Newsletter for December, 2006

Christmas Greetings:

At this “most wonderful time of the year” may you experience everything you hope that means. If it means home for Christmas and family bringing the warm glow to your heart, may it be. If it means shopping for that special gift for that special someone and anticipating the look on his or her face - may it be. It could mean receiving that special something you’ve been hinting about in every way but the front page of the newspaper. I hope it is there for you. If it means you have found the secret of the joy of giving to those who have a need, may you do it again this year. But most of all may you experience and know that we are living in the most wonderful time, Jesus has come and brought us peace with the Father! May we all return to that simpler more secure feeling of what Christmas is all about. Jesus was born!

Phil 2 - 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Lee

I’m very excited about this years Christmas because our 20 month old daughter Aleyah is able to appreciate Jesus’ birthday more this year. She doesn’t know and can’t comprehend exactly what Jesus did for us and what His birth meant, but she is getting on track. Aleyah can say “Jesus” and knows Jesus is the baby in the manger scene. It’s a start. I feel like I’m enjoying Christmas as a kid all over again because I see her excitement over the Christmas trees, lights, decorations and the cold weather. I will be looking forward to explaining to her Jesus’ love for us and how important it is that we celebrate Christmas. It will also be the first year she can open her presents and I can’t wait to hear Aleyah say her favorite word “Wow”! Scott

 

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My favorite scene in the Christmas story remains the angelic host sharing the announcement of Christ’s birth with the shepherds in the field. I’ve had the privilege of standing in the shepherd’s field in Bethlehem, and being there makes the mind stand in awe of what it must have been like 2,000 years ago! Shepherding was a lowly profession in Christ’s day, and it makes me happy inside that God chose to share the Savior’s birth with those in lowly estate, when He could have chosen the high and mighty. Well, perhaps you’re feeling lowly in heart this Christmas season. Take heart! God wants to share the complete and utter joy of the season with you afresh this year, just like He did with the shepherds so long ago. And don’t forget to invite someone who’s lonely into your house this Christmas! May you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year! Cliff

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I am so thankful to the Lord as I have the wonderful privilege for the first time to say a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to all our listeners. I count it a real blessing to be the secretary and a part of a team that represents Christ in getting the message out, that God loved us by sending His precious son Jesus, so that we can be with Him eternally. Jesus is the greatest gift we can receive and share to others this Christmas Season. Let’s not forget as the days draw closer to Christmas with shop-ping, sending out greeting cards, being together with family celebrations, giving and opening gifts, that we need to take time out to meditate on God’s word and ask for direction on how we can be a blessing to others this time of year. God can use each one of us in a very special way, all we have to do is ask for His guidance and leading to the right people we come in contact with. Remember Jesus is the real reason for the season! God Bless You All! Sheri

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“Peace” on Earth? Peace on earth is a familiar phrase heard this time of year. We see people offering peace to nations in the form of aid. We see people marching for peace in wartime. We know people who have given their lives for peace and others who make a living proclaiming “peace on earth”; but it still eludes us. What kind of “peace” are we talking about? Jesus instructed us to “Pray for the peace of Israel” in Psalm 122:6. Psalm 34:14 encourages us to “seek peace and pursue it”. Proverbs 3:17 tells us that “the paths of wisdom and understanding are peace”. Jeremiah declares that “peace comes from obedience”. At Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:14) a multitude of angels were “praising God saying, ‘glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will among men”. Isaiah declares in chapter 9:6 that “a child will be born to us; a son will be given to us, and the government will rest on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” What kind of peace are we talking about? The peace that God freely gave to us when His Son, Jesus, was born on that Christmas day over 2,000 years ago. When we surrender our lives to Him we realize a peace that begins with a relationship with our Savior here on earth and that lasts into eternity. Jim

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Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gift. 2 Corinthians 9:15
There are lots of things in life that are hard to describe: a parents’ love for their new born child; the awe of the miracle of life; the grandeur of the mountains; the majesty of a sunrise; the glory of the sun setting in marvelous technicolor; the awesome expanses of God’s world. . .you may not be able to describe them, but you know their impact. Consider God’s gift of Eternal Life through Jesus. If you’ve accepted that Gift then you know from experience what it is. At this time of year when we celebrate the wonder of the Gift may you remember anew and afresh the “indescribable” experience of knowing God’s love and acceptance of you as His Child. And if you have not experienced that Gift, may this year be the year of your new “Experience”, that of knowing that “Indescribable Gift” Jesus, personally. He’s the Greatest Gift of All! Merry Christmas. Martha

 

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