This is the last time that we’ll spend a few moments together before you sit down with your family in church, around the Christmas Tree surrounded by presents or around the table in front of a turkey.
Thanks for visiting!
As I left you last weekend, we were getting ready to put up our tree and thanks to a very early start… it was up and mostly decorated by noon. That’s a cool story…
Christmas Tree 2018, 19, 20…
So we went with an artificial tree this year. It goes against our grain, but it’ll be nice to get it up early in coming years.
The cool part is this… the Lord practically gave it to us!
- It’s an 8′ (240cm) tree – Canada-size – compared to the 4′ trees we’d been getting.
- We got it for 1/2 price (the price of a 4′ real tree that will only last a couple of weeks).
For many people that might seem like a really small thing, but given the tight finances this month, that was a huge blessing for us. God specializes in both big AND small details!
Protests Turn Ugly in our Town
It’s been a long time since I told you anything about the Yellow Hand that Châtellerault is known for. It’s at the center of a roundabout and symbolizes the valience of the people here. But is wasn’t valiancy on display last Sunday.
Protestors had been slowing down traffic at this roundabout and highway entrance for roughly a month and authorities planned to expel them the next day – Monday morning.
One thing led to another and late Sunday evening we got word that the 24m (74′) tall structure was engulfed in flames.
I can’t say I was a huge fan, but it was surely a landmark. Now though, as a result of a collective rejection of authority, it’s just a charred mess and already 1/2 dismantled. Destruction is often the result of yielding to (or pursuing) rebellion… including spiritually.
Break & Enter Santa!
On a lighter note, it’s time to revisit possibly one of the funniest decorations that always pops up around Christmas… we call him the Break & Enter Santa.
Here you see the one hanging from the stairway where we went to visit Sis. Jeannette – an elderly saint who can no longer get out to services. More often than not, however, you see him hanging from a window sill or rain gutter on the out-side of houses… as if he were trying to break in.
Apparently French reindeer are also away protesting and the chimneys are all plugged! Here’s hoping Santa gets more than cookies & milk for all his trouble!
Christmas at Church
Tomorrow will be our Christmas service at church and it looks like several of the kids’ friends from school will be coming along with some folks from the community and possibly even a teacher or two. How exciting!
I’ll tell you more about it next weekend, but it’ll mainly focus on Christmassy music and the message of HOPE – something that many are looking for in a myriad of people, places & activities, but which can really only be fully known in Christ.
Please join us in prayer for tomorrow’s service.
Cool Coasters on ETSY
If you follow me on Instagram, you already know that I do a bit of crochet to fill empty moments from time to time. I like little projects because they work up quickly… hence the coasters.
I wasn’t making them for anyone in particular… I was just making them. and after giving quite a few as gifts, I still have some left over.
Those extra ones are for sale on Etsy and as a regular reader. I’m offering you a 20% discount on them (today ’til Saturday, Dec. 29 – just click “20% discount” or the photo immediately above).
I’m gonna leave it there for now
Thank you for stopping by today and for giving us the gift of your time.
God bless you and yours this Christmas.
“For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9.6
AIM Long 