Dec. 20-26 Thought of the Week

Christmas is so much more than the giving of gifts and time spent with family and friends, although that is very important! It is more than the mere celebration of the birth of a good man long ago. It is more than even the celebration of Jesus, Gods Son. Christmas celebrates so much that it leaves me in awe. Celebrating this Holiday is celebrating the humbling of God's Son, celebrating salvation for each of us through the work of Christ, celebrating God's mercy to us, celebrating His love for us and so much more that all was fulfilled in the greatest gift ever given -- God sending His only begotten Son into this world entering as a babe to complete God's plan of redemption!

I have thrown together a somewhat chronological collage of Christmas Song lyrics that touch on all the amazing facets that come about from the birth of Christ. Read these words and take in all their meaning, I hope these words have as great an impact on you as they have me! We should be left in awe of the full meaning of Christmas!

O come, O come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O holy night the stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining.

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven and nature sing,

Silent night, holy night, wondrous star, lend thy light;

With the angels let us sing,

Alleluia to our King.

Christ the Savior is born,

Glory to the newborn King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild.

God and sinners reconciled

Joyful, all ye nations rise

Join the triumph of the skies

With the angelic host proclaim:

Christ is born in Bethlehem

Hark! The herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Come to Bethlehem and see

Christ Whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee,

Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Mary did you know.. Mary did you know

The blind will see.

The deaf will hear.

The dead will live again.

The lame will leap.

The dumb will speak

The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know

that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know

that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?

Did you know

that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?

The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

What mercy was revealed

What selflessness and peace

My fate was surely sealed

Until He rescued me

His pardon for my sin

His bounty for my need

From slavery and shame

I am redeemed

And Heaven can't contain

The glory of the Son

Jesus is the Christ, the saving One

His love has made a way

The grave is overcome

Jesus is the Christ, the saving One

Go, Tell It On The Mountain,

Over the hills and everywhere;

Go, Tell It On The Mountain

That Jesus Christ is born.

Let us remember that Christmas should also remind us that we must go tell the world of the redemption that can be found in Christ alone!

Merry Christmas to you all!!! 

I hope it is one that grows your love and fear of God, as well, as allows you to make many good memories that you can remember and cherish for many years!

Go celebrate the birth of our Savior and King!...and as always keep thinking:)

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isa. 9:6

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16-17

Dec. 13-19 Thought of the Week

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, 

but the companion of fools will suffer harm  

Prov. 13:20 (ESV)

      

This week's thought comes right out of the Book of Proverbs. Here it teaches us that those we choose to let influence us and who we let become our friends or those we spend time with will shape our character. This is a simple concept, but it is so very important and we must grasp it! Also, we must continually be reminded of this principle and so we can be vigilant in protecting ourselves from bad influences. The Bible is abundant and clear in it's teaching on this subject, another example would be 1 Corinthians 15:33 which says, "Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals". It is imperative that we take this to heart if we wish to lead Godly lives!

George Washington, who was a devout Christian and great leader, understood this principle very well. He even went so far as to say, "Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company". I believe that because Washington was disciplined and governed himself by Biblical principles, such as this one, he was a great warrior for Christ in his time and was able to influenced a nation and culture that endures to this day!

Remember....you are who you hang out with...and as always...keep thinking!

Dec. 6-12 Thought of the Week

"Here is the great secret of success. Work with all your might; but trust not in the least in your work. Pray with all your might for the blessing of God; but work, at the same time, with all diligence, with all patience, with all perseverance. Pray then, and work. Work and pray. And still again pray, and then work. And so on all the days of your life. The result will surely be, abundant blessing. Whether you see much fruit or little fruit, such kind of service will be blessed... Speak also for the Lord, as if everything depended on your exertions; yet trust not the least in your exertions, but in the Lord, who alone can cause your efforts to be made effectual, to the benefit of your fellow men or fellow believers. Remember, also, that God delights to bestow blessing, but, generally, as the result of earnest, believing prayer." - George Muller

We live in a culture in which everyone seeks success. Here Mr. Muller tells us the secret to success, however this success is far from what people seek today. People of our culture want fame, status, money and power. This is not what we as Christians should seek, we should seek to please our King and do His will while in continual prayer! Only in doing this can we find true success and real blessing!

It is not the treasures that we store up here on earth, but it is those that we store in Heaven that are eternally valuable!

During this week, remember to work for our God and to pray to our God and pray and work!

As always...keep thinking...