Since Rudolph won't make it this year...





I so want us to remember what this season is about. It's not about gift giving but about the Word made flesh. It's not about evergreen trees decorated, but about the Son of God being disgraced and disowned as He died on a tree for our sins. It's not about loving this winter and football season, but it is about:

John 3:16 "For God so aloved the world, that He bgave His 1conly begotten Son, that whoever dbelieves in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 "For God adid not send the Son into the world bto judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 "aHe who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

With a word God created the world. But it took the Word being made flesh to come and live, die and rise again to redeem us from our sins.

Will you remember the true reason for the season? Do you serve the Word made flesh or do you serve your flesh?

[The picture above came to mind when my oldest son put his deer parts on salt to preserve them. All it needed was a little light. What will you do with the light you have been given?]

sherman

A Beef with Christmas

I know this is a bit of a strange tilte and misleading, but I think you will understand as you read this section.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we processed our 5th Black Angus Beef. This is probably this best looking meat we have processed so far. The marbling in the meat was supurb. I have to think it was due to the wonderful grass growth this season. We didn't have to contend with a drought this year. So a special thanks goes out to Allelon Farm for doing such a fine job raising this animal.

It took us about 4 hours to finish up. The weather was cool, crisp and clear. A perfect day for processing.

Now for the Christmas part. We went and got our tree after the fellowship meal on Sunday. We proceeded to decorate the tree that evening. It was a wonderful time. In fact it was so much fun Laura decided to decorate it all over again on Monday.

The tree fell over Monday morning after I had left for work. So Laura and the boys had a job redoing everything. Thankfully we didn't lose any of our yearly ornaments even though some of them are glass.

We always look forward with great anticipation to this time of year when we focus on the cradle to the cross. Without the birth, death, and ressuraction we would all be without hope in this sin filled world.

Ephesians 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

sherman

Turkey, Family and Memories

I wanted to share a few pictures from Thanksgiving Day at Mike and Kristas house. We had all of the Mayhugh family there except Donald, Trisha, and Stephny plus youngins. We missed having them there.

It was good to see everyone. Although it proved to be too short. The kids really enjoy playing with their cousins.

Take time to renew old friendships and family ties this season. You never know when it might be your last chance. Our days on this earth are short. Too short to withhold love or to think you have tomorrow to set things right.

God only guarantees this moment and not another. Serve Him and Love Him with all that is in you. Love your fellow men and women even as you love yourself.

Dueternomony 9:15 "He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint.16 "In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end.
17 "Otherwise, you may say in your heart, 'My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.'18 "But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 19 "It shall come about if you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish.20 "Like the nations that the LORD makes to perish before you, so you shall perish; because you would not listen to the voice of the LORD your God.

sherman