Our Gift

It's Christmas week. Are you ready?

Jesus is coming!

We are in last-minute preparations - gifts, grocery shopping, sending cards & letters, cleaning, adorning our homes in Christmas attire - many preparations.

But, are you ready?

Jesus is coming! Yes, Jesus!

The King of Kings. The Lord of Lords. The Prince of Peace.

Prepare your heart. Make a place at your table. Invite Him. Receive Him.

The baby Jesus is coming - to you, to the world.

Unwrap Him as you would your other gifts. Show Him off to all your family & friends. Embrace all of what He brings to you. His Love. His Peace. His Rest. His Grace.

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

JOY TO THE WORLD, CHRIST THE SAVIOUR IS COME!

12 Days of Christmas

Hi Everyone ~

If you're in the middle of Christmas preparations or just getting started, I wanted to share a Christmas blessing that's sure to add fun to your Holiday festivities along with keeping you focused on Christ and His Christmas blessings for you.

Karen Ehman, Proverbs 31 Ministries, is hosting 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway on her website. Even though it's Day 11 -- it's not to late to "catch up" and enter in this Giveaway bonanza of Christmas fun! You can go back to Day 1 - you have until midnight EST, Dec 11th to comment & enter.

Each day, she features a guest writer from the Proverbs 31 ministry team and offers a chance to win that day's giveaway to those who comment. If you comment on all 12 days, you are entered in for the grand prize gift.

To join in the fun, click on the button to the right which will take you to her website or click here.

It's like Christmas before Christmas - Enjoy!
Jodie

Jeff

My post today is in tribute to Grant's longtime friend, Jeff. We just came home from his memorial service...remembering and celebrating his life with his family and many friends.

Grant and Jeff were childhood buddies, "joined at the hip", as Jeff's mom would often say. They did all kinds of fun stuff together, got into all kinds of trouble and stood up for each other at their 1st weddings. As life happens, they eventually lost touch.

God had other plans...April 2010, Jeff and Grant connected again.

We learned Jeff was surviving stage 4 lung cancer, diagnosed in 2007 and at that time only given 4 to 6 months to live. In May 2010, I met Jeff at the fundraiser his family hosted for him as a way to raise financial support for him. Grant & I were blessed to spend our 30th wedding anniversary with Barb & Jeff up at their lake home near Mille Lacs. This summer, Jeff & Grant planted 400 tree seedlings on his mom's property with the hope to replant them in the woods to grow up and become trees for eagles to nest in.

He was a man who lived life to the fullest. He had this great smile and laugh with this wonderful sense of humor. AND he loved coffee! He was a role model to many boy scouts. If he had an idea, he would pursue it - he didn't know the word "I can't". He loved nature and loved the land his parents built their house on in Randolph - the Property. That's where his service was at today. As we were just getting past Randolph, it started snowing - how beautiful it was. We were out in the woods - winding road with trails into the woods and benches to sit on. We raised the United States Flag - as he loved the USA. We said the Boy Scout Oath and Motto. Memories, tributes, and pictures were shared as we all sat outside amidst the large flakes of snow falling down. Oh, how he loved to sit and watch the snow fall. His ashes were buried up on the small hill to the side of the house. It was a day celebrated as Jeff would have wanted it.

Lord, thank you for the friends you bring into our lives to enrich our life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jeffrey Scott Maltby Visit Guest Book

Was born on November 29, 1954 Passed away November 27, 2011 Jeff died peacefully after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Jeff was preceded in death by his father; Wendell Maltby. Survived by his loving mother, Patricia Maltby; his children, Jon and Melissa Maltby; grandson, Tyler Maltby; his significant other, Barbara Matthews; mother of his children, Susan Krohn; his siblings, Kris (Mick) Brogan, Greg (Judy) Maltby, Kathy (Neil) Scharmer, Steve (Jan) Maltby. Barb's children, William (Sonja) Matthews, Kerry (Isaac), and grandchildren, Adelynn and Nora Marsolek; and many family and friends. Jeff was a lifetime scouter, avid volunteer and leader with Kaposia District of North Star BSA. Jeff loved being outdoors working to educate children about science in nature and he had a passion for flying airplanes. His memorial will be held at 949 Sciota Trail, Randolph, MN 55065 on Saturday December 3rd, 2011, 2PM-4PM with a service at 2:30 PM. http://www.legacy.com/

One Day

The Power in One Day ~

I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection to bring glory to God.

Colossians 4: Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.

Romans 15: 5, 6 ~ Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 17: 17-19 ~ Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

Psalm 91:1 ~ He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 25:5 ~ ...guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long.

Our days are filled with so much activity & busyness. We, at times, just go about our day doing our thing and often times miss our opportunity to see God at work - to witness first hand His power. Each day holds "His Power" at hand for us to witness & experience. He Is!

~A life given to Jesus.

~A young woman touched because you noticed her new hair style.

~A cashier who is so appreciative that you acknowledged her working on Thanksgiving.

~The loss of a good friend, who touched so many lives because 'he cared'.

~A hug and 'I love you' from your dad - for the 1st time that you could ever remember.

~An answered prayer that testifies to God's greatness as only He could have brought the healing - the miracle.

What does one day hold for you?