How to keep Christmas in perspective.

With Christmas now behind us what have we learned this year? First, that this years gifts were a bit thinner than in previous years. Second, that this years gifts were a bit more personal and thirdly, that this years Christmas vacation was not as extravagant as before.

It seems that each year we find oursleves asking the same question "What is the real meaning of Christmas?" Well what we do know is that Christmas is never about us but about Jesus Christ. That Christmas is about sharing the love of Christ with one another. That all the fuss of finding the right gift really isn't as important as being with those you love.

Each year we tell our kids that Christmas is all about God giving each of us a gift and that gift is the forgiveness of our sins and life everlasting with Him through Jesus Christ. When we keep Christmas in its real place then it makes Christmas so much more pleasing and with very little stress.

This year our family kept it simple for reasons we didn't see come our way. But today in church I was reminded that Christmas isn't about what I get from people but more about what I am willing to give to God. First, I need to give Him my life. Second, I need to give Him my living and thirdly, I need to let others know of what God has done for them to make Christmas so special. Its Jesus Christ.

I hope that this years Christmas was all about Jesus for you. Because when it is then life gets put in proper order. Thank you God for thinking of me and may I find myself always thinking of You.

How great it is to have a spirital family.

My wife, daughter and I were able to visit with one of our Life Connection groups from church. We had a great time with them. We first ate some spiritual food from the Bible. We were reminded how special the birth of Jesus Christ was for all of us.

Jesus came not just to be born but to bring us life. Thats because within our own lives we as human beings have found a way to mess things up before God. In the Bible that is called sin. As a result of our sin we have separated ourselves from God to an eternal death.

But because God loved us so much He sent His One and Only Son to be born of a virgin to bring us back to Himself. Though sin made us enemies of God, God saw passed that to help us in our need to be rescued from sin and from its penalty.

The birth of Jesus Christ did that for all of us. It doesn't matter whether we are young or old, married or single, English speaking or not. Jesus came for all of us to be rescued back to God the Father.

Then we ate from some delicious Salvadorian food that filled our stomachs. The food and fellowship with the church family and with those visitors who were with us last night was neat. Sitting around the table talking and sharing with one another made the evening awesome.

The wonderful thing about being a Christian is that there is plenty of joy throughout your life that you can share with everyone, especially your spiritual family. Thank you for the great evening we enjoyed with you.

How wonderful is the Christmas season?

Have you ever thought about the Christmas season as being a wonderful time of the year? I know that many of us do but not for the right reasons. We enjoy Christmas because of the gifts we receive and for the time we take off from work. Yes, I know that many people also take time to see family and friends during the Christmas season.

What makes the Christmas season so wonderful is not what we get from each other but what we have received from God. Your life and my life have been so blessed by God for so long that I believe we have missed out on the wonder of the season.

If we were honest with ourselves we would have to admit that without God in our lives we would be wallering in the sadness of our lives and in the sickness of our sins. But with Jesus Christ being born we have the opportunity to have our lives full of wonder over the pain and punishment of sin.

As the saying goes "Jesus is the reason for the Season". If we would only take a hold of that saying and make it real in our lives then we would have to admit that the Christmas season is wonderful. Not because of what we have done but because of what God has done for us.

I hope that as you go through this Christmas season that you will give God the glory for all that has come into your life and the praise for helping you get through life and all that is involved in it. May you join me in saying to God "Thank you for making my life such a blessing!"

Shock in Ft. Hood

What a terrible thing we heard yesterday as one of our military men shot and killed his fellow soldiers as they prepared to depart to the battle field.

My son asked a simple question of "Why?" Why things like this happened is sometimes difficult to understand or to know. Humanity is so wrapped up in its own little world that they don't see the whole picture.

In a tragedy like this people wonder where was God? God was right there seeing all that was going on. For whatever reason this man took life in his own hands instead of letting it rest in Gods hands.

His worries or troubles about the war where not given to God and he didn't give God the chance to help in this time of need. Unfortunately we don't always understand why things like this happened.

But God does understand why these things happen and He is near to help us during these times. For some they may feel it is to late for God to help. But the reality is that it is never to late to let God intervene in your life.

God is near and wants to help us see our need for Him so that things like this won't happen again. I pray that these family members affected by this senseless act will draw near to God for strength and help.

At our church we are praying for you.

Its amazing how God can use a simple toy to make a child so happy.

This past Saturday we had our church Fall Festival at our new church property. We had a Trunk or Treat event that the kids loved. It wasn't anything extravagant but simple games that brought a smile on the kids faces.

Along with the fun we had food and candy that kept the kids running all night long. It was so good seeing the church members use their creativity in the games they brought which fit in the trunk of their cars.

Simple games made the night full of fun for the kids and their parents. Sometimes churches think they need to go overboard in order to bring people to an event they are hosting. But we fail to realize that God wants us doing something with all we have and he will take care of the rest.

God knows each and everyone of us and knows what puts a smile on our faces. As I saw the kids and parents go from trunk to trunk I saw a lot of people having a lot of fun.

I know that the night wasn't just to have fun but I saw that when we took time to be with people even in a simple game out of our trunks they appreciated it. God wants us involved in peoples lives whether we have sophisticated toys or not.

Thank you to all of the church members that took part in putting together a great first Fall Festival out our new church location.

Depending on God for all of your battles.

In my daily reading today I read from 2 Chronicles 14. In this chapter King Asa of Judah found himself and his nation being at war with another great nation. The other nation had 1 million warriors against his 280,000 fighters.

Seeing that he was out numbered 4 to 1 he cries out to God and makes this declaration "Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude, O Lord You are our God; let no man prevail against us."
2 Chronicles 14:11

This past Sunday night we did exactly this. We went before Christ on behalf of the church members and those Christians who find themselves under attack from Satan. We prayed and asked God to help us in our time of need as we are in a fierce spiritual battle. Satan has lost and is losing more and more people to the Lord and is trying all he can to slow us down and to defeats us.

But we will not faint nor will we lose heart because our God is great and He will defend His children from all adversaries. As we get attacked within our families, churches, at work and with those around us, we will not give in.

Today I pray for you and your family as you live each day resting upon the Lord. Satan is trying to discourage you and afflict you with pain. I call on the Lord to watch, protect, and lead us in the way that He would want us to go.

Dear Lord, I come before you today asking for help for the members of my church, for my family and for those that we know. I pray heavenly Father that we would not be overwhelmed with the army that is against us but that we will be strengthened in Your presences. Wage this battle for us as we depend upon You and thank You for the victory You give us in Jesus Christ. For it is in His name that I pray, amen.

I pray that today you will find rest in the Lord and that you will depend upon Him for all of your life and its endeavors.

How is a Harvest Pumpkin Like a Christian?

I saw this question posted on a lollipop wrapper. The company that makes these is called Scripture Candy. I thought "How is a Harvest Pumpkin like a Christian?"

The wrapper had on it that a Harvest Pupmkin is like a Christian in these ways.

1. It is Chosen
2. It is Cleaned
3. It is Changed
4. It Cast light

It got me to think about one of my favorite verses in the Bible 2 Corinthians 5:17 "If anyone is in Christ they are a new creation, the old has past away and all things become new."

It is neat to know that we are thought of and wanted by God even though we don't always live like He would want us to live. But in eternity past He saw our lives and said "No matter what you are doing I am already picking you to be in My family." Cool! God wants us and is choosing us.

When we surrender our lives to Him, He then takes us as we are and begins the process of making us as we ought to be. There is the immediate cleansing and then there is a daily activity in our lives to help us be all that we need to be. God doesn't look at us and say it is hopeless but that it is possible.

God takes a life without Him that was on the wrong road and makes it new and puts us on the right path of life. He takes a life that was tattered and dark and makes it new and usable for His glory.

So there is truth in that statement on the wrapper. But the change we need is not something we can do on our own. We are in need of Jesus Christ to take the old and make it new. Jesus loves you and has already set His eyes on you. Will you give Him your life?