Welcome to Debbie's Domain

I love all of the holidays, but Christmas is my favorite. It makes me sad that so many people forget that it's a celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Some will argue that it isn't even His real birthday. That's true. Nobody knows when Jesus was born. Some believe it was in the spring or summer. That could be true. Many argue that our beloved Christmas traditions are of pagan origin. That's also true. The newly converted Christians didn't want to give up their colorful and festive holiday traditions. The church was wise enough to to see the problem and offer a solution. They started a new holiday close to the old, to honor the birth of Jesus, as told in the books of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament of the Bible. They gave new meanings to old symbols and customs. They named it Christs Mass. The people embraced the new holiday and many of us celebrate it still today. Many people want to reduce it back to a pagan holiday. They have ...

Our little Baptist church on McClarity Fork, Four Mile, West Virginia, had The Lord's Supper several times a year. I can't remember how often,but I know it wasn't as often as the more modern churches do now. It was also much more formal. The men would set two pews facing each other on the left side of the church for the women, and two on the right side for the men. Everyone that had been baptized sat down on the pews facing each other. We had a washpan of water for each side and long cotton towels. One of the women would wrap the towel around her waist and kneel on the floor in front of the woman across from her with the washpan. She would remove the woman's shoes, then wash and dry her feet. The men did the same on their side of the church. After everyone's feet were done, the pews were returned to the normal places. A long table was set up in front of the church. A white table cloth was spread over it. Little plates and tiny glasses were set around. As many as...

When I went to church with Grandpa and Grandma Baker in West Virginia, I was usually a good little girl, but not always. I knew what being naughty would earn me. They would take me outside and whip me with a little, keen switch if I misbehaved. Although I didn't always understand everything as a small child, I loved singing. Someone once laughed a little and said I was the loudest singer in church. I was so proud, I thought it was a compliment. Once, after we got home, Grandma told me I had misunderstood what some of the words were to one of the songs we were singing. She told me the words were "It's a grand and glorious feeling," not a 'Granddaddy glorious feeling." I was embarrassed. I don't think I sang quite as loudly anymore. At a lot of our services, we would sing a song, while we walked through the church shaking everyone's hand. I liked that. I knew just about everyone there. Before we had prayer, we were always ask if we had any prayer ...

I lived with my Grandpa and Grandma Baker off and on throughout my childhood. They were the ones who taught me the most about Jesus, and our Heavenly Father. While staying there my Great Grandpa Shuff taught me the song "I'll Fly Away." Someone, probably Grandma Baker taught me to say 'The Lord's Prayer'. I can remember saying it when I was about three years old, alone at night in my bed. I can't remember when I didn't know it. My daddy, although he is not saved, taught me never to call him father, because I only have one, and that is my Heavenly Father. As far back as I can remember, Grandpa and Grandma took me to the little McClarity Baptist Church, down on the McClarity Fork of Four Mile, in Lincoln County, West Virginia. I can remember sitting, or lying, on the hard wooden pews. There was an old coal stove in the center of the room, for heat in the winter. We used hand-held paper fans during the summer. Almost all of the men sat on the right side ...

http://www.wpclipart.com/ There are a lot of people these days that are having a hard time making ends meet. Factories are closing down putting a lot of people out of work. Parents with children often have to take jobs with low pay and often go over the guidelines for foodstamp assistance by only a few dollars. After paying bills, they often don't have much money for groceries. http://www.wpclipart.com/ Elderly and disabled people often receive foodstamps, but don't really receive enough to afford the extras for a dinner in what is considered a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. That's where your donations help. A gift of the traditional Thanksgiving fare is what most people are hoping for when they go to their local food pantry. The need is so great right now, that they often stand in long lines, outside in the weather, for hours at a time. When you donate food items, think about what you and your family are having for your Thanksgiving dinner. The best donation of all...

Thanksgiving is one of the three most important holidays. Christmas celebrates Christ's birth. Easter celebrates Christ's sacrifice on the cross for our sins and His resurrection. Thanksgiving is to thank God for our many blessings. Christmas and Easter have become too commercialized. Many have gotten so caught-up in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and buying gifts that these holidays have lost all real meaning. Almost all children can tell you about Santa and the bunny, but hardly any can tell you much about Christ. Thanksgiving hasn't had nearly as much commercialism as other holidays. That has not helped it keep it's religious significance. There are a few decorations in the stores that can't be used for Halloween, but not many. The symbols of Thanksgiving are turkeys, Pilgrims, Indians, pumpkins, corn, and scarecrows. Quite a few people have added football. There are few Thanksgiving books, coloring books, or toys to help teach children abou...

Some people don't believe in celebrating Halloween. It is often hard for children when all of their friends are getting so excited about it. There is no reason for them to miss out on all the fun. You can have a Happy Autumn or Happy Harvest celebration instead. Decorating is easy. Just stick to the basics. Uncut pumpkins, gourds, squash, hay bales, corn stalks, Indian corn, mums, colored leaves and scarecrows all make good decorations. Window clings with leaves, acorns, and scarecrows are sold in many places. Children can make a lot of their own decorations with construction paper or felt material. To make decorations water proof, cover with Contact adhesive plastic. Another perk to these decorations is that they will fit right in with Thanksgiving. There are a lt of fun places to go and things to do with the kids. Many places offer corn mazes, the apple or pumpkin farm, and hayrides. Some towns and schools have fall festivals. You can also make your own fun....