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Merry Christmas
Be sure to listen to our podcasts
Here is one to make you think about the nativity scene:
Also view the video shows that are worth sharing and see the different parts of this website. Our gift to you this Christmas and always-- is our prayer that we will worship in spirit and in truth--keeping in mind that many people perish for a lack of knowledge. This website is dedicated to shining the light of the One whose birth we celebrate. There are many things worth thinking in this world and we hope these we present you on this website will help move you to help a hurting world and fill you with hope by the One who gave of Himself so you and I could have life abundant. Here are some thoughts sent through the internet worth sharing.
We are once again in the Christmas Season, or if you are politically correct, the holiday season. It is the time of year when most of us overdo, overspend, and overeat. (A recent survey shows that 30% of Americans are obese, and the credit card debt is staggering.)
Is this the real season to be jolly? Will we wake up after the holiday and feel a sinking feeling when we are trying to recover from our excesses and get our credit card bill?
Oh yes, we love the season, and it is easy to love baby Jesus who is lying in a
manger, the shepherds coming to visit Him; and the wise men bringing
Him priceless gifts! But have we taken the Christ out of Christmas?
He came as a gift from the Father, to redeem mankind back to God, and to reconcile us with God, and bring us peace. "Peace I give you, not peace as the world gives do I give you", He said. But peace in the heart.
How can we have this peace? We must receive it by faith.
The Bible tells us that salvation is the gift of God, and that we are saved by grace, by faith, and not of works, lest any man should boast.
What is this grace? It has been interpreted several ways, but my favorite one is "the unmerited favor of God and His willingness to use it on our behalf."
Have you received this free gift. The offer is still open; it has never been withdrawn.
It must be received by the heart and not the head. It was the heart of God that drew Jesus to earth; it is the heart that will draw men back to God. E.M. Bounds has said, "heads do not save; the gospel flows through hearts. Genius, brains, brilliancy, strength, and natural gifts do not save. The gospel flows thru hearts."
There may not be "peace on the earth" this season, but we can have the "peace of God, which surpasses understanding" in our hearts. Let us pray for each one to receive this peace, as well as for world peace.
from Ms. Margaret
A Different Christmas Poem
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night." "It's my duty
to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."
PLEASE, Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as
many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some
credit is due to our U.S.service men and women for our being able to
celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of
what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and
dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.
Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying Nor taking a stand.
Why the Politically Correct Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a "Holiday".
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree"
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!
Making Pancakes ~
Six -year-old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor.
He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten.
Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad.
He didn't know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove and he didn't know how the stove worked! Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky.
And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon 's eyes. All he'd wanted to do was something good, but he'd made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him.
Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process!
That's how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky, or We insult a friend, or we can't stand our job, or our health goes sour.
Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him.
But just because we might mess up, we can't stop trying to "make pancakes" for God or for others. Sooner or later we'll get it right, and then they'll be glad we tried...
I was thinking and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that need rekindling, or three words needing to be said, sometimes, "I love you" can heal and bless! Remind every one of your friends and family that you love them. Even if you think they don't love you back, you would be amazed at what those three little words, a smile, and a reminder like this can do.
Just in case I haven't told you lately... "I LOVE YA! "
Please pass some of this love on to others....suppose one morning you were called to God; do all your friends and family know you love them?
B>Send this to everyone you love, And never stop "Making Pancakes."