Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19-20 NIV Give thanks….always…in everything. Luke 7 - The Voice 36-40 Once a Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to be a guest for a meal. Picture this: Just as Jesus enters the man’s home and takes His place at the table, a woman from the city—notorious as a woman of ill repute—follows Him in. She has heard that Jesus will be at the Pharisee’s home, so she comes in and approaches Him, carrying an alabaster flask of perfumed oil. Then she begins to cry, she kneels down so her tears fall on Jesus’ feet, and she starts wiping His feet with her own hair. Then she actually kisses His feet, and she pours the perfumed oil on them. Simon (thinking): Now I know this guy is a fraud. If He were a real prophet, He would have known this woman is a sinner and He would never let her get near Him, much less touch Him . . . or kiss Him! Jesus (knowing what the Pharisee is thinking): Simon, I want to tell you a story. Simon: Tell me, Teacher. Jesus: Two men owed a certain lender a lot of money. One owed 100 weeks’ wages, and the other owed 10 weeks’ wages. 42 Both men defaulted on their loans, but the lender forgave them both. Here’s a question for you: which man will love the lender more? Simon: Well, I guess it would be the one who was forgiven more. Jesus: Good answer. 44-46 Now Jesus turns around so He’s facing the woman, although He’s still speaking to Simon. Jesus: Do you see this woman here? It’s kind of funny. I entered your home, and you didn’t provide a basin of water so I could wash the road dust from My feet. You didn’t give Me a customary kiss of greeting and welcome. You didn’t offer Me the common courtesy of providing oil to brighten My face. But this woman has wet My feet with her own tears and washed them with her own hair. She hasn’t stopped kissing My feet since I came in. And she has applied perfumed oil to My feet. 47 This woman has been forgiven much, and she is showing much love. But the person who has shown little love shows how little forgiveness he has received. 48 (to the woman) Your sins are forgiven. Simon and Friends (muttering among themselves): 49 Who does this guy think He is? He has the audacity to claim the authority to forgive sins? Jesus (to the woman): 50 Your faith has liberated you. Go in peace. “The mind is like Velcro for negative experiences and Teflon for positive ones.” Rick Hansen in Hardwiring Happiness Retrain ungrateful thoughts. Start a Gratitude inventory. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 Don’t be picky, appreciate everything. Limit negative input. Slow down and savor experiences. Entitlement extinguishes gratitude. WEST RIDGE PROGRAM all events listed here Reason for the Season - Please join us for an evening with the Women of West Ridge as we kick the season off by recounting the story of the birth of Jesus, singing Christmas carols, and creating a Nativity craft as a take-home reminder. Click Here Project: Share Generously CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS The Blessing Tree - Our Blessing Tree is here to help support those in need this season. If you know someone you want to bless; an individual or a family from our West Ridge Community, our Blessing Tree is available through Sunday, December 22nd. Click Here for details Huff Food Boxes help feed 40 Huff Elementary families in need during these school breaks. Save the Date for Christmas Eve Services on Tuesday, December 24th at 1:00, 3:00, and 5:00 pm in our auditorium or online. Student Christmas Party - All students (6th-12th) are invited to come to our annual Student Christmas Party on Sunday, December 8th from 6 – 9 pm! Details here. Breakfast with Santa - Santa’s Sleigh is stopping by West Ridge on Saturday, December 14th from 8:30 – 10:30 am. Families can stop by and take a picture with Santa who will be onsite for pictures from 9:00 – 10:30 am before his sleigh leaves. RSVP HERE Discover your inner barista at The Café! We are seeking warm and friendly individuals to join our team. No prior experience necessary, and families can volunteer together (8th grade and up). High schoolers, volunteering here will enhance your college applications and earn you volunteer credit.CLICK HERE NOW Faith and Fellowship - Come be intentional: Show up twice a month starting on September 9th and build connections with other women. This season, we will take the previous Sunday’s message and continue the conversation. Register here. Tuesday Night Tune-up | Are Sunday services enough for you? Might a deeper and relational mid-week “tune-up” experience be that one thing you find lacking as you go through the sometimes muddy waters of this thing we call life? We meet weekly at 7:00 pm at West Ridge. REGISTER HERE Interested in taking your next step in Journey - Register here - we would love to help. WR Cares Meals team - Does one meal make a difference in someone's life? If you have walked through a hard season, you know some of the most basic things can make you feel loved and seen. If you are interested in serving in this way click here and choose WR Cares. The Center for the Arts | (CFA) offers lessons to all ages and skill levels by mature, experienced and highly skilled musicians who are currently involved in the music at West Ridge and active as performers. For more information about Private Lessons click here. West Ridge Connection Card | Do you have a prayer request, recently moved, changed numbers or your e-mail address? Let us know below. Or if you would like more information about West Ridge, please click here. Give Online | Giving at West Ridge is out of gratitude to God, not out of obligation. Give via the app by clicking the GIVE icon below.