God's abundant provision of grace!

.....sing with grace in your hearts to the Lord! We are not finishing our study of "Come, Worship Christ" as I had advertised in the newsletter all summer long (someone should have told me differently, right?) but instead are studying Psalms. The same type of study actually since we sing the Psalms, too. The Bible study, titled, "The Gospel in Psalms", was written by one of the seminary professors, a Hebrew expert, we were told this morning. We met in the Fellowship Hall once again after all these years, since the classrooms have been moved into the official structure!

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We had a nice turnout of ladies, no men joining us today. This particular study does not go Psalm by Psalm but rather goes forth and back between the Old and New Testaments, showing how the Gospel was pointed out and fulfilled. I was touched by several of the verses we read including Ps. 36:3 which says: "The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good." For some reason that just struck me, because that is how we are, our sinful nature, our inclination. On the other hand, Romans 5:17 shows us: "...how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ." Wow, good stuff, good stuff!

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We did all end up eating at Longhorn, even Twila, who had to leave in the middle of the study for a doctor appointment, yet made it back for the all important lunch. She called me when she finished up so I put in her order, which was delivered to the table only moments before she walked in the door. THAT is good customer service, Patty! When I say "all", I should mention that Ethel did not come with us, but the rest of the class was there. Someday we must entice Pastor to join us again, he came once when they first moved here, and that was the last time. Mondays are generally busier days for him, so I guess he is excused!

I did take a moment to pop into the preschool classroom as the kids were finishing their lunches. Kindergarten does not actually begin until tomorrow, as I guess there is some sort of staggered start date for kindergarten. I am not sure I will get back over there to do the photography so they might have to go without, unless Twila Sr. takes her camera along. I am as excited as Mario is for the first day of school!

Monday with a lot of firsts!

The folks up north are not doing this yet, as far as I am aware, but down here, all the kids and teachers are back to school today! Students of all ages, including this 53-year-old returning to Monday Morning Bible Study after being off all summer long. Our new classroom building will soon be bustling with our first ever kindergarten class being conducted with the precious preschool right next door. Sarah, the goddaughter of Justin and mine, starts pre-k today and her cousin, Chloe, is in the 3-4 classroom. Mario, Twila's great-grand, is in the kindergarten while his little brother, Arsen, and a foster sibling, are in the preschool classroom. Whew!! Twila Squared has her hands full with three little ones all in this age group!

This is a photo of the ready kindergarten classroom, primarily furnished with fixtures and supplies from a private school that went out of business in Orange Park

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I like the advertisement for high-end cars showing on TV here, "Lower your payments, not your standards....". I read something over the weekend about a man driving through the parking lot of the local high school (pick one!) and seeing all the high-end or relatively nice cars parked there, either they belong to their parents' or are the students' cars. He then drove through the Staff Parking lot and saw the lesser end type of cars parked there, some in tough condition, not a whole lot of pick-ups trucks sitting there either, as compared to the student lot. Hmmm...There is a housing community just before our church property with a sign out front that declares: "You deserve to live here!". I pray God that I do NOT get what I deserve!

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My soda tastes especially delicious this a.m., perhaps because I am now incorporating water into my daily routine, taken internally, not only in the pool! My upstairs neighbor, Jessica, told me Sunday that I should drink at least seven (7!!!!) bottles of water, which I believe to be overkill, to hydrate my discs. What does she know, she only has her master's degree in physical therapy! And she is pregnant to boot! There is going to be a prince or princess in The Palace!

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My nails really need attention but they are not going to get it from me! At least not before leaving for Bible study. It will be nice be have our first Bible study since we recessed last May. Nail polishing will be a nice afternoon project, in case it rains. I have not checked the forecast to see what is happening but I did hear that "Bill" has lost some of his strength, but not without taking the life of a child in Maine on his way out. Martie and I went once to watch a hurricane go passed but that was before we were hit here over and over again in 2004. Now, the novelty alludes me!

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After the nails are done, I have envelopes to address for the "Keeping the Faith" newsletter sent to our members away from church. I might have to send Sarah's via e-mail through her mom, as Sarah is studying as an exchange student in Belgium. I could send it myself via Facebook, perhaps in the NOTES section...I shall see about how that is done. My friend, Jami, posts her blog on Facebook as well as the blogsite, and I can check that out, to see how she does it. At any rate, I must get those letters sent off while I am also working on the other newsletter for those here at home. I love this job!