A LETTER FROM JESUS!

Dear Child,

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’s 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 which believes in Me. 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,

JESUS

Me A-Z

I saw this meme at Lily's (only these are about me).

A - Available/Single? Nope. Married 23 years.
B - Best Friend? Jane
C - Cake or Pie? It depends. But I shouldn’t have either.
D - Drink Of Choice? Diet soda; hot tea; coffee; water; cranberry juice
E - Essential Item You Use Everyday? Computer
F - Favorite Color? Blue
G - Gummy Bears Or Worms? Neither
H - Hometown? Buda, IL
I - Indulgence? Eating out
J - January Or February? February (Jane’s birthmonth)
K - Kids & Their Names? Carrie Jade (21); Isaac (18)
L - Life Is Incomplete Without? Seinfeld
M - Marriage date? May 14, 1983
N - Number Of Siblings? 1 older sister
O - Oranges Or Apples? Apples
P - Phobias/Fears? Heights/snakes
Q - Favorite Quote? “Only Gypsies are made in a day.” Jason Ringenberg
R - Reason to Smile? I’m not depressed today
S - Season? Fall
T - Tag 3 or 4 people? You, you, and you
U - Unknown Fact About Me – MVP of high school football team
V - Vegetable you don’t like? Corn
W - Worst Habit? Being addicted to blogging
X - X-rays You’ve Had? Back, ribs, hand, teeth
Y - Your Favorite Food? Tombstone Deluxe frozen pizza
Z - Zodiac Sign? Scorpio

Who is this?

Can you name this football player, what team he is playing for, and roughly what is happening in this picture that made this player famous?

(plus I'm just trying to see what pictures look like with this template).

Words to remember...

"Everyone will know that the LORD does not need weapons to rescue his people. It is his battle, not ours." 1 Samuel 17:47

How Not To Leave A Church

I got this off my friend Rick's blog. I thought it was pretty darn good. I wouldn't change a word (and didn't):

Intregrity, where does it go when a so-called Christian leaves a church?
I've seen this happen a few times over the past several years and for the life of me can't figure out what happens when they walk out the church door for the last time. No pastor there's no problem, they say. We're just looking, we need something deeper, we'll probably be back. Do they think pastors are dumb, gullible or what? Yet slowly but surely word gets back through the church grape vine that so and so left because of this or that, and a multitude of other things that were "no problem", give the pastor a break, tell the truth when you leave, most of us are big boys and and handle it as long as you speak the truth.

To me it's truly amazing some of the things I've heard, actually I've heard better stories from 3rd graders. If they're gonna tell a lie at least be consistent about it, don't change the reason for leaving with every other church member you bump into. Sometimes I wanna puke, at other times I get a real good laugh out of the reasons for leaving, yet there are some honest ones who do cause me to cry. Maybe I'll start collecting leaving excuses from other pastors and write a book, "Why I Left My Church and Other Hilarious Church Tales".
Nuff Said...Just Thinkin'

He who speaks the truth tells what is right, but a liar tells
lies. Proverbs 12:17 (New Life Version)