A Web-Walk Each Friday through a Fun ‘n Faith Home Called Peggie’s Place…
It’s Friday! Take a break and enjoy a byte or two of fun ‘n faith this week from “the most fun Christian home on the Web!” (You may sneak a byte of chocolate too!!)
Please feel free to pass along this newsletter/blog link/email to friends and family.
Subscribe to Fun ‘n Faith!
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A Peggie’s Place tip: Check out Fun ‘n Faith for Today – bookmark this page for a daily visit!
News, weather, daily Bible reading, devotionals, humor/inspiration, and a quote for the day!
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A Faith-Filled Word or Two…
A mini-message from God’s Word for your week!
“The Christmas Carpenter from Nazareth”
One of the “joys” of Christmas is “Toy Assembly 101.” Late Christmas Eve, you take “it” out of the box–whatever “it” is–read the so-called simple instructions ALWAYS including the magic words, “No assembly required” OR “Easy assembly instructions enclosed”–and the fun begins! You can’t find all the parts, the parts don’t fit together, you read and re-read and re-read the directions, you count and re-count and RE-count the parts, you hit your left thumb with the hammer held by your right thumb–you let out a scream–and the nightmare begins! Remember?
Two thousand years ago, a carpenter’s life was turned upside down by the news that his betrothed was with child–not his! The child was the Son of God, promised by prophets of old, and Joseph was about to become the early caregiver of the Lord Jesus Christ. And loving caregiver, I can imagine, this carpenter was–can you see him making wooden toys for Little Boy Jesus? Can you see him patiently showing Young Teen Jesus the “tricks of the trade,” so He too, could become a GOOD carpenter from Nazareth?
Jesus, the CARPENTER? – Joseph, you better forget the dreams you hold in your heart for this young charge–God has bigger dreams for Him! But wait…those plans STILL include being a Carpenter–His shop just been relocated to heaven’s halls! He’s the heavenly Carpenter who puts things together, who fixes what’s wrong, who makes it brand new….who can take the broken things of your life, reassemble and restore all the pieces, and bring love and joy back to your life.
AND like all good carpenters, He knows how to “hit the nail on the head”….whatever you need, whatever repair is in order, you can open His Word and find the precise word you need to hear from His holy lips. The answer may be in a song or verse or a “word in season” from a friend that finds its way into your heart – and you KNOW the Carpenter has been at work! His shop never closes–there’s no charge for His services–and He does incredible work!
Now believe it! Let the Christmas carpenter, skillful Workman in your life, have full control. Give Him all the broken pieces–He wants to fix whatever’s wrong, to assemble all the parts, put them back in working order, and place YOU on display before the world as a heavenly-crafted person, repaired and renewed by heaven’s Workman, the Christmas carpenter from Nazareth who is YOUR Savior and Lord.
Scripture:
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).”
Prayer: “Lord, thanks for working on me! You never discard or throw me away as junk; you restore, renew and reveal to me Your everlasting skill in “making it over” with Your skillful hands….I place myself in YOUR carpenter shop this Christmas–fix what’s wrong, make ME anew, and may I display the beauty of your work, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
–by Peggie C. Bohanon. Copyright 2004, Springfield, MO. All rights reserved.
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A FEATURED SITE-BYTE FOR THE SAINTS…
Highlighting a few fun ‘n faith pages at Peggie’s Place!
“A Top Ten Christmas at Peggie’s Place!”
A Case for Christmas . . . .
In Search of the Christmas Beast
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A church bulletin blooper:
“The sermon this morning: “Jesus Walks on the Water”
The sermon tonight: “Searching for Jesus”
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FORTIFYING HEART AND SOUL…
Fun ‘n Faith featured at Peggie’s Place!
The Play Room – Tickles ‘n Truth to Bring a Smile!
Enjoy this Christmas-related humor and inspiration for the Christmas season!
“Beauty” and “The True Meaning of Christmas”
“Worried about Christmas” and “1 Cor. 13 for Christmas”
“I Think Santa Is a Woman” and “Christmas Is for Children”
“Jesus and the Elves: A Scary Christmas Funny”
Humor and inspiration archives:
Tickles ‘n Truth archives
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Devotional archives at Peggie’s Place:
Bible Bytes ‘n Chocolate Chews
Daily Bible Boosters
WordWalk
Words from the Well
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A quick peek at resources in the never-dead devotional archives!
“The Christmas Questions” – A 3-part series:
“To Hear or Not to Hear”
“To See or Not to See”
“To Bow or Not to Bow”
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A church bulletin blooper:
“Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions.
She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack’s sermon.”
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FEATURED NUGGETS FROM THE NET…
Sharing our times and our treasures found on the Web!
“Christmas Training Program” by Rhonda Rhea, humorist
Amazing Christmas – Christmas lighting
“God Is In Control” – the “c” scare!
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A church bulletin blooper:
“Don’t let worry kill you off–let the Church help.”
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FOOD FOR THE FAITHFUL…
A raid-the-fridge recipe byte from cyberspace to you!
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A church bulletin blooper:
“Next Sunday a special collection will be taken to defray the cost of the new carpet.
All those wishing to do something on the new carpet will come forward and do so.”
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FAVORITES FOR A RAINY DAY…
A Merry Mix of Christian and family-friendly recommended sites for surfing!
The 12 Cartoon Days of Christmas
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Can’t get to church this Sunday?
You’re always welcome at “Father’s House”!
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FUN ‘N FAITH FOUND ON THE WEB…
A sampling of “fun ‘n faith” Web articles or links!
“A Birthday Celebration”
You do know what would have happened if it had been three wise
You Are Cordially Invited To A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION.
Guest of Honor: Jesus Christ
Date: Every day. Traditionally December 25, but He’s always around, so the date is flexible..
Time: Whenever you’re ready, (please don’t be too late, though; or
you’ll miss out on all the fun!!)..
Place: In your heart … He’ll meet you there (you’ll hear Him knock)..
Attire: Come as you are …grubbies are okay. He’ll be washing our
clothes anyway. He said something about new white robes and crowns for everyone who stays till the last..
Tickets: Admission is free. He’s already paid for everyone..(He says you would not have been able to afford it …it cost Him everything He had!!)..
Refreshments: New wine, bread and a far-out drink He calls “living
water, followed by a supper that promises to be out of this world!!
Gift Suggestions: Your heart. He’s one of those people who already has everything else. (He’s very generous in return though; just wait until you see what He has for you)..
Entertainment: Joy, Peace, Truth, Light, Life, Love, Real Happiness, Communion with God, Forgiveness, Miracles, Healing, Power, Eternity in Paradise, and much more! (All rated “G” so bring your family and friends)..
R.S.V.P. Very Important! He must know ahead so He can reserve a spot for you at the table. Also, He’s keeping a list of His friends for future reference. He calls it the “Lamb’s Book of Life”).
Party Being Given By His Kids (That’s us).
Hope To See You There!
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) … ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ ..”
–Author unknown.
–Selected from E-Mail Ministry Newsletter.
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Blue Light in the Window
I was in Mt. Prospect, Illinois about to step into the pulpit as a guest preacher at my daughter’s church when my i-phone buzzed. It was a text message from CNN announcing the slaying of the four officers in Lakewood.”
On Monday during my workout, I heard Ken Schram on a Seattle radio station talking about the horrific story and the indescribable sorrow the victims’ families will face this Christmas season. During the course of his comments he read an email from a local police dispatcher suggesting that we put a blue light in the front windows of our homes. It would be a practical way during the holidays to honor the memories of these fallen officers. It would be a simple way of conveying to the survivors that we are grieving with them.
I sat down to pen a simple poem in hopes that it might possibly be forwarded on the internet to promote this idea for the Christmas season in our area and throughout the country. After all, did you know that nearly 200 police officers have been killed in the line of duty so far this year? That’s a lot of empty chairs at family tables this holiday season.
Here’s what I composed….
Put a blue light in your window for those officers in blue
who were gunned down having coffee. It’s the least that we can do.
It’s a way of showing honor to their families who are left
who must face the coming season feeling lost, alone, bereft.
On these silent nights of sorrow as we take time to be still
that blue light in the window will recall those who were killed.
Each, with uniform allegiance to the force they proudly served,
died committed to our safety and the laws they helped preserve.
So… to the green and red of Christmas let us add the color blue.
It will say to those now fallen we will never forget you.
This simple gesture could be a quiet way of proving the truth of that old Swedish proverb that says, “A shared sorrow is half a sorrow.” It’s what Saint Paul had in mind when he suggested that we “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) I’d encourage you to join me and put a blue light in your window.
—Copyright 2009 by Pastor/Poet Greg Asimakoupoulos, Mercer Island, WA. All rights reserved.
—Columnist for “The Partial Observer”.
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FINIS!
That’s the news from Peggie’s Place this week. God bless!
Signed, “The Smiling Cybersaint!”
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May HE always have the LAST WORD!
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me (John 12:32).”
–Copyright 2009 by Peggie C. Bohanon, Springfield, MO 65803. All rights reserved.
–Quote credits: Mikey’s Funnies and/or Walking with Jesus Ministries .
