Preparation for Christmas

Each fall it seems that stores put out Christmas decor sooner and sooner. I was disappointed this year when stores opened up on Thanksgiving Day afternoon for "Black Friday" shopping.

My preparations have been...my house has been decorate, and a few Christmas presents have been purchased. 

But the true preparations are in my heart. Christmas is the birthday of Jesus. The lights on the tree remind me that Jesus is the light of the world. The tree points toward heaven, my future home. Under the tree is a nativity scene. There are shepherds and farm animals along with Mary and Joseph surrounding Jesus. 

It just makes sense to me that Jesus is the focus of the season. There are plenty of seasonal decorations around my house, but may my heart always center on Jesus...the only reason for the season.

Advent sends me back to the first coming of Jesus...but Advent also points me forward to Jesus returning on Judgment Day. May the LORD keep me in His tender care until then..

2 Peter 3:10,11

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives” 

God bless your Christmas preparations...

STACK UP! 2012

We had fun!!!

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Saying Goodbye

Miss Birr has been with us since mid-September. At the end of next week, we'll be saying "goodbye" to her. She came to us as a dedicated "student", but is leaving as a dedicated "teacher."

Her love is math, but she has taught all of the subjects with enthusiasm. The students have learned to trust Miss Birr, and they will miss her when she's gone.

I've enjoyed watching both Miss Birr and the 4th graders learn from one another. She has done a wonderful job helping individual students when they struggled. Many long hours have gone into creating lessons for the SmartBoard. She helped coach girls' volleyball and enjoyed it. In other words, she has been a very busy person.

Miss Birr will make a fantastic teacher. The school to which she is assigned will be blessed.

Praise and thank the LORD for His gifts of dedicated, Christian teachers.

Deuteronomy 32:3

 
I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!

Coats and Forgiveness

The weather has gotten a bit chillier. The 4th graders have been good about wearing their coats...mittens are another story! Perhaps they like cold hands!

I had an extra winter coat. Actually, it was new last year...maybe the year before. But the arms were a little snug when I wore a sweater underneath. That made my arms cold while outside for recess duty. So, now I have a new winter coat...I look like a dark blue marshmallow. But the coat is warm and snugly! It's wind resistant, also. That really helped this past week with the edge of the hurricane winds.

The old coat went to "Coats for Kids." Giving a coat away to someone who needs it reminds me of what God did for us. We don't need coats...but we do need forgiveness. A gift that Jesus was willing to give, free of charge. Praise the LORD! He chose us to be His! Thank You, LORD!

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

May God grant you and yours a blessed week.