Welcome 2016

The years just seem to fly by - yesterday was only last year, but 1961 seems like just yesterday!!! The strange thing is that I seem to remember all the years since then - what a marvelous thing our brains are.

During the Christmas season we blessed to be a part of the program at Emmanuel First Baptist Church of Alton, where our friend Ida, who is an amazing servant of God attends. The church presented a program for the children whose parent/parents are incarcerated. There are about 700 of these children in the Valley which are divided up  by various churches in order for these kids to have a Merry Christmas as well as to understand the true meaning of Christmas and the enormity of God's love for them. Another RV park where we have chaplains donated homemade stockings filled with surprises for the kids - the Texas Baptist Association donated presents for all of them. Again, these are the only presents that the kids received this Christmas. After a time of prayer, worship music, and a short skit put on by the kids with the help of Ida, the presents and stockings were distributed and received by the families with thanksgiving in their hearts. We reminded them that all of this is possible because of the glory of God. 

church ladies making 125 dozen tortillas

the reason for the season

Emmanuel First Baptist Church of Alton - built by its congregation

a singing pastor and his son

the kids presenting their program of "the perfect Christmas card"

the homemade stockings - enough for all

sparkling eyes and smiles of thanks

time to check out the stockings

It has been cold and rainy here in S Texas which has many folks in the park sick with the flu, colds, etc. I did my turn last week, and now Fred has his turn, although he did not get the cough I had. Last week when I missed church services, I felt as if something was missing from my day (it was - especially the fellowship of other Christians). Yesterday evening we decided to make chicken soup for today- a perfect rainy cold day meal. We got started a bit late, finished at 9:30 PM, but enjoyed the effort we made for dinner today. In Sunday School, we found out that others had the same idea!!!!! Our class on discipleship has grown as most people have arrived here in the park. It is so enlightening as everyone in the class participates and we have many points of view. Next week our services are going to be video taped and placed on the web. I'll let you know the web address so you too can be blessed by Chaplain Lee.

 

Chaplain Lee reminded us this morning that we indeed are a body of Christ especially when we join together in prayer.  Sometimes we forget that Christianity is an everyday process as we try to live in God's word everyday. God's Word, the Bible, brings life to our life.

 

Did you know that there is a difference between murder and killing??? Murder is usually done out of anger and with a thought process involved. In the Old Testament, killing  was getting rid of evil - in the New Testament it is a spiritual battle against evil (Satan). Even thinking evil against someone is a sin, just as calling someone worthless or a fool makes you subject to judgement. Each and everyone of us is a value to the Lord. We stumble and fall every day as we go through life being angry at someone for something. Let us be able to admit that we are wrong at times, even if we are right. The Old Testament holds to the fact that you actually had to commit a sin to become a sinner - the New Testament tells us that that all we have to do is think about it to become a sin. Following the Bible is difficult for all of us - we need wisdom and help from other Christians.

 

This coming week pray for those who do you wrong (or you think did you wrong) - the person who cuts you off in traffic, the clerk who seems distant and does not seem to care about you, the neighbor who ignores you because they are having a bad day, or even your spouse who misunderstands you for the moment. God's grace calls for us to change.