New Year's Resolutions_Again!

 

Things to keep in mind as the New Year approaches us!

Four things that can never be recovered: 

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  The stone after it's thrown

  
  
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  the word after it's spoken 

  
  
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  the occasion after it's missed 

  
  
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  and the time after it's gone.

  
  
  
  

The "Secret Blessings of God"

This morning, I received an Email from my Sister in Indiana, and I'd like to share with you what she said:

"we are always thankful for our health but more than that, the secret blessings God gives always come in our greatest times of trial. So when we need, you know as well as I, that our greatest gifts come from God."

This got me thinking!

 

"The Secret Blessings God Gives"!  Have you ever been aware of the secret blessings from God in your time of need? 

For instance:  My Nephew and his wife have two small children.  He has worked in a trucking company as the Administrative Office Manager, keeping track of all the traffic coming in and out of the company; he has worked on the Loading Docks and on heavy equipment as well as in the office as Dispatcher.  He's done this for the past 10 years and now, right before Christmas, he was called into the office by the higher-ups and told he was being let-go for financial reasons.  The company is hurting right now and they have to trim the payroll.  So they trimmed his payroll!

In a situation like this, with two small children at home, one would have a tendency to get down and depressed and wonder "WHY GOD?" 

Not my Nephew and his wife!  They are Christians and trust God!  They know that He has never let them down in the past and won't let them down now.  They just went to church as usual on Sunday and in their Sunday School Class, shared a prayer request, asking for prayer for him to be able to find another job quickly. Without them knowing anything about it, this group of Christians did more than pray! 

They put their faith into action as James talks about in the Bible: 

 James 2:17-20  "Even so faith if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  Yea, if a man say, "Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils believe, and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"

So we see that just 'having faith' is not enough!  It's what we do with that faith that matters!  We can't sit in our church week after week, like a sponge, just soaking it all up and not giving anything back in return.  Do you know what happens to a sponge if it just keeps soaking up water? Before long, it is water-logged and just oozes out.  We as Christians were meant to soak up God's blessings and then 'squeeze them out' over others in return.  Not trying to keep it all to ourselves.

This small family, found themselves the recipients of "the secret blessings of God" in their time of need!  This Sunday School class got together, unbeknownst to my Nephew and his family, and collected boxes and boxes of food to carry them through this time!  They not only gave food, but a GIFT CARD so that the would be able to take care of their children's Christmas gifts!  Their sensitivity to the Holy Spirit caused them to think what would be the greatest hurt for a parent at this time of year without money.  Children don't understand the worries that their parents have; they just know that Christmas is coming and they've always gotten gifts in the past.  This would hurt a parent more than anything; to not be able to give gifts to their children.  God made us that way because HE is a GIVING GOD and loves bestowing "gifts" on His children!  This group of Christians were sensitive to that and wanted to alleviate this concern for one of their group. God will bless them abundantly because you 'can't out-give God'!  He sees each kind act that we do and because He loves us, He will not let that go unrewarded.  These giving people will experience a joy that others will not, this Christmas. Giving truly is better than receiving!

One would think that coming on 'hard times' in this world, would be a bad thing!  But instead, it opens up an opportunity for our wonderful LORD to show us how HE can take care of us and bestow those wonderful "secret blessings" in our time of need! This builds our faith!  Each time we place our trust in God in times of great need, our faith is strengthened to continue walking with Him and doing even greater things in the future.

It's wonderful to walk with the Lord day by day and see Him work in our lives!

Malachi 3:10  "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

And again in James 4:8  "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you."

When we walk in obedience day by day with the LORD, and seek His face, we can be in no greater place and in no better hands!  We will be daily recipients of the "secret blessings of God", whether they be actual physical blessings or spiritual.  Either way, there's no better place to be!

Psalm 5:12 "For Thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield."

Psalm 37:39 "But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord; He is their strength in time of trouble."

Psalm 46:1  "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble."

I wish for you that you will walk with the Lord this Christmas and into the New Year; holding His hand and following in His steps!

For myself, I plan to read, study and meditate on His Word more; trust Him more; and try to be a blessing to others, sharing His secret blessings on my life and letting them spill over onto others!

From our Home to Yours,

Merry Christmas!

That Old Christmas Let-Down Feeling

Do you find yourself feeling "let down" 

even before Christmas is here?  

I mean, you walk through the stores and see all the pretty decorations, the trees, the lights, the bows, and maybe even hear Christmas songs in the stores that still are playing them, or on the radio.  

"Here Comes Santa Claus"; "Jingle Bells"; "Frosty the Snowman"; "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas".........  but it doesn't "feel" like Christmas.  

Where is the wonder and joy and anticipation that you felt as a child?  

It doesn't matter how much "Jolly" and "bright lights" you see around you, the "jolly" just isn't there for you, and you feel pressured because there isn't enough time and you still have '_x__ # of gifts to buy" yet!  

There isn't much money and the kids are asking for mega-buck-costing toys on their lists. 

Maybe you were just recently laid off from your job or your pay has been cut to enable you to keep your job!  I have a Nephew with a wife and two small children that was just "let go" from his job last week, as part of the cut backs, right before Christmas.  It would be hard to feel very "Christmas-y" in that situation, one would think.

So, what can a person do, if they find themselves on the "BLUE" end of the Christmas spirit instead of on the "Ho Ho Ho" end?

Maybe your focus is askew.  

If we focus on "things" and "money", then life can be pretty tough this time of year. If we focus on ourselves and what we can get or what we want, we get the same result.  

If we focus on the 

REASON FOR THIS SEASON

There is JOY!  

Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.  God sent His Son to a dying world, in the form of a tiny baby.  He didn't choose to herald His coming with media ads or jingling bells. He announced His coming long ago by the prophet Micah, (chapter 5:2)

"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."

Jesus came to the world quietly; born to a Virgin and laid in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn when they arrived.  His birth was imminent and Joseph had to find a place for Mary to rest and give birth. No fanfare.. nothing glamorous or glitzy, just a quiet entering-in, to the world.  Just the way Jesus wants to enter your life and bring you the peace that "passes all understanding" (Phil. 4:7)

Jesus says to us: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." 

(Matt. 11:28)

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  (John 14:27)

This world will never give you peace.  Only God can do that.  We can't have peace if we are at enmity with God.  Come to Jesus and let Him give you His peace.  Celebrate His birth and focus on Him and your relationship to God during this Christmas season, and you won't feel "let down" but lifted up!  The Christmas Season will bring joy and meaning!

See this link on how to become a Christian and know FOR SURE

that you will spend eternity in Heaven with God.

http://www.billygraham.org/SH_HowtobecomeaChristian.asp

It's a time of Celebration!  Celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! 

My favorite Christmas song is Mary Did You Know

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1oHJR2g7Tw

And here is the story of Jesus' Birth as told by the Apostle Luke, in Luke 2:1-20:

 

Christ is Born

1And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

2This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

3So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

6So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.

7And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Angels Announce Jesus to the Shepherds

8Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

10Then 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.

11For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

The Shepherds Visit Jesus

15So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”

16And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

17Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

18And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

20Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

There Is a Remedy

This morning in our church worship service, our choir sang a beautiful song called

     "There is a Remedy".   

In these days leading up to "Christmas", the time we as Christians set aside to celebrate the birth of our Savior, several thoughts will come to mind as the days go on and we shop in the stores, seeing the decorations and gifts and bright bows; hearing the Christmas music in those that still are playing it. We'll see shoppers, some with smiling faces as they choose that special gift for a loved one; some with frowns and lines in their faces because this is a stressful time that brings little if any real 'joy' to their lives.

Some people are very lonely at this time of year, even when surrounded by friends and parties and festive decorations.  There is an emptiness deep inside that can't be filled with anything, no matter how hard one might try.  There is a reason for that emptiness.  I believe this is the time of year when our hearts are drawn to seek a Savior.  The wise men searched for long periods of time through sacred writings, trying to find where this Savior would be born, as foretold in the holy Scriptures.  They traveled long and hard seeking the ONE that could provide a remedy to a sin-sick world.

Jesus came into a world that was not looking for him and had no room for Him. From the moment He was born and laid in the manger, the shadow of a cross lingered over His cradle.  Jesus came to die; for you and for me and all that will seek Him, just as those wisemen from many years ago.

"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  He came unto his own, and his own received him not."  John 1: 9-11

But the GOOD NEWS of Christmas

and each and every day to us is this:

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  John 1:12-14

Here are the lovely words to the song our choir sang this morning:

There is a Remedy

For the world that's lost in darkness

For the saint who's gone astray
For the sinner, blind but searching
For the child in need of faith

For the homeless and forsaken
For the hungry and the cold
For the prisoner and the captive
For the young and for the old

                                                       
(Chorus)
There is a remedy
For every sin-sick soul

There is a cure for all

All the pain and hurt and wrong

There is a solution
For all the problems deep inside
There is a remedy
And His name is Jesus Christ

For the bitter, for the lonely

For the weary and afraid

For the burdened and frustrated
The discouraged and dismayed

For the mocked and persecuted

For the battered, for the wronged
For the scarred and for the wounded
For the weak and for the strong

(Repeat Chorus)

                                                  

(Bridge)

For every tribe and every nation
For every color, every rac
For every tongue and every language
For every time and every place
There's an answer to the questions
There is love for all the hate
There's a healer for the dying
He's the Light, the Truth, the Way

                               
(Repeat Chorus)

I only wish you could hear this sung by our Pastor's wife and our choir!

Our Lord Jesus Christ is beyond beautiful.