goodnewsranch

Christmas 2024

by Spiritual Truth
goodnewsranch

It’s Christmastime, and here at the Bratten’s “Good News Ranch” we have a couple of new traditions we are enjoying to celebrate the good news of the coming of the Christ.

First of all, we made this meaningful Christmas log decoration that holds seven plaques. These plaques each show quotes of Jesus, naming some of the reasons he came to earth. We are spending some time each evening for the seven days prior to Christmas to focus on Jesus’ words, light the candles, talk together, and rejoice in his coming.

Jesus said:

I came… to show you the Father. If you have seen me you have seen the Father.  (John 14)

I came… because the Father sent me; not to be served, but to serve.  (John 8:42, Matthew 20:28)

I came… to preach the good news of God’s Kingdom.  (Luke 4:43)

I came… to heal the brokenhearted & deliver those who are crushed, that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.  (Luke 4:18, John 10:10)

I came… to proclaim release to the captives & recovering of sight to the blind.  (Luke 4:18)

I came… to call sinners to repentance; to seek and to save that which was lost.  (Luke 5:32, Luke 19:10)

I came… to bring light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness.  (John 12:46)

Secondly, we got a nice tree this year and enjoy having it in the house to make it festive. We threw out all the old tree ornaments and made all new ones which all point to Christ, rejoicing in his coming. The tree is topped with a beautifully lighted star Tim made.

Below is a gallery of some of the ornaments.

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We still have our large lighted star outdoors, high above the house on our antenna tower for all the neighbors to enjoy during the Christmas season.

We hope you all rejoice during this Christmas season in the coming of Jesus, God’s Son, who came to show us his Father.

GARDEN REFLECTIONS

by Garden-WellingtonSpiritual Truth

I have noticed over the years (this was our 5th year of gardening!) that my attitude about the garden is more relaxed.  If something doesn’t make it, I’m a bit sad, but shrug my shoulders and think, “Oh, well…”.   Tim and I have an acronym we say, OWIIWII.  We pronounce it, Oh-wee-wee.  It stands for, “Oh Well, It Is What It Is.”  Some years are better than others, some vegetables do better than others in different years.  

There’s more of a letting go on my part, more peace about what grows and what doesn’t.  There is more trust in God, that I will have what I need, and if I don’t have it I must not need it.  We just take what we get and appreciate what we have. Learning this in the garden transfers to the bigger issues in life as well.  

It certainly is amazing to watch things grow from such small seeds.  I keep thinking about the parables of Jesus, when he talked about seeds, soil and gardens.  Here’s one:

“He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.'”  (Mat 13:31-32)

It is so amazing to see these little, tiny seeds and watch them sprout and grow into such huge plants that make more seeds, which make more plants…..  It is like God’s Kingdom.  He does the planting and watering in it, and as we cooperate with Him (obey Him), the Kingdom grows and grows as He desires.  There is peace in knowing that He really is the “vinedresser” with all His wisdom, carefully tending and watching everything work together for His purpose.  He cares about us and His world much more than we do.  We continually look forward to see what all He does with His Kingdom all around us.

If you’re interested in more of our thoughts about His Kingdom, please go to our website, Listen To Him.