The following is only meant as a thought provoking article.  It is a little late for the Christmas season, but, the thoughts are valid.  I think too often we get so caught up in the idea that the secularist are trying to destroy Christianity that we forget that it can't be accomplished by man.  It is up to us to stand strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might.

The 'idea' of Christmas should be displayed in each of our lives on a daily basis.  

May God richly bless you this year.  I hope you find some value in this piece. 

Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks
are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I
wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some
of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was
actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being
remembered; anytime!

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most
easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of
your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate
My birth just, GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Now, having said that let
Me go on.

If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a
scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and
snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all
My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the
town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a
holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees.
You can and may remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape
vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching explaining
who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have
forgotten that one, look up John 15:1-8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here
is my wish list. Choose something from it.

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My
birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers
away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I
know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know
them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on
the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him
that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow
up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't
afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of
My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your
arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him
or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to
take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless?
Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a
warm smile it could make the difference. Also, you might consider
supporting the local Hot-Line: they talk with people like that every
day.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your
town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give
them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish
you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one.
Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much
money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at
home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a
missionary, especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who
have never heard My name. You may already know someone like that.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole
families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but
neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't
know them (and I suspect you don't) buy some food and a few gifts, and
give them to the Marines, the Salvation Army or some other charity that
believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally if you want to make a statement about your belief
in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in
secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your
actions that you are one of mine.

P.S. Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love
Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest.
Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you,
but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas
with all those whom you love and remember I LOVE YOU.

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Oatmeal and Toast

What is it that returns you to your childhood? For some, it is seeing a certain toy that reminds them of their younger years. Or, perhaps it is a particular song on the radio, umm maybe I should say tv.

I have a friend that will get very nostalgic when they sit at a counter in a diner. It returns them to the days when 'drugstores' use to have a lunch counter. I remember sitting on the high stools and getting a 'nilla coke.

But, for me, the smell of oatmeal and toast cooking in the kitchen can bring on a case of 'sweety eyes'.

For many years, when I was a pre-teen, my father worked in a mill in the neighboring town. He would leave for work when my siblings and I would be going to bed and return in the early morning. During the winter, when there was snow on the ground and everything else, I would wake up to the aroma of 'oatmeal and toast'. Dad would get home from work and fix a nice hot breakfast for us. And, of course, we had brown sugar to sprinkle on the oatmeal.

We would sit at the table in the kitchen, eat oatmeal and toast and talk with Dad. He was always working somewhere to support our family. After working an eight hour shift at the mill, he would catch a couple hours sleep and then be off to work painting someones house. But, he always had time for the children.

Breakfast began with a prayer of thanksgiving and ended with a short Bible reading and a few comments. As we got older and our understanding matured, he would question us about the passage he had read.

As each one reached the age of adulthood and found our way out into the world, my parents supported us with prayer. There never seemed to be any money but, we never seemed to be without, either.

So, the thing that returns me to my childhood is 'oatmeal and toast.' I guess that is what would be called 'comfort' food.

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It's been eight days since Thanksgiveing and I'm sure many people have already forgotten alot of things that happened on that day.

My son and daughter-in-law were nice enough to visit with the three grandchildren. Grandma prepared a very nice meal and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

About three days ago, I started to feel a little under the weather. My throat was a little scratchy and I was developing a cough. Now, when I talk I sound like a fog horn on a very foggy day at the shore.

Someone suggested that one of our many visitors gave this to me as a present for Thanksgiving. When I first thought about it, I was a little perturbed that someone would give me such a 'gift' for the holiday. But, the more I think about it, perhaps even a cold is a good thing. I mean, I haven't been sick in several years.

Yes, it is a little irritating to have to repeat myself. But, I give a little more thought to what I am saying so that I don't have to say so many words to get the same message across.

And, then I get to thinking about our Lord. He spoke volumns without speaking alot. Jesus was able to get the message out with very few words. Why?

Well, other than the fact that he is the Son of God, He knew how to make every word count. Even in His parables he gave just enough background to put the listener at ease. And then, He would get right to the point.

How often we find that people use far to much wordage to accomplish a simple task.

A prime example, look how many words I just used to get this short message across to each one reading it.

God Bless each of you.

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Someone asked me, not too long ago, 'Why do you love me?' Obviously, it was a close family member.

I got to thinking about that and immediately the verse came to my heart and mind. "Beloved, let us love one another." What exactly does this mean?

Then I realized that this verse is telling us to 'let' or allow ourselves to love others. Now, that could sound strange to a non-believer. But, to the Christian, it simply means that we allow God to be the source of our love. The verse goes on to say "For love is of God and everyone that loveth is born of God."

It isn't us that is doing the loving but rather God IN us. We simply allow God, through the Holy Spirit, to flow into us, to posses us and then to 'love' through us. It is something we can't control because God is the one in control.

Aside from God, we can't possibly love anyone. Why? Because, 'Everyone that loveth is born of God. He that loveth not knoweth not God for GOD IS LOVE.'

Praise the Lord!

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"And Listen to the Sea"

I stood beside the rocky shore and viewed the sea and land
I thought of life, of love and home, I thought of days long past
'Why can't we live each day we meet with kindness toward all man?
Enjoying what God gave to us for life goes by too fast."

The seagulls cry their plaintive song and soar above the scene
The waves are heard to gently lap as rocky shores they clean
And when the fog rolls gently in to shroud the sight from view
The gentle roar of sea on shore brings insights warm and new

So if you want some peace of mind, your soul content to be
Just walk with me along the shore and listen to the sea

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