Happy Monday

The Night the Angels Spoke
By Skip Heitzig
As a child, Christmas Eve was the one night of the year when I just couldn’t sleep. I would lie with eyes wide open, wondering what presents I’d find under the tree the next morning. And in my imagination, I’d listen for the sounds of a sleigh and the echo of “Ho, ho, ho!” But that’s only a fable built around a long-dead man from Turkey named Nicholas, a devout Christian known for his generosity to those in need and his love for children.

As an adult, I still lie awake on that holy night. But now I think of the true story of Christmas. I think how the night that Jesus Christ was born was different from any other night in history. My mind’s eye sees the shepherds watching their flocks by night in the hills surrounding Bethlehem. I try to imagine the astonishment of those simple men the night the angels spoke:

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord’” (Luke 2:8-11).

The word “angel” means messenger, and it refers to a special class of beings. Their purpose is to praise God in heaven and to do His bidding here on earth. They are invisible most of the time, except for certain occasions when God allows them to be seen by man. On the first Christmas Eve, God sent them with the joyous message that Jesus Christ was born.

Isn’t it amazing that the glorious news the angels came to proclaim was not brought to kings and dignitaries but to lowly shepherds…members of the lowest social group? But God sent the angels to speak to these men, and when they heard the message they instantly responded to it and then proclaimed it to others. Scripture tells us “they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child” (vv. 16-17).

The glorious news from the angels is the message proclaimed throughout the Bible: ”There is born to you…a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (v. 11). It doesn’t matter where you fit on society’s social scale. It doesn’t matter whether you live in the city or the country. The message of Christmas resonates through time. Have you heard the angels speak? They’re telling you of the Savior who was born, Christ the Lord. Won’t you follow the shepherds’ example by making haste to find Him? Won’t you share this Good News with everyone in your path?
May you have a wondrous and holy Christmas!

Happy Sunday

Thought for Today
 "...It takes a lot more faith to believe that some matter somehow compressed itself into a dense ball, then suddenly exploded for an unknown reason, gathered into gaseous balls called stars, and one star happened to have planets around it, and one planet happened to be able to support life, which evolved from cooling lava to amoebas to fish to apes to people. All that versus 'In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth.'" - Jesse Myers 

Giving, Not Getting

 By Karen Ehman

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families ..." Psalm 68:5-6a (NIV 1984)

"It's the most wonderful time of the year!" The loudspeaker blared out the joyful lyrics of the familiar holiday song that snowy Christmas Eve afternoon.

Everywhere I glanced, people were searching for last-minute gift purchases, holiday baking ingredients or that one final string of twinkle lights that would make their Christmas downright Norman Rockwell perfect.

However, as I stood in line paying for the ingredients for my assigned Cheesy Potato casserole for our family gathering, a lump formed in my throat. Soon my lips quivered and hot tears fell onto my wind-chapped cheeks.

How can everyone be so happy? Why is the world going on as if nothing happened? My friend Julie died last night leaving behind a husband and eight children who need her. Doesn't anyone care?

I wanted to scream. And I wanted Christmas to be cancelled that year. There was no holiday cheer in me and I thought the rest of the world should follow suit and just 'humbug' the whole celebration.

Our family made it through that holiday. My young children, although sad about their friends' mother's death, perked up Christmas morning, eager to open their gifts. My husband and I carried on with our normal life and, over the next few months, tried to help lighten the load of our now widower friend.

Several in our circle of friends made meals on a weekly basis. A college girl offered to clean their home. One of Julie's sons joined our homeschool for kindergarten a few days each week. Although we still experienced great heartache knowing our friend wasn't coming back, lightening her husband's load and cheering the children made us feel as if we were fulfilling the mission God had for us.

Ever since that year, our family has become even more aware of the fact that for many, Christmas isn't the most wonderful time of the year. It is downright painful.

Loneliness looms. Depressions darken. Even suicides soar. While scores of us delight in the season, drinking the sights, sounds and smells, others are numb from pain and despise the season.

And so I'm reminded of what a sweet neighbor of mine once told me, "Christmas is an excuse for making someone's life better." She was so right! There are souls waiting to be encouraged and included at the holidays. If only we would cease our own sometimes self-focused hustle and bustle long enough to see!

After that sad season, we've made it our mission to reach out at the holidays more than we play the commercialized "gimmee game."

Christmas is not about getting. Its very essence is giving.
When our family has been intentional about being Jesus' hands and feet at the holidays, He has allowed us to brighten the lives of many. We sing Christmas carols to shut-ins, decorate homes and address Christmas cards for widows, shop for the needy, bake for the broken-hearted, and often include the lonely in our normal Christmas activities as if they were part of our family.

Because really, they are. Maybe it is your family God wants to set a lonely soul in this year.

Let's vow this Christmas to make someone's life better, richer in love, and fuller in the comforts of knowing they are noticed and cared for.

Dear Lord, at this time when You sent Christ to earth, may I too reach out to make someone's life richer, fuller and far less lonely. I want to be Your hands and feet. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Happy Saturday

Cashew Nuts
(By Roy Irwin)
[Edited]
 If you enjoy cashew nuts as much as I do, you may have noticed something that is both curious and unusual about them. Have you ever noticed that you never see cashew nuts in their shell? You've probably removed other varieties of nuts from their shells, but never a cashew nut. Why is that?
 The reason is that the shell and skin of the cashew nut contains extremely caustic oil that can painfully blister the skin. This dangerous oil must be completely removed before the nut can be touched or eaten. It is a slow and difficult process...
 Cashew nuts are first roasted in their shell, burning off some of the caustic oil and making the shell brittle. Next the nuts are cracked and shelled by hand - machines have proven unsuccessful in removing the nut without damaging it. The cashew is then boiled or roasted again and a second shell or 'skin' is removed. Only then is the cashew nut safe to eat and enjoy!
 Just as it is with cashew nuts, I am reminded of how 'caustic' the external things in life can be and how they keep us from a deeper relationship with God. Many people believe that to get closer to God they must live a good life, give money, do good deeds, go to church, etc. Yet the Bible is clear that "...all of our righteous acts are like filthy rags." Isaiah 64:6 (NIV)
 Instead, God has always been interested in the heart of each of us. He desires a personal relationship with each individual person - "that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him..." Acts 17:27 (NIV)
 I can think of many things over the years that have cluttered my life and prevented me from having a deeper relationship with God. Maybe you can relate to that. Just as with the cashew nut, those things (sin) must be stripped away before you can get to the heart of the person.
 Why is that so important?
 Because God does not live in churches, temples or in any other man-made structure. He isn't interested in anything that we make, have or own. What could we possibly offer or give to the Creator of everything in the universe? Instead, He lives in the heart of each person who has made His Son Jesus Christ the Lord of his or her life. A person does that when they accept Jesus' death on the cross as the only payment for their sins and the only basis for their spending eternity in heaven with Him.
 Once a person accepts Jesus' death as payment in full for their sins, just as with the cashew nut, the caustic shell of sin, the barrier that keeps us from God, is removed from our life, allowing us to experience a relationship with Him.
 How about you?
 Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Have you accepted Him as the Lord and Savior of your life by accepting His death on the cross as the only payment for your sins? Do you have the assurance that one day you will spend eternity in heaven with Him?
 Perhaps you've never made that decision. You may feel like a cashew nut - hiding behind a caustic shell of works, possessions and treasures that is eating away at your life - consuming your time, talent and eternal destiny - coming between you and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ - the Creator of the universe.
 If you would like to know more about how YOU can have a person relationship with Jesus Christ, and receive the gift of eternal life, then I invite you to visit: http://www.hutchcraft.com/yours-for-life/presentation/alpha
 "Dear Lord God, we desire to know you more and more each day. Our prayer is that you would strip away anything that prevents us from learning more about you and becoming closer to you. Amen."

Happy Friday

Who Started Christmas?

This morning I heard a story on the radio of a woman who was out Christmas Shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row Of toys and everything else imaginable. And after hours of hearing both her Children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally Made it to the elevator with her two kids.

She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season time of The year. Overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, Taste all the holiday food and treats, getting that perfect gift for every Single person on our shopping list, making sure we don't forget anyone on Our card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who Sent us a card.

Finally the elevator doors opened and there was already a crowd in the car. She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two kids in with her and all The bags of stuff. When the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and Stated, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung Up and shot."

From the back of the car everyone heard a quiet calm voice respond, "Don't Worry we already crucified him." For the rest of the trip down the elevator It was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

Don't forget this year to keep the One who started this whole Christmas Thing in your every thought, deed, purchase, and word. If we all did it, Just think of how different this whole world would be.

~~Unknown

JESUS is the Reason for this Season

Happy Thursday

Dependence on God—A Witness of His Power

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” - 2 Corinthians 4:7 

If you’re like most people, you don’t realize your dependency on God until you’re burned out from stress—either self-induced or caused by circumstances beyond your control.

Why is that?

Paul says it’s because we are fragile. But he doesn’t stop there. He says that God made us this way so that His power may be known through us!

Maybe someone told you, “Oh, just tie a knot and hang on!” Sometimes God wants us to let go of the rope because it is keeping us tied down to our destructive habits. We are totally dependent on God so that the love of His Son may be made known to the world.

Get a piece of rope and tie a knot in it. Let it sit on your desk this week as a reminder that God is more than just a knot at the end of the rope. He is the Savior of the World!

Happy Wednesday

Wages or a Gift

"The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
This wonderful verse has been used by the Holy Spirit countless times to bring a person to the point of salvation, and rightly so. Seldom did the author of Scripture pack so much into so few words, and seldom is the gospel of salvation more clearly and succinctly presented.

Perhaps the key to this verse and its teaching is the little word but, for marvelous contrasts hinge on it. In fact, pointing out the parallel but contrasting statements has proven to be an effective witnessing tool. Let us consider these individual contrasts.

First, wages versus gift: Wages are something that must be earned, while a gift cannot be earned; it is free. The wages of employment follow directly from having done the work, just as the wages of sin follow directly from having done the sin. Similarly, the gift of God follows directly from God’s own character. He is a loving, gracious God, who freely showers His gifts on those who will accept them.

Second, sin versus God, or sin versus the sinless one: We might even define sin as the opposite of godliness. Sin is the deed which merits the wages, while God is the being who gives the gift. Sin is a wrong action, attitude, or thought, while God is a person, active and loving. Sin takes; God gives.

Third, death eternal versus life eternal: Conscious existence in separation from God versus conscious existence in communion with God. Sin brings death, surely and permanently; God gives eternal life.
This gift of eternal life is not given capriciously, however; it is based on the work of Jesus Christ, the one who Himself collected the wages of our sin. The sinner who accepts God’s gift, through Jesus Christ, can hardly fail to recognize Him as Lord. JDM

Happy Tuesday

Talking to God should be the same as if we're talking to our best friend. We should tell Him our thoughts, desires, hurts, and problems, as well as giving Him our thanks and praise. Talking to God not only tells Him that we have knowledge of Him but that we also have faith in Him. Talking to God also tells Him that we have a desire for His presence in our life and that we need Him and are dependent on Him. It also shows our Heavenly Father that we want to be obedient to Him. He wants to hear these things from us. He already knows what they are but He wants us to tell them to Him. He wants us to make the effort to talk to Him and not to take Him for granted.

 

I love to travel down the road and have a wonderful passenger right there with me.  He isn't a chatterer or one that checks my driving.  He doesn't gripe and complain, only brings me comfort and joy.   No one else can see Him but I can.  I ask that He make this journey safe and I feel His presence that gives me such a knowing sense that Jesus' will and mine were right in sync. Sometimes I'll sing to Him as I look at the beauty around me.  His constant re-assurances brings such comfort and how quickly the time did fly.  Time that was used in the best way, having my best buddy with me.  We can pray to God any time of the day no matter what we're doing, placing our thoughts in thanking Him or when unsure, letting our thoughts become our silent prayer.  We can pray to the Lord any time, anywhere, and about anything — to ask for something we need or to thank Him for something we received. As any loving earthly father would be, our Heavenly Father is interested in all that happens to us.  Christ is in charge. Each and every single thing we do, should be done by together.

Happy Monday

The Most Important Christmas Choice

Tracie Miles

"Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.'" Luke 2:13-14 (NLT)

Tis' the season to be merry... and stressed. Although it should be a season of peace, this month can often make us feel more tangled up inside than a messy string of Christmas lights.

Some people dread the hustle, bustle, and emotional rustle this time of year brings, knowing that irritability, loneliness, or depression will threaten. While there are others who may love the Christmas season, but worry, busyness, family conflicts, and unmet expectations take their toll.

In either case, we have a decision. We can choose to get bogged down with stress or we can choose to bow down in worship.

Scripture gives us a beautiful picture of praise in Luke 2:13-14. When Jesus was born, an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds sharing the good news. Then many other angels joined together and praised God.

"Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.'" (NLT)

That's not the only place the Bible records angels worshipping the Lord. In Hebrews 1:6 it says, "And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, 'Let all of God's angels worship him.'" (NLT) And Revelation 5:11-12a says, "Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus." (NLT)

Angels serve as role models of worship. They bow down before Jesus. They shout with incredible joy as they sing songs of praise. Through worship, angels spread the news of God's glory and exhibit holy reverence. Angels intentionally and deliberately spend time praising God.

Keeping Christ in Christmas is more than just a cliché. It is an intentional act of worship. It requires a heart of adoration, much like the angels had. When Jesus is the focus of our holiday, we're centered on His love, peace, and joy.

This prompts us to be His hands and feet to others in need. When worship fills our hearts, it leaves little room for aggravation in long lines at the store. We focus on what Christmas is truly about—the amazing gift of a Savior—rather than stressing out over buying the perfect presents. We exhibit grace to someone when we'd rather do otherwise. Worship turns our attention to giving thanks to Jesus for all He has done, rather than letting stress strip His joy from our hearts.

And it might even mean joining in with the heavenly chorus to sing praises to Him, even if we can't carry a tune!

The holidays can bring a flurry of heightened emotions and can often result in an unhealthy level of stress which can prevent us from engaging in worship and praising the One we are supposed to be celebrating.

There will be lots of choices to be made during the month of December: where to serve, what gifts to buy, and how many events to attend. The most important choice we can make is to worship and sing praises to our Lord. For His gift. For His love. For His peace.

And when our hearts are at peace, our holidays can be too.

Lord, I choose to intentionally worship and praise You during this Christmas season. Help me stay focused on You and Your goodness. Amen.

Happy Sunday

JOY TO THE WORLD! THE LORD IS COME

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord’” (Luke 2:10-11 NIV).

We are in another Christmas season! It has been a season set apart to commemorate the birth of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ over two thousand years ago. Undoubtedly, the season is one of the most celebrated seasons throughout the world. Interestingly, there have been many arguments for and against the season. Some say that the season has a pagan origin. Others rightly observe that December 25 could not be the birthday of Jesus Christ. However, most people that celebrate the season devote it to the birth of Jesus Christ. No matter your position about the season, the birth of Jesus Christ was an historical fact, and is worthy of celebration not only during this season, but throughout the year.

In 1719, Isaac Watts (1674-1748), also known as the “Father of English Hymnology”, wrote the lyrics of one of the most popular Christmas hymns that explains the reasons of the birth of Jesus Christ. The title of the hymn is “JOY TO THE WORLD! THE LORD IS COME.” Ironically, Watts never intended his hymn for Christmas use. Instead, he simply intended to paraphrase the words of Psalm 98: “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music...  Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity” (verses 4-9 NIV). In fact, Watts wrote the lyrics of this hymn as a hymn glorifying Christ’s triumphant return at the end of the age, rather than a song celebrating His first coming. Nevertheless, the hymn is also suitable for His first coming.

It is indeed joy to the world that the Lord Jesus Christ has come to make His blessings flow as far as the curse of sin is found. It also is joy to the world that the Lord Jesus Christ will come in the future to rule the world with truth and grace, and make the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love.

People of all races should, therefore, rejoice and celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ. However, as you are rejoicing, you should prepare room for Him in your heart. Yes! Prepare room for Him in your heart especially at this Christmas time when so many things can distract you from your faith. Remember Christ’s first coming as a humble King and Saviour. Reflect on the certainty of His return as Judge over all. As you think on these precious truths, you will experience the best feeling of all - the joy of knowing "the Lord is come" into your heart.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Prayer Point: Pray that you will indeed experience the joy of the coming of Jesus Christ to the world.

Happy Saturday

A MESSAGE OF JOY

by Ernest R. Campbell

As Christmas draws near, our focus is on two very important truths: First, the fact that the eternal Son of God became incarnate in a human body; Second, what He accomplished in His sinless body.

The fact that the Son of God was destined to become incarnate in human flesh was prophesied in the Old Testament. The Spirit of God says in Isaiah 7: 14: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." In Matthew 1:23, the Holy Spirit applies this statement to Mary, adding that the name Immanuel means "God with us."

The Holy Spirit also applies what He said through the prophet Micah, hundreds of years earlier, to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, that "out of you One shall come forth to be a ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2).

The incarnation of the Son of God in a human body is also affirmed in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit says in Matthew 1:18, prior to a conjugal relation between Joseph and Mary, "she was found with child out of the Holy Spirit."

This was a great shock to Joseph, a Jew imbued with the high moral standards of the Law! As he reflected on the counsel given to him, that he should secretly separate from Mary, the Lord said to him through an angel, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your woman, for the one conceived in her is out of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 1:20). This verse certainly affirms that the Holy Spirit produced in Mary's womb the body which the Son of God was to occupy!

The Holy Spirit via Luke gives us a very graphic picture of how God produced the physical body for His Son to inhabit on earth. The angel of the Lord told Mary: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the one who is born will be called Holy, the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). How could language more explicitly declare that Jesus of Nazareth is indeed the Son of God?

Now let us consider the second important truth, which is based on the fact that the conception and birth of Jesus were produced by God via the Holy Spirit. As the Mediator between the holy God and sinful men, the Person of Jesus Christ had to be both True God and True Man. As the eternal Son of God, He is True God, and, as a result of the Holy Spirit producing Mary's conception, He is True Man, void of Adam's sin.

In the book of Hebrews, this same truth is confirmed regarding Jesus Christ's relation to God and to men. First, the Spirit says that He is a "Great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God ... who has been tried as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4:14-15).

Second, since He came to rescue flesh and blood sinners, "He Himself also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Heb. 1:14). Furthermore, "He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people" (Heb. 2:17).

Grateful to Him for the sacrifice of His perfect, sinless Body for our sin,

May we all renew our purpose to make the Gospel of His Grace known to all!

Happy Friday

A Baby's Hug

 

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled.. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists.. 'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik. My husband and I exchanged looks, 'What do we do?' Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.' Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, 'Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.' Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments. We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. 'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,' I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man. Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, 'You take care of this baby.' Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone. He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift.' I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, 'My God, my God, forgive me.' I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not.. I felt it was God asking, 'Are you willing to share your son for a moment?' when He shared His for all eternity. How did God feel when he put his baby in our arms 2000 years ago. The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, 'To enter the Kingdom of God , we must become as little children.' If this has blessed you, please bless others by sending it on. Sometimes, it takes a child to remind us of what is really important. We must always remember who we are, where we came from and, most importantly, how we feel about others. The clothes on your back or the car that you drive or the house that you live in does not define you at all; it is how you treat your fellow man that identifies who you are. This one is a keeper. 'It is better to be liked for the true you, than to be loved for who people think you are......'(Amen!

I believe we could all take lessons from God’s little children!!!

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows;
it empties today of its strength.”

Happy Thursday

The Christmas Story Unplugged
By Pres Gillham

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And every-one went to his own town to register.

"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David. because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child."1

Not far from Bethlehem, bivouacked in the Judean hills with his hoards of demons, Satan contemplated Joseph's journey. In the spiritual battle for the hearts and lives of humankind, this inconsequential couple, pregnant out of wedlock, an embarrassment, were the avenue by which God would initiate His coup de grace of mankind's redemption. While the world took no notice, Satan knew, God knew, the demons and angels knew, and Joseph knew Mary was pregnant with the Messiah. With His birth, it would be Christmas.

God was not perturbed or anxious. His plan was working just as He had conceived it from before He laid the foundations of world. Although not visible to Joseph and Mary, an elite corps of angelic, special agents guarded their every move. The hosts of heaven stood ready to trumpet their praise to God with a celebration second only to that planned for the End of Time. The archangel, Michael, and the armies of heaven stood at "red alert" should God issue them a command. Christmas must
not be deterred. Meanwhile, Satan paced, spat, and cursed to himself, brooding, There must be a way.

While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, "the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

With the sound of Mary's labor pains, Satan stalked closer, determined to destroy and devour the child, the hope of mankind, the light of the world, the Crown Prince of heaven's kingdom. His was a desperate plan conceived for a desperate moment. In Satan's war of rebellion, this birth was the harbinger of a heavenly weapon unparalleled in the universe and was without equal in all of hell's arsenal. In the intimate quiet of this Middle Eastern stable, in a stall filled with fresh straw, Mary labored while all around her the demons lurked and the devil poised for a fatal blow to her helpless child. Christmas was imminent.

The ranks of angels in heaven's army waited in disciplined anticipation for a command from Michael, whose eyes were fixed on God. Before them was an earthly scene not unlike any other birth. But from a spiritual perspective, a great initiative was about to be launched. Awaiting the birth of Jesus was an anxious man, Joseph, and a great, red dragon-Satan-having seven heads and ten horns and a tail that twitched from side to side doing violence throughout the universe as if to destroy the stars in the sky.2 His rage at this young woman was controlled only by his anticipation of her giving birth to the Son of God, the heir to the throne, a seat he wanted for himself.

1 Reference Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)
2 General reference to Revelation 12: 1-17 (NASB)

With one final push the baby was born and the enormous dragon lurched forward. The heavenly hosts broke into praises to God accompanied by trumpets and cymbals. God nodded. Michael and the armies of heaven leaped at His bidding and there was war in the heavens between Michael and his angels and the dragon and his demons. The tide turned quickly against the serpent of old, the great dragon, the deceiver of the world. It was Christmas morning.

As the world slept placidly Mary cradled her new-born. Joseph methodically tended to his family and freshened the straw in the stable while the cattle chewed their cud. "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.'''

On this night, the course of history changed. Earth, hell, and heaven would never again be the same. In a placid Judean town, nestled in the hills, in a simple feeding trough for livestock, a helpless boy-child with an olive complexion was wrapped in rags and laid to rest on fresh straw. God had invaded earth, the seat of the dragon's bastion. All around the spiritual world convulsed with the ebb and flow of combat. The great dragon did signs and wonders, children were murdered, and Joseph and Mary eventually fled to Egypt for safety. Michael and the army of heaven carried them as though on eagle's wings. While the hosts of heaven declared the glories of the Lord and his grace, the dragon dragged the very stars from heaven and flung them angrily about.

In Bethlehem, a baby was born. In heaven, a spiritual revolution established an earthly beachhead that would forever change the course of history and reclaim the hearts of mankind. Christmas had come. The angels filled the universe with their songs. God had become a man.

We live in parallel worlds, and as Philip Yancey says, "One world consists of hills and lakes and barns and politicians and shepherds watching their flocks by night. The other consists of angels and sinister forces and somewhere out there places called heaven and hell. One night in the cold, in the dark, among the wrinkled hills of Bethlehem, those two worlds came together at a dramatic point of intersection. But the few eyewitnesses on Christmas night saw none of that. They saw an infant struggling to work never-before-used lungs.

Unflinching in His determination, God continues to execute His plan of reconciliation. It is His all-out,  last ditch effort to once again state in words we can not mistake, in words that echo from the lips of an angelic envoy in the Judean hills, down to the pits of hell, up to the ramparts of heaven, and into the hearts  of every man, woman, boy, and girl:  "I love you. Merry Christmas."  

 

Happy Wednesday

Two Important Christmas Truths

By  Late Pastor Ernest R. Campbell

Dear Friends:

As Christmas draws near, our focus is on two very important truths. First, the fact that the eternal Son of God became incarnate in a human body. Second, what He accomplished in His sinless body.

The fact that the Son of God was destined to become incarnate in human flesh was prophesied in the Old Testament. The Spirit of God says in Isaiah 7:14: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." In Matthew 1:23, the Holy Spirit applies this statement to Mary, adding that the name Immanuel means God with us.

The Holy Spirit also applies what He said through the prophet Micah, hundreds of years earlier, to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, that "out of you One shall come forth to be a ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" Micah 5:2. The incarnation of the Son of God in a human body is also affirmed in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit says in Matthew 1:18, prior to a conjugal relation between Joseph and Mary, "she was found with child by the Holy Spirit."

This was a great shock to Joseph, a Jew imbued with the high moral standards of the Law! As he reflected on the counsel given to him, that he should secretly separate from Mary, the Lord said to him through an angel, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your woman, for the one conceived in her is out of the Holy Spirit" (cf. Matt. 1:20). This verse certainly affirms that the Holy Spirit produced in Mary's womb the body which the Son of God was to occupy!

The Holy Spirit via Luke gives us a very graphic picture of how God produced the physical body for His Son to inhabit on earth. The angel of the Lord told Mary: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the one who is born will be called holy, the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). How could language more explicitly declare that Jesus of Nazareth is indeed the Son of God?

Now let us consider the second important truth, which is based on the fact that the conception and birth of Jesus was produced by God via the Holy Spirit. As the Mediator between the holy God and sinful men, the Person of Jesus Christ had to be both true God and true man. As the eternal Son of God, He is true God, and as a result of the Holy Spirit producing Mary's conception, He is true man, void of Adam's sin.

In the book of Hebrews, this same truth is confirmed regarding Jesus Christ's relation to God and to men. First, the Spirit says that He is a "Great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God . . . who has been tried as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4:1 4-15).

Second, since He came to rescue flesh and blood sinners, "He Himself also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Heb. 1:14). Furthermore, "He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people" (Heb. 2:17).

Grateful to Him for the sacrifice of His perfect, sinless body for our sin,

Happy Tuesday

Was There A Virgin Birth?

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers. 

 

BIBLE MEDITATION
“And the angel said unto her, ‘Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.’ Then said Mary unto the angel, ‘How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?’ And the angel answered and said unto her, ‘The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God…. For with God nothing shall be impossible.’” Luke 1:31-37

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There are people who sneer at the idea of a virgin birth. “Ha!” they say, “How could this happen?” The angel said to Mary, “With God nothing shall be impossible.”

Do you believe that? “With God, nothing.” If you have trouble with the virgin birth, your real trouble is with God. Be reasonable. If God could make the first man without a father or mother, don’t you think He could bring His Son into this world in a virgin birth?

If you don’t believe in the virgin birth, you have some character problems.

• The character of Mary. If Mary had a child out of wedlock, then Mary was an impure woman.

• The character of Jesus. If Jesus had not been born of a virgin, he would have been the son of Adam, and in Adam all die. Jesus Christ would have had the same human proclivities you and I have, who are by nature the children of wrath.

• The character of the Word of God is flawed, because the Word of God clearly, plainly teaches it.

ACTION POINT:
Think about this today: Your salvation is inextricably interwoven with the virgin birth. No virgin birth, no deity. No deity, no sinless life. No sinless life, no sacrificial death. No sacrificial death, no salvation. No salvation, you’re going to hell. Jesus came to earth that we might go to heaven; born of a virgin that we might be born again. Thank God for the virgin birth.

Happy Monday

YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY 
 
DANIEL 3:28B, ROMANS 6:13,16,19; 12:1
       Several avenues in our city have signs located at their intersections which read: 'YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY.' This means that we must slow down as we approach the intersection, and give the cars which are coming at right angles to us first place. Failure to observe this command may bring tragic results!

     This is God's demand upon every individual whom He has been pleased to save. It is plainly this: 'YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD......PRESENT YOUR BODIES....... UNTO GOD.' What does this involve? Simply this: because God has graciously saved me through the death and resurrection of His beloved Son, and because by His Spirit He has brought me into an eternal union with Christ, and because I am no more my own, I repudiate all known sins in my life and deny the right to old self to be king any longer within me, and I yield my entire self with my body and its several members unto this loving Father as a 'living sacrifice.' This is a definite, once-for-all transaction, as the tense of the words 'yield' and 'present' indicate. Just as I definitely received Christ into my life as Savior and Lord once for all, so I am now just as definitely to yield or present myself to God for His own use and glory.

     Suppose I were to give you a check from our checkbook, and then tell you, 'Just fill in any amount you wish; I have signed my name already to it!' Knowing that I had informed you that I had unlimited financial resources, you would be free to write in any amount you felt you needed.

     Likewise intelligently and lovingly turn your entire being and life over to the God who loves you far more than you'll ever understand, and say, 'Lord, here I am; body, soul, and spirit; mind, emotions, will; eyes, ears, lips, hands, and feet; weaknesses, frailties, habits, sins, problems, circumstances, finances; take me just as I am; do what You will both in me and through me; and cause me ever to cleave with purpose of heart unto you until either death or 'the catching away'!'

And God will never turn down an offer like that! Do it meaningfully today!

Grace, Peace and Love,
Pastor P. Hume

Happy Sunday

MERCY AND GRACE TO THE “CHIEF” OF SINNERS
  by Russell S. Miller

When the world was ripe for the judgment of God to fall, indeed now seems overripe and long overdue, the Lord Jesus Christ reached down in mercy and grace to save “the chief of sinners,” as Paul later calls himself in I Timothy 1:15.

In saving Saul of Tarsus, God has “shewed forth all longsuffering”to this lost and dying world. Consequently, the Lord’s words to Ananias concerned Paul’s conversion, his apostleship and commission, and also speaks of God’s grace to us all when the very next prophesied event was the      judgment of God. Contrary to the Great Commission, then, Acts 9:1-6 marks a new beginning as to the administration of God in the affairs of men today:

“…for [Paul] is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:15,16).

Notice that the order of Paul’s commission is the reverse of that given to the Twelve! Saul of Tarsus, the one who had persecuted the followers of Jesus Christ, is specially “chosen” of God through whom “God’s Son” is to be revealed to “all nations.” Since the favored nation had rejected Messiah and refused“the Kingdom of Heaven” on earth under their so-called “Great Commission,” God sent forth the Apostle Paul to all nations with a new message and ministry, “to testify the Gospel of the Grace of God” (Acts 20:24), from the moment of his conversion.

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, PUTTING ME INTO THE MINISTRY; who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious; but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

“AND THE GRACE OF OUR LORD WAS EXCEEDING ABUNDANT WITH FAITH AND LOVE WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS.

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS; of whom I am chief.

“Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, FOR A PATTERN TO THEM WHICH SHOULD HEREAFTER believe on Him to life everlasting” (ITim.1:12-16).

Have you accepted the Lord Jesus  Christ as your Savior? He will make a real difference in your life, if you will just ask Him to save you. Won’t you do it today?

Young Boy With Cancer Loses Health Insurance Thanks to Obamacare

by Steven Ertelt | Washington, DC | LifeNews.com | 11/28/13 12:25 PM

The family of a young boy in Texas has less to be thankful for this Thanksgiving — because their cancer-stricken little boy has lost his health insurance due to Obamacare.
Hunter Alford is described by his parents as a “wild, fun loving, zombie-killing boy who loves the military and police.” However, he was born with a rare form of cancer and lost his health insurance just after Obamacare went into effect, according to a report in WND.Sadly, Hunter is one of many cancer patients who are losing their health care due to Obmacare’s rules and regulations.
A woman with stage four gallbladder cancer is one of the millions of Americans who are losing their health insurance thanks to the rules and regulations that are a part of Obamacare. Edie Littlefield Sundby details her plight in a new article the Wall Street Journal published earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Debra Fishericks is a grandmother living in Virginia Beach, Virginia who suffers from kidney cancer but she is the latest victim of Obamacare. She recently learned that her health insurance plan will be dropped due to Obamacare and she is unable to afford any alternatives.
WND tells the story of Hunter and what he and his family are dealing with:
Americans were told the health-care law was designed to help children just like Hunter, born with a deadly pre-existing condition and little means to pay for expensive treatments.
The Affordable Care Act was not supposed to take away the insurance these most-vulnerable children already had and leave them utterly defenseless against a life-threatening disease.
Ron and Krista Alford’s two children, Hunter and his sister, Makayla, were both born with an extremely rare form of cancer called Plexiform Hishocyne Neoplasm.
The parents said their children “have known nothing other than hospitals, doctors, sickness and pain.”
Makayla is currently in remission, but Hunter is in the second fight of his young life against cancer.
He is hospitalized and needs another round of chemotherapy, which will cost $50,000 without insurance, leaving his parents at their wit’s end.

Happy Saturday

The Problem With Thanksgiving
(By Charles Tucker, Jr.)

You know the story of that very first Thanksgiving Day in the English colonies, right? You know, the one where Captain John Woodlief and those 38 colonists who had just had arrived in the Virginia colonies from Berkeley, England and set aside a day of giving thanks to God at the Berekley Hundred (later renamed Berkley Plantation) on December 4, 1619 where Woodlief proclaimed--

"Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrivall at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God."

Oh, you haven't heard that story? That's because those Johnny-come-lately Pilgrims from Massachusetts arrived at Plymouth Rock with a publicist, so that now everyone just "knows" that the first Thanksgiving was in Massachusetts with the Pilgrims after the whole colony almost froze to death following that first bitter winter in 1622. But the very FIRST Thanksgiving Day was in Virginia. OK, so actually the first Thanksgiving in the New World was one led by Spanish explorer Juan de Onate held near one El Paso, Texas in 1598, but that one doesn't count because it was in Texas! They probably had chili and burritos and guacamole or something (actually, that sounds pretty good).

At any rate, the idea of a Thanksgiving Day was not held as a "perpetual" celebration in either Massachusetts or Virginia. Thanksgiving Day was never more than a local and sporadic event until Abraham Lincoln made it an annual national holiday observance in 1863. Which means that "first" thanksgiving in Massachusetts took place after a bitter winter almost destroyed a whole colony, and the first national Thanksgiving Day was observed DURING the tragedy of the Civil War that almost destroyed our nation. We still observe Thanksgiving Day, but it has little to do with struggle and more to do with eating ourselves silly and then complaining about how stuffed we feel!

But that's not the real problem with Thanksgiving. The real problem is that we set aside this one day to reflect on and give thanks for our blessings (in which we overindulge) and then ONE DAY later... we rush out for "Black Friday," the biggest shopping day of the year. We forget all about Thanksgiving Day in our rush to run out and get more stuff. The idea of Thanksgiving was born from struggle and the awareness of God's goodness despite our difficulty and hardship. Now we seem to believe that we deserve all the good things we have, and we can't even have a day of reflection on Thanksgiving without turning it into an excuse to shop until we drop getting more, more, more. Will Rogers drew this contrast between Thanksgiving Day then and now:

"In the days of our founders, people were willing to give thanks for mighty little, for mighty little was all that they expected. But now neither government nor nature can give enough but what we think is too little. In the fall of the year, if the founders could gather in a few pumpkins, some potatoes, and some corn for the winter, they were in a thanking mood. But if we can't gather in a new car, a new radio...and some government relief, why we feel that the world is against us."

It's ironic that the more and more we have for which to be thankful, the harder and harder it seems to get to be truly thankful. As the late Andy Rooney would say, "Why is that?" 

Happy Friday

Nothing Can Separate "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t and life can’t. The angels can’t and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away." Romans 8:38, NLT We can find ourselves separated from much in our lives. It could be because we are hospitalized or imprisoned, because of war, persecution or distance. A thousand reasons can cause us to be unable to be in contact with those we love or go where we wish. But let this promise encourage you. Nothing can separate you from His love, but nothing! If you ever feel all alone, and like dying, weeping, hurting or hopeless, this promise you can hold on to. We may be parted from everything else but never His love. I was listening to a prisoner in the Isle of White, who had rung Premier radio and was experiencing this promise and was surrounded by God’s love, his spirit being lifted up in praise, whilst being in jail. For wherever you are, in every circumstance, His love can reach you and hold you. In the 1960’s a friend of mine was just doing her washing one day, when she suddenly experienced the love of Jesus coming upon her, filling her with His Spirit. God is always looking to bless us. All she knew was an overwhelming love. So even a busy Mum, perhaps stressed with the world’s problems on her shoulders is not separated from His love. It’s not just words, but a powerful revelation of Gods holy, love filling your being, that raises your spirit into His presence. Beloved and Blessed, The Fathers’ pure delight, Redeemer, Sustainer, You’re my passion and my prize. My brother, my comforter, My shepherd and my friend, My ransom, my righteousness, The streams that never end. You’re unchanging, magnificent, You’re all I could desire. You’re my breath of Life, Son of righteousness, You’re the love that satisfies. Stuart Townend Prayer: We pray for anyone we know, who is insecure and fearful. We pray that You would dispel their doubts and enfold them with Your presence, that they would know Your inseparable love in their lives, in Jesus’ name. Amen. Today's Writer : Pam Smith

Happy Thanksgiving Day

Simply Give Thanks

"Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." – Luke 18:17

On Thanksgiving Day when I was five years old, snow started to fall. This was unusual for our area, and it stirred my young heart with excitement. I remember jumping up to catch the flakes in my hand, not the least bit worried about the roads becoming slick, although my dad would have to drive on them later and he was probably concerned. I just trusted that he would get our family safely home from my uncle's house after our holiday dinner.

When I went into the kitchen, I found my mom checking on the amount of food and worrying that there would not be enough mashed potatoes to go around. Others seemed concerned about where everyone would sit. However, I once again simply enjoyed the coziness of my uncle's small house and basked in the mouth-watering aromas coming from the delicious dishes being prepared. I was quite sure there would be enough potatoes, and I was content to sit on the floor if need be. While others worried, I explored my uncle's glass bookcase filled with treasures.

Seeing through the eyes of a child with simple trust and faith has countless benefits. As Christians, we have many Bible promises of God's care and provision, yet we may occasionally still find ourselves worrying about matters. Sometimes these cares even consume our thoughts. If this happens, we need to channel our inner child and remember that God, our Heavenly Father, will never leave us alone or without help. Just as I was able to place complete trust in my earthly father, we can put our complete trust in our Heavenly Father. He has everything under control and He never fails in His love, care, and understanding toward us.

The Lord has done so many wonderful things for us. He provided for our salvation, He loves us unconditionally, He is able to meet any need we bring to Him, and He has prepared a home for us in Heaven. Why would we worry over details that God has promised to handle, when we could just trust in Him and enjoy all that He has provided? While we celebrate and give praise to the Lord during this Thanksgiving season, let us be as little children in our trust and devotion to Him.