Discussion Board

December is a special month for many us here! Perhaps you would like to share some of your favorite memories or thoughts in regard to Christmas, the end of the year or something else! Please share!

In my Chinese studies, I have recently been reading this in Chinese but will give you an English version:

"5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help." (1 Timothy 5, NIV)

The apostle commended a very active life of prayer. May we (regardless of our marital status) pray night and day and ask God for help. Jesus said ask...and you will receive.

May you be blessed and bless others in December!

Hi Pinkrose and everyone,

Well pink, you have a headstart on us being over on the other side of the earth. Happy Dec. 1st to you!

Please make sure that you share your memories from Christmas past with us too, pink! And how do the Chinese Christians celebrate Christmas?

I think the one that stands out in my mind as being the funniest memory is when my brother and I came out to check out the Christmas presents under the tree bright and early on Christmas morning. There were lots of pretty packages, but our dog (who always was outside at night) left a "gift" for us under the tree too - if you know what I mean. To this day none of us know how she got in the house, but I guess the scent of the pine tree was the most inviting spot for her to take care of business.

On a more serious note , I also remember as a girl scout, our troop would go to a rest home and sing carols to all the patients. I can remember that many of them had tears in their eyes as we sang and I always felt so sad for them that they were there and not at home with their family.

Our Pastor has encouraged us to make Christ the center of our Christmas and to worship and honor Him. I'm so thankful that God chose to come to earth and be born in a humble stable, live amongst sinful men, live a perfect and holy life, and die on the cross for my sins and give me forgiveness and eternal life. I'm so glad that He loved us despite our wicked hearts. I'm so thankful that He is longsuffering and patient towards us, and me!

"Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people." Psalm 77:14

My father would wait until Dec. 1 to start playing Christmas music.
He even called me long distance to play Christmas music to me.
That was in the days when long distance phone calls were a big deal.
My mother died in Sept of 2004. Christmas was very difficult for Dad. But he tried so hard.
He went shopping for gifts.
He sent a darling little outfit to one of my grand daughters.
Well, it has been passed to 2 little sisters and a cousin. Now it will come to youngest girl. My daughter in law loves that they each get to wear it.
Well, that was his last Christmas.
So many sweet Christmas memories. My father was an artist. When I was little he made a huge Nativity scene in a corner of the family room, it was a room with open beamed ceilings, so it was papier mache mountains and everything.
It is family that matters. The gifts sort of fade, but memories of family remain.
And being in the larger family of Christians is so sweet.

Hi friends,

How is everyone doing????? It has been quiet here lately. Is December a busy month for you all? How have you been doing with McDougalling?

I'm fine and enjoying pleasantly cool weather, beautiful clear air, snow capped mountains, the smell of wood burning in my neighbor's pot belly stove, and counting my blessings.

Here is a portion on scripture from what I read this morning that I thought I would share with ya'll

Bless the Lord, O my soul and alll that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases, Who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 103:1-5

That is a lot to dwell on isn't it?
May you all be blessed and have a great weekend!

Good morning,

I've been busy with company and hosted 2 church Christmas parties here in the past week, so no time to post much, but I'm here! Glad to read about your Christmas traditions, and verses of encouragement. Thank you.

My brother visited for a few days, and he's into fitness big time, so that was a blessing. He encouraged me in my goals, and exercised with me as well. That was so nice, since no one else in my family is really very interested, and some actually sabotage me at times. Anyhow, he plans to join me for my next 5k in April, and is going to keep me accountable for my training schedule. He's being totally helpful and sensitive since he could run a 5k in his sleep without training at all. I know from experience that without sticking to the diet, exercise doesn't do much good for me, so I'm more determined on that as well. All in all, a good shot in the arm to have him around for a bit.

And on that note, I have made it clear to my family that I don't want ANY food for Christmas presents. For my birthday they gave me a whole grocery sack full of "treats" which wasn't much of a treat at all since I was McDougalling well for the previous 6 weeks. Instead, I showed them a nativity set that I like, and asked for a few pieces of that, complete with providing coupons, and dates to shop. If I'm not very specific, I know I'll be disappointed, so I've learned (well...am learning...) to make my needs known a little more often as well. Feels wrong, but it's where I am right now.

I am enjoying all the joyful decor and Christmas focus this time of year. I've also been really enjoying an advent devotional called "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus." This is one of my favorite times of the year, and in some ways one of the most challenging (all those Christmas goodies really tempt me!). Also, it's easy to fall back into my old thinking that I'd just start a diet after the holidays and let everything go for the whole month. Not this year. Strength in Christ, right? I'm celebrating the birth of Christ, and not food, food, food!

Well, Merry Christmas to each of you, and continue to eat healthy so that we may serve (and thus, love) Him, and others more.

Blessings,
Jubilee

Luv, Merri and Jubilee, thanks for your good words. I am glad your brother is supportive, Jubilee! Maybe you will share some photos with us after your 5k run.

HELLO! Is anyone else in the house??? Please let us know you are OK! Show us some love!!!

Think about what our Father can do with one person...even an old person like Abraham or Moses...even a prostitute like Rahab...even an unstable person like Peter...even the foremost of sinners like Paul. One of the things this means to me is that today I may meet that one person He will use mightily and I want to be available to help that person. I like the idea of planting trees and thinking that others (perhaps many years from now) will enjoy the shade of those trees.

In regard to my studies, I have also recently been thinking about contentment.

"6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." (1 Timothy 6, NIV)

So we should be content if we have true faith, food and clothes. I think this is related to McDougalling. It seems that many are content ONLY if they have certain rich foods but we can succeed as McDougallers if we can be content with simple, relatively inexpensive meals of veggies, potatoes, rice etc.

Do you wear clothes or use clothes? Can you be content if your clothes are comfortable or will you be content ONLY if you have certain clothes?

Do you think it is possible that our attitudes about such simple things as food, drink and clothing tell us something about our faith?

"31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6, NIV)

Are you training yourself strictly to run and receive the crown that lasts forever?

"24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (1 Corinthians 9, NIV)

Are you more concerned with obtaining or becoming?

I'm here, Rose. Thanks for those timely reminders.

My self-centeredness and attitude of entitlement still pop out all the time. I need to do a lot better at trusting the Lord than I have been doing.

It's odd, isn't it, how easily we can get distracted and discouraged? The Lord never fails. He is totally trustworthy. His Word is always true. He is good to the core -- much more righteous than any human being can be without Him.

What He says will happen, does in fact happen. The prophecies in the Bible are detailed, specific, testable. They always come true -- though not always when our prophecy teachers guess that they will!

May all of us walk more circumspectly, trusting in the One who has proven SO faithful. You're absolutely right: that does include trusting Him for our daily bread (not daily feast food).

Blessings,

Mary

With all the Christmas treats and parties around right now, I'm finding it hard not to fall into the old thinking that "I'll start after New Year's" and let myself go off track. I'm still working at it, and haven't gained, but it's more and more of a struggle. Those old habits die hard.

I could use some prayer if anyone is so inclined. Thank you.

I hope that everyone is doing better than I am, and staying strong to your commitments.

Blessings,
Jubilee

I lift you up, Jubilee! You are right. The problem is not our hunger. It is our bad habits! If we let our old habits determine how we will act...we are doomed!

I posted this in the November thread...and suppose you could say I have a habit of being careless! Ha ha!

I think it is worth posting here:

"8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." (Philippians 4, NIV)

"Watch your thoughts; they become words.|Watch your words; they become actions.|Watch your actions; they become habits.|Watch your habits; they become character.|Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." -- Frank Outlaw

Most certainly will pray for you Jubilee. Remember its only 1 day.I try to keep Christmas with me all year.I'm doing pretty good eating wise.Doing the mwl,but am throwing more of the regular plan in now that it is so cold. Merry Christmas everyone...RAS

I am here. I have been busy, not so much with Christmas, but on the phone with my kids in Tenn.
My son is still trying to get his life organized. His wife is still drinking. Last night I got a call at 3am. With one son in Iraq, his wife and 4 little ones fending for themselves, Youngest son (whose wife is the alcoholic) living in a hotel with his son for a few days, while social workers try to get her into a residential care place, I answered the phone.
It was her. And I talked with her for hours. Supposidly she will go to a re hab place tomorrow IF they pick her up. She is so ill. Physically and spiritually. I tried so hard to say the right things, I have no idea if I did ANY good.
We are all so tired, and I feel like my entire life is in a sort of holding pattern while this goes on.
I wish I had the money to send him so he could get a new place. So confusing.
BUT the Lord has stepped in time and again just in time. I know it is in his hands. Just feeling rather weak right now.

This seems so overwhelming, Merriweather. I expect you said many good things and have done many good things to help but I understand your sense of inadequacy in regard to these crises.

I am grateful for your faith and I lift you and your family up to Father. Please keep us posted.

'9 If you make the Most High your dwelling-- even the LORD, who is my refuge-- 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."' (Psalm 91, NIV)

Thank you so much for the support.
It is indeed a season for angels.
My dil did go into a rehab place. We had no idea how long they would keep her. And we do not have money to pay for a fancy place.
My son works at Walmart!
Any way tonight we got word she is going to return to live with her sisters in Utah. Can't quite relax until she is actually there, but it is hope.
Oh, and my grandson--he is 11--told me while they were in the hotel, he found a Bible in a drawer. He is reading it. He took it with him. I explained about the Gideons. He got quite excited, He said'
THAt is what it says inside the Bible. As I said Angles.
They are home and safe.
My dil had wanted to home school him. But now he will go to school in Jan. Ofcourse he is nervous, but I am thinking postive about him actually getting to have friends. And learn. He is quite bright.He is actually at grade level on reading, and with her being so ill for quite a while, he has done most of it himself.
Only devine interference could have managed all this.
Thank all of you who have encouraged me. It is so wonderful not to be alone.

Merriweather, you and your family are in my prayers.

It is Christmas Eve here in China. We saw a bit of snow this AM and we expect more tonight and tomorrow. We look forward to welcoming guests into our home for dinner tomorrow. If you are in the neighborhood, please come for dinner! We will have some traditional Chinese entrees and some "health food."

May Father bless each of you with a joyful Christmas and a healthful, prosperous 2011!

Let us be thankful for the gift! Please pray for those who have not received the gift.

"12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5, NIV)

Merry Christmas to each of you! I hope that this is the second greatest Christmas ever. (The first one would be pretty hard to beat. May you celebrate the blessings of that first Christmas with great joy!

We too are having snow, Pink. 8 inches so far today, and still falling. It's a beautiful white Christmas, with everything looking clean and new under it's pristine blanket of pure white. It reminds me that God can make all things new again.

Happy and Healthy New Year to everyone as well.

Blessings,
Jubilee