Brain Dump

Silly observation. I was watching an old western flick, in color, so not as far back as black and white. The "hero" decided to ride a horse that doesn't want to be ridden. I know that some rodeo horses are natural buckers and love it. The scene used at least 2 different horses and possibly 3 or 4. The horse was required to do some dangerous stunts, like going over a rail and running into walls and bucking through a china shop. Then I noticed the one thing that made my eyes roll almost out of my head. Hey! Cowboy! The horse will stop bucking if you take off the bucking strap. Couldn't bring myself to watch any of the rest of the movie. 

Celebrate the New Year

Happy New Year?

Welcome to Holiday, USA, small town America, where nothing happens, except holidays... and maybe a little romance, if the hero and heroine trust God.

Officer Tim Black moved to Holiday for a change of scene. He never anticipated wanting to change his single status at the same time, but the lady refuses to even date him.

Sandy Foster moved to Holiday to escape her dysfunctional family, changing everything about her life. Finding someone who wanted to share her life holds a never-ending spot on her uninspiring list of New Year's resolutions.

The tiniest misunderstanding and the willingness to set pride aside might make the difference between spending the New Year alone and a Happily Ever After... 

http://www.amazon.com/Happy-New-Year-Holiday-USA-ebook/dp/B00HCQKGF4/ref=sr_1_1

For those who prefer paperback: Holiday, USA Anthology 2014

All four novellas published in 2014 are available in their entirety in paperback, including the covers on the back, for those who enjoy collecting a series.

http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-USA-Anthology-2014-1/dp/150773459X/ref=sr_1_6 

TBR 2025

151.  Christmas Wishes by Barbara Metzger Regency romance. I look forward to reading this humorous story every year. 

152. The Christmas Candle by Max Lucado fiction. Different from the movie. Or should I say the movie is based loosely on the book. A quick read. 

153. Christmas Secrets by Donna Hatch Regency romance. This is my last book on my Christmas reading list. Sweet and charming and fun. 

154. The Viscount's Christmas Wishes by Donna Hatch Regency romance. Adding to my Christmas reading list. Sweet and touching. 

155. Just Add Mistletoe (Everly Falls series Book 4) by Heather B. Moore romance. Cute inspirational. 

The New Year is coming.

Thanks to Donna Keevers Driver for creating this.

Thank Goodness It's Sunday

~ All things Christmas

~ Music and Stories 

~ Family and Friends

~ Feasts and Gifts

~ God's grace       

Brain Dump

With Christmas around the corner, I’ve seen a lot about pagan rituals and how Christians stole them because the pagans came before Christianity. No. No, they didn’t. Christianity is woven into the creation of the world. Jesus created it. Jesus existed before He was born on this planet. He lived to show us the way, following Him. He died to conquer sin and Resurrected to conquer death. He is the author and finisher of this world. He is the beginning to the end. Everything else is a copy or twist. 

Animals were sacrificed to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve. Animal sacrifices, a representation of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, continued down through the ages until Jesus offered Himself as the final physical sacrifice for sin. Thereafter, Jesus required a broken heart and a contrite spirit. 

This world is a three act play: Old Testament, New Testament, and from then to now with the final climactic ending being the coming again of Jesus Christ to reign on the earth. 

Did you know that Christian is not what the followers of Christ called themselves? It was a label created by unbelievers. The followers of Christ called themselves disciples and saints. Disciples and saints practiced the rituals Jesus started, the Sacrament and baptism, healing, teaching, sharing His words, and doing what He would do. As time moved on, they adopted the title Christian. They also adopted many traditions created by those around them, seeing the beauty and symbolism as it applied to Christ.

For the record, pagans or whatever you want to call anything that doesn’t follow Jesus twisted what God created to fit their own story. It continues, today, we just don’t call it paganism anymore, except as a specific sect. It has many names now. Perhaps the most common name we use is secularism, which tries to divorce God from His creation.

Jesus came first. He made paganism and secularism possible because He gives everyone a choice to follow Him or not. Those who choose not to will be separated from Him, from His light, His glory, His presence. They won’t be comfortable in His presence. How could anyone be comfortable in the presence of someone they derided or declared didn’t exist?

We are encouraged to embrace all that is good and beautiful because all that is good and beautiful comes from God. Is it really so difficult to believe that the merciful Lord inspired even those who don’t believe in Him to seek out light and goodness? 

A few examples: The evergreen remains green and living year around, like a true life centered in Christ. Jesus will come back to rule and reign on this earth dressed in red. Santa is the spirit of giving and joy. What the adversary means for evil, God is able to turn for good. Stockings and gift giving are all representative of all the blessings God gives us, small and large, every day. Followers of Jesus joyfully seek every little thing that reminds us of Jesus and His love and goodness and grace.

I’m able to be grateful to those who attempt to belittle and diminish and dismiss Christmas and/or Christ. They strengthen my faith because I know they are wrong. Even as they are wrong, God’s hand is stretched out still, beckoning, inviting. As long as there is hope for them, there is hope for me.

Celebrate the traditions, create new ones. Seek for every reminder of the goodness, mercy, and love of God. Christmas is more obvious, but in the dark of cold winter, we need the light and warmth of an everlasting Savior and Redeemer, Lord and King, born in obscurity for each and every one of us.

Merry Christmas

Luke 2:1,4-14 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

Christmas Eve

Matthew 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. 

Ready for Christmas?

Christmas Lost

The twelfth novella in the series.

Welcome back to Holiday, USA, small town America, where nothing happens, except holidays... and a little romance, if the hero and heroine trust God.

Townie Karen Little is the resident quintessential spinster. She's lived in the same house her whole life, more than half a century. She knows she's stuck, but her plans for the future blow up in her face, on a regular basis. Why risk being wrong again?

After six years, Holiday Diner's owner, Alexander Hamilton, is still a newbie and Holiday's most eligible silver fox bachelor. Being the catch of the day for the single women of Holiday makes his vow to never marry again a challenge. Why test the three strikes you're out rule?

Sometimes, so much time passes, it feels like God has forgotten, but He is moving all the pieces into place for the right moment...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BHC1CL9/ref=sr_1_1 

Holiday, USA Anthology 2016-17

All four novellas, 9-12, are available in their entirety in paperback, including the covers on the back, for those who enjoy collecting a series.

http://a.co/5ETTtmt 

 

Thank Goodness It's Sunday

~ Yummy meal and good conversation with my sister

~ Warm enough to open the door during the afternoons

~ New book by a favorite author

~ Get together with neighbors

~ God's grace      

Christmas Lost quote

Thanks to Donna Keevers Driver for creating this.