FOR OUR HEROS IN THE MILITARY

When you are making out your Christmas cards include one or more cards for our men and women serving in the military. 

Address them as follows.

A Recovering American Service Person

c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center

6900 Georgia Avenue N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20307-5001

THE BELL

THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God’s child (John 1:12)
I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord(1 Cor. 6:17 )
I am bought with a price(1 Cor. 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ.  (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth ( Matt.5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ(1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant ( Phil.3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God(2 Cor.5 :17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God( Rom.8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor.1:21-22)
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28)
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God’s temple (1 Cor. 3: 16 ).  I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God’s co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God’s workmanship(Eph. 2:10 )
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected.  (Phil 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col. 1:14). I have been adopted as God’s child(Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
who you are!?


“The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn His face towards you
and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26

MARY’S PRAYER OF PRAISE

 And Mary said,

   I’m bursting with God-news;
      I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.
      God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
      I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!
   What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
      the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
   His mercy flows in wave after wave
      on those who are in awe before him.
   He bared his arm and showed his strength,
      scattered the bluffing braggarts.
   He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
      pulled victims out of the mud.
   The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
      the callous rich were left out in the cold.
   He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
      he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
   It’s exactly what he promised,
      beginning with Abraham and right up to now.  Luke 1:46-55

1 Samuel 2:1-10 …Hannah’s Prayer

1 Samuel 2:1-10  …Hannah’s Prayer

 1 Then Hannah prayed and said:
       “My heart rejoices in the LORD;
       in the LORD my horn (strength) is lifted high.
       My mouth boasts over my enemies,
       for I delight in your deliverance.

2 “There is no one holy  like the LORD;
       there is no one besides you;
       there is no Rock like our God.

 3 “Do not keep talking so proudly
       or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
       for the LORD is a God who knows,
       and by him deeds are weighed.

 4 “The bows of the warriors are broken,
       but those who stumbled are armed with strength.

 5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
       but those who were hungry hunger no more.
       She who was barren has borne seven children,
       but she who has had many sons pines away.

 6 “The LORD brings death and makes alive;
       he brings down to the grave  and raises up.

 7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth;
       he humbles and he exalts.

 8 He raises the poor from the dust
       and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
       he seats them with princes
       and has them inherit a throne of honor.
       “For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s;
       upon them he has set the world.

 9 He will guard the feet of his saints,
       but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.
       “It is not by strength that one prevails;

 10 those who oppose the LORD will be shattered.
       He will thunder against them from heaven;
       the LORD will judge the ends of the earth.
       “He will give strength to his king
       and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

Prayers of Praise

“I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good.  I will praise you in the presence of your saints.”  Psalm 52:9

“Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.  You alone are the Lord.  You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them.  You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.”   Nehemiah 9:5-6

“I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.  I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”   Psalm 9:1-2

Proverbs 31:10-30 (THE MESSAGE)

Proverbs 31:10-30 from The Message 

A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises.
She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking.
She’s quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise:  “Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all!”
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.  The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!    Festoon her life with praises!

Prov.31 states that a virtuous  woman is worth more than rubies, she is trusted, does good & not harm, works with her hands, takes care of her family’s needs, shops wisely, serves others, uses her God-given gifts with business, she is strong & every time she works a full day into the night, helps the poor and needy, she is respected by all.

There is nothing mentioned about the virtuous woman’s outward appearance. the inner qualities are far more impressive. Even though her outer clothing was fine linen & purple, strength & honor were her real clothing. True beauty came from inner strength of character & cannot be bought or applied with expensive clothes or beauty creams. The end description of the wise woman included her children blessing her  & her husband complimenting her. The key to her success was that she feared the Lord and worshipped Him.