Christmas Thought...

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December Doodlings...

From last Saturday to this one, WOW! Looking back, I find blurred glimpses of a busy but beautiful week. Slidell High School took exams and closed out another semester. Deliverance Tabernacle again was blessed by the anointed and powerful ministry of Reverend and Mrs. Joel Hines. We also celebrated monthly Youth Service. Eli (Michael Elijah) Hunt and Ernie Ferrer did an outstanding job of ministering under the leadership of Youth Leader, Vannesa Long. Lacombe (outreach outgrowth) Bible study continued. My immediate family spent time with friends and extended family (Anita, Kassie, Deidra, Maddie and more). Cammie completed her internship in Kindergarten under Mrs. Trey Folse, a fantastic teacher from who Cammie learned much. Louisiana experienced rain, rain and more rain with heavy flooding in some coastal areas...

Today is Nana & Pop's family Christmas gathering. If I am going to share some photographic moments from the past week, I had better do it now before the festivities start at noon. I pray that you and your family and friends are enjoying blessed times together. For those who are feeling exhausted, may the blessing of rest in Jesus cover you. For those who are feeling alone this Christmas, remember that you are NEVER really alone. No matter how far you are from family and friends, there is a friend who is closer than a brother.

• Prov 18:24

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

• Prov 17:17

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

• Isa 41:8

But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

• Matt 26:47-50

And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

• John 15:12-14

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

• Rom 5:5-8

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

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Christmas in Louisiana

Deliverance Tabernacle celebrated our Second Annual Ladies' Cookie and Ornament Exchange about a week ago. Even though several of our ladies were unable to share in the event this year, those who were able had a blast. Hope you enjoy the photos I have shared today.

Also, when my husband and I went to Home Depot on our anniversary (strangely enough, my idea!), I saw arches decorated for Christmas. During that time, I decided to decorate and put one at the end of our driveway. My husband so graciously agreed to help handle details. Kara helped me decorate it. Ultimately, I would like to put a banner on it reading, "Jesus--Light of the World!" For now, it holds a "Merry Christmas" wreath. Since I took these photos, we have done a little more decorating around it. Maybe I can take a few more pictures in the next week to share. In the meantime, I pray that you and your families are enjoying a wonderful Christmas-time and celebrating Jesus!

Finally, Deliverance Tabernacle was blessed again yesterday with the anointed ministry of Reverend and Mrs. Joel Hines. They are awesome people of God. Believe it or not, I did not take pictures, unexplainable! In my own defense here, I think that I was so busy soaking up the good things of the Lord and enjoying the fellowship that I just FORGOT!

As always, be blessed...
Dee

Not the I, But the Jesus in Me

What a blessed week it has been!

At the same time, today is my first time home for long. By God's grace, I hope to blog more later this evening. For now, I am simply getting refreshed in my spirit by the Lord and planning to spend time with family and friends.

Yesterday at one of my Lacombe Bible studies, the topic came up of dependency on Jesus. In America, dependency is often considered negative. Sometimes, tragedy brings us to our knees and we realize that we are not really in control and "masters" of our own lives. The choices we make are certainly ours. Life and breath are in the hand of Jesus Christ. True destiny lies in His hands. When Jesus brings good things into our lives, we have no grounds to become swelled with religious, spiritual pride. If any good thing becomes of our lives, it will not be the "I," but the "Him" in us!

Not the I, But the You in Me
As recorded by Anointed

(Source of Lyrics)

You have walked into my life
You have painted all my dreams
‘Til the color of your love is the color of me
You can look into my heart
And you can read my mind
You can read about yourself in between the lines

Chorus:
Every good thing I have done
Everything that I’ve become
Everything that’s turned out right
Is because You’re in my life
And if I ever teach a child the way
Ever learn myself to change
Ever become who I want to be
It’s not the I but the You in me.

You have looked into my eyes
You have seen what I am
But still, You’re by my side
Telling me I can
And there are times I’ve caused you pain
And times I’ve made mistakes
Somehow you used them all to make the I you made

Repeat Chorus

And if I ever wondered for a hundred, thousand years
I would never understand
How you’re in me
And I’m in you
And you could say
You are the reason why I am

Repeat Chorus

Time--Moving Forward

What an exciting and busy time of year! The school semester comes to a close with those ever-beloved exams. Christmas banquets and celebrations abound. As a matter of fact, the Deliverance Tabernacle family will celebrate together this coming Thursday evening. The new year waits just around the next corner. Sometimes, time really does seem to have wings! This week, I am also enjoying reconnecting with a good friend from my childhood and youth, Wayne Raborn. Wayne, his devoted and kind wife and these sweet church folks have invited me to play keyboards for a series of services over the next 3 nights. Tonight was a blessed "musical" reunion with Wayne for which I am thankful. Please add to your prayer list that the Lord would have His way in these services.

This past weekend, we had special services at Deliverance Tabernacle with Reverend and Mrs. Joel Hines, evangelist. If it were not so late tonight, I would love to share more. Even at a better hour, however, I do not feel that words would do justice in describing what the Lord did and continues to do! Sister Hines' musical gifts are obvious. Her sweet spirit is just added "icing on the cake." What a tremendous move of the Holy Ghost we experienced! In fact, my husband felt impressed at the close of the Sunday night service to have Brother and Sister Hines return to minister this coming Sunday. If you possibly are free, PLEASE make plans to join us this Sunday, 10 AM and 6 PM. Your life will never be the same!

Be blessed,
Dee

Snow Again in SE Louisiana!

Several years ago, my family hosted a foreign exchange student from Brazil, Gabriela Molinari. When "Gabi" stepped from the plane into Louisiana, she said, "Oh, my! It so hot here!" If I remember correctly, she arrived in late August or early September. We were enjoying atypically warm weather. However, the climate in Southeast Louisiana is typically pretty tropical, with quite warm weather sometimes through winter months. Our trade-off with others in the world who must brave icy winters and snow storms is our hurricane season. When I tell you that snow is rare here, I speak from over 40 years of experience in this State.

With that background, I hope that you will be humored by the plethora of pictures that I have uploaded this morning to share with you. We had snow AGAIN last night in Southeast Louisiana! The great 1-day snow of last year happened during the day, was heavier and stayed on the ground longer. My older daughter's fiance, who has lived in Michigan, did not seem quite as impressed with our snow last night as the rest of us were. The fact remains, we had fun and drug him into some of it!

Global Warming...Just thought that I would add in light of the recent news about "Climategate" that we are NOT experiencing Global Warming here. I know that some will say that I just do not understand what Global Warming is. I will gladly concede that point. But, I agree with my husband's position...It's "Global God!" For, the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof...

Few Family Photos: November, 2009

As might have been expected, Maddie (the newest family member) made a great hit upon her arrival in Louisiana. I'm not sure how her family will ever get her out of the State now! Hope you enjoy the pictures.

As always, be blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving, 2009

Myspace Graphics, Thanksgiving Graphics at WishAFriend.com

The Dickson family will be enjoying a Mexican Thanksgiving dinner today. This year, Nana plans to spread out her traditional Thanksgiving feast on Friday. I'm looking forward to meeting my great-niece, Maddie. She was born this summer in Oklahoma. Over the next few days, assuming that all goes well, I'll be sharing Thanksgiving photos from our family to yours.



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In the meantime, I pray that each of my friends has an absolutely blessed Thanksgiving Day. Tomorrow evening, the Deliverance Tabernacle family will come together for a special Thanksgiving service. If you are available, please join us as we take time to give special thanks to Jesus for life, health, other blessings and even the trials of this year.

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A Worthwhile Journey

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Ps 100:1-5

• Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

• Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

• Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

• Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

• For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

A dear friend and I chatted this past week about how busy life has been for each of us lately. She shared how a Facebook post had really encouraged her. In short, the status post simply reminded readers to be thankful for the opportunities provided by those things that keep people busy. The writer reminded readers that, particularly in this economy, we could simply NOT have those opportunities. For instance, pondering the perception that a person could NOT have a job at all might make those insanely demanding days of work a little brighter and easier.

As my Thanksgiving holiday from teaching officially begins today, I am stopping to simply express the thankfulness I feel. Recently, I was asked if I found it frustrating to be a pastor's wife, drive the distances I travel to work and church, give in outreach, raise a teenage daughter and help in many other ways. In a sense, the answer to that question is, "Certainly." Frustration from fatigue can be overwhelming! However, in another sense, the answer is undoubtedly, "No."

I remember that when I married, I was already a teacher. I am thankful that the Lord mercifully has blessed us with children (even if they are not children any more). Working in the Lord's kingdom is a joy. The fact that Jesus uses ordinary, imperfect people to do His work amazes me! When I start the long drive home in the afternoons, I am thankful to be moving toward the "country." Having more than an acre and a half of land is a blessing. I remember the days of living practically door-to-door with sweet neighbors in the City. My love for the people around me is not lessened by where I retire in the evenings. Home provides a refuge for recovery and rest and other opportunities to reach beyond my "normal" borders. My preference for home, long drives considered, remains the country with its vocal birds, crickets and frogs and their majestic symphonies. On my ride home, I see trees thicken as traffic thins. The destination makes the journey worthwhile.

I'll close these ramblings with that thought:

The destination makes the journey worthwhile.

Be blessed!