SPIRITUAL COMPANIONS     Even though Elijah experienced great victory on Mount Carmel , he was then overcome with fear and loneliness.  We saw how God provided comfort by first sending an angel and then through the gentle whisper of His presence (1 Kings 19:5-13).  But Elijah clearly revealed some long term spiritual needs which could not be ignored.  1 Kings 19:14 “And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
     Elijah felt alone in his devotion to God and alone in his ministry.  This loneliness was affecting his judgment as well as his ability to persevere under stress.  He needed a spiritual companion who would encourage him and walk by his side.  God recognized this need and sent him Elisha. 1 Kings 19:16 “…and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.” Elijah was not being replaced; but since he had many "opportunities" for future discouragement, God provided someone to share the burden, provide motivation, and be trained for future service.
     Elisha was in the field plowing with a team of oxen when Elijah first called him to follow.  Elisha's response was immediate and decisive, and he was devoted to Elijah for the remainder of his ministry.
     1 Kings 19:21 “And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.”
     God never intended for us to go into battle alone.  While He is always at our side, ready to intervene, His Word also directs us to draw upon the strength of others; Hebrews 3:13 “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
     Immediately after creating the first man, Genesis 2:18 “…the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” We were created to be people who need one another; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”  Jesus demonstrated this wisdom as He sent messengers to proclaim that the Kingdom of God is near; Luke 10:1 “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.” Difficult tasks require mutual support and encouragement.
     As we travel down God's path, let's listen to His counsel and not walk alone.  Let's entrust our lives to our Heavenly Father and seek other believers who will encourage us to remain in His presence and aligned with His perfect will.  Let's pray that God would bless us with courage and strength...and also with an abundance of committed spiritual companions. - Steve Troxel - God's Daily Word Ministries - www.gdwm.org

 FOOTSTOOL OF GOD’S THRONE     "And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8   "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1
     When your heart is heavy laden And you feel so all alone.
There's a place you will find comfort At the footstool of God's Throne.
     It's there you place your worries, All your doubts and many fears,
On bended knee, just pour it out In Jesus' Name, God hears.
     "Come unto Me . . . I'll give you rest" Is our Lord's invitation;
Just take His yoke upon you For a rested soul sensation.
     Cast all your burdens at His feet, The footstool of God's Throne;
Remembering Jesus' precious words, You'll never be alone. - jcshrimp1.com/insp

DON’T WE ALL?  i was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come from the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work. Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum. From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just don't want to be bothered. This was one of those "I don't want to be bothered times."
     "I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought. He didn't. He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn't look like he had enough money to even ride the bus.
     After a few minutes he spoke. "That's a very pretty car," he said. He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly blond beard kept more than his face warm.
     I said, "Thanks," and continued wiping off my car. He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never came. As the silence between us widened something inside said, "Ask him if he needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes" but I held true to the inner voice. "Do you need any help?" I asked.
     He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget. We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of higher learning and accomplishments. I expected nothing but an outstretched grimy hand. He spoke the three words that shook me. "Don't we all?" he said.
     I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum in the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gauge shotgun. Don't we all? I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three little words still ring true. - www.christianlifestories.com/stories/a-e/dontweall.html

THE MASTER’S HAND      I was having trouble. It was a few weeks into the term in my pottery class and I still wasn't able to create a decent piece of work using the potter's wheel. I was getting tense about it. Most of my classmates had by now managed the skill of throwing on the wheel and were producing perfect cylinders. My cylinders were not working. Either I tried to bring them up too quickly and their walls grew too thin, or a jerk of my hand would put them off centre and a wild wobble would result in nothing more than a pile of goo.

     Every time my instructor walked by I got more nervous and tried harder. The harder I tried the more I failed.

     Then one day my instructor came up behind me as I was attempting to centre the lump of clay. He was a big man with huge hands and he towered over me. I looked up, ashamed of my incompetence, but instead of a scowl, I saw him smile. "Relax," he said. "Trying too hard just causes more failure." He put his large hands on my shoulders and kneaded my tense muscles. "Now, take a deep breath and try again," he said.

     I positioned my hands on the clay but the lump continued to wobble. I slumped back on the chair and looked up again. "Will you show me?" I asked. My instructor nodded and told me to try again, then leaned over me and placed his hands over mine, guiding them gently until the lump was spinning at perfect centre. When our thumbs pushed down into the centre the lump gave way and formed a perfect donut shape. Then he took his hands away. "Gently," he said, and stood back as I slowly drew the walls of the cylinder up. He laughed with delight when I clapped my hands at the finished product

     I've thought about that day many times over the years, when I've become stressed about one situation or another. Too often I allow myself to get tied up in knots over something, forgetting that God is standing with me, waiting to guide me, waiting to give me the peace that seems so elusive. Then I remember my pottery instructor's large skilled hands and I remember to ask for God's help.

     It comforts me to know that even Jesus' disciples sometimes failed to understand that when they are with Jesus there is no need to worry. The day they sailed across the Sea of Galilee , for instance. The wind began to rage and it looked like their boat would sink. Jesus was sleeping through it all until they woke Him. He quickly calmed the storm and said, "Where is your faith?" (Luke 8:25). Their response was to wonder, "Who is this?" That is the perfect response. When we see the hand of God move it is fitting to ponder who He is, to recognize His power and sovereignty and to relax in it. Perhaps the next time we will be a little slower to get stressed and a little quicker to ask, "Will you show me?"...Marcia Lee Laycock (Marcia@vinemarc.com) by way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com

DEALING WITH SETBACKS     After William Carey, the Father of Modern Missions was well established in his pioneer missionary work in India , his supporters in England sent a printer to assist him. Soon the two men were turning out portions of the Bible for distribution. Carey had spent many years learning the language so that he could produce the scriptures in the local dialect. He had also prepared dictionaries and grammars for the use of his successors. One day while Carey was away, a fire broke out and completely destroyed the building, the presses, many Bibles, and the precious manuscripts, dictionaries, and grammars. When he returned and was told of the tragic loss, he showed no sign of despair or impatience. Instead, he knelt and thanked God that he still had the strength to do the work over again. He started immediately, not wasting a moment in self-pity. Before his death, he had duplicated and even improved on his earlier achievements. – www.creativeyouthideas.com

Proverbs 25:13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

LEGALISM OR LOVE?     There was once a married couple who didn’t love each other. The day they got married, the husband handed his wife a list of chores for her to follow. He insisted that she do all the tasks on her list every day. The wife worked hard to accomplish her assigned duties, but she was miserable as she performed them. Ironing his clothes, preparing his meals, cleaning house—every task was burdensome. Although she obeyed all his rules, she never enjoyed a loving relationship with her husband.
     Then one day her husband died. After several years had passed, she fell in love with another man and got married. The new husband never required her to do anything, much less a list of jobs. Instead, he showered her with love and did everything he could to make her happy.
     One day this wife was joyfully cleaning house when she discovered her first husband’s list of commands tucked away in a drawer. As she read the paper, it dawned on her that she was performing every task on the list, but now she was serving with joy instead of misery. Her love for her second husband inspired her to automatically do the same jobs that her first husband had required. She had served her first husband out of duty, but her second husband out of love.
     God wants us to serve Him out of jubilation, not obligation. Legalism adds weights to our work, but love gives wings to our service. (Kent Crockett, Making Today Count for Eternity, Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2001, pp. 159-160)

EVEN WHEN WE HAVE SPOILED GOD’S PLAN, HE HAS ANOTHER WAITING FOR US!     If you have run ahead of God and produced an Ishmael or two (who hasn’t?), sooner or later your fleshly provision will clash with your spiritual destiny and Ishmael will have to go. This can be painful, but it’s absolutely necessary … and it’s for the ultimate good!  Lamentations 3:22-24 “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”
     This proved true in the life of one of history’s great composers. He was a has-been, a fossil, a relic, an old fogy, but it hadn’t always been so. As a young man, George Frederic Handel was the talk of England , the best paid composer on earth, and his fame soared around the world. But the glory passed, audiences dwindled, and one project after another failed. Handel grew depressed. The stress brought on a case of palsy that crippled some of his fingers. “Handel’s great days are over,” wrote Frederick the Great, “his inspiration is exhausted.”
     Yet his troubles also matured him, and his music became more heartfelt. One morning Handel received a collection of various biblical text from Charles Jennens. The opening words from Isaiah 40 moved Handel: “Comfort ye my people.”
     On August 22, 1741, he began composing music for the words. Twenty-three days later, the world had “Messiah,” which opened in London to enormous crowds on March 23, 1743 . Handel led from his harpsichord, and King George II, who was present that night, surprised everyone by leaping to his feet during the “Hallelujah Chorus.” From that day audiences everywhere have stood in reverence during the stirring words: “Hallelujah! And He shall reign forever and ever.”
     The world would be a poorer place if Handel had not let God get rid of his Ishmaels and bring his Isaac into the world! – Unknown

GOD WILL ALWAYS DIRECT US     " . . . The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16
   The reign of David was the end of an era in Judah . David was 30 years of age when he became king and he reigned 40 years.  His shoes were so big that none who came after him could ever fill them.
    As great as Solomon was, he never attained the stature of his father David, spiritually speaking.  In Acts 13:36, Paul tells us that David served his own generation by the will of God.
    David's dream was to build a house for the Lord.  In 1Samuel 7:1-3, David experienced a peaceful interlude, a calm, quiet period in his life, which for him was really unique.  He was a courageous warrior, usually involved in battle with one or another of the surrounding nations. At this point, while sitting quietly, he looked around at his own beautiful place and compared it to the tent that housed the ark of God. The comparison sorrowed David.  He wanted to build a beautiful, permanent home for the holy vessels of the Tabernacle.  His motive was pure and admirable because he wanted it for God's glory, not his own.  He expressed this desire to Nathan the prophet, who encouraged him.
    But God had a different plan.  The Lord spoke to Nathan and told him to tell David that it was not His will for David to build His house,
but He promised to make David's dream come true through Solomon, his son.
    God refused David's request, reminding him that he was a soldier, a man of war, but not a builder.  How often we have wished for talents other than those God gave us. Many times, God's "NO" is just a redirection of His plan for us according to His will.
    When we pray each day for divine guidance and direction, we need feel no guilt when our plans do not work out. We can have confidence that God's way is best and we can leave the results in His hand.  When God says "NO", He has a better way, and our best reaction is submissive cooperation. God has put each of us here for a purpose, however humble. Not many are called to fulfill such a great purpose as David, or to build temples.
     God's intended purpose for you may not be as great as your dreams, or it may be greater than you ever imagined.  How sad that so many never become aware of that purpose which is the only way to true happiness and satisfaction.
     May we never neglect the privilege of prayer that God has given to each of us to seek His will in our lives today.
     Without the lifeline of prayer, we grow spiritually weak. – jcshrimp1.com/insp

THE POWER OF ONE     John 15:8 “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
     "John Warr, an 18th-century apprentice shoemaker, was determined to be a faithful witness for Christ. Another apprentice by the name of William was hired, and John repeatedly talked to him about spiritual things, but the new worker didn't want to be bothered. Then one day he was caught exchanging a counterfeit shilling for a good one. In his guilt and humiliation he asked John for help and prayer. Through the faithful witness of John Warr, that man put his faith in Christ and developed into a committed disciple.
     “The young apprentice was William Carey, who later became a remarkably fruitful missionary to India . Carey's life and ministry had a tremendous influence on the cause of worldwide gospel outreach in modern times.” – Our Daily Bread, June 7, 1996
     Some of us get discouraged because we don't feel that we are very gifted and don't have a lot to offer God in service to him. John Warr could have said to himself, "I'm just a shoemaker and don't have much to offer God." But he didn't. He just wanted God to use him and made himself available.
     It's amazing what God can and will do with anyone who will make him/herself available to God. And if you do make yourself available to God, you may never know until you get to eternity just how God used you to touch the life of others for eternity.
     As blind Helen Keller said, "I am only one, but still I am one; I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; I will not refuse to do the something I can do."
And as the unknown author said:
    One SONG can spark a moment,
    One FLOWER can wake the dream,
    One TREE can start a forest,
    One BIRD can herald spring,
    One SMILE begins a friendship,
    One HANDCLASP lifts a soul,
    One STAR can guide a ship at sea,
    One WORD can frame the goal,
    One VOTE can change a nation,
    One SUNBEAM lights a room,
    One CANDLE wipes out darkness,
    One LAUGH will conquer gloom,
    One STEP must start each journey,
    One WORD must start a prayer,
    One HOPE will raise our spirits,
    One TOUCH can show you care,
    One VOICE can speak with wisdom,
    One HEART can know what is true,
    One LIFE can make a difference.
May that life be yours.
     Remember, too, "that all the darkness in the world cannot put out the light of one small candle." – Daily Encounter

ON HEROES AND REALITY     The twelve-year-old boy papered his bedroom walls with sports clippings of his favorite sports hero. Then at age 14, much to his delight, he actually got to meet him. To his astonishment, and beyond his wildest dreams, this was not a one-time opportunity. His hero took him under his wing and spent quite a bit of time with him. They loved to go fishing together. However, after awhile, the boy began to notice that the more time they spent together, the more he saw the difference between the image and the actual man. Upon closer inspection, he learned that his hero was not all that he thought him to be.
     In fact, years later, as he spoke to an audience of how he got a closer and closer look at the man he once idolized, he confessed, "And the nearer I got, the smaller he became." He went on to say to that same audience, "Then I learned about Jesus, and have spent the last thirty-five years drawing closer to Him. And you know what I have discovered? I find that the nearer I get, the bigger He becomes!  -  KneEmail  - kneemail-subscribe@welovegod.org – Cited on Weekend Encounter

SIN SEPARATES      "BEHOLD, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Isaiah 59:1, 2
     Sin is like a giant canyon, with a person on one side and God on the other.  A canyon can never be removed, it will always be there.
And it is useless to try to fill up one. But when a bridge is put across a canyon, one can cross it as if no canyon ever existed there. Forgiveness of our sin is like a bridge.  A bridge allows us to have eternal life, even though there is sin which otherwise would separate us from God.
     Sin is also like a cut or break in an electric wire.  There must be a perfect connection from the source to a light bulb before there can be
any light in the bulb.  Sin separates our connection with God. Forgiveness is like a splice in a wire.  Sin separates man and God. And there is only one way back to Him . . .through Jesus Christ!
And then . . ." . . . Go and sin no more!" – www.jcshrimp1.com/insp 

 RUNNING AHEAD OF GOD     If you have run ahead of God and produced an Ishmael or two (who hasn’t?), sooner or later your fleshly provision will clash with your spiritual destiny and Ishmael will have to go. This can be painful, but it’s absolutely necessary … and it’s for the ultimate good! EVEN WHEN WE HAVE SPOILED GOD’S PLAN, HE HAS ANOTHER WAITING FOR US!

THE GIFT OF THE WISEMEN     Not only did the star lead the Magi far from home but the star didn’t stop where they expected it to stop. They watched the star trailing across the territory of Israel as it moved toward Jerusalem . ( Bethlehem is, of course, near Jerusalem . Today, it is considered a suburb of Jerusalem .) The Magi assumed as the star approached Jerusalem that the birth of such an important personage would have to have taken place in the palace. So they went to the palace of Herod . But Herod knew nothing about the blessed event. They arrived on the doorstep and asked, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

     Herod was dumbfounded! Royalty knew nothing about this great event. There were no flags flying, no music, no celebration, no festivity. Herod in perplexity and despair recalled his own wise men and inquired of them where the Christ child would be born. They searched their sacred writings and informed Herod, ‘in Bethlehem of Judea’. For thus, it is written in the prophets: ‘Thou Bethlehem , in the land of Judea , are not thou great among the tribes of Judea ? For unto you who will be born a son, the Savior of the world.’

     Then they come to the house where the child Jesus is and the wise men see the Messiah. Some scholars say it could have been a year after the birth of Christ. We read in scripture that, “they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts...” of precious gold, frankincense and myrrh.

     Medieval theologians suggested that gold is a gift for royalty, frankincense a gift for deity, and myrrh a gift for death. They postulated that these were gifts for a King, a King who was God, and a God who would die. The reality is that they were probably the most costly things that they could get from their country. They brought that which cost them something. You remember David once said, “I will never offer to God that which costs me nothing.” So they offered the most costly things they could. But the greatest gift they gave was not the gold, frankincense or myrrh. The greatest gift that they gave the Christ child was the gift of true worship. That’s the greatest gift anyone can give Him.

     It was there in that house that they yielded their lives to one who was greater than they were. They adored the child and gave the gifts that they had carried all the way from their homes in the east. When they returned home they were empty-handed but were full hearted because of the worship from the heart. The treasures they gave the child were worth little compared to the value and fulfillment they had in their hearts in worship. They had worshipped the King of the Jews.

     The heart that can worship the Lord gives our entire lives a sense of fulfillment and meaning. Worship makes us whole because it meets the need of our inner being, our soul, our very core. God is worshipped, adored, and given honor. He is the one who created us and to respond to God in love makes life large and whole. Without worship of God we put ourselves in the center of our lives and we end up giving greater emphasis to ourselves.

     Worship is a way to maintain perspective in the midst of life’s pressing demands. Most of us live our lives according to the “priority of the urgent”. We run from urgent demand to urgent demand. The problem is that we neglect that which is important. When the magi came face to face with the Christ child, the only thing that became urgent was ‘to worship him.’ They did not look to themselves.

     They did not lift themselves up, but lowered themselves, bowing down in worship. If we take time to see the baby at all this Christmas, worship will not only be appropriate, it will be a necessity. Worship is a natural and appropriate response to the goodness and greatness of God. To worship means to pay tribute to, to honor, to revere God. When one comprehends God, truly sees him, it is the only appropriate response. – Ken Sapp – creativeyouthideas.com

MIGHTY GOD     Psalms 17:6-8  “I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.  Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings.”

     From the poetry of David we have a rich heritage that leads us to some of the most effective ways to worship God.  The striking truth found in the life of David and particularly in this psalm is not that David was simply a powerful or righteous man; the striking truth is that a man so powerful and so righteous needed a Savior. David cries out to God, "Show me the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes." David, a man of power and righteousness, needed a Savior. So it is with all men. For if the mighty need a Savior, how much more those of us who are only average or even weak.

     While constantly being pursued by his enemies David learned a very important lesson. The issue is not the ability or the inability of a man to save himself. The issue is the enormity of the predicament that he is in. No man can hope to win a battle in which the odds are stacked against him. His only hope is in God. In such a situation it is God alone who saves.

     And the same is true for each of us. The issue is not our ability or inability to save ourselves but the enormity of the predicament that we face. Thanks be to God that our predicament has been matched by one who would be called "Mighty God" and He is Jesus Christ our Savior. All men, no matter how powerful and righteous, need a Savior, and all men, no matter how weak and wicked have a Savior. Take a few moments to thank Jesus Christ, the Mighty God for what He's done for you. – Ken Sapp – www.creativeyouthideas.com

CHRISTMAS IS COSTLY!  Luke 14:28  "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?"
     Shoppers still abound in stores everywhere looking for those certain special gifts!  Why is it that people spend so much money
buying and charging, only to pay back later? I think Jesus somewhat asks us the same question in Luke 14 when He speaks to us about "Counting the Cost".
     And then it reminds me how costly Christmas really was over 2000 years ago.
     It cost Mary and Joseph the comforts of home during a long period of exile in Egypt to protect the little Baby Jesus.
     It cost mothers in and around Bethlehem the massacre of their babies by the cruel order of Herod.
     It costs the shepherds the complacency of their shepherds' life, with the call to the manger and to spread the good news.
     It cost the wise men a long journey, expensive gifts, and changed lives.
     It cost the early apostles and the early church persecution and often death.
     It still costs the missionaries of Christ untold suffering and privation in sharing the gospel world-wide. And it still costs Christian martyrs in all ages their lives for Christ's sake.
     But more than all of this, It cost our God His own Son!  He sent Him to earth to save us!
     It cost Jesus a life of sacrifice and service, and a death cruel and unmatched in history.
     So, my dear friends out there, while you sit back and consider the "cost" of your Christmas this year, may you be ever-mindful of the "cost" so "costly" paid by our wonderful Lord! Then . . . give "Thanks!" For He freely gave of Himself for us. And this, my friend, didn't "cost" us a cent! – Adapted from jcshrimp1.com/insp

    “May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!”  ~ Author Unknown

THE STAR     The day of the Christmas presentation finally arrived. My young daughter, Jana, was so excited about her part that I thought she was to be one of the main characters, though she had not told me what she was to do. The parents were all there and one by one the children took their places. I could see the shepherds fidgeting in the corner of the stage meant to represent the fields for the sheep. Mary and Joseph stood solemnly behind the manger. In the back three young wise men waited impatiently. But still Jana sat quietly and confidently.

     Then the teacher began: "A long time ago, Mary and Joseph had a baby and they named Him Jesus," she said. "And when Jesus was born, a bright star appeared over the stable."

     At that cue, Jana got up from her chair, picked up a large tin-foil star, walked behind Mary and Joseph and held the star up high for everyone to see.

     When the teacher told about the shepherds coming to see the baby, the three young shepherds came forward and Jana jiggled the star up and down excitedly to show them where to come. When the wise men responded to their cue, she went forward a little to meet them and to lead the way, her face as alight as the real star might have been.

     The playlet ended. We had refreshments. On the way home Jana said, with great satisfaction, "I had the main part!"

     "You did?" I questioned, wondering why she thought that.

     "Yes," she said, "'cause I showed everybody how to find Jesus!"

     …..from Pulpit Supply by way of Docs Daily Chuckle (pkaine@woh.rr.com) and "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com)

MAY CHRIST DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS     “Do I want to see Christ back in ‘Christmas’?  I’d rather see Christ back in Christians!”  --Pastor Tom Holladay, Saddleback Church

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR     When you swap places with others to feel how they hurt, you’ve taken the first step toward loving your neighbor as yourself. (Kent Crockett, I Once Was Blind, But Now I Squint, Chattanooga , TN : AMG Publishers, 2004, 86, www.kentcrockett.com )

THEY FOLLOWED THE STAR     God set in the sky a marvelous star. Astronomers have discussed for many centuries what the star must have been. Some have suggested that it was a conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn. Others have said that it is a reference to an evanescent star found in Chinese literature. Others believe it might have been a comet, or a supernova.

     But whatever it was, it was something new. It was something unusual. It was something surprising. It was something different. It was something unique that prompted the attention of the wise men. They were compelled by a sense of needing to understand. But their journey was more than the satisfaction of curiosity, the seeking of knowledge. Scripture says that when they were asked about their journey, they said they were in search of a King of the Jews so that they might worship him.

     The star led them a long way from home. For these ancients it was not an endearing thing to leave home, family and friends and go beyond the borders of one’s own country into a different territory altogether. Yet, this star drove them across their borders. Every step took them farther and farther away from the security of home and everything that was dear to them. Their adventure was to find this person born to transform humankind and change the course of human history.

     The road may have been difficult, but the end was certain. You see, God doesn’t call a person on an adventure in vain. These Magi discovered a little baby, and in discovering the baby, they discovered Christmas - not in a palace, in a synagogue, not in a mansion. Though Christ had been born in a cattle shed, the wise men knew Jesus for who He was. They understood this child was special. This discovery was one to which they were prepared to respond.

     The journey that God has for each of us may be different, but the goal is the same: That we might find a King to rule our lives and to worship Him. Our journey might take us far from that which is comfortable or familiar. But when we find Him we will be transformed and our lives will be changed. Will you respond? – Ken Sapp, www.creativeyouthideas.com

GREATEST MIRACLE

ARE YOU AN ACTIVE MEMBER?
Are you an active member, the kind that would be missed?
Or are you just content, that your name be on the list?
Do you attend meetings, and mingle with the crowd?
Or would you rather stay at home, and complain long and loud?
Do you give a little time, and help to make things tick.
Or leave the work to just a few, and talk about the “clique”?
There’s quite a program schedule, that means success if done.
And it can be accomplished, with the help of everyone.
So come to all the meetings, and help with hand and heart;
Don’t just be another member, but take an active part.
Think it over member, Are you right or wrong?
Are you an active member, or do you just belong? - Author Unknown

LIFESTYLE EVANGELISM     I am not to win people by lifestyle evangelism—being good around people and hoping they will see how good I am, then come and ask me how to get saved when they don’t even know what being saved is! We are not to win them by our lifestyles, but our lifestyles ought to be factors that they can look at after they hear the Gospel and say, “Wow! His life measures up to his lip.”
     Our lifestyles do not win them; the Gospel of Jesus Christ wins them. The Word of God wins them—not our goodness, not our lifestyles, but the Gospel, the Word of God; and we have to be ready and willing to give it to them. —George Alquist - Sent by Mary Sutherland – Monday Fodder

ARE YOU STARTING TO FORGET?     There's a beautiful story about a little boy who couldn't wait for his new baby sister to come home from the hospital. He couldn't wait to be near her, to talk to her. But his parents didn't want him to be left alone with her. After all he was only four years old, so they wanted to supervise his visits. He kept begging to be alone with her, so one night his parents finally relented. The boy tiptoed into her room, stood next to his sister's crib and said: "Tell me about God--I'm starting to forget."
     There are times when we as adults get so caught up in the "rat race" and all of our responsibilities. Perhaps we need to go to the children around us and say, "Tell me about God--I'm starting to forget." - From Alan Smith, "Thought for the Day" http://www.tftd-online.com – Cited on Weekend Encounter, by Dick Innes 

      "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble;and he knoweth them that trust in him." Nahum 1:7
     I'll never forget the day I looked out of our living room window and saw Mark, our youngest, walking home from school in the driving rain.
     Mark was in the third grade, and he was allowed to ride his bike to his grade school, located right within our sub-division. I happened to be home from the church early that day, and I was sitting in an easy chair by the window.I looked outside at the pouring rain and saw my boy in the distance, trudging his way through the downpour. His clothing was absolutely drenched and his hair was plastered against his head. I opened the door for him, and he looked up at me with a little smile, his face red from the cold.
     "Hi, Dad!" he said. "You're home early."
     "Hi, Son," I replied. "You're soaked to the bone."
     "Yeah, I know."
     "Umm, Mark, you know, if you'd ride your bike you'd get home faster. You wouldn't get so wet."
     He looked at me rather sheepishly as rivulets of rain streamed from his hair down across his face. "I know, Dad."
     I was puzzled. "Well, Son, if you know, why in the world didn't you do it?"
     Then he hung his head, just a bit, and it hit me.  Boy, did I feel like crawling under a table and hiding for a while.  He had told me several times before that his bike had a flat tire.  He had asked me if I could please fix it for him. I had promised I would, but never did. I had forgotten all about it.
     As he stood there in the entryway, dripping and shivering, he could have said, "I couldn't ride my bike today because someone promised
me he'd fix it and never did."  He would have had every right to say that. But he didn't.  What he did say remains printed indelibly on this dad's heart.
     "Aw, Dad, I know how busy you are and everything, and I just didn't want to bother you with it again."
     I thought, Son, your dad isn't too busy; he's just too selfish. For me, a bike tire was no big deal ~ just one more thing on a long "to do" list. But for Mark, it meant more than transportation. It meant more than a long walk home in the pouring down rain.  It meant trusting his father to meet his every need.  (Author Unknown)
     After reading this little story, I started thinking about the promises we make to others along the way. Our days become hectic at times, with so many things pressing us to deal with. And our "promises" made to our trusting friends and loved ones diminish.
Then I thought about our Heavenly Father and His promises to us.
He doesn't get side-tracked or put us on "hold."
     He is faithful and just, and His promises are sure, not to mention, on time!! We should be thankful for the promises of God!
     "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5,6.  "Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust . . ." Psalms 40:4 - jcshrimp1.com/insp/11-23e.html

     "I think I began learning long ago that those who are happiest are those who do the most for others." -- Booker T. Washington

OUR DAY OF THANKSGIVING     1 Chronicles 16:8-10  “Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.  Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.  Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.”
     Our thanksgiving time starts many days before we really think much about what is going on. The turkey farmer has to start to get the birds fat and ready and the hog farmer has to get the pork ready so the hams are just right and all the other things are being readied so that we can have a great big feast and then lay back and rest and never think twice about what it all really means.
     Long ago our forefathers were thanking the one who had kept them alive in a new world but we today take it all for granted that there will be a great meal and wonderful time spent with family and friends. Never a thought of how it might be for us with just a few minor changes.
     What if you had been born in a third world country to some poor family that had little more that a little bread or a bowl of rice and maybe if you’re lucky a fish of a small animal of some kind to eat.
     What if you had only rags to wear and no shoes on your feet and maybe just a mud hut to call your home. Could you be thankful
with so little?
     I know that all who read this today has more than this, but do you truly feel thankful to your Father God for the greatness of things that you do have?
    Will you? “Give thanks unto the LORD.”
    Will you?  “call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people”.?
    Will you? “Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him.”
    Will you? “ talk ye of all his wondrous works.”
    Please “Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.” 

    I pray you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and that you lift up thanksgiving to our Lord. – jcshrimp1.com/insp

ADD IT UP!    The young man was feeling very proud of himself. As a brand new college graduate he had taken the C.P.A. Exams and passed with flying colors. Now he was a full-fledged Certified Public Accountant.
     His father had been an immigrant to the U.S. , and now owned his own little business. Filled with self-importance, the young man began to criticize his father’s way of keeping books. He said, “Dad, you don’t even know how much profit you’ve made. Over here in this drawer are your accounts receivable. Over there are your receipts and you keep all your money in the cash register. You don’t have any idea how much money you’ve made.”
     The father answered, “Son, when I came to this country the only thing I owned was a pair of pants. Now, your brother is a doctor, your sister is an art teacher, and you are a C.P.A. Your mother and I own our home. We have a car and we own this little business. Now add that up, subtract the pants and all the rest is profit.”
     ADD IT UP! That’s exactly what we need to do at Thanksgiving. Add it all up. We came into this world with nothing but the eternal soul that God gave us. Everything else is profit. We can never give too much thanks to God!

GRATITUDE unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for  today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. -- Melody Beattie

THANKSGIVING FROM “A” TO “Z”

A lthough things are not perfect
B ecause of trial or pain
C ontinue in thanksgiving
D o not begin to blame
E ven when the times are hard
F ierce winds are bound to blow
G od is forever able
H old on to what you know
I magine life without His love
J oy would cease to be
K eep thanking Him for all the things
L ove imparts to thee
M ove out of "Camp Complaining"
N o weapon that is known
O n earth can yield the power
P raise can do alone
Q uit looking at the future
R edeem the time at hand
S tart every day with worship
T o "thank" is a command
U ntil we see Him coming
V ictorious in the sky
W e'll run the race with gratitude
X alting God most high
Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad! - creativeyouthideas.com

TRUE WEALTH     "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.  O fear the LORD, ye his saints:  for there is no want to them that fear him."Psalm 34:8,9
     If we concentrate on always having it all, in light of what we have been given to take care of, we will never be satisfied.  But when we find contentment in what has been given us, we will never have to know want.  God has given graciously to all His children.  May we always be mindful that true wealth is not measured by what we own. It is found through joy in having what God has placed in our lives. "O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. - jcshrimp1.com/insp

I AM THANKFUL FOR . . .
....the taxes I pay because it means I’m employed.
....the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.
....my shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.
....a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.
....the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.
....my huge heating bill because it means I am warm.
....all the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.
....the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear.
....the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.
....the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I’m alive.
....the weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive.

GRATEFULNESS      A 12 year old boy named David was born without an immune system. He underwent a bone marrow transplant in order to correct the deficiency. Up to that point he had spent his entire life in a plastic bubble in order to prevent exposure to common germs, bacteria, and viruses that could kill him. He lived without ever knowing human contact. When asked what he’d like to do if and when released from his protective bubble, he replied, "I want to walk barefoot on grass, and touch my mother’s hand."

     "Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some."
 - Charles Dickens