TODAY'S PROMISE

"If you then, being evil, know how to give

good gifts to your children, how much more

will your Father who is in heaven give what

is good to those who ask Him."  

(Matthew 7:11 NASB)  

PATH TO GREATNESS

A very wise, but obscure humble Swiss man named

Nicolas of Basle said:

"Dr. Tauler, before you can do your greatest work for God,
the world and this city, you must die - die to yourself,

your gifts, your popularity and even your own goodness,

and when you have learned the full meaning of the Cross,

you will have a new power with God and man."

Dr. John Tauler of Strassburg took this message to heart
and his ministry did a turn around that even impacted
Martin Luther and other Reformers.

Are we getting in our own way when trying to live
for or serve God.

HOW TO HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS

FINALLY,

AN ENJOYABLE 

CHRISTMAS.

But it is not Christmas yet.

I know.  But it's coming soon.

The coming of Jesus Christ into the world is the pivotal

point of history in heaven and earth.  That is, 

his birth "Christmas" to his resurrection and ascension.

All of history and creation hang on this fact.

My point is, I believe in "Christmas".

BUT.

The materialistic consumerism of the world

has been used to destroy the meaning and joy of 

Christmas.  It has been years since I have been able

to enjoy Christmas because of all the hustle and bustle

around the Christmas season.

But this year was different.

I recognize that the wife and I are old people,

"empty nesters".  And a lot of you are young with

children.  That does create a problem.  But hang on.

Last year my wife had been helping a number of 

people by house setting while they were gone for 

the holidays.  As a result, she did very little decorating

(Which she loves to do.  And I care little about.)

So last Christmas she was house setting out in the 

"boonies" over Christmas.

I joined her for the day.

We did not exchange gifts, or go

to parties or even family gatherings.

She cooked a very SIMPLE meal of

things I like and could eat.  We visited,

looked at things together and just spent 

our time enjoying each others company.

IT WAS ABOUT THE BEST CHRISTMAS 

I EVER HAD.

The point is,

if you want a great Christmas,

SIMPLIFY.

You may enjoy having all the family together.

Then do it.  But make it simple.  Concentrate

on the important things and tell the merchants

to go peddle their wares somewhere else.  But

SIMPLIFY.

I know one woman who is not happy unless

she is going crazy.  If that's your style,

then go crazy.  But simplify and go crazy

with all your heart.

You will enjoy Christmas a lot more if you

will cut out a lot of the activities and expenses.

Then just enjoy Christmas because of what it is, 

and in as simple a manner as possible.

May you have a 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

NEXT YEAR.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

                           CHRISTMAS

YES, CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT GIFTS.

GOD'S GIFT TO US,

 JESUS.

REMEMBER,

JESUS IS THE REASON

FOR THE SEASON.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

TRUE GIVING

"Jesus looked around and saw rich people

dropping their gifts in the Temple treasury,

and he also saw a very poor widow dropping

in two little copper coins.  He said, 'I tell you

that this poor widow put in more than all the 

others.  For the others offered their gifts from

what they had to spare of their riches; but she,

poor as she is, gave all she had to live on.'"

(Luke 21:1-4 TEV)

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