Haiku My Heart

Though hidden by clouds
So amazing is our God
His grace is poured forth.

So we must say, "Yes"
Listen to his beckoning
Accept his summons.


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Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

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The First Christmas Club

Citizens Loan & Savings Company Certificate
Originally uploaded by London Tom

How do you pay for all the expenses of Christmas--the gift-giving, meals, and other expenses?

In 1909, Merkel Landis of the Carlisle Trust Company in Pennsylvania came up with the idea of a Christmas Club account.

The Christmas clubs were built on the concept that if people put the money into their regular accounts, and it was accessible to them, they would spend it and have nothing left for Christmas.

The idea of a special account available only for the holidays seemed sound, and Christmas Clubs grew in popularity especially during the Great Depression of the 1030's. ~The Little Blue Book, Advent and Christmas, 2009-2010

I remember having Christmas Club accounts and being so grateful in November to have put that money aside. It was easy enough to contribute. Every week I put in the same amount. It was an anticipated expense with rewards at the end.

We have a built in Christmas Club, to which we can contribute every day of every week every year. It doesn't require going to the bank, depositing on-line or keeping track of the weeks. We have a soul that is a vault in which we can save the graces we attain when we set aside time to be with Jesus, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, or visit the sick.

What about the time we spend in front of the TV? Often wasted time. There is nothing to be gained there. And as Ron always says, "Zero times anything is still ZERO." So spend some time today considering that "Christmas Club" of the Soul. How do your deposits look? Then take some time with the "Head of the Savings and Loan" to work out a savings plan!

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Thanks be to God!!!

Picture originally uploaded by London Tom

Amazing Grace

It seems I have meant to reflect this week on Grace. This is the second time it has been offered to me in as many days! Please enjoy this grace-filled music by Il Divo!

Amazing Grace

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Thanks be to God!!

Grace

God's love is total, unconditional, absolute and forever. The state of grace--God's attiugde toward us--is eternal. We are the ones who change.

Sometimes we are able to believe that God loves us unconditionally, absolutely and forever. That's grace! And sometimes because we get down on ourselves, and carry guilt and fear and burdens, we are not able to believe that God loves us. Biblically, that's the greatest sin: not to believe the good news, not to accept the unconditional love of God. When we no longer believe God loves us, we can no longer love ourselves. We have to allow God to continually fill us. Then we find in our own lives the power to give love away.

Radical Grace, Daily Medications
by Richard Rohr, O.F.M.

So let it be for us this Lent, to accept that love, that grace. Spend time realizing that you have value not just to God alone. But because of his love, you have value to others. Share that giftedness! Share that wealth of love from God! Fill the earth with the knowledge of the glory of God. YOU are GOOD! You have such value he was willing to die for you! To deny your goodness is to refuse the most valuable gift you can ever receive. Accept your holiness.

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Thanks be to God!

Kellie and Winter Guard...

Tonight Ron and I were able to go to an exhibition of the Memorial High School Winter Guard, Drum Line, and Cadet Guard. Kellie was part of the Guard during Marching Band season. When one of the girls broke her foot early in Winter Guard, Kellie was asked to perform with them. Quite an honor for an 8th grader.

I tried to video with the digital camera but apparently I was not able to tape the entire performance of either the Cadet or High School Winter Guard. They both end abruptly, but you can see most of the Winter Guard's performance. I was trying, like any good grandmother, to keep Kellie in the frame. I was pretty successful I think, but all the girls are very talented. They have been competing weekly now for the last 5 weeks with their final performance to be this weekend, barring any bad weather.

The music is Phantasmagoria.



We were grateful for the chance to see them perform. And we wish them success this weekend!

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For being a grandma I say,
Thanks be to God!

"Jehovah"

pcd0249_IMG0003
Originally uploaded by public.resource.org

I was reading The Little Black Book today and sneaked a peak at tomorrows entry. The snippet is about "Jehovah" It was really interesting and so I'd like to share it with you if I may.

When God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, Moses asked God's name. God replied, 'This is what you shal tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.' Thus the phrase 'I AM' was given the divine name.

In Hebrew, 'I AM' was rendered 'Jahweh.' The word 'Jahweh' was so sacred that it was never uttered aloud. Those who proclaimed the Scriptures were taught to substitute the word 'Adonai' which meant 'Lord.' Originally, the written form of the Hebrew language did not have vowels, and so the Hebrew word 'Jahweh' would appear as JHWH (readers were supposed to know what vowels were to be supplied). Later on, written vowel signs were developed and put in the text.

Whenever the work JHWH appeared, copyists would insert the vowel sings for 'Adonai.' This would remind the reader to substitute that word. As time went by, some readers didn't realize this and simply pronounced what was in front of them--the consonants of JHWH with the vowels of 'Adonai.' This resulted in the word 'Jehovah,' a word that never existed.

It is a misreading that continues in some translations of the Bible still today.

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As an aside, it was also mentioned that "Ash Wednesday through Saturday has been called 'The Porch of Lent'-an entryway to help us get the feel of this '40 day' season." It is suggested that at this time we reflect on our Lenten goals as we step over the threshold.

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For all the blessing that have been bestowed on me this week, I say,
"Thanks be to God"