Tornado!!

 It seems strange to be thinking of tornados in December with temperatures close to 70,  but that is what has happened this past week. I am sure all of you have heard of the devastation this past week in this country. the weather forecasters seem to believe that the tornado  actually formed here in our little corner of NW Arkansas. We were under a warning with rotations all around us, but only got rain and a bit of wind. We sat on our daughter's patio and watched the lights of Prairie Grove go off - all was dark for a few minutes then they came back on again. Please pray for all of those who were in the path of this horrible destruction.

 Saturday our great granddaughters  and step great granddaughter were in basketball games. It had been many years since I was at a basketball ball (probably since I was in high school!) The girls are young- 8+, and really played a great game. It was fun to watch and see how these girls cam be really competitive while doing sports. Guess they are in normal life also. 

Kinsey preparing to pass the ball

Kinley tryng to steal the ball - sorry, but did not get a pic of Shelby who played in another round

I also did something that I had not done in ages - stringing cranberries for the outside tree. I wanted to also use popcorn, but was leery to do so because the squirrels would probably had raided the tree also!! I looked today but does not look like any birds have tried the treat yet, but the cardinals seem to b be hanging around more. 

stringing process - note to self - do not freeze the cranberries first - cold fingers

cranberry ropes on the tree

                                                                        the outside tree at night

                                                             even the cedar bushes sparkle

                     candles made from blocks of wood - they light up and look like they are burning

We went to the Prairie Grove Christmas parade on a cold night, but the little kids collected lots of candy! Santa was on a float (he is coming here for the kids Friday night, so my daughter needed t remind him to tell the girls he saw them at the parade!!). It was a really great parade for a small town - even the Grinch was there.

                                                           Grinch on his motor trike

Have you ever wondered why God chose Bethlehem for His son to be born? It was a small, no nothing town full of hard working folks.  It was foretold by the prophets that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem many centuries before He was born. Mary and Joseph did not live in Bethlehem, but because of the plan of His Father, Jesus was  indeed born there. I often thin of the many things that on the surface appear inconvenient to me are part of God's plan to get me to my Bethlehem. What to me seemed to be disappointments were actually steps to where He wants me to be. Bethlehem reminds us of what God promises - Bethlehem is a place of your providence.   What He has promised, He will perform. Make me a Bethlehem.

When Jesus came into the world we became aware of how valuable we are to Him. "Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests". Luke 2:14 God's hope for us to to find peace. Christ is the Prince of Peace. May the peace of God that transcends all understanding rest on you. There are ways in the Bible to understand Peace. There is peace with God. "therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand." Romans 5:1-2 The peace on earth that Jesus brought was for those who were in Christ. Because of that relationship we have peace and grace when we accept Jesus Christ. God brought forgiveness through His Son, thus we have reconciliation. We are objects of God's favor - children of God. Everything Jesus did was to establish peace with us. Accept God's terms - put your faith in Jesus Christ. There is also peace of God. God wants you to emotionally and physically experience God's peace. The peace of God is my restful assurance proving who God is and that He is faithful to do what He says He would do. God's got it!! Peace is a blessed experience in life especially in this chaotic world. Every time Jesus met with His disciples after the resurrection, He mentioned peace. We as Christians will suffer heartache in this world because of our beliefs, but be assured God will give us peace. No matter the situation Jesus put the Holy Spirit in us to give us constant assurance that God is with us.  Read Philippians 4:6-7. You can go to God in prayer and He will give you peace.  "You will keep in perfect peace those minds who are steadfast, because they trust in you". Isaiah 26:3. We have a blessed assurance of peace - but God will give you a perfect peace.