Girlfriends in God: December 30, 2013

Girlfriends in God: December 30, 2013

Submitted by Deb Ellis, "I love the message in today's GiG (Girlfriends in God) blog."

The One Way You Can Keep Opening the Presents

The One Way You Can Keep Opening the Presents

Submitted by Courtney Winkler, "Woman Blessing Julie Ford introduced me to the writings of Ann Voskamp, and I fell in love.  If you haven't read 1000 Gifts, add it to your list to read in this coming year.  You won't be sorry you did."

Isaiah 9:6-7

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

Which Christmas Eve Service Will You Be Attending?

Early Christmas Candlelight
Wednesday, December 18 at 6:30 with woman blessing Sue Busler
preaching (in the Sanctuary).

Christmas Eve Service Descriptions
Each of the Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
will include Christmas carols, special music, a
Christmas message from Rev. Dennis D. Price,
and a traditional candlelight ending with Silent
Night.

2:00 Family Life Center
Christmas music will be led with piano and small worship
ensemble. There will also be special music by the student
ministry band and other soloist.

4:00 Family Life Center
During this service, music congregation singing will be
accompanied with piano and keyboard. Special music will
include children’s ministry groups, kids choir, youth choir and
the Jr. Praise Band.

5:15 Communion Service in Sanctuary
This will be a brief time of Christmas Eve Communion in the
Sanctuary. All are welcome.

6:00 Family Life Center
Christmas Carols will be led by the worship band, worship
choir and special soloists.

11:00 Sanctuary
The final Christmas Eve Christmas Eve Service will be held in
the Sanctuary and music will be led by piano and organ.
Special music will be provided by the choir and other
instrumentalist.

Can't decide?  Attend more than one . . .

Daily Wisdom: Fill Heaven

"There is little good in filling churches with people who go out exactly the same as they came in;

    The call of the Church is not to fill churches but to fill heaven."

-Anonymous

 

Submitted by Carol Pigg

Intimacy

For all concerned, this is a PG blog post, but please keep reading anyway.  The hub and I are approaching our eleven-year anniversary.  For ten of those years, we have played musical beds due to my snoring and the birth of two baby girls.  Finally, this past year I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and now wear a nifty nose mask to bed in order to eliminate the snoring.  Thus, the hub and I have once again joined forces in our queen bed for the duration of the nights.

Now, instead of being woken due to snoring, the hub shakes me if my nose mask is blowing cold air on his back (this happens when the mask becomes dislodged on my face).  I adjust the suction mechanism on my nose, and we both return to our state of slumber.  

A couple of nights ago, I woke to the sound of snoring in my ear.  Literally, I was on my back (as the CPAP is most comfortable in this position), and his mouth and nose were targeted right for my ear.  Lying there hoping the noise would cease, I could not help picturing our situation as if I were standing from our bedroom door looking in at the view.  Doing this, I started to giggle, which, in turn, caused me to choke (opening one's mouth with a nose guard on during use results in loss of breath).  

In truth I was thinking, "Is this sexy, or what?"  The response in my mind was an unassailable, "Yes."  

Ecclesiastes 9:9
Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.

By Courtney Winkler

Girlfriends in God: Long Walk Part of Gift

Long Walk Part of Gift

Submitted by Deb Ellis, "This devotion came and it is the same scripture Dennis is preaching on for the month of December (and it’s about gifts).  How cool!"

UMW Collecting Items for Oasis Women's Center

United Methodist Women are holding a drive to benefit the women and children at Oasis Center in Alton for battered and abused women.  New underwear is a prized commodity at the center and would be greatly appreciated.  Pick up an extra package of womens, boys, or girls underwear or bras and put them in the box in the lobbies.  Size doesn't matter.  Paper products and large bottles of liquid detergent are also needed.  Contact Diane Jones at 288-7254 with questions.