The Bible Says …

“Back in the 50’s there was a well known radio host/comedian/song writer in Hollywood named Stuart Hamblen who was noted for his drinking, womanizing, partying, etc.

“One of his bigger hits at the time was ‘I won’t go hunting with you Jake, but I’ll go chasing women.’

“One day, along came a young preacher holding a tent revival.  Hamblen had him on his radio show presumably to poke fun at him.

“In order to gather more material for his show, Hamblen showed up at one of the revival meetings.

“Early in the service the preacher announced, ‘There is one man in this audience who is a big fake.’ There were probably others who thought the same thing, but Hamblen was convinced that he was the one the preacher was talking about (some would call that conviction) but he was having none of that.

“Still the words continued to haunt him until a couple of nights later he showed up drunk at the preacher’s hotel door around 2AM demanding that the preacher pray for him!

“But the preacher refused, saying, ‘This is between you and God and I’m not going to get in the middle of it.’

“But he did invite Stuart in and they talked until about 5 AM at which point Stuart dropped to his knees and with tears, cried out to God.

“But that is not the end of the story.  Stuart quit drinking, quit chasing women, and quit everything that was ‘fun.’ Soon he began to lose favor with the Hollywood crowd.

He was ultimately fired by the radio station when he refused to accept a beer company as a sponsor.

“Hard times were upon him.  He tried writing a couple of “Christian” songs but the only one that had much success was “This Old House,” written for his friend Rosemary Clooney.

“As he continued to struggle, a long time friend named John took him aside and told him, ‘All your troubles started when you ‘got religion,’ Was it worth it all?’

“Stuart answered simply, ‘Yes.’

“Then his friend asked, ‘You liked your booze so much, don’t you ever miss it?’ And his answer was, ‘No.’

“John then said, ‘I don’t understand how you could give it up so easily.’

“And Stuart’s response was, ‘It’s no big secret.  All things are possible with God.’ To this John said, ‘That’s a catchy phrase.  You should write a song about it.’

“And as they say, ‘The rest is history.’

“The song Carl Stuart Hamblen wrote was:

It Is No Secret

“It is no secret what God can do.

What He’s done for others, He’ll do for you.

With arms wide open, He’ll welcome you.

It is no secret, what God can do….”

DON’T LET ME TURN AWAY

- Author unknown

I saw the woman laying there, her body wracked with pain

Her face distorted as she cried, her mind no longer sane.

Her dying body told me, she needed help that day

But I had work at home to do and quickly turned away.

I saw the child just sitting there in the filth with dust and flies

The tear stained face so dirty, with matter in her eyes.

The bloated stomach told me, she’d not eaten in many day.

I couldn’t stand the sight of her and quickly turned away.

I saw the drunk staggering along with the people making fun.

He’d lost his job and wife and kids – now there wasn’t anyone.

I saw him stumble and then fall down – he couldn’t find his way.

I had to go to work right then and quickly turned away.

I saw that one in jail, just a boy not out of teens.

He looked so lost and lonely, barefoot and tattered jeans.

He’d killed a man in desperate rage, was high on dope they say

But I was on my way to church and quickly turned away.

I saw a cross upon a hill, a man was hanging there.

His body bruised and beaten, but no one seemed to care.

He shed His blood for the entire world, paid the penalty that day.

It was an ugly sight to see but I could not turn away.

I knew He’d done it all for me!  The ransom had been paid.

But not for me alone that this sacrifice was made!

He’d died for each one that I’d scorned and left and went my way.

But now I would go quickly back and help each one today.

When I returned, I sadly found that one by one they’d died.

My help had come too late for them and bitterly I cried.

Oh help me God to really care to serve you day by day!

No matter what the cost to me, don’t let me turn away.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Imagine that you go to court and are thrown in jail for a crime you’ve committed.  Then suddenly you’re called before the judge and he says you have been forgiven for your crime.  Instead of accepting this incredible gift, you turn around and go back into your cell and lock the door.  You wallow in your anger that you have to sit in the cell but in all truthfulness, you’ve been set free and have refused the gift.  ‘That’s Ridiculous’ you might say.  But isn’t that what we’re doing to Him when we refuse to forgive ourselves after He has forgiven us?

God wants to forgive us.  He paid the ultimate price – the death of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus.  Jesus Christ was always God – He became man in Bethlehem.  He lived and died to pay the punishment for our sins.  His arms are extended to welcome us and impart to us total forgiveness.  It is our choice.

I think most people really love children.  One of the reasons is they are so precious and so very blunt!  They do not think things through but blurt out whatever is on their minds.  They also have the most precious faith.  They do need to be protected because they are very vulnerable.  They love whole-heartedly and, therefore, can be severely injured.  We are going to talk today about several of these awesome qualities.

The first thing we want to discuss is the bluntness of children.  I do believe that God wants us to do everything and say everything in love as He expressed throughout the Bible.  However, I love this cute little illustration I received via e-mail regarding a child’s honest bluntness.

Reasons Not To Mess with Children

Author Unknown – E-Mail

“A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.
“The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.
“Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.
“The little girl said, ‘When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah’.
“The teacher asked, ‘What if Jonah went to hell?’
“The little girl replied, ‘Then you ask him’.”

-End quote

I think part of bluntness is honesty.  God hates lying and says that no liar will make his or her way to heaven.  We can be forgiven for a slip-up and we should immediately run to Jesus if we are not totally honest and seek His forgiveness.  But a person who practices lying, God says is not on his way to Heaven.  Jesus wants us to tell Him the truth as well.  We can bluntly tell Him our feelings but we need to be open to letting Him change the unpleasant ones and make us to be more like our Savior.

Jesus said that we are to be like children.  Have you ever seen a child jump blindly into his or her father’s extended arms when he asked them to jump?  Immediately they jump – no hesitation!  That is faith.  They know their dad would never hurt them or let them get hurt so they trust him totally.  That is what God wants from us.  We are to totally and completely trust Him!  He said that just as a child responds openly and fully in faith, so we are to come to God with that same simple child-like faith.

“Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.  But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.  Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.’  And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.”  Mar 10:13-16 NKJV

A little boy wrote a cute article as to why he believed in God.  I will share it here.

“Jesus is God’s Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn’t want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him.   But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn’t know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.

“His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn’t have to go out on the road anymore.  He could stay in heaven. So he did.  And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God.  Like a secretary, only more important.

“You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.”

“You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there’s anybody you want to make happy, it’s God!

“Don’t skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong.  And besides the sun doesn’t come out at the beach until noon anyway.

“If you don’t believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can’t go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He’s around you when you’re scared, in the dark or when you can’t swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.

“But…you shouldn’t just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases.

And…that’s why I believe in God.”

-End quote

“No, I keep myself calm and quiet, like a little child on its mother’s lap – I keep myself like a little child.” Psalm 131:2

Have you ever purposely tried to approach God as a child?  If you don’t know Him, just go to Him and ask to be His child.  Have you ever asked Abba to pick you up and put you on His lap?  Have you ever honestly leaned into His breast and let Him run things?  When I have done this, God’s Peace fills and surrounds me and I am calm and safe.

“But that you, speaking the truth in love, may in all things grow up to Him who is the Head, even Christ;” Eph 4:15

Recently, we have been thinking about God who came down from Heaven to be born as a baby in a manger. I found myself pondering His life as Jesus walked this earth.  When He confronted the Pharisees, the written words were really harsh and He certainly sounded angry.  But what do you suppose His demeanor was?  Here are His words:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and of all uncleanness.  Even so you also appear righteous to men outwardly, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”  Matthew 23:27-28

I have always pictured Him as angry with a scowl on His face.  But I wonder if that was really how He appeared.  Were there tears in His eyes as He told them the truth about themselves?  Was His purpose to try to get their attention so they would humble themselves and get right with God?  They knew He was God and that is what made their sin so terrible.  They purposely rejected Jesus because He was a threat to their way of life!

When our children were young, Ken and I made an agreement that we would never spank our children when we were angry.  We would either wait or the other one would discipline.  We were determined to only ‘speak the truth in love’ so they could understand and change their behavior rather than become angry and hurt and rebellious.

Jesus was our example who we tried to emulate even though I know we failed at times.  Whenever I failed to stop and pray, I made mistakes.  One time I disciplined our son for something our daughter did.  I didn’t take time to pray and was angry.  This really hurt him since he was innocent.  It was very difficult to have the children sit on the couch while I went in the other room and pray so that I would not be angry.  Actually I understand that it was also very difficult for them to sit and wait.  But when I dealt with the problem after prayer, it broke my heart to follow through.  But when the discipline was finished, I would hold them and tell them I loved them.  The result was they learned and tried hard to not make that mistake again.

I think that Jesus would not have been filled with abusive anger and hatred since He never once sinned.  When He drove the money-changers out of the temple, His heart was broken over their sin and their abuse of God the Father’s House!  No compromise over sin was allowed.  But at the same time His feelings were exposed when He hung on the cross and prayed for the very people who caused Him to die such a horrible death:  “Father, forgive them for they just don’t know what they’re doing!”

How can we always tell the truth?  If we ask Jesus to come into our heart and life, He is Truth.  He will help us as we fully surrender to Him to always tell the truth and protect us from deception of all forms.

When I was a young lady just out of Business College, I went to work as a secretary.  I was told that part of my job was to lie for my boss.  Of course, they didn’t word it just like that but in essence that was the command.  They told me that if ‘so and so’ called, I was to tell them that he was out of the office because he didn’t want to talk to them.  I did this until the Lord convicted me of lying.  I thought because it was a part of my job that I had to do it.

I worked for several years for a Christian Drug Rehab Program and then was home for years.  Much later I had to go back to work.  When I did, I told my prospective boss as nicely as I could that I would not lie for him and if he couldn’t handle that he should not hire me.  I got the job.

If we want our children to love God, we need to love God in front of them.  Here’s a tremendous poem by an unknown author.

Children live what they learn

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

-endquote

Let’s live our lives during this coming year under the power of Almighty God, speaking Truth in Love!  Let’s let God be in control of our mouths, that all that we do and say may bring glory to God.

Christmas is just in a couple of days from now.  Are we ready for the joyful celebration of the birth of our Lord?  Christmas for me was a precious time of family.  We didn’t always have a lot of presents and certainly not expensive ones but we had a loving family.  Mother was creative and found ways to make it fun.  We cooked, baked and decorated special treats.  Mother also always put out the best china and goblets as well as her box of ‘silver’ to make our table beautiful.

The Bible’s story of Christmas was read and we’d pray for the poor.  How can you ever feel poor when you pray daily for the poor?  Dad wrote a lot of beautiful poetry on the subject and mother would tell flannel graph stories.

When we lose some of the joy of the season by taking our eyes off of Jesus (who is the Reason for the Season) and we put our focus on presents and selfishness, the blessings evaporate.   I like the modern rendition of 1 Corinthians 13!

I Corinthians 13,
Modern Christmas Version

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,
strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,
but do not show love to my family,
I’m just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen,
baking dozens of Christmas cookies,
preparing gourmet meals
and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime,
but do not show love to my family,
I’m just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen,
carol in the nursing home
and give all that I have to charity,
but do not show love to my family,
it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels
and crocheted snowflakes,
attend myriad holiday parties
and sing in the choir’s cantata
but do not focus on Christ,
I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband or wife.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn’t envy another’s home
that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way,
but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return
but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.
Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
Love never fails.
Video games will break,
pearl necklaces will be lost,
golf clubs will rust.
But giving the gift of love will endure.

Merry Christmas

Endquote (E-Mail)

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6

THE WONDERFUL STORY OF CHRISTMAS

By Charlie Grier

A Wonderful BABE was born long ago,

No other like Him would man ever know,

For God, in His mercy, descended that night

To live among men – the Way, Truth, and Life.

The Heavenly Chorus sang, “Peace Upon Earth!”

While Shepherds and Wise Men rejoiced in His Birth.

A Wonderful LIFE – so human, so frail,

So tested and tried on that Galilee trail,

So perfect, so gentle, so free from sin’s stain

That a word, or a touch, could remove mortal pain

And so pure and so holy, so guileless this One

The Heavens declared Him, “God’s own belov’d Son.”

A Wonderful MISSION was given to Him,

For He – only HE could redeem man from sin!

And high on the crest of Golgotha’s brow

I see Him, God’s Ransom for sinners, e’en now –

And I bow in the dust beneath Calvary’s Tree

Aware that He loved me and died there for ME!

Wonderful COUNSELOR and mighty is He

Who died for all sinners that all might be free.

E’en death could not hold Him – He lives evermore

And He waits for His own on that ETERNAL SHORE!

We honor His BIRTH at this season again

And pray, with the angels, “Good Will Among Men!”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow tells of some doubts he had in a moment of despair.  Those were times to rend and try man’s soul.  War was raging between the States.  There were troubled times in Europe and in many lands.  The Italian states were starting their struggle for a united Italy.  Austria was in open conflict with Italy.  Brothers were fighting over the question of slavery in America.  Christmas came with its message sung by the angels of peace on earth, good will to men.  As the bells rang out the glad news of peace on earth, he wrote the beautiful song, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”

I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play

And wild and sweet the words repeat,

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along the unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head,

“There is no peace on earth,” I said.

“For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep;

GOD IS NOT DEAD NOR DOTH HE SLEEP:

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men.

Till ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

On this Christmas Day let’s take time to worship the One True God and celebrate the peace that only Jesus can bring into our lives.

“Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and has given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow . . .and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Php 2:9

Why is Christmas so important?  Family and friends need to be fussed over and shown love.  But the reason for this season is more than that.  No one knows for certain when Jesus was actually born but we take this time to worship and thank Him for becoming a man.  This is the day we celebrate His birth!  Jesus has always been God but He became a man that day 2000 years ago in Bethlehem’s manger.

I love the poem my father wrote many years ago and let’s take a moment to reflect upon this incredible, artistic tribute to our glorious Lord.

KNOWING WHO HE REALLY WAS

By Charlie Grier

In a distant land, on a bygone day,

A little BABE in a manger lay.

But who could tell, as He nestled there,

While Mary and Joseph bowed in prayer,

That here on the hay, with His infant cry,

Lay the Master of ocean, earth, and sky?

And then, as He taller and fairer grew

This lad that all of His neighbors knew

To be pleasant and courteous, brave and strong,

With a cheery smile and a hearty song -

Touched their hearts and trouble their minds.

Who was this lad so gentle and kind?

They liked His frank, straightforward ways,

His wisdom and words were beyond His days.

They paused to watch Him fashion wood

In a manner no other craftsman ever could.

He impressed them much, as a good boy does

But they never dreamed who He really was!

At last a lock is upon the door -

The carpenter of Nazareth is no more.

But now, a man with a “ONE-WAY” sign

Is telling the truth to all mankind.

He is pointing to that “narrow way”

That leads at last to ETERNAL DAY.

They listen, just as they did before

Back in His humble work-shop door,

“Never man spake as He!” they cry,

With new hope gleaming in their eye.

“The strength of Elijah he displays,

Yet he is unlike him in some ways.

Like Jeremiah, He weeps and warns,

While favor from the rich he scorns.

Messiah? No, he cannot be.

No prophet comes from Galilee!”

And so they turned from Him, because

They didn’t know who He really was!

Then He showed His love through mighty deeds.

He healed their sick and supplied their needs.

He cleansed the leper and raised the dead.

The hungry multitudes he fed.

He stilled the storm — the poor He blessed.

He offered pardon, peace, and rest.

His critics cried, “He is too meek!

He tries too hard the lost to seek!

We want a leader strong as steel;

Full of courage, strength and zeal

To rule the world with an iron rod,

Yet, never once claiming to be GOD.”

At last, united in Pilate’s Hall

A verdict of “death” was agreed by all.

Envy brought charges of trumped up sin.

Hatred shouted, “Away with him!”

God’s angry earthquake shook the sod!

Somebody whispered, “This man was God!”^*

At Christmastide, when men of goodwill

Seek to worship the Christ child still,

Have we stayed too long in Bethlehem town?

Or have we followed His steps around

To Jerusalem, and to Galilee?

And this angry throng at Calvary?

Have we stood amazed beneath the cross

And cried, “For me He suffered loss!”

It was for me He bore disgrace!

Bearing my sin!  Taking my place!”

The MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS is more, by far,

Than the angel’s song, or the Wise men’s star.

Have you stood at the Tomb in ecstasy?

Where nature responded to Deity,

And shouted, “Our Christ is the victor now

For He conquered death on Calvary’s brow!”

If you’re still unsaved is it not because,

You, too, haven’t learned who He really was?

“Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  And Jesus answered . . . blessed art thou . . . for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:16-17).

As we realize just WHO Jesus is and worship at His feet, are we filled with a desire to serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and to love God with all our hearts?  Another poem of dad, spurs us on to go beyond our preoccupied lives to serve God.

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER

By Charlie Grier

All has been said that could be said

To honor the Infant King;

To tell of the Star –

Wise Men from afar –

Angels and everything!

But, has all been done, that could be done,

To honor the Christ today?

Have we done all we can

On sea and on land,

In all that we do and say?

Do we tell of Him who to Bethlehem came

On His way to the cruel Cross?

To die in our place

And to suffer disgrace –

To save us from awful loss?

Have all been told, who could be told,

Of Salvation full and free?

Have I proved by my life

In this dark world of strife

His grace is sufficient for ME?

Has all been given, that could be given,

Of effort, and time, and means?

Of prayer and of love

Sharing light from above

To tell of His love supreme?

O Lord, spur us on – spur us on and on,

While the door to serve stands ajar!

To tell of the love

Of my Savior above

At home, and in lands, afar!

Let’s not neglect our family and friends during this Christmas season but more important, let’s not ignore our Savior.  Let’s truly worship Jesus this year!

THIS STRANGE SEASON

By Charlie Grier

Christmas is the strangest season

People just forget to reason;

Everyone is buying – spending –

Doing up their gifts and sending

To their friends, both far and wide,

Just because it’s Christmastide.

There is something in the air

Just makes people want to share;

I’ve seen folks accused of hoarding

Buying, giving and according

To the spirit of the year

Helping to spread Christmas cheer.

What’s the meaning of this season?

Have men really lost their reason?

Or, is it that on this day

In a manger far away

God’s best GIFT to man was given,

Hope of earth, and joy of Heaven!

It is such fun to go out shopping for children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren!  One of the joys at Christmas is seeing the little eyes light up as they open their gifts.  I have grandchildren scattered now – three in Denver and two in Canada.  One of the more difficult things is to know I won’t be seeing my new grandson (of a little over two months) for a while.  But they are happy and that is a thrill to me.  I do have our son and his wife and three children plus our grandson his wife and two children living nearby.  So we get to see them at holidays and that is awesome!

We need to love our families all year long but as we look at the REASON for the SEASON and worship our Lord, we can love and pamper our families as well.  I believe that brings joy to Jesus as long as we don’t leave Him out.

One year I was shopping and thinking about what I was going to give everyone.  I began to think about what I could give Jesus that year and wrote the following poem.

A Christmas Gift

by Marvine Scott

What can I give You, my Wonderful Lord

Once a small baby so sweet and adored,

God of all Universe, Creator and King.

This is Your Birthday – Oh, what can I bring?

I give you myself, Lord, – every last bit.

I give you my home and all that is in it.

I give you my husband and family to start

But I wish for a present to give joy to Your Heart!

To give money to others – You must first give it to me.

The sky is the limit, Lord, what do we see?

There are missions and missionaries, churches and staff

Or we could give to a child so that child could laugh.

Dear Jesus, I wish You a Happy Birthday.

May others find You is what I really pray.

May Christians draw close and grow in your grace sublime.

I know what I’ll do, Lord.  I give You my time.

That year my gift to Jesus was my time.  Do we think that time is ours to use as we wish?  Try giving your time to Jesus – it might change your life as it did mine.  A dear and precious friend of my parents, Romana Olson Waller wrote the following poem when she was a very young girl.  Dad found it in his mother’s scrapbook and got permission to put it in his book of poems.  I will share it here.

A CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR HIM

By Romana Olson Waller

Tonight I am thinking of Jesus,

As I look at this beautiful tree,

And wonder just what I can give Him

Who has given so freely to me.

I’m counting my treasurers all over,

And am wondering what He can use;

In loving a Person so dearly

It is really a problem to choose.

I wonder what really would please Him

And just what should my gift for Him be?

God gave HIM to us – oh! – I wonder,

Do you think He would like to have ME?

I’ve hands that will work for Him gladly,

I have feet to run errands of love,

And lips that can tell of a Savior,

Who came down from His home up above!

My heart – it will love Him forever!

There are souls I can help Him to win!

Tonight I am giving – yes, giving myself

As a Christmas present for Him!

She has lived her life totally for her Lord and has been and is continuing to be a precious blessing to many people.  Her lovely voice brought inspiration to others as she sang joyfully to her King!  What a testimony to what God can do with a life!

Have you thought about what you would like for Christmas?  One of the most difficult things for me is to make a Christmas list to help our loved ones know what to buy for me.  If we are going to make a Christmas list this year, I think we should take the example of Henry Van Dyke as he expressed the gifts he wanted for Christmas.

These are the Gifts I Ask

By Henry Van Dyke

These are the gifts I ask

Of Thee, Spirit serene:

Strength for the daily task,

Courage to face the road.

Good cheer to help me bear the traveler’s load,

And, for the hours of rest that come between,

An inward joy of all things heard and seen.

These are the sins I fain

Would have Thee take away:

Malice and cold disdain,

Hot anger, sullen hate,

Scorn of the lowly, envy of the great,

And discontent that casts a shadow gray

On all the brightness of the common day.

Have you thought about giving a gift to Jesus and then asking Him for something as we do gift exchanges this year?  I would like to have Jesus give me a truly grateful heart and to fill me with His Joy so that His love would be contagious.  I would like to please my God in all that I do and say.  Let’s have fun with God during His Season of Celebration!

RECALL NOTICE:

The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.

This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.

This defect has been identified as “Subsequential Internal Non-morality,” more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.

Some of the symptoms include:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this defect.

The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.

The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.

Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure.

Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.
No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control

Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (BEST Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.
WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list, and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on Jesus.
DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility. Thank you for your attention!

- GOD

P.S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by ‘Knee mail’!

- E-Mail

One fascinating study is to look into the lives of the 12 apostles and see their background.  Who was Matthew?  He was a hated tax collector.  Who did he become?  He became the loved and anointed disciple of Jesus who wrote the first book in our New Testament under the anointing of the Holy Spirit of God.

What about Peter?  He was a bold, self-assured, aggressive fisherman who denied the Lord and was a dismal failure.  After Jesus transformed him, He became the man of God who led literally thousands to Christ at the Day of Pentecost when fire of the Holy Spirit fell from Heaven upon the 120 disciples in the Upper Room.

Judas failed because He was unwilling to do things God’s way.  He let greed (love of money) consume him to the point that he not only denied the Lord but gave Him up to the authorities to be killed.  Then he went and hanged himself rather than go back to His Lord with an honest confession and let God change his life.

Any one of us, who are willing to let God clean up our lives and help us live wholly for Him, can be forgiven and changed.  We might say, “But you don’t know what I’ve done!” Jesus forgave a murderer on the cross.  Jesus paid the price and if we are willing to admit our sin, He will not only forgive but help us be victorious.

WHERE JESUS FOUND THEM

By Roy J. Wilkins

“It’s interesting to notice where Jesus found some of the folks who became His friends.  For instance, He found Matthew busy collecting taxes in the customs-house, Nathanael under a fig tree, Peter and Andrew at the lake, the Samaritan woman at a well, Zacchaeus up a tree, and the thief on a cross.

“Where did He find you when He called you to follow Him?  Where will He find you when He comes again, or calls you to come up higher?”

Uncle Ben’s Quotebook (Baker Book House c1976) p65

UNAWARE, WE PASS ‘HIM’ BY

By Helen Steiner Rice

On life’s busy thoroughfares

We meet with Angels unawares –

But we are too busy to listen or hear,

Too busy to sense that God is near,

Too busy to stop and recognize

The grief that lies in another’s eyes,

Too busy to offer to help or share,

Too busy to sympathize or care,

Too busy to do the Good Things we should,

Telling ourselves we would if we could . . .

But life is too swift and the pace is too great

And we dare not pause for we might be late

For our next appointment which means so much,

We are willing to brush off the Savior’s touch,

And we tell ourselves there will come a day

We will have more time to pause on our way . . .

But before we know it “life’s sun has set”

And we’ve passed the Savior but never met,

For hurrying along life’s thoroughfare

We passed Him by and remained unaware

That within the Very Sight Of Our Eye,

Unnoticed, The Son Of God Passed By.

Let’s pay attention to Christ’s outstretched arms.  When Christ gets done cleansing us and helping us, He calls us righteous.  No longer are we ‘rejects!’  “My Father is The King!” we joyfully exclaim!  We become heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.  We have our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  We get to enjoy Heaven with God for eternity.  We will be free of pain and suffering.  We will be busy and happy.  Jesus accepted me and I am no longer a ‘reject!’  Praise the Lord.

“Always giving thanks for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Eph 5:20

The story is told of a widow who lived during the depression with her two young children – a boy and a girl.  They simply did not have the money to heat their tiny apartment but there was a chimney that was warm that went up through their tiny room.  One night the little girl and her brother were wrapped up with their mom under their single blanket, huddled by the chimney and getting ready to go to sleep.  The little girl prayed that night, “Thank you, Lord, for our warm blanket and for our home where we can be inside out of the cold.  I am thankful that we are not outside without a blanket like some are.”

What a prayer!  Can we be thankful for what God gives us?  Or are we ungrateful because we do not have more?  I knew a person once who would continually complain because whatever he had was never enough.  He and his wife had a two bedroom apartment but he wanted a house.  He had an old car but wanted a new one.  He had an income but wanted a bigger one.  Who are we like?  Are like the little girl or like the ungrateful man?

I am thankful that we in America still thank Almighty God for His provisions on this beautiful day.  On the first Thanksgiving Day the Pilgrims had survived a very hard winter where many died and many were very hungry.  They celebrated the beautiful crops that next fall and gave thanks to Almighty God!  What a heritage we have here in America that our forefathers worshipped God and thanked Him.

As you well know, I’ve had a few challenges recently.  I could complain that I cannot work as hard as I could and have slowed down a bit or I can be thankful for God’s healing and protection.  It is a choice we all face.

Paul was beaten and left for dead on more than one occasion.  What did he do?  He praised God that he was counted worthy to suffer for Jesus.  Peter and the apostles were arrested and put in jail.  God set them free and they went back to the temple and taught the people.  The officers arrested them again and commanded them to stop doing these things in Jesus’ name.  They said it was more important to obey God than men.  They beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus and let them go.  Now listen to what happened:

“Then indeed they departed from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be shamed for His name.  And every day in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching the gospel of  Jesus Christ.”  Acts 5:41-42

Sometimes we think we should not have to go through trials but Jesus said that we were not to be surprised.  He said that in this world we would have tribulation but to be of good cheer for He has overcome the world.  So what is the message He has for us?  To be of good cheer – to keep focused on Him – to be thankful – that is His word for us.  One time I wrote a poem mainly to help myself find things for which to be grateful.

THANK GOD

By Marvine Scott

Thank God in the morning when the day has just begun.

Thank Him for the many wondrous things that He has done.

Thank Him at the noontide for morning help and victory.

Thank Him in the evening for your precious family.

Thank Him for all those blessed moments in between.

Thanking Him will keep your life quiet and serene.

Thank Him for His many gracious answers to your prayers.

Thank Him for the joy He gives and glorious love He shares.

Thank Him for Salvation, marvelous and fully free.

Thank Him that He died for dirty, sinful you and me.

Thank Him for the trials and hardships on the way –

Thank Him — for without them, we might never learn to pray!

I have been very conscious in recent years of the abundance we enjoy here in America.  Almost anyone that you could ask would probably tell you they are poor or that finances are challenging.

A few years ago my sister attended a church that supported missionaries from Mexico.  One year a certain family was going to stay in her home.  If you were to ask my sister and husband, they would tell you that even though God supplied all their needs, they were certainly not wealthy.  Dee is very artistic and consequently a talented decorator and her home looks very beautiful.  When the family entered their 3-bedroom suburban home, they were in astonished.  They were afraid to touch anything for fear of hurting such magnificence.  They exclaimed in quiet awe, “Wow!  You are very rich!”

The thing is we don’t see how much we have in comparison to 3^rd world countries.  We do not go hungry (most Americans are overweight).  We have warm homes to live in and many of us have blankets in storage.  We have a car to drive and complain about the price of gas.  We might have to ‘cut down’ on the amount of dinners out.

“Oh, Lord, please forgive us for our ungrateful hearts and help us this Thanksgiving as we celebrate with our precious families, to truly thank You for all you have given to us!  Please give us grateful hearts.”

I truly hope that each of you takes time to thank our Awesome God for all He has done and that you really enjoy your family.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers; they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; nor shall the flame kindle on you.  For I am Jehovah your God…”  Isaiah 43:2-3

Life is so very interesting.  Just about the time that you think you’ve experienced it all, you find out that you have just been flung into far more fascinating adventures.  About a month ago I had a stroke but fortunately God has marvelously touched me.  One amazing thing is God had prepared me so I had total peace while I was in the hospital.  He had to help me with fear because I was told that the next 10 days I was high risk for another one.

I think the thing that touches me the most is that four days BEFORE the stroke, God had me write the article where my father at age 91 was deciding whether he had the right to ‘retire.’  Also, he had to use oxygen and that was discouraging but God showed him that this was to be an object lesson.  The oxygen was to be a symbol of the Holy Spirit in his life.

Four days later I had a stroke.  I could not lift my right leg or move my right eye brow.  John Shomberg from Headwaters New Creation Church was in the hospital visiting me when Robin Pederson from the Deer River Church of God came in with Grape Juice and crackers.  John left to get Ken a sandwich and Robin, Ken and I had communion and prayer.  When we were done, I could instantly move my leg and eye.  God had marvelously healed me.

I have continued to heal but have also still experienced some weakness and some short term memory problems.  A somewhat amusing example was at lunch time one Saturday.  I had made bread earlier that morning.  Ken was looking for the milk in the refrigerator and just couldn’t find it.  I turned and said, “Honey it has to be in there….”  “Oh, Ken, there it is – in the cupboard.” Instead of putting it away where it belonged, I had put it where I kept my flour.  We laughed (it was better than crying) and we have found it amusing since as well.

The Lord has helped me with my natural inclination toward “Impatience”!  I have always been in a hurry to get things done and, if sick, am okay for a day or so but then feel impatient to get well.  Therefore, God has been working on me (Probably my poor husband as well! LOL).  What has helped?  Getting in the Word and spending time with my Lord in prayer has really enabled me to cope better.  But I am not used to having to deal so much with emotional trauma.

DEPRESSION

By Marvine Scott

Have you ever felt just simply ‘icky’

While problems lurked dreadfully near?

You felt you’d a right to be picky

Your anger at people was clear.

You knew you could trust your Lord fully.

You knew all would soon be okay

But you found yourself deep in self pity

And wallowing deeper each day.

Too busy to pick up your Bible.

The preacher seemed tedious and dull!

The way things were going you were convinced

They’d close down the church by next fall.

Jesus was whispering, “Child, trust ME!”

The devil yelled “Don’t be a fool!”

Jesus said “Sing praises and you’ll see

The dismals sink down a deep hole.”

The praises of God are so powerful

That the powers of darkness will flee!

Depression will vanish entirely when one soul

Will spend time with God on his knee.

“To deal depression a swift blow,” says the Lord,

“Fill your mouth with the praises of God.

Use your Bible which is the two-edged sword

To defeat Satan with a heavenly rod.”

So whenever glumness would grab you

Just remember Psalm 149.

Sing praises and read God’s Word, too,

And soon you’ll be feeling quite fine!

GOD, THE GREAT SILVERSMITH

Author Unknown

“Some time ago, a few ladies met to study the scriptures.  While reading the 3^rd chapter of Malachi, they came upon a remarkable statement in the third verse:  ‘He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver’ (Malachi 3:3).

“One lady decided to visit a silversmith, and report to the others on what he said about the subject.  She went accordingly, and without telling the silversmith the reason for her visit, begged him to tell her about the process of refining silver.

“After he had fully described it to her, she asked, ‘Sir, do you watch while the work of refining is going on?’

“’Oh, yes ma’am.’ replied the silversmith.  ‘I must sit and watch the furnace constantly, for, if the time necessary for refining is exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured.’

“The lady at once saw the beauty and comfort of the statement, ‘He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.’

“God sees it as necessary to put His children into the furnace – but His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for us.  Our trials do not come at random, and He will not let us be tested beyond what we can endure.

“Before she left, the lady asked one final question, ‘How do you know when the process is finished?’

“’Oh, that’s quite simple,’ replied the silversmith…”When I can see my own image in the silver, the refining process is complete.’”

-Endquote

We can be comforted as we go through the trials of life that our God goes with us and is working everything out for our good and His glory.  He never leaves us or forsakes us so we can rejoice in our God, no matter what!

I recently was reading a very interesting book called “Fresh Faith” by Jim Cymbala.  In this book he makes a very wonderful point regarding our subject today.  As far as he could determine there was only one thing that ever ‘amazed’ our Lord when He walked this earth and that was people demonstrating faith or the lack of it.

Let’s take a quick peek.  Was Jesus amazed at someone’s wisdom?  Perhaps their sense of humor amazed Him?  No nothing was ever said that the Creator God was amazed by man’s abilities.  What did amaze Jesus?  Let’s look at Matthew 8:5-10.

“One day Jesus went to Capernaum.  When he got there an army officer came to him begging for help.  The officer said, “Lord my servant is very sick at home in bed.  He can’t move his body and has much pain.”

“Jesus said to the officer, “I will go and heal him.”

“The officer answered, ‘Lord I am not good enough for you to come into my house.  You need only to give the order and my servant will be healed.  I know this, because I understand authority.  There are people who have authority over me and I have soldiers under my authority.  I tell one soldier, ‘Go,’ and he goes.  I tell another soldier, ‘Come,’ and he comes.  I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and my servant obeys me.’

“When Jesus heard this HE WAS AMAZED. He said to those who were with him, ‘The truth is, this man has more faith than anyone I have found, even in Israel.’”

What amazed Jesus?  The faith of this man amazed Jesus!  I think the story that is even more startling is when Jesus went to his home town and could not perform hardly any miracles due to the unbelief of the people there.  It was directly related to their unwillingness to believe God.  Mark 6:6 (GW) says; “Their unbelief amazed him…”

I think the most incredible example of something amazing Jesus was when He went into the Garden of Gethsemane just before He went to the cross.  Look at this verse from the Darby Translation.  When Jesus went to Gethsemane, He told them He was filled with grief and wanted them to pray.  Listen to this portion:  “And he takes with him Peter and James and John, and he began to be amazed and oppressed in spirit. And he says to them, My soul is full of grief even unto death; abide here and watch.”  Mark 14:32-34

Westley Commentary says this word ‘amazed’ means:  “Sore amazed” – The original word imports the most shocking amazement, mingled with grief…”

In this case when Jesus came to the garden He was experiencing first hand something He had never experienced in all of eternity.  He was facing separation from His Father.  This was ‘shocking amazement.’  They had always been ONE.  Now He knew that God the Father would turn His back on God the Son since Jesus was bearing all the sins of the world on His shoulders that day.  Jesus was also facing all the forces of hell descending upon Him with unbelievable force, violence and sorrow as Satan tried to destroy the Son of God.

The experience was one that none of us can truly understand.  We can only accept and be very thankful to our Creator God for going through all He did for us.

Sometimes we think we have to deny our problems in order to express faith in God.  I believe this is a mistake.  God wants Truth in all things.  Even Jesus expressed the depth of His sorrow and asked his disciples to pray for Him when He was in the Garden.

If I am anxious or troubled or am experiencing doubt, I need to run in all speed to my Creator God, to my Savior, Lord and King, with these problems.  I need to express to Him my need and give the problems to Him.  Then I need to go to the Word of God because the Bible says that faith comes through reading, absorbing and hearing the Word of God.  Then I must express my gratitude to Him for meeting this need.

I do not ask that He must prove

His Word is true to me,

And that before I can believe

He first must let me see.

It is enough for me to know

Tis true because HE SAYS ‘TIS SO:’

On His unchanging Word I’ll stand

And so trust till I can understand.

By E. M. Winter

Wouldn’t it be great if WE could amaze our God with simple child-like faith?  Oh, wouldn’t it be grand if our Savior would be talking to our Father God saying, “Dad, look at the faith of our child?  Isn’t it amazing?”  Oh that would be SO very cool!  I think if we would sing the song, “It is Well With My Soul!” as a reminder of just Who is in charge, our faith would also be encouraged.

IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

By Horatio G. Spafford

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll –

Whatever my lot – Thou hast taught me to say:

“It is well, it is well with my soul!”

Though Satan should buffet, tho’ trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control –

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin – oh the bliss of this glorious thought –

My sin – not in part but the whole –

Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll:

The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,

“Even so” – it is well with my soul.”