THE FIRST CHRISTMAS PRESENT

“God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life." John 3:16

I worked for awhile in a department store, in a large mall in Atlanta during Christmas time - the huge crowds in the store and parking lots did not convey the Christmas spirit. I remember a Christmas a few years ago when I learned what Christmas 'gifting' was all about.

I had six children in my house at the time, all girls, 11-15 years old. On this Sunday morning before Christmas, getting ready was proving more difficult than usual. We had to be at church an hour before the first service at 9 a.m. so the children could get ready for the Christmas play. We were hurrying around, getting costumes together, fixing hair. When two of the girls were resistant (throwing tantrums), a couple were moving slow, and a couple didn't want to get out of bed, and I was at my wit's end after a week of homeschooling. I think we were all just tired of each other. We finally got out of the house and to church on time, where I was told I was not needed. I didn't know how to react because I was never without 'my girls'.

In a rare show of independence, I decided to go by myself for some coffee at the chicken place down the street. We rarely went out to eat, except once a month to 'Micky D's', or once a year, after I got my student loan refund, to a real restaurant. But here I was, middle of the month, middle of the semester going out by myself. I had about 30 minutes, sitting, sipping coffee, nothing to do, no place to be. Then it was time to go back to the churgh for the play. As I walked into the darkened sanctuary, one of the lead male singers began to sing, "...what a way to save the world..." . It's a song about how God used an ordinary man and woman for His purposes. Behind him on a screen were scenes from the movie 'Jesus of Nazareth'. It was real sweet, the singer had a nice tenor voice, the scenes were scenes we are accustomed to at Christmas - the nativity scene, Mary and the baby Jesus, close up of the Shepards. I was comforted and peaceful. As I witnessed these scenes, suddenly the movie cut to a grown Jesus on the cross, close ups of Mary, a mother watching her son die, crying as her heart literally was breaking. And then suddendly something let go in me, I felt a release of the stress I'd been under and cried out involuntarily. I realized how selfish I had been. I thought how I had dared to complain because of the children God had given me, when He had also given me His only Son, who then died for me and rose again - for me, because He so loved me. I could never repay Him - and I would never know how much it cost, to see my sins on that cross.

'For God so loved 'me' that He gave His only begotten Son...' This was the First Christmas Present...

PATIENCE

GOD GAVE ME A SCRIPTURE YESTERDAY THAT WAS RIGHT ON TIME, I'LL SHARE IT WITH YOU - HEBREWS 10:36

"For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."

IN ESSENCE - YOU NEED PATIENCE, SO THAT AFTER YOU HAVE DONE THE WILL OF GOD - DONE WHAT GOD ASKED YOU TO DO - AND WHEN GOD LITERALLY USED YOU TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL AND PURPOSES - IT IS THEN THAT YOU NEED PATIENCE SO THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE WHAT HE HAS PROMISED.

Isn't this good? God knew where I was spiritually and physically - I was on the marta train, late for work, and wondering why am I doing this. I also was 'wondering' about raising the girls. I knew without a doubt that I did what God wanted me to do in the raising of them, and also how He wanted me to do it. But what now? So without asking, God is telling me to wait on Him, have patience...

Tony Evans (The Perfect Christian, How Sinners like Us can Be More Like Jesus) states that "...patience is doing what you're supposed to - sowing the seed and strengthening your spiritual life - while you wait without complaint for God to send the rain that will produce the growth."

We should learn to not complain about the people and circumstances that God has placed around us, but ask Him to give us patience. (Remember the story of little 'Much Afraid"?)

Do you ask God - "Why me Lord?" or do you say "I know God is doing something good in my life."

In talking about patience we must also add the experiences of Job. Look at Job's reward for His patience.

"And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends; and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before." Job 42:10

Also consider Mary and Martha after their brother Lazarus died. Before Jesus raised Lazarus from death, He said -

"...Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40

This is one of my favorite verses. It all comes down to believing God.

ARE YOU AT A PLACE IN YOUR LIFE WHERE GOD IS TELLING YOU TO WAIT?
IF SO, BE PATIENT, AND BELIEVE GOD ...

Thanksgiving

Thanking God for What He Has Done.

We do not need one day a year to thank God, just as we should pray unceasingly, we also thank God at all times for all good things that come into our life.

Memorize Psalm 100:4.

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name."

What To Thank God for -

Make a list of things your family is thankful for and keep adding to your list all year long. Be sure to include the following:

• His Love and Free Offer of Salvation -
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

• His Provision -
"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

• All Good Things -
"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father." (James 1:17)

You can thank God for anything and everything good, including safety during the storm, a found parking space, safety during a near accident that you avoided, good news from a friend, or the beauty of the day.

• Unasked-for Blessings -
"For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep." (Psalms 127:2) We are His Beloved...

We can thank the Lord for those things we have received without specifically asking for them. "...More than we can ask or imagine..."


So Be Continuously Thankful...

(From the Teaching Home Newsletter)

Purpose

I was reminded this morning, while reading a passage in Oswald Chambers', "My Utmost for His Highest", that it is all about God's purposes. Which means we must stop dictating to Him. This is a hard lesson, because we are accustomed to long prayer lists, telling God exactly what we want, when, where, and how.

He does wants us to come to Him, to seek Him with all our hearts, but there is a difference between seeking Him and His Will for our lives, and telling Him how we want it done.