A Prayer For The Season

Dear God,

This is such a busy time of year. People are traveling, finishing up year-end business records and reports, visiting friends and family, celebrating Christmas and the New Year. I pray that during this time of preparation and cheer, you will cover us with a blanket of protection. I pray that you will grant safe travels to those who are driving, riding, flying around their neighborhoods, across the country, and throughout the world. I pray that you will give peace, comfort, and joy to all who are your children and fill our hearts with praise and rejoicing in the spirit over the reason for this season of celebration. I pray that we, your children, would be the shining examples of your love and Christian living before the world, especially now. I pray that personal and business affairs would be conducted with integrity....and that as we are blessed, we would be a blessing to others. I pray that the lost will see Jesus and be drawn unto you. Thank you, Father, for watching over us, being with us, and loving us in spite of ourselves. You are merciful and worthy of our praise. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

The Cold Within

Six humans trapped by happenstance

In bleak and bitter cold.

Each one possessed a stick of wood

Or so the story is told.

Their dying fire in need of logs,

The first man held his back.

For of the faces 'round the fire

He noticed one was black.

The second, looking across the way

Saw one not of his church.

And could not bring himself to give

The fire his stick of birch.

The third man sat in tattered clothes.

He gave his coat a hitch.

Why should his log be put to use

To warm the idle rich?

The rich man just sat back and thought

Of the wealth he had in store.

And how he'd kept what he had earned

From the lazy, worthless poor.

The black man's face spoke revenge

As the fire passed from his sight.

For all he saw in his stick of wood,

Was a chance to spite the white.

The last man of this forlorned group

Did nothing, except for gain.

Giving only to those who gave

Was how he played the game.

Their logs held tight in Death's still hands,

Was proof of human sin.

For they didn't die from the cold without,

They died from the cold within.

A Christmas Letter

Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that some of you are upset that slowly but surely, people are taking My Name out of the season.

How I personally feel about this celebration of My birthday can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own.  If you want to celebrate My birth this Christmas, the best gift for me will be that you all get along with each other.

Now, having said that, let Me go on.  If it concerns you that many of the towns in the country where you live don’t allow the display of scenes depicting My birth in public places, then just display a Nativity scene in your window.   If all My followers did that there would be many of them all around town.

At the same time, please understand that I didn’t actually ask anyone, anywhere, at any time to make a point of celebrating my birth.   So I don’t mind if the nativity scenes don’t make it out at all.  I'd prefer you all to remember who I AM and the reason why I was born.

I would stop worrying about the fact that some people in some places are calling the tree a ‘holiday tree’, instead of a Christmas tree.  It was me who made all trees.  You can remember Me anytime you see any tree.  You could decorate a grape vine if you prefer - I actually spoke of that in a bible teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and the fruit that could be displayed on the vine to show you’re My disciples.  (John 15: 1 – 8.)

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list:

1.  Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, visit someone in a nursing home or hospital.  You don’t have to know them personally.  They just need to know that someone cares.

2.  Instead of giving your children more presents than you can really afford, spend more time with them.  Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you all down here.  Hold them in your arms and love them.  Then remind them that I love them too.

3. Pick someone who has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her. 

4.  Did you know that someone in your area may consider attempting 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.

5.  Instead of worrying about what the retailers in the shopping centres call the season, be patient with the people who work there.   Give them a warm smile and a kind word.  Even if they may not be allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas”, that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one.

6.  If you really want to make a difference, support one of My missionaries – one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard of Me.

7.  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, buy some food and a few gifts and give them via an organization that will make the delivery for you.

8.  Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then make sure you live out your life 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.

Don’t forget - I am God and can take care of Myself.  Just love Me and do the things I have told you to do in the Bible.  I’ll take care of all the rest.  Check out the list above and take action.  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 always remember....

I LOVE YOU – Jesus.

 

Teach The Children

Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened...

I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go
to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door
to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from
behind the Christmas tree. He placed his finger over his mouth so I would
not cry out.

"What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat,
and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone.
Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know.

He then answered me with a simple statement. "TEACH THE CHILDREN!" I was
puzzled; what did he mean? He anticipated my question, and with one quick
movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree.

As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children! Teach them the
old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has
forgotten."


Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it
before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the
stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting
hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of
man's
thoughts turning toward heaven."

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the
children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God
promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment
of His promise."

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children
that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when
we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on
the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature

of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of
affection."

He then pulled from his bag and ornament of HIMSELF. "Teach the children
that I, Santa Clause symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during
the month of December."

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly
plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by
our Savior. The red holly represents the blood shed by Him."

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God
so loved the world that he gave..." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable
gift. Teach the children that the wise men bowed before the holy babe and
presented him with gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should always give
gifts in the same spirit of the wise men."

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on
the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the

shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed
sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our
brother's keeper."

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it
was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth.
The angels sang 'Glory to God in the highest on earth peace and good will
toward men."

Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a
BELL. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound
of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes
guidance and return. Santa looked back and was pleased.

He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He
said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do
not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that
is, and I bow down to worship Him, Jesus Christ our Lord, our God."


(author unknown)

And A Little Child Shall Lead Them

Snowflakes softly falling upon your window play,

Your blankets snug around you, into sleep you drift away. I bend to gently kiss you, when I see that on the floor There's a letter, neatly written, I wonder who it's for.

I quietly unfold it making sure you're still asleep,

It's a Christmas list for Santa--one my heart will always keep. It started just as always with the toys seen on TV, A new watch for your father and a winter coat for me.

But as my eyes read on I could see that deep inside

There were many things you wished for that your loving heart would hide

You asked if your friend Molly could have another dad; It seems her father hits her and it makes you very sad.

Then you asked dear Santa if the neighbor down the street

Could find a job, that he might have some food, and clothes, and h eat

You saw a family on the news whose house had blown away;

"Dear Santa, send them just one thing: a place where they can stay .'

"And Santa, those four cookies that I left you for a treat,

Could you take them to the children who have nothing else to eat?"

"Do you know that little bear I have-- the one I love so dear? I'm leaving it for you to take to Africa this year."

"And as you fly your reindeer on this night of Jesus' birth, Could your magic bring to everyone goodwill and peace on earth?" "There's one last thing before you go--so grateful I would be-­If you'd smile at Baby Jesus in the manger by our tree."

I pulled the letter close to me; I felt it melt my heart.

Those tiny hands had written what no other could impart.

"And a little child shall lead them," was whispered in my ear

As I watched you sleep on Christmas Eve while Santa Claus was here