvre before the main meal. Dad brought Chicken Cordon Bleu, which he put in the downstairs oven after Linda's pizza came out of the oven. Susan brought her famous brownies. Yummy. She was wishing we had thought to get the camera out so we could have taken a picture of everyone eating her brownies and enjoying them so much! And then put that picture on here. Next time. I made the corn pudding casserole. If you want the recipe I'll post it. And Dad's recipe for the Coron Bleu, too. The dinner was very good, and we had all we needed and wanted. Worked out good for not knowing what the other person was bringing!
After that we read some of the scriptures that were mentioned in the film. I knew what they were because I previewed the film first. I meant to post those on here, so everyone could pre-read them, too. They came alive when we watched the film. And after you watch it, they would still be very meaningful scriptures to read. Here they are (late better than never, right?): For the film titled "Indescribable" -
- How do we know God is indescribable: Psalm 19:1-2
- We can't fully comprehend how vast and powerful God is. Psalm 33:6 . . . That is pretty amazing when you think that light travels at the speed of 186,000 miles per second.
- Nothing can truly compare with the unrivaled supremacy of God. Isaiah 40:25-26
- Psalm 8:4-5 We are significant insignificance.
- Philippians 2:5-8 The Creator of our indescribable universe came to live on our little planet. Why?
- Astronomical grace - the sacrificial gift of His son, Jesus. How do you react to psalm 103:8-10
I thought the film truly is indescribable. How can we, in our human minds describe a God who is so big, who has everything in His hands. How can I ever understand His undying love for me, little ol' me?
I loved the ending of it when Louie showed the picture of the cross in the middle of the galaxy! Indescribable. That whole film is amazing.
We ended with prayer. We prayed for you!
And then we had popcorn while we watched the movie "Analyze This".
How was your first Advent celebration?
Next week we'll have the film "How Great is Our God". I sure do hope you all can find these films somewhere and have a blessed Advent with us!
Next Sunday - 3:00 P.M. - Hope to see you here!
I'll post the scriptures for How Great Is Our God so you can all read them ahead of time. If you own the DVD they are in the case of your DVD - in the discussion questions.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
We are the sheep, He is the Shepherd
Mom asked me to post this for her - it's great! Take a look!
http://tndickersondiaries.blogspot.com/2011/02/and-we-think-were-so-smart.html
http://tndickersondiaries.blogspot.com/2011/02/and-we-think-were-so-smart.html
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
2 Corinthians 5:15-18
I came across this wonderful scripture tonight as I was reading my bible - after a hard day. I'm not feeling too well, today. Have a lot of pain. And the news of the day is so hard to watch. Then this:
(I am writing it in first tense, or the "I", instead of the "we" it is written in - I personalized it. For you, too)
"The grace of God that is being given to more and more people will bring increasing thanks to God for His glory.
So I do not give up. My physical body is becoming older and weaker, but my spirit inside me is made new every day. I have small troubles for awhile now, but they are helping me gain an eternal glory that is much greater than the troubles. I set my eyes not on what I see but on what I cannot see. What I see will last only a short time, but what I cannot see will last forever."
Wow This has given me such encouragement! I will read it often. Does it encourage you, too?
(I am writing it in first tense, or the "I", instead of the "we" it is written in - I personalized it. For you, too)
"The grace of God that is being given to more and more people will bring increasing thanks to God for His glory.
So I do not give up. My physical body is becoming older and weaker, but my spirit inside me is made new every day. I have small troubles for awhile now, but they are helping me gain an eternal glory that is much greater than the troubles. I set my eyes not on what I see but on what I cannot see. What I see will last only a short time, but what I cannot see will last forever."
Wow This has given me such encouragement! I will read it often. Does it encourage you, too?
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Saturday, November 3, 2012
God fights on behalf of His children
Psalm 35:22 and 23 says: "Lord, you have been watching. Do not keep quiet. Lord, do not leave me alone. Wake up! Come and defend me! My God and Lord, fight for me!"
As I was praying today about the battles in my life, I had such a revelation of "God fighting on behalf of His children". I wrote down what He said to me and I know it is for all of us: (As I wrote, more came and when I re-read it, here is what God said to us):
You feel unsafe and unsure.
You don't like to be alone.
You're frightened, and fear limits the joy you experience in your life. You feel trapped in a useless and scarey place. What are you afraid of? Pain? Rejection? Are you afraid of making a mistake? Of getting hurt? Of getting a horrible disease?
. . . Did you know I am never afraid, worried, anxious or never driven with terror? Did you know that your Lord is at peace - always? Did you know my Spirit - the same as in Me - lives in you?
I have built a wall of protection around you so that the invisible dragons of the night will not harm you . . .
I save you from the troubles and dangers of the daytime. I am for you. Who can be against you?
But you worry.
You worry because of past experiences when you were hurt. You are afraid to be hurt agin. You are afraid I won't keep my word. You are afraid I don't care about you. But I do care. Every hair on your head is numbered.
. . . See Me surrounding you and keeping you from evil. See Me bringing you up out of a horrible pit, lifting you gently out of the quicksand of fear and worry. See yourself completely safe, with your feet upon a rock, established in the ways of God."
Isn't this encouraging? Isn't it beautiful? When you face battles in your life write them in a prayer journal. Wait on the Lord and watch him fight the battles for you and then record his victory in your journal. This will build your faith.
I am reading and re-reading the book I gave all of you - "Healing Where You Hurt - On The Inside". It is so good, and a lot of this word from God written above was what I had heard and read in this book. Are you reading yours? I was wondering if you weren't interested in it and did not plan to read it, if you could return it to me. I could give the book to another person. But, mostly, I want you to read yours. I know it can be helpful to each of us. It's the best book I've read on the subject.
As I was praying today about the battles in my life, I had such a revelation of "God fighting on behalf of His children". I wrote down what He said to me and I know it is for all of us: (As I wrote, more came and when I re-read it, here is what God said to us):
You feel unsafe and unsure.
You don't like to be alone.
You're frightened, and fear limits the joy you experience in your life. You feel trapped in a useless and scarey place. What are you afraid of? Pain? Rejection? Are you afraid of making a mistake? Of getting hurt? Of getting a horrible disease?
. . . Did you know I am never afraid, worried, anxious or never driven with terror? Did you know that your Lord is at peace - always? Did you know my Spirit - the same as in Me - lives in you?
I have built a wall of protection around you so that the invisible dragons of the night will not harm you . . .
I save you from the troubles and dangers of the daytime. I am for you. Who can be against you?
But you worry.
You worry because of past experiences when you were hurt. You are afraid to be hurt agin. You are afraid I won't keep my word. You are afraid I don't care about you. But I do care. Every hair on your head is numbered.
. . . See Me surrounding you and keeping you from evil. See Me bringing you up out of a horrible pit, lifting you gently out of the quicksand of fear and worry. See yourself completely safe, with your feet upon a rock, established in the ways of God."
Isn't this encouraging? Isn't it beautiful? When you face battles in your life write them in a prayer journal. Wait on the Lord and watch him fight the battles for you and then record his victory in your journal. This will build your faith.
I am reading and re-reading the book I gave all of you - "Healing Where You Hurt - On The Inside". It is so good, and a lot of this word from God written above was what I had heard and read in this book. Are you reading yours? I was wondering if you weren't interested in it and did not plan to read it, if you could return it to me. I could give the book to another person. But, mostly, I want you to read yours. I know it can be helpful to each of us. It's the best book I've read on the subject.
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