A GREAT MAN

Martin Luther
Martin Luther earned his Bachelor's degree at the age of eighteen, and his Master's three years later. After nearly being killed by a lightning bolt, he left law school behind and entered the monastery. He is most famous for his challenges to the church's theories of buying indulgences, or "paying your way" to Heaven through good deeds. This philosophy became the basis of the Protestant church. He died after a series of visits to Mansfeld to negotiate ownership of his family's copper mines.
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THE WORD OF GOD

Bible Readings for January 20
January 20: Luke 15, Genesis 27:1-45, Psalm 20

A CHANGE OF HEART

Wright softens Obama stance in sermon
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright appears to have softened his hard feelings toward his former parishioner, U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, observers said.

In a sermon delivered Monday to attendees at Howard University's chapel in Washington, Wright -- who criticized Obama before the election for distancing himself from him after a 20-year pastoral relationship in Chicago -- instead praised him for making history, ABC News reported.

"He was able to do what nobody of African decent was ever able to do in the 211-year history of this country," Wright told churchgoers. "The Lord stepped into his story and gave him a new attitude."

In an interview with ABC after the sermon, however, Wright continued to voice anger at the network, which was the first to air clips of fiery sermons in which he denounced racism in the United States. The sermons were seized upon by Obama's opponents and prompted the candidate to break off his relationship with Wright's Chicago church.

"It was so unfair to my family and ended up hurting my daughter and it was unconscionable," he said. "ABC started a mess that was unconscionable."

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.

GOD IS THE WAY

Obedience - Key to Blessing
For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Romans 2:13 KJV



It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going.

2 Cor. 5:8 MSG



Meditation 1/11 - 17: Walk by faith - 2 Cor. 5:2-10 MSG
We live by faith

The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less.

That's why we live with such good cheer. You won't see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don't get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we'll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.

But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that's what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. Sooner or later we'll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what's coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5:5-10

PRAISE FOR THE NEW DAY

PRAISE BE TO GOD! TODAY IS A NEW DAY. TODAY WE BEGIN TO LIVE AGAIN AS WE DO DAILY - BEGINNING FROM THE BEGINNING WITH A PRAYER OF THANK YOU TO THE MOST HIGH FOR LETTING US SEE THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY.

REJOICE IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT ALL THINGS ARE POSIBLE BECAUSE YOU ARE ALIVE. ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOU WOKE UP TODAY. ALL THINGS HAVE MEANING BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO SHARE THE LOVE WE HAVE WITH OTHERS.

PRAISE AND HONOUR TO THE MOST HIGH.
ALLELUIA.

MUCH LOVE ALWAYS,
BRENDA

THE THREE KINGS

Today we celebrate the THREE KINGS in Mexico with the exchange of more gifts. I guess that the children really love that one because it meant that there was at least one more present to open.

So who were these three kings and why are they important?

If we read the bible we are told that three wise men came from afar bearing gifts for the King that they found in a manger where he laid. They had followed a star to that location and they knew that they would meet there the King of all Kings. In fact they told this to the king at that time and he was furious and told them that once they found this child to return to his palace so he could get the direction and go give his homage to this king also. Of course, they knew he met to injury the baby so they never returned to give him the information and thus, many male Jewish babies were killed in Pharoah's hope that he would kill the King that would replace him. Jesus was spared and grew up to be the Saviour of all Mankind. HE IS THE REASON WE HAVE THE SEASON.

We celebrate the gifts of the Magi, the gifts of the three Wise Men or the gifts of the Three Kings. We celebrate the officail notie of the birth of the KING, our Lord Jesus Christ.

And glory be HIS name forevermore. AMEN.

A PRAYER OF THANK YOU

Dear Lord,
We thank you for the arrival of another year. Thank you for family and friends who made 2008 all it was and for being with us through thick and thin.

Help us to grow in love and happiness this new year. Help us to reach out to others and to learn to love one another.

Dear God, we are blessed with your most holy love and we tr=hank you for everything. From the air we breathe evey morning when we awake to the stasrs and moon we see at night before we go to bed. Thank God, for being there for us in our time of need.

Bless all our loved ones and those whom we have wronged or who have done us wrong.

Amen

HAPPY NEW YEAR, CAROLYN AND CIARRA

Dearest Carolyn,
This was the first year I was unable to be with you all for Christmas and New Years Day is here and I am filled with so much love and wishes for you. Daughter, you have been and will always be the joy of my life. You have been loved from the moment I found out I was carrying you in my womb. The love your father and I had for each other and the love we had when you arrived was special.

Over the years I became a single parent and that did not stop me from seeing you through high school, Sixth Form and University. Today you are thousands of miles away in Georgia, USA but you remain in my heart as the ray of sunshine that has brightened and guided me over the years.

I wish you all the best, Bibs. If Tia Brenda and Chichi were alive I know they would be so proud of all that you have achieved. I know that I am proud of you and have always been proud of you. Your successes are my successes. Keep on attaining that star that shines in your eyes and heart.

As we move into 2009, I look forward to seeing you and being with you. Keep on smiling and joking and being the best friend a mother could ask for. Baby girl, you are my greatest achievement. You are the best poem I have ever written, the best song I have ever sung and the best speech I have ever given. Reach for the unreachable and remember that you can be all you want to be.

Just say I CAN and you will be surprised at how much you will be able to do.

I love you and always will.
Mama



Ciarra, my little princess,
From the first moment I held you in my arms I knew you were grandma's girl. You are my joy and my peace. You are my blooming lily, my walking happiness. God Bless you my little angel. You are loved and you are cared for. Keep on making us proud of you. Keep on smiling and keep on learning.

Your journey of life has just begun. You have much to achieve and you will!

I love you and I miss you.

Grandma's special little star, know this: I will always be there for you. Reach out and take my hand.

All my love and kisses,
Grandma Brenda

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!

For all my friends and readers of this blog: HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM MY HOME TO YOURS!!
God Bless and Keep you all safe.