Be thankful!

Today is warm and sunny and almost the end of the year 2010! Christmas is always over before you have time to really contemplate its true meaning. My 2 year old grandson that lives in Alaska got up really early Christmas morning and went into his parents bedroom. He shook his daddy awake and said "Baby Jesus"! He knew it was the day to open his presents and he also knew the true meaning of Christmas! We have a saying "Out of the mouth of babes" and it is so true. How many of us adults got up Christmas morning and thought: "Today is the day baby Jesus was born" Hopefully alot of us! Anyway, I am very thankful for all the blessings God gave me and my family this past year and also for a wonderful, blessed Christmas. The following is a message from chapter two in my book "Living Waters:Writings from the Heart of a Christian" It is titled - Be Thankful

"Put aside all hurts of the past. Do not dwell on them, but be thankful for them, for they have helped you to become the loving, caring person you are today. Be thankful in all things. Forgive as your Heavenly Father has forgiven you."

Rain

It was wonderful to have it rain this morning. So unusual this time of year! Have you allowed the Lord to rain down blessings from Heaven upon you and your family? I believe we can stifle those blessings by continuing to live in sin, or we can repent and follow Jesus. Giving to worthy causes will bring down the blessings of God. Being obedient to whatever He is asking of you will also rain down the blessings. I am not advocating that we do these things just for blessings, but do them out of the goodness of your heart with nothing expected in return. It states in the Gospel of Luke 6:38 "Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down and overflowing will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you."

How is your shopping coming? Mine is all finished, mainly because this is the year we are cutting back at the request of our family. I sent the little grandchildren their gifts early and the other few gifts are wrapped and under the tree! It is very freeing to not be out each day trying to choose a special gift for that special someone and not have a clue what to buy. Don't get me wrong, I do love to be generous and have always loved to give many gifts, but there comes a time when we all have too many things! We are going to enjoy being together and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, which is Jesus birth and why he came to earth. Jesus is our special friend and in John 15:13-15 Jesus tells us"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father." How blessed I am to have Jesus as my friend. However, I also believe he wants us to have special friends to visit with and enjoy sitting and having a cup of tea or coffee with, for a true friend can be more loyal than a brother. So nurture your friendships and don't neglect them this Christmas Season!

During the season of Advent we often hear songs about peace on earth goodwill toward men. Today I wish to share with you a paragraph from my book. This is from a message titled Name of Jesus. "My children, speak the name of Jesus with reverence. There is power in the name of Jesus. Call upon His name in moments of meditation, in times of praise, in times of trouble, and in times of thanksgiving. Have His name written in your heart and on your lips at all times. Let every breath you breathe pump the name of Jesus from your heart. Become so Christ-centered that you begin to have His peace, His joy, His love." I believe these are words to take to heart so that the peace of Christ will reign in your heart. Happy Advent!