Welcome Back!

The new year dawned hopeful.
Thoughts and thanks were recorded here.
Then someone highjacked our email.
Suddenly the wrong message was being sent out in our name all over the place.
We panicked and apologized.  Embarrassed.
We hope now we've made the necessary correction.

I think about God.
Does He ever feel hijacked because the wrong message is being sent out in His Name?
Does my message, as a Christian, ever embarrass Him?
Do my actions sometimes cause Him to have to apologize for me?
Might the goings on in my house sometimes betray the cross by my door?
Do I break the heart of the One who bore the shame of the cross for me
when I send out the wrong message in His Name and cause others to block Him from their hearts?

I confess my failures, Lord.
Please forgive me.
Help me to make the necessary corrections,
even if they take time and are complicated and
even if I have to ask someone to help me
and I feel foolish and inadequate.

"Be gracious to me, O God
according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of
Your compassion blot out
My transgressions."
(Psalm 51:1)

Thank You, Lord, for "The Joy Dare:  One Thousand Gifts in 2012":
January 19:
*a grace in the kitchen:  our fruit stand full of apples and bananas and oranges and grapefruit
*a grace in the weather:  a beautiful blue January sky on a cold clear day
*a grace that might never have been:  our "AC" children ("after chemotherapy"):
John Victor, Margaret, and Benjamin

With gratitude,
Sally

Always

"Rejoice in the Lord always;
again I will say, rejoice!"
                           (Philippians 4:4)

No matter what the days of 2012 hold for us,
whether delight or devastation,
we can rejoice.
Always.

We can rejoice each day
because God is good
and God loves us
and His mercies are new every morning
and because
God is with us!
Every day.
Always.

Thank You, Lord, for:
1801.  a brand new year
1802.  realizing I have recorded this many gifts from the Lord
1803.  a children's sermon question that gave me a way to say what I needed to say
1804.  fear subsiding
1805.  Ann's encouragement for resolutions
1806.  worshiping with Christa and Nicole early on the first morning of the new year
1807.  remembering In the Image of the Maker
1808.  Blessings and Laura Story's smile that kept coming as she sang
1809.  walking into the new year with Little Darlin'
1810.  a new Upper Room and the stillness of the sanctuary

Rejoicing,
Sally

Rejoice!

"We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."
                                     (Romans 5:2)

Thank You, Lord, for:
*a good night's sleep
*ambrosia
*Little Darlin's new harness collar working well on our walk
*a beautiful sunny day
*a long rainy gray Christmas day
*driving Joseph back to Savannah
*time alone to wander in a bookstore
*JV, M, and B packing up to go
*looking at New Year's cards
*looking back and looking forward

With gratitude,
Sally

Merry Christmas

What is the gift I can give to You, Lord?

Be true.

Speak the truth in love.

Keep my commandments.

Love one another.

Please help me, Lord.

Thank You, Lord, for:
*early Christmas morning alone with You
*Christmas together
*giving and receiving
*Ben up first
*that I had gotten tickled too
*my dear Mama
*healthy children
*lighting the Christ candle
*Your Word
*gifts from the heart

With gratitude,
Sally

Joy!

Joy really is:
Jesus
Others
Yourself

Joy to the world the Lord is come!

Thank You, Lord, for:
*early morning Christmas Eve shoppers greeting with "Merry Christmas"
*finding just the right things
*preparing the feasts
*welcoming friends--old and new
*a houseful of kids and pets
*Sarah's great ginger cookies
*Sarah and Ben going with me to Savannah
*JV and Margaret helping Vic here
*Margaret having supper ready when we got homes
*Vic's reminders of Mama

With gratitude,
Sally

Lord of Peace

"May the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance.
The Lord be with you all!"
                                             Thessalonians 3:16

Thank You, Lord, for:
*morning coffee at the table at Tybee with Dad
*devotions on the upstairs swing
*a long walk on the beach two days before Christmas
*meeting Dad on his morning run
*Victor's pain easing enough for him to sleep
*our annual Christmas girls' lunch
*JV and Ben leaving a note
*JV Christmas shopping for the first time
*wrapping elves
*"Doodley-Poo"

With gratitude,
Sally

Mercies

"It is of the Lord's mercies
That we are not consumed,
because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning:
great is thy faithfulness.
The Lord is my portion, saith my soul;
therefore I will HOPE IN HIM."
                                          
                         Lamentations 3:22-24

O God,
Help me to hope in You alone.

Thank You, Lord, for:
*Daddy
*Dr. Miles and his peaceful, lovely office
*similar stories:  Dr. Miles and Dad
*low country boil at Christmas
*Lee watching the pot and watching the sunset at the same time
*Margaret helping Victor shop
*Sarah and Ben doing my big grocery shopping
*making fudge for Dad
*Joseph calling and coming
*no place to park at the Nettles' house

With gratitude,
Sally