Time for sadness, Time for joy

For all of you who are part of the Richardson East church, our hearts our saddened at the news that Morris James passed away last night. What a sweet, sweet man of God and servant of Jesus. We will miss him so much, but no where near as much as his sweet wife of 68 years Mildred. How difficult it would be to lose your life partner, but it has to be so much more difficult at this time of year. Our love and prayers are with Mildred and their son Larry. Steve and Morris always had this standing joke between them. I don't know how it ever got started but one or the other one of them would always say "I am looking for a good church do you know of one?" I am so very thankful that because of our Lord Jesus Christ we can also be full of joy in knowing that Morris is home with his Lord tonight. Wish we were there with him.

Last night our Life Group had a great Mexican dinner, great fellowship and a sweet time of celebrating the life of our Lord Jesus. I was touched by one particular reading and thought I would share it with you.

In Search of Our Kneeling Places
By Ann Weems
In each heart lies a Bethlehem,
an inn where we must ultimately answer
whether there is room or not.
When we are Bethlehem-bound
we can no longer look the other way
conveniently not seeing stars
not hearing angel voices.
We can no longer excuse ourselves by busily
tending our sheep or our kingdoms.
This Christmas let’s go to Bethlehem
and see this thing that the Lord has made known to us.
In the midst of shopping sprees
let’s ponder in our hearts the Gift of Gifts.
Through the tinsel
let’s look for the gold of the Christmas Star.
In the excitement and confusion, in the merry chaos,
let’s listen for the brush of angels’ wings.
This Christmas, let’s go to Bethlehem
and find our kneeling places.

Advent Week Three, Day Two

2 Corinthians 4:3-6
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.