THE WORK OF CHRISTMAS
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.
 - by Howard Thurman

POSITIVE INFLUENCE     John Gibson, a popular anchor for the Fox News Channel, has been digging up evidence about activists, lawyers, politicians, educators, and media people who are leading the war on Christmas. And he reveals that the situation isn’t just hype.                  For instance:
• In Illinois, state government workers were forbidden from saying the words “Merry Christmas” while at work
• In Rhode Island, local officials banned Christians from participating in a public project to decorate the lawn of City Hall
• A New Jersey school banned even instrumental versions of traditional Christmas carols
• Arizona school officials ruled it unconstitutional for a student to make any reference to the religious history of Christmas in a class project
     Millions of Americans are starting to fight back against the secularist forces and against local officials who would rather surrender than be seen as politically incorrect. Gibson shows readers how they can help save Christmas from being twisted beyond recognition, with even the slightest reference to Jesus completely disappearing.
     Now, honestly, I don’t care if someone says Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. I don’t look to retailers or the general culture to validate the meaning of the season for me. What does concern me is the attempt to rewrite history to rob Jesus of the enormously positive influence He has had on the world over the past two thousand years.

THE EASY WAY OUT     Christmas shopping, though fun, can be difficult. Did you hear about the guy that bought his wife a beautiful diamond ring for Christmas? A friend of his said, "I thought she wanted one of those sporty 4-Wheel drive vehicles." "She did," he replied. "But where am I gonna find a fake Jeep?"

              As a theologian said in 320, "We hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of him who made it."

The King of glory, the Lord Jesus Christ, gave himself to you and me. The Bible calls Him, "the unspeakable gift!"

He is the greatest gift we will ever receive!

SPONTANEOUS BROTHERHOOD
     Amid the horrors of World War I, there occurred a unique truce when, for a few hours, enemies behaved like brothers.
     Christmas Eve in 1914 was all quiet on France 's Western Front, from the English Channel to the Swiss Alps. Trenches came within fifty miles of Paris . The war was only five months old, and approximately eight hundred thousand men had been wounded or killed. Every soldier wondered whether Christmas Day would bring another round of fighting and killing, but something happened:  British soldiers raised Merry Christmas signs, and soon carols were heard from German and British trenches alike.
     Christmas dawned with unarmed soldiers leaving their trenches as officers of both sides tried unsuccessfully to stop their troops from meeting the enemy in the middle of no-man's-land for songs and conversation. Exchanging small gifts--mostly sweets and cigars--they passed Christmas Day peacefully along miles of the front. At one spot, the British played soccer with the Germans, who won three to two.
     In some places, the spontaneous truce continued the next day,
neither side willing to fire the first shot. Finally the war resumed when fresh troops arrived, and the high command of both armies ordered that further "informal understandings" with the enemy would be punishable as treason. --James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 403 -Cited on A Dose of Inspiration, by Norman Lawrence

THROW IT OUT!     In a business magazine I read, there was an article about a company, imaginary I hope, that was planning its Christmas sales campaign. The board of directors was puzzled how they could beat their competitors, then suddenly the chairman had an idea. "We’ll have a crib," he said, getting very excited. "We’ll have the most expensive manger in the world. We’re about to put Christmas back into Christmas!" From then on there was no stopping them. They decided on a slogan lifted from the New Testament, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
     The chairman told his sales staff, "We’ll have to emphasise the variety of gifts available. See to it that the Oriental Kings are handing a proper assortment of presents to the Holy Infant." And he went through a great catalogue of the goods they sold. The sales staff arranged their goods in a great pyramid, topped with a stable with the animals, and Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus giving their blessing to all the merchandise. When the chairman saw it he was delighted as he thought of all the money they would make. And then he began to scowl. He called to his manager, "What’s that thing on top?" "It’s the manger, sir." "We don’t sell mangers, do we?" "Well, throw it out!" he shouted. Only a parable, but all too close to the truth of what passes for Christmas.

May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,
The gladness of Christmas give you hope,
The warmth of Christmas grant you love.
~Author Unknown

A CANDY MAKER’S WITNESS
   A candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he made the Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.
   He began with a stick of pure white hard candy. White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.
   The candy maker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could also represent the staff of the "Good Shepherd" with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.
   Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the Cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.
   Unfortunately, the candy became known as a candy cane—a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time. But the meaning is still there for those who "have eyes to see and ears to hear." I pray that this symbol will again be used to witness to the wonder of Jesus and his great love that came down at Christmas and remains the ultimate and dominate force in the universe today. (Anonymous) – Note:  The above may be a legend of Christmas, but think of the wonderful message conveyed in these thoughts.

CHRISTMAS GIFT SUGGESTIONS

To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.

To God, praise and glory and honor! (Worship Him)

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

FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE EVERYTHING    It is a commentary on our situation in life that the biggest problem most of us has with our Christmas shopping, aside from finding time to do it, is that most of the people we shop for already have everything they need. This year I’m fresh out of ideas.

     We can imagine the scene in a fairly average household on Christmas morning. When all the expensively wrapped gifts have been opened and the room looks like an explosion in a paper-goods factory…

     It is rather obvious that a typical American family has everything. They have helped keep the economy on an upward spiral, gratifying both the local merchants and the administration in Washington , and they have cluttered their household with many more things that are destined for the school auction or the garage sale when they move or find that their home is simply too overladen for living. They could not possibly want for anything they don’t have.

     Are they people who have everything or people who need everything? What do they really need this Christmas?

     They need simplicity, time for sorting out their lives, time for being together, time for getting to know one another, and time for sharing themselves at the deepest levels of human communication.

     They need holy time, a sense of life’s deeper dimensions, of eternal mysteries breaking in upon finite existence, of the God of righteousness whose being conveys meaning to all of life’s actions and relationships, and the blessing of a world that wants to bless us if we’ll only let it.

     They need space for seeing life as it is, for seeing the millions of people in the world who are starving to death and the millions who are dying of simple diseases, for realizing how shallow life is when it is lived merely for the pleasure of the moment without any regard to the future or its consequences, for standing back and looking at their own lives, so that, like Scrooge when the ghosts of Christmas Past and Christmas Present and Christmas Future whisked him away, they will have a chance to mend their ways, to become wholesome, to become worthy, and to become children of God.

     They need the Christ of Christmas and renewal of their inner spirits. That is what it all comes down to, isn’t it? They need to hear and receive the message of Christmas, that God has entered the human arena to dwell with us, that His presence is consequently here and available to us now, that we are not alone, spinning out our destinies…, and that all our days are spent before the Holy One of Israel who poured all that He was and is and will be through the funnel of a miracle into the child born in the manger of Bethlehem. They need to surrender their lives to Christ, who is the real Gift of Christmas, and in the end He so overshadows all others as to be the only one.

     In a sense, I am talking about all of us.  That is the way it ought to be for us at Christmas. Most of us have been lost in the busyness of our existence, trying to cope from day to day, and have quite forgotten who we are or whose we are.…And then we, who thought we had everything, realize we have nothing, and, realizing we have nothing, stand ready to receive everything. For He is our joy and peace.

     In all the frenzy and noise of the season, O God, help us to find our way home; and, having found it, let us never lose it. Through Christ, who was born to show us the way. Amen. - John Killinger Christmas Spoke Here Nashville , TN : Broadman Press, 1989, p. 88

T'was The Night Before Christmas
Not a Sign of Baby Jesus
T'was the night before Christmas and all through the town
Not a sign of Baby Jesus was anywhere to be found.

The people were all busy with Christmas time chores
Like decorating, and baking, and shopping in stores.

No one sang "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed".
Instead, they sang of Santa dressed-up in bright red.

Mama watched Martha Stewart, Papa drank beer from a tap.
As hour upon hour the presents they'd wrap

When what from the TV did they suddenly hear?
'Cept an ad.. which told of a big sale at Sears.

So away to the mall they all flew like a flash
Buying things on credit and others with cash!

And, as they made their way home From their trip to the mall,
Did they think about Jesus? Oh, no... not at all.

Their lives were so busy with their Christmas time things
No time to remember Christ Jesus, the King.

There were presents to wrap and cookies to bake.
How could they stop and remember who died for their sake?

To pray to the Savior they had no time to stop.
Because they needed more time to "Shop til they dropped!"

On Wal-mart! On K-mart!  On Target! On Penney's!
On Hallmark! On Zales!  A quick lunch at Denny's

From the big stores downtown to the stores at the mall
They would dash away, dash away, and visit them all!

And up on the roof, there arose such a clatter
As grandpa hung icicle lights up on his brand new step ladder.

He hung lights that would flash. He hung lights that would twirl.
Yet, he never once prayed to Jesus... Light of the World.

Christ's eyes... how they twinkle! Christ's Spirit... how merry!
Christ's love... how enormous! All our burdens... He'll carry!

So instead of being busy, overworked, and uptight
Let's put Christ back in Christmas and enjoy some good nights!
Merry Christmas, my friends! - Author Unknown

There was no room in the inn when Christ was born,

and today there is no room in the hearts of many everywhere

for the Christ who grew and gave His life that we might live!

JUST THE FACTS

     "He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace."  Proverbs 11:12
     There was once a man that John Wesley thought of as miserly, therefore he had little respect for him. He felt so strongly about this man that, on an occasion when the man gave only a small gift to a worthy charity, Wesley openly criticized him.
     Not long after, the gentleman paid a visit to Wesley. He was surprised to hear that this man ~ someone whom he assumed was simply greedy ~ had actually been living on parsnips and water for several weeks. The man told him that, in his past, he had amassed a great deal of debt. But since his conversion, he had made a choice to pay off all of his creditors, and therefore was buying nothing for himself and spending as little as possible elsewhere in order to do so.
     "Christ had made me an honest man," he said, "and so with all these debts to pay, I can give only a few offerings above my tithe. I must settle up with my worldly neighbors and show them what the grace of God can do in the heart of a man who was once dishonest."
     Wesley then apologized to the man and asked his forgiveness. <>< Shared with you from Our Daily Bread ><>
     It is easy to find fault with others when we don't know their
circumstances or reasons for their actions. It's also amazing how a few facts can forever alter our perception of a situation.  When we feel compelled to judge, it's a good time to ask God for wisdom and patience to understand the facts.  May you be filled with the Spirit of God. - jcshrimp1.com

GIVING TO GOD     "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." - 2 Corinthians 9:7

    Years ago it was the custom for the people to bring their gifts to the front of the church.  A well-known preacher was making an appeal to the people to give for a good cause.  Many came to present their offerings of love.  Among them was a little crippled girl who hobbled along at the end of the line.  Pulling a ring from her finger, she placed it on the table and made her way back up the aisle.

      After the service an usher was sent to bring her to the preacher's study.  The preacher said, "My dear, I saw what you did. It was beautiful.  But the response of the people has been so generous that we have enough to take care of the need.  We don't feel right about keeping your treasured ring, so we have decided to give it back to you."

    To his surprise, the little girl vigorously shook her head in refusal.

"You don't understand," she said.  "I didn't give my ring to you, I gave it to God!"  Lovely.  (Author Known to God) - jcshrimp1.com

SLEEPING IN CHURCH    In a cartoon simply dated 2000, Tim Walburg of Wyoming , Michigan , depicts what many of us preachers have experienced:
     The service is over and people are leaving church. The pastor is greeting each person as he walks past. One man grabs the pastor's hand and says with enthusiasm, "Excellent sermon, Pastor!" and the pastor says, "I didn't preach today!"
     The caption at the bottom of the cartoon reads, "Sometimes it's easy to tell who slept through the service."

SEND THE FLOOD!    During a flood in the Kentucky lowlands, one family sent its little boy to stay with an uncle in another part of the state, accompanied by a letter explaining the reason for the nephew's sudden and unexpected visit.  Two days later the parents received a telegram: "Am returning boy. Send the flood." @Wit & Wisdom

 GOD NEVER GIVES UP ON US     One day I decided to quit. I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality. I wanted to quit my life.
     I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.  "God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?" His answer surprised me....
     "Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?" "Yes", I replied.
     "When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
     In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo." He said.
     "In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit." He said.
     "Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
     He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern, yet, they both make the forest beautiful."
     "Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high!" "How high should I rise?" I asked. "How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return. "As high as it can?" I questioned. "Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
     I left the forest and brought back this story. I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.
     Think about that: He will never give up on you.
Never regret a day in your life.  Good days give you happiness;
Bad days give you experiences; Both are essential to life.
So Keep going....  @Sent by Carolyn Wheeler – Monday-fodder.com

STEWARDSHIP

 Funny how a $100 "looks" so big when taken to church, but so small when taken to the mall.

 Funny how long it takes to serve God for an hour, but how quickly a team plays 60 minutes of basketball.

 Funny how long a couple of hours spent at church are, but how short they are when watching a movie.

 Funny how people can't think of anything to say when they pray, but don't have difficulty thinking of things to talk about to a friend.

 Funny how people get thrilled when a baseball game goes into extra innings, but complain when a sermon is longer than the regular time.

 Funny how hard it is to read a chapter in the bible, but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a best selling novel.

 Funny how people want to get a front seat at any game or concert, but scramble to get a back seat at church services.

 Funny how people need 2 or 3 weeks advance notice to fit a church event into their schedule, but can adjust their schedule for other events at the last moment.

 Funny how hard it is for people to learn a simple gospel well enough to tell others, but how simple it is for the same people to understand and repeat gossip.

 Funny how people believe what the newspaper says, but question what the Bible says.

 Funny how everyone wants to go to heaven provided they do not have to believe, or to think, or to say, or do anything.

 Funny how you can send a thousand 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

 FUNNY, ISN'T IT?  Are you laughing?  Are you thinking?  Spread the Word and give thanks to the Lord for He is good!

THANKFULNESS      It was the worst of times. In the first half of the 17th century, Germany was in the midst of wars and famine and pestilence. In the city of Eilenburg lived a pastor by the name of Martin Rinkart.
     During one especially oppressive period, Rinkart conducted up to 50 funerals a day as a plague swept through the town and as the Thirty Years' War wreaked its own terror on the people. Among those whom Rinkart buried were members of his own family.
     Yet during those years of darkness and despair, when death and destruction greeted each new day, Pastor Rinkart wrote 66 sacred songs and hymns. Among them was the song "Now Thank We All Our God." As sorrow crouched all around him, Rinkart wrote:
     Now thank we all our God
     With hearts and hands and voice,
     Who wondrous things hath done,
     In whom His world rejoices;
     Who, from our mothers' arms,
     Hath blessed us on our way
     With countless gifts of love,
     And still is ours today.
     Rinkart demonstrated a valuable lesson for us all: Thankfulness does not have to wait for prosperity and peace. It’s always a good time to praise God for the “wondrous things” He has done. – Our Daily Bread, October 12, 1998 – Cited on A Dose of Inspiration by Norman Lawrence

HE’S COMING BACK FOR US!     A father and nine-year-old daughter were swimming in the ocean. While they were separated by some distance, the tide began to go out. The father knew he could not reach his little daughter and bring her to safety alone with the tide running so strongly against him. His only hope of saving her was to get help quickly.
     "Float and swim quietly," he called. "Don't become excited. I'll be back to get you." Then he hurried for a boat and help.
     By the time the boat was brought, the little girl had been swept far out to sea by the strong tide. It took a long time for the men in the boat to locate her. When they found her, she was calmly floating and swimming around as her father had instructed.
     Later the newspaper reporters swarmed around the little girl, asking how she had been able to remain so calm and to keep up so far out at sea all alone.
     "My daddy told me that he would come back. I knew he would come, so I wasn't afraid.  I did what he told me to do, and I was all right," the little girl replied quietly.
     Our Heavenly Father has promised that He will come back for us... @Source: 501 Illustrations, By Robert H. Pierson, Copyright (c) 1965, Southern Publishing Association, Nashville , Tennessee , USA . @Sent by Pastor Charles Kitner – Monday-fodder.com

BRINGING OUT THE BEST!

There is no oil, if olives are not squeezed...
No wine, if grapes are not pressed...
No perfume, if flowers are not crushed...
Have you felt any pressure in life today?
Don't worry... God is just bringing out the best in you!
- Sent by Owen Lorion - Cited on monday-fodder.com

   I MAY NEVER SEE TOMORROW
I may never see tomorrow, there's no guarantee,
And things that happened yesterday belong to history.
I can't predict the future, I can't change the past,
I have just the present memories to treat as my last.
I must use this moment wisely, for soon it will pass away,
And be lost forever as a part of yesterday.

I must exercise compassion, help the fallen to their  feet,
Be a friend unto the friendless, make their life complete.
The unkind things I do today, may never be undone,
And friendships that I fail to win, may never more be won.
I may not have another chance on bended knees to pray,
And I thank God with a humble heart for giving me this day!

WORSHIP AND WORRY     "It was early in the morning in another country. Exhausted, I awoke around 3. The name of someone I loved dearly flashed into my mind. It was like an electric shock. Instantly, I was wide awake. I knew there would be no more sleep for me the rest of the night. So I lay there and prayed for the one who was trying hard to run away from God. When it is dark and the imagination runs wild, there are fears that only a mother can understand.
     Suddenly the Lord said to me, 'Quit studying the problems and start studying the promises.' Now, God has never spoken to me audibly, but there is no mistaking when He speaks.

So I turned on the light, got my Bible, and the first verse that came to me was Philippians 4:6: 'Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God' (italics mine). And verse 7, 'And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.'

     Suddenly I realized the missing ingredient in my prayers had been 'with thanksgiving.' So I put down my Bible and spent time worshiping Him for who He is and what He is. This covers more territory than any one mortal can comprehend. Even contemplating what little we do know dissolves doubts, reinforces faith and restores joy. I began to thank God for giving me this one I loved so dearly in the first place. I even thanked Him for the difficult spots which taught me so much.

     And you know what happened? It was as if suddenly someone turned on the lights in my mind and heart, and the little fears and worries which, like mice and cockroaches, had been nibbling away in the darkness, suddenly scuttled for cover.

     That was when I learned that worship and worry cannot live in the same heart." - Source: Ruth Bell Graham "It's My Turn" - www.creativeyouthideas.com

AROUND THE THANKSGIVING TABLE     One Thanksgiving season a family was seated around their table, looking at the annual holiday bird. From the oldest to the youngest, they were to express their praise. When they came to the 5-year-old in the family, he began by looking at the turkey and expressing his thanks to the turkey, saying although he had not tasted it he knew it would be good. After that rather novel expression of thanksgiving, he began with a more predictable line of credits, thanking his mother for cooking the turkey and his father for buying the turkey. But then he went beyond that. He joined together a whole hidden multitude of benefactors, linking them with cause and effect.

     He said, "I thank you for the checker at the grocery store who checked out the turkey. I thank you for the grocery store people who put it on the shelf. I thank you for the farmer who made it fat. I thank you for the man who made the feed. I thank you for those who brought the turkey to the store."

     Using his Columbo-like little mind, he traced the turkey all the way from its origin to his plate. And then at the end he solemnly said "Did I leave anybody out?"

     His 2-year-older brother, embarrassed by all those proceedings, said, "God."

     Solemnly and without being flustered at all, the 5-year-old said, "I was about to get to Him."

     Well, isn't that the question about which we ought to think at Thanksgiving time? Are we really going to get to Him this Thanksgiving? – www.creativeyouthideas.com

I'M GOIN’ TO STILL BE THANKFUL  - L. A. Tubbs
I've been countin’ up my blessin’s an’ summin’ up my woes.
But I don't have the conclusion some would naturally suppose.
Why, I quit a-countin’ troubles ’fore I had a half a score.
While the more I count my blessin’s I keep findin’ more and more.
There’s been things that wan’t exactly as I thought they oughta be;
An’ I've often growled at Providence fer not a-pettin’ me!
But I hadn't stopped to reckon what the other side had been—
How much o’ good an’ blessin’ had been thickly crowded in.
Fer there’s been a rift o’ sunshine after every shower o’ tears,
An’ I found a load o’ laughter scattered all along the years.
If the thorns have pricked me sometime, I've good reason to suppose
Love has hid ’em often from me ’neath the rapture o’ the rose!
So I'm goin’ to still be thankful fer the sunshine an’ the rain,
Fer the joy that’s made me happy, fer the purgin’ done by pain.
Fer the love o’ little children, fer the friends that have been true,
Fer the guidin’ hand that’s led me every threatenin’ danger through!
@Sent by Mary Sutherland – Monday-fodder.com

THE PILGRIMS CAME

The Pilgrims came across the sea,
And never thought of you and me;
And yet it's very strange the way
We think of them Thanksgiving day.

We tell their story, old and true
Of how they sailed across the blue,
And found a new land to be free
And built their homes quite near the sea.

Every child knows well the tale
Of how they bravely turned the sail
And journeyed many a day and night,
To worship God as they thought right.

~~Author Unknown.~~

GETTING RID OF AN ENEMY     In the days of the Revolutionary War there lived at Ephrata , Pennsylvania , a Baptist pastor by the name of Peter Miller who enjoyed the friendship of General Washington. There also dwelt in that town one Michael Wittman, an evil-minded man who did all in his power to abuse and oppose this pastor. One day Michael Wittman was involved in treason and was arrested and sentenced to death. The old preacher started out on foot and walked the whole seventy miles to Philadelphia to plead for this man's life. He was admitted into Washington 's presence and at once begged for the life of the traitor. Washington said, "No, Peter, I cannot grant you the life of your friend." The preacher exclaimed, "He is not my friend--he is the bitterest enemy I have." Washington cried, "What? You've walked seventy miles to save the life of an enemy? That puts the matter in a different light. I will grant the pardon." And he did. And Peter Miller took Michael Wittman from the very shadow of death back to his own home in Ephrata--no longer as an enemy, but as a friend. --James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 345 – Cited on A Dose of Inspiration, by Norman Lawrence

Remember
It was the Veteran, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press.

It was the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It was the Veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to fair trial.

It was the Veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to demonstrate.

It is the Veteran, who salutes the flag, who served under the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag.

Written by Father Denis Edward O'Brien, USMC

All Gave Some - Some Gave All

IF I KNEW it would be the last time that I'd see you fall asleep, I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time that I get to see you walk out the door, I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice lifted up to praise, I would video tape each action and word, so I could play
them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute or two to stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming that you know I do.

If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day, instead of thinking, "Oh, well, I'm sure we'll have so many more, so I can let this one slip away."

For surely there's always tomorrow to make up for an oversight, and we always get a second chance to make everything all right. There will always be another day to say " I love you," and certainly there's always another chance. But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get, I'd like to say how much I love you and hope we never forget. Tomorrow is never promised to anyone, young or old alike, and today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight. So, if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today? For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day that you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or kiss, and you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their last wish.

So, hold your loved ones close today, whisper in their ear. Tell them how much you love them, and that you'll always hold them dear. Take the time to say " I'm sorry," "please forgive me," "thank you," or "it's ok." And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today. - Author Unknown

"Be bold in what you stand for and careful what you fall for." -- Ruth Boorstin

ACTS - A Pattern for prayer      In order to help us remember the important parts of prayer, the acronym ACTS has been developed. This is a simple mnemonic device to help us remember the four basic elements of prayer.

A = Adoration:  We put aside all our thoughts and troubles and come into the presence of God.It is a time for "turning our heart home...," a pause in our activities to focus on God, and God alone. For many this is a time of praise for all the glory of God revealed around us. For others it is a time of quiet listening, putting all other thoughts aside and seeking a clear focus of our love for God. It is a time to put things in perspective, to remember "who we are and whose we are." It sets the stage for all that is to follow.

C = Confession:  This is the time for truth telling. Even as we know God is aware of all our faults and failures, it is important to let God know that WE are aware of them as well. Too often we can hide and deny the places that hold the most pain. Too often the world rushes us on and we allow situations to fester. Truth telling involves honest appraisal both of the good and the bad in our life. It is a time to speak to God with the deepest trust that these circumstances need attention, healing and resolution. Often this honesty needs to be spoken aloud, shared with a trusted friend or spiritual director for in the speaking, insight often comes. Being honest before God may lead us into some painful realization as to our need for seeking help, reconciliation or guidance. Such Honesty is the most direct and powerful way to resolve the situations of our life.

T = Thanksgiving:  In the context of adoration and with ourselves being very honest before God, we are then able to give thanks. We "count our blessings" as we recognize all that God has done for us. From the smallest gift of a flower blooming on a concrete sidewalk, to the awesome love of God in the Grace and Sacrifice of Jesus Christ... we give thanks. We give thanks for the food we have, the shelter provided, the family and friends, the church family and its support.

S = Supplication: Supplication is simply the sharing of our needs. They are different than our wants and desires. God has promised to care for our needs. We may recognize the shallowness of some of our desires. We may uncover a deeper need long ago buried. We may discover God has placed in our life new solutions and answers to our prayers. As we go over our concerns for others, we may be given insights into how best to minister to others. At times, names may come to us "out of the blue." And perhaps a phone call is needed, a card, or a visit or a deep word of prayer for them. God has a way of using our supplications to become occasions for our own growth in our spiritual journey. We are often confronted with actions and opportunities which, if followed through, enrich us greatly.

ACTS: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.

Can you see how these letters can be used in your prayer time? Can you find 5-10 minutes a day and give them a try? As you begin, go through the letters, first with A (adoration), pause and consider how great God is. Then after a few moments, move on to C (confession), and do the same. Then move on to T (thanksgiving) and end with S (supplication.)  Take the time in the morning, or at lunch or in the car with the music off. You'll be surprised at how powerful God will be in your life with just these few moments, these few letters: ACTS.

LORD, TAKE US, USE US!     "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two fishes:  but what are they among so many?  And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would." - John 6:9,11
     Jesus was forever borrowing.  A stable was borrowed for Him to be born in; He borrowed a boat to be used as a pulpit; five loaves of bread and two fishes to feed 5,000; a donkey for His triumphal procession into Jerusalem; the Upper Room to institute the Sacrament of Holy Communion; the back of Simon of Cyrene to help Him carry the cross; and the tomb of Joseph in which to be buried.
     But, of course, Jesus did not have to borrow anything, because it all belonged to Him anyway.  But I believe He borrowed to show us that today He needs us.  Jesus needs us . . . we should be flattered!  Jesus needs us to fill some special assignment or to touch some life that no one else can do.
     There is a purpose to our lives.  We are not here just to fill space and accumulate things.   We are here to be a credit to God and to serve Him and our fellow human beings.  To this end, Jesus Christ redeemed us.  "For THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S, AND THE FULLNESS THEREOF."     May we allow the Lord always to take us and use us wherever and however He needs us. - jcshrimp1.com/insp/

A TITHE FISH STORY -  by Ben Maxson      I was on the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands of the South Pacific when I heard the story of a twelve year old boy who had learned what the Bible teaches on tithing.  One day he came to the local church elder with a large fish he had caught.  He explained to the elder that it was his tithe and asked for instructions as to how to give it to God.
     The elder explained that he could sell it at the market or dry it and then sell it.  Then he could return the tithe to God through His church.  Then the elder remarked that it had been a good day for fishing since he had caught ten fish.
     "Oh no," said the boy.  "This is the first one.  The other nine are still in the ocean.  I'm going after them next." @Wit & Wisdom – Monday-fodder.com

THE NAIL     The congregation built a new church building and people came from far and wide to see it... They admired its beauty. Up on the roof, a little nail heard the people praising everything about the lovely structure -- except the nail.  No one even knew he was there, and he became angry and jealous.  "If I am that insignificant, nobody will miss me if I quit!"  So the nail then released its hold, slid down the roof, and fell in the mud.

     That night it rained and rained. Soon, the shingle that had no nail blew away, and the roof began to leak. The water streaked the walls and the beautiful murals. The plaster began to fall, the carpet was stained, and the pulpit Bible was ruined by water. All this because a little nail decided to quit! But what of the nail? While holding the shingle, it was obscure but it was also useful.  Buried in the mud it was just as obscure, but now it was useless and would soon be eaten up by rust!

     THOUGHT: Every member is important to the church. You may, like the nail, feel obscure at times, but just like the nail, your absence is felt. When you are not present for worship, in some way the body of Christ hurts. We are all a part of the Lord''s building.    . . .The Daily Encourager (dlangerfeld@HarrisburgBaptist.org) by way of “Christian Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com)

THERE IS A CLEAR PATTERN IN THE BIBLE THAT TEACHES US THAT BROKENNESS BRINGS BREAKTHROUGH
        Before  Abraham became the father of many nations, he and Sarah were childless.

     You Are Not An Accident.  Your birth was no mistake or mishap, and your life is no fluke of nature.  Your parents may not have planned you, but God did...  Long before you were conceived by your parents, you were conceived in the mind of God.  He thought of you first.  It is not fate, nor chance, nor luck, nor coincidence that you are breathing this very moment.  You are alive because God wanted to create you!  - Rick Warren - Sent by Jared Drew – www.monday-fodder.com

Not Eatin' . . . Just Holdin'!     "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:  for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God."  Romans 8:6-8

     Johnny asked Mother, "Can I have some cookies, Mom?"  Looking at the clock, she replied, "Not now! It is too close to dinner."

      About ten minutes later, the mother entered the kitchen.  There was Johnny up on the counter with his arm in the cookie jar clear up to his elbow.

      "I thought I just told you, no cookies till dinner!"  Johnny's mother fumed.  "Well, Mom, I'm not eatin' no cookies!  I'm just holdin' some!"  (Author Unknown)

     After I finished reading this cute little article, I thought about temptations in life.  Johnny would have had a much easier time if he had avoided the cookie jar altogether.  But the temptation was just too great to resist.

     Each of us has some point of vulnerability.  It may be a problem with alcohol, drugs, gambling, sensuous lusts, or even eating disorders.  We often compound our problems by putting ourselves into untenable positions and precipitous situations.

     We would not fail so often if we avoided places or things where we would be subject to temptations.  We ought to abstain from those things which tempt us to be unrighteous within the Lord's law.  Let us cease giving the flesh easy opportunities!

      "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." - jcshrimp1.com/insp/

SPEAK TO US, O LORD     We had just finished an enthusiastic praise and worship time one Sunday morning.  As the worship leader finished the last song, she went straight into prayer.
     "Speak to us, O Lord," she prayed.  "Open our hearts to hear your voice."
     Just then we were startled to hear a deep, friendly voice coming from above our heads, saying, "Hello, how are you this morning?"
     I opened my eyes in surprise and saw that the worship leader and my fellow parishioners were standing with eyes and mouths wide open, too.
     After a moment of stunned silence, the worship leader chuckled and said, "Oh!  The pastor must have forgotten to turn off his lapel microphone when he went out to greet latecomers!"
- By Kathy Leonard, Palmyra, Virginia, "Lite Fare," Today's Christian  @Wit & Wisdom – mailto:subscribe-wit-wisdom@xc.org  - www.monday-fodder.com

LORD PROP US UP     Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old deacon who always prayed,"Lord prop us up on our leanin'side"

     After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently, He answered , "Well sir, you see, it's like this.... I got an old barn out back, it's been there a long time. It's withstood a lot of weather, it's gone through a lot of storms and it's stood for many of years. It's still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit. So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on it's leaning side so it wouldn't fall.

     Then I got to thinking 'bout that and how much I was like that old barn. I've been around a long time, I've stood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot bad weather in my life, I've withstood a lot of hard times and I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time. I like to ask the Lord to prop us up on our leaning side,   'cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning, at times."

     Sometime we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, and a lot of things that we shouldn't, so we need to pray, "Lord, prop us up on our leaning side," So we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the LORD!!!!! – Author Unknown

I DECIDE TO BE HAPPY EVERY DAY     The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud mother-in-law of my best friend, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.
     Maurine Jones is the most lovely, gracious, dignified woman that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. While I have never aspired to attain her depth of wisdom, I do pray that I will learn from her vast experience.
     After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window."I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. "Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room...just wait." "That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged...it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it..." She went on to say, "It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away...just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account...you withdraw from what you've put in...So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories, so when you go over it a second time, you can enjoy it again." - Author Unknown – e-inspirational.blogspot.com, by Norman Lawrence

HOLINESS     In the final analysis our greatest problem with holiness is not that our concepts of holiness are feeble, but that our hearts are rebellious. We are selfish, that's our problem. And the fact that we often won't admit our selfishness shows how deep the pride goes.   - Floyd McClung @The Timothy Report - to subscribe http://www.timothyreport.com – www.monday-fodder.com

     THE HEART OF THE LORD’S PRAYER