Prayer Request

Please pray for my cousin's spouse, David, who has been admitted to the hospital with pancreatitis and gall bladder problems.  He has recently been moved to ICU, and my cousin, the one who has been bravely fighting cancer for over 5 years now, is not allowed to stay overnight with him.  It's very unsettling to have to leave him, wondering if he's going to be okay through the night.

Please pray for strength and healing and for much comfort for their entire family.  Pray that even when apart, each of them would know sweet sleep and that fear would not overwhelm them.  Pray that my cousin would not suffer any sickness from being at the hospital and that God would preserve her health that she might be a strong source of comfort to her Beloved.

With many, many thanks,

A Sweeter, Better Life

God never places us in any position in which we cannot grow. We may imagine that He does. We may fear we are so impeded by fretting petty cares that we are gaining nothing; but when we are not sending any branches upward, we may be sending roots downward. Perhaps in the time of our humiliation, when everything seems a failure, we are making the best kind of progress. Look on and look up. Lay hold on Christ with both your poor, empty hands. Let Him do with you what seems good to Him. Though He slay you, still trust in Him, and I dare in His name to promise you a sweeter, better life than you could have ever known, had He left you to 

drink of the full dangerous cups of unmingled prosperity.

~Elizabeth Prentiss, Thoughts Concerning the King

Christmas Day~Part 1

Because we took lots of photos, here's part 1.  You'll notice books were popular gifts...well, we just got a few of them.  Really, just a few.

Christmas Breakfast~Pizza Frittata

6 oz. softened cream cheese

6 eggs

 1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. each basil and oregano leaves

2 T. butter

1-1/2 c. chopped green peppers

24 slices chopped pepperoni (use your kitchen scissors!) :)

Beat cream cheese, eggs, salt and seasonings.  Melt butter in 10 inch ovenproof skillet (cast iron is great!).  Add vegetables, cook and stir 5 min.  Add cream cheese mixture and pepperoni. Stir well.  Cover pan and cook for about 5 minutes or until the center is almost set.  Then set under broiler for about 5 minutes until finished.

Enjoy!

With love,

The Gift of Gifts

"The Gift of Gifts"

Valley of Vision

O source of all good, 

What shall I render to you for the gift of gifts,
your own dear Son?

Herein is wonder of wonders:

he came below to raise me above,

was born like me that I might become like him.

Herein is love;

when I cannot rise to him he draws near on wings of grace,

to raise me to himself.

Herein is power;

when Deity and humanity were infinitely apart,

he united them in indissoluble unity,

the uncreate and the created.

Herein is wisdom;

when I was undone, with no will to return to him,

and no intellect to devise recovery,

he came, God-incarnate, to save me to the uttermost,

as man to die my death,

to shed satisfying blood on my behalf,

to work out a perfect righteousness for me!

O God, take me in spirit to the watchful shepherds,

and enlarge my mind!

Let me hear good tidings of great joy,

and hearing, believe, rejoice, praise, adore,

my conscience bathed in an ocean of repose,

my eyes uplifted to a reconciled Father!

Place me with ox, donkey, camel, goat,

to look with them upon my Redeemer’s face,

and in him account myself delivered from sin!

Let me with Simeon clasp the newborn child to my heart,

embrace him with undying faith,

exulting that he is mine and I am his!

In him you have given me so much that heaven can give no more.

HT: Theology for Girls

Merry Christmas~Take #1,230

Because we couldn't have you looking at the back of Claire's head.....

Merry Christmas!

Beware

...if sweet Claire tries to scratch your back.

:)

Hot Cocoa and Frame

It's just another thing I love about Little Big Man.  He's read through Chosen by God twice. Holiness by Ryle is one of his favorite books, and the first genre of books finished on his reading list was theology/Christian living.

So last week during the big snowfall, he exits the kitchen after lifting up his cocoa in one hand and Frame's Systematic theology in the other and says with a big grin, "Aah, Frame and cocoa!" 

 I wish I could have gotten a picture of the expression on his face!

"Therefore, theology is not just an interest or hobby that we can add to our list of favorite activities and diversions. It pertains to the whole of our lives, and must shape and inform our thoughts and activities in every sphere of our existence."
~Nathan Pitchford & John Hendryx