What's the better gift that you can give to someone this Christmas?
Read through this story..
During World War II, at the Christmas season, Miss Kathryn Drummond was passing through a small Minnesota town. She observed a Red Cross bloodmobile parked before the schoolhouse and stopped to contribute a pint of blood.
Among the workers was a middle-aged handy-man who waited on the nurses by fetching supplies, washing utensils, and so forth. Meeting this man in the hall and assuming him to be the janitor, she commented upon the fine new school building. "No doubt you find it a great improvement over the old one," she said.
He blushed like a freshman but smiled, too. "I'm a stranger here," he said. "I live in Minneapolis and travel around with this unit. You see, I'm too old to fight and too unskilled to help these doctors and nurses in any other way than this. I have a great interest in collecting blood for Europe, as all my people are imperiled there."
His light complexion and sensitive features suggested to her that he was Nordic. "Are you from Denmark?" she asked.
"Oh no," he replied, "I'm a Greek. You know, some Greeks are very fair complected."
The following winter Miss Drummond was in Minneapolis. Friends took her to hear the renowned Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. And when its great conductor stepped to the podium she recognized him at once! He was the handy-man she had mistaken for a school janitor. He was the world-famous musician/conductor, Dimitri Mitropoulos!
This story has been shared with you in order to ask this question: What are you giving this year? There are a lot of things that are impossible for any of us to give . . . but by the same token there are a number of things we can give.
None of us could give a blind child sight this Christmas, but how about giving a few minutes of companionship? We can't give a father or mother back to a child who may have lost a parent, but we could give interest and a bit of time! It's impossible to restore to health a person who may have lost the use of any of their limbs, but how about time spent with them to give purpose and meaning? Have you caught the concept? Let Jesus Christ so fill you with His birthday spirit this year that you will give something of real value, lasting value in His name!
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn away from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land." - 2 CHORINTHIAN 7:14
December 19, 2011
December 18, 2011
Fourth Wise Man
The story is told of the "Fourth Wiseman" named Artaban. He, too, set out to follow the star and he took with him a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl beyond price as his gifts for the newborn King. He was riding hard to meet his three friends, Jasper, Melchor, and Balthasar at the agreed upon place. Time was running out when he came upon a traveler stricken with fever.
If he stayed to help he would miss his friends. He stayed, he helped, and nursed the man back to health. But now he was alone. He needed camels and bearers and a guide to help him across the desert. Because of his act he had missed the caravan of his friends. He had to sell the sapphire to get the needed supplies and camels and bearers, and he was saddened because the King would never have this special gem.
He finally reached Bethlehem only to find Joseph and Mary and the Baby gone. While at the home where they had been staying, soldiers from Herod's army came to kill all the boy babies in the house. The mother wept behind Artaban as he stood in the doorway. To save the child from certain death he paid the captain with the ruby so he would not so much as enter the room. One boy child was saved and the ruby was gone - now one less gift for the King.
For years he wandered, looking in the vain for the King until some 30 years later he found Him in Jerusalem during His crucifixion. He thought just maybe he could use the pearl to buy His freedom. On the way to the hill a girl came running from a band of soldiers who were chasing her. She cried out, "My father is in debt and they are taking me to sell me a slave to pay the debt. Please . . . help me, save me!"
Artaban hesitated . . . then, sadly, he took out his pearl, offered it to the soldiers, and bought the girl's freedom and cleared the debt.
The sky went dark and . . . the King died.
Now . . . think . . . did not the wiseman, Artaban, give his gifts to the King because he had cared for those who needed his gifts?
Christmas is soon upon us. Have you given any thought about your gift giving this year? Will it be exchange time . . . giving to people who are able to give back to you? Or will it be an honest act of real giving? How about giving to people who can't give back? I know of a family who pool their "gift" giving money every other year, and give it to a needy family as their Christmas gift. Just a thought.
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me'."
-Matthew 25:40
If he stayed to help he would miss his friends. He stayed, he helped, and nursed the man back to health. But now he was alone. He needed camels and bearers and a guide to help him across the desert. Because of his act he had missed the caravan of his friends. He had to sell the sapphire to get the needed supplies and camels and bearers, and he was saddened because the King would never have this special gem.
He finally reached Bethlehem only to find Joseph and Mary and the Baby gone. While at the home where they had been staying, soldiers from Herod's army came to kill all the boy babies in the house. The mother wept behind Artaban as he stood in the doorway. To save the child from certain death he paid the captain with the ruby so he would not so much as enter the room. One boy child was saved and the ruby was gone - now one less gift for the King.
For years he wandered, looking in the vain for the King until some 30 years later he found Him in Jerusalem during His crucifixion. He thought just maybe he could use the pearl to buy His freedom. On the way to the hill a girl came running from a band of soldiers who were chasing her. She cried out, "My father is in debt and they are taking me to sell me a slave to pay the debt. Please . . . help me, save me!"
Artaban hesitated . . . then, sadly, he took out his pearl, offered it to the soldiers, and bought the girl's freedom and cleared the debt.
The sky went dark and . . . the King died.
Now . . . think . . . did not the wiseman, Artaban, give his gifts to the King because he had cared for those who needed his gifts?
Christmas is soon upon us. Have you given any thought about your gift giving this year? Will it be exchange time . . . giving to people who are able to give back to you? Or will it be an honest act of real giving? How about giving to people who can't give back? I know of a family who pool their "gift" giving money every other year, and give it to a needy family as their Christmas gift. Just a thought.
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me'."
-Matthew 25:40
December 14, 2011
THE NIGHT CHRISTMAS ARRIVED
May you find this story interesting and may you discover the goodness of God, may we learn something.. :)
Marge had been a member of our church study group
for several years. Now she was terminally ill with cancer. The
rest of our group gathered to go caroling. It was a cold night
with snow in the air. We visited people who were house-bound
and would sing two or three carols at each house.
We all were looking forward to singing to Marge.
She was feeling fairly well that evening and came to the door
to hear us. We sang two or three carols and were about to leave
when, on impulse, I asked if there was any particular carol
she would like to hear.
"There is," she said, "but I suppose it is too much to ask. During
the Second World War, I was a nurse in a prison camp for
German soldiers in Arizona. I remember on Christmas Eve when
they sang 'Silent Night, Holy Night' as one of the most moving
experiences in my life. I would really enjoy hearing that sung
in German again."
My heart sank. There was no way we could do that. Suddenly,
behind me, I heard a voice, "I can do that." Ed, a member
of our group who sang in our church choir, began to sing.
The rest of us began to hum along with him.
I never knew what prompted Marge to ask for that particular
carol. Perhaps she was reviewing her life experiences,
trying to make sense of her life before she died.
None of us knew that Ed had majored in languages and had been
a German language teacher earlier in his life. All
of us knew that, in the God-given serendipity
of that moment, Christmas had arrived!
Serendipity is the aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident...and God specializes in these moments, lots of them. Coincidence has been described as an event in which God chooses to remain anonymous. Do you think that each of us could have a role in providing such a moment for someone else at this season?
Here is another one of those special moments: To show the splendor of the newborn Saviour in the church Christmas pageant, an electric light bulb was hidden in the manger. All the stage lights were to be turned off so only the brightness of the manger could be seen, but the boy who controlled the lights got confused and all the lights went out.
It was a fairly tense moment broken by a little shepherd's loud whisper, "Hey, you! You just turned off Jesus!"
BE PREPARED, LET IT HAPPEN, AND LET'S SHARE THE MOMENT.
LUKE 1:38 "Anna. . .coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem."
December 13, 2011
PRICELESS GIFTS
1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
LOVE is one of the greatest gift that one can give to a person this coming Christmas. Even if it's not Christmas let us always practice the joy of loving people around us. Loving those people close to our hearts - family, friends, church mates, office mates, neighbors and even those people whom we hate. We must learn to love.
Another thing that I've learned from the preaching in our church is that, aside from the love that we will give and share, we must also wrapped the gift of FORGIVENESS. We must learn the value of forgiving those people who have hurt us deep within.
We don't have the reason to make reasons not to be able to give love and forgiveness to people. First and foremost it is our Father whom demonstrated this gift of love and forgiveness. Now who are we for us not to be able to that in the same way? God has shown a good example of those two precious gift that we can share this coming Christmas.
There's a lot more that you can give this Christmas. Are you having difficulty of thinking what to give this Christmas? Here are also the priceless gift that you can share and give.
*the gift of Listening
Try to share a moment with a family or a friend with your time. You may never know he/she needs someone to lean on. Just be there, you don't need to talk, or even share what's in your mind, you just have to listen. That's all you have to do.
*the gift of Favor
It is warm to someone's heart if you can even say "You look great today" or you can even say "It's amazing to see you". By this you bring a smile to someone's life.
*the gift of Smile
It is always said that when you start your day with a smile everything goes well. Try to put a smile on every person that you may meet. Having that attitude you can make many people feel light and happy on a single day.
*the gift of Time
You can have all the time you want. If there's a gift that you want to share, it's your time. You can never rewind a moment's passed. Treasure every time that you can spend and give to those people that you value.
*the gift of Generosity
Generosity is the one reason why we celebrate Christmas. First, God gave his Son for the forgiveness of our sins. Mary and Joseph gave their life for Jesus to be born in this world. Jesus give help to each and every humankind. Why don't we give a help, a smile, a gift.
May we enjoy this season of Christmas. May we share the goodness to each and every person.
Share the true meaning of Christmas.
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
LOVE is one of the greatest gift that one can give to a person this coming Christmas. Even if it's not Christmas let us always practice the joy of loving people around us. Loving those people close to our hearts - family, friends, church mates, office mates, neighbors and even those people whom we hate. We must learn to love.
Another thing that I've learned from the preaching in our church is that, aside from the love that we will give and share, we must also wrapped the gift of FORGIVENESS. We must learn the value of forgiving those people who have hurt us deep within.
We don't have the reason to make reasons not to be able to give love and forgiveness to people. First and foremost it is our Father whom demonstrated this gift of love and forgiveness. Now who are we for us not to be able to that in the same way? God has shown a good example of those two precious gift that we can share this coming Christmas.
There's a lot more that you can give this Christmas. Are you having difficulty of thinking what to give this Christmas? Here are also the priceless gift that you can share and give.
*the gift of Listening
Try to share a moment with a family or a friend with your time. You may never know he/she needs someone to lean on. Just be there, you don't need to talk, or even share what's in your mind, you just have to listen. That's all you have to do.
*the gift of Favor
It is warm to someone's heart if you can even say "You look great today" or you can even say "It's amazing to see you". By this you bring a smile to someone's life.
*the gift of Smile
It is always said that when you start your day with a smile everything goes well. Try to put a smile on every person that you may meet. Having that attitude you can make many people feel light and happy on a single day.
*the gift of Time
You can have all the time you want. If there's a gift that you want to share, it's your time. You can never rewind a moment's passed. Treasure every time that you can spend and give to those people that you value.
*the gift of Generosity
Generosity is the one reason why we celebrate Christmas. First, God gave his Son for the forgiveness of our sins. Mary and Joseph gave their life for Jesus to be born in this world. Jesus give help to each and every humankind. Why don't we give a help, a smile, a gift.
May we enjoy this season of Christmas. May we share the goodness to each and every person.
Share the true meaning of Christmas.
NEED TO BE HUGGED
Here is a story about giving help to someone in need in times of danger.
In the fall of the year, Linda, a young woman, was traveling alone up the rugged highway from Alberta to the Yukon. Linda didn't know you don't travel to Whitehorse alone in a rundown Honda Civic, so she set off where only four-wheel drive vehicles normally venture.
The first evening she found a room in the mountains and asked for a 5:00 a.m. wake-up call so she could get an early start. She didn't understand why the clerk looked surprised at that request but as she awoke to early morning fog shrouding the mountaintops, she understood.
Not wanting to look foolish, she got up and went to breakfast. Two truckers invited Linda to join them and since the place was so small, she felt obliged.
"Where are you headed?" one of the drivers asked.
"Whitehorse."
"In that little Civic? No way! This pass is dangerous in weather like this," the other chimed in.
"Well, I'm determined to try," was Linda's gutsy, if not very informed response.
"Then I guess we're just going to have to hug you," the trucker suggested.
Linda drew back. "There's no way I'm going to let you touch me!"
"Not like that!" the truckers chuckled. "We'll put one truck in front of you and one in the rear. That way we'll get you through the mountains."
Have you ever been caught in the fog of life? Visibility is almost non-existent. Then, there's not only the fog to contend with, but you're faced with a mountain pass as well. The combination can be deadly. What do you do? You need help. Hopefully at a time like that you have some mature Christian friends upon whom you can call to "hug" you through such a life-situation. Someone who can lead the way as well as someone who can follow behind with gentle encouragement.
But it doesn't stop with receiving such help. How about you? Are you willing to help someone else through the treacherous passes of life? We are to be a part of each other's life needs. Give someone a "hug" of care.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV
9Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one else to help them up.
In the fall of the year, Linda, a young woman, was traveling alone up the rugged highway from Alberta to the Yukon. Linda didn't know you don't travel to Whitehorse alone in a rundown Honda Civic, so she set off where only four-wheel drive vehicles normally venture.
The first evening she found a room in the mountains and asked for a 5:00 a.m. wake-up call so she could get an early start. She didn't understand why the clerk looked surprised at that request but as she awoke to early morning fog shrouding the mountaintops, she understood.
Not wanting to look foolish, she got up and went to breakfast. Two truckers invited Linda to join them and since the place was so small, she felt obliged.
"Where are you headed?" one of the drivers asked.
"Whitehorse."
"In that little Civic? No way! This pass is dangerous in weather like this," the other chimed in.
"Well, I'm determined to try," was Linda's gutsy, if not very informed response.
"Then I guess we're just going to have to hug you," the trucker suggested.
Linda drew back. "There's no way I'm going to let you touch me!"
"Not like that!" the truckers chuckled. "We'll put one truck in front of you and one in the rear. That way we'll get you through the mountains."
Have you ever been caught in the fog of life? Visibility is almost non-existent. Then, there's not only the fog to contend with, but you're faced with a mountain pass as well. The combination can be deadly. What do you do? You need help. Hopefully at a time like that you have some mature Christian friends upon whom you can call to "hug" you through such a life-situation. Someone who can lead the way as well as someone who can follow behind with gentle encouragement.
But it doesn't stop with receiving such help. How about you? Are you willing to help someone else through the treacherous passes of life? We are to be a part of each other's life needs. Give someone a "hug" of care.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV
9Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one else to help them up.
December 09, 2011
STRONG & TRUST
They say that the foundation of any relationship is their trust to each other. Have you ever asked yourself how is it with your relationship with God?
The cornerstone of any strong relationship is trust. The dictionary defines "trust" as "to have confidence or faith in" or as "the trait of believing in the honesty and reliability of others."
Trust requires time to build and it comes through various tests of confidence. It's doing what you say you're going to do, in the time and way promised. Another way to build trust is by helping propel others forward in life while maintaining their confidences and also protecting their back. All the other building blocks are meaningless without the placement of trust in the relationship foundation.
Trust requires some level of intimate contact with another. It's personal. However, sometimes in order to get to the personal, you have to start with less intimate contact and progress towards the personal.
http://www.kathyherrmann.com
Here is a summary of the preaching in the church last January 23, 2011 talking about being STRONG. Just want to share it.
We need to be STRONG always.
Standing STRONG means you are full of unfolding promises of God and you have able to stand strong in the midst of obstacles.
It is said in: JOSHUA 10:12-14 (NIV)
12 On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the
LORD in the presence of Israel:
"Sun, stand still over Gibeon,
and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."
13 So the sun stood still,
and the moon stopped,
till the nation avenged itself on (a) its enemies,
as it is written in the Book of Jashar.
The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a
full day. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the
LORD listened to a human being. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!
There are different obstacles and oppositions that happened in the book of Joshua that tells us about having faith and being strong in the midst of problem, having that faith and promise of God. The first one is CROSSING THE JORDAN RIVER Joshua 3-4 (NIV). And let us remember that when there's an obstacle, let God be ahead of you and just follow His way. The next one is the JERICHO WALL Joshua 5-6 (NIV). God tells the people of Israelites to put up their knives and circumcise their selves. Circumcision during that time meaning that you have a covenant with God or you are called covenant people. The third one is AI Joshua 7-8 (NIV). The Israelites lost because they didn't stand firm on their faith. Remember that even a small compromise or sin can take away the promise of God. And repentance is a LIFETIME not a ONE TIME event. The last one is GIBEONITES Joshua 9 (NIV). Remember that if we make mistakes and we turn to God and that mistakes can be turn to miracle by God.
Remember this:
Joshua 10:14 (NIV)
There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened
to a human being. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!
REFLECTION:
The Lord will help us and fight on our battle but who's side are we in?
There's a limit drawn between God and man that God is immovable,
unchangeable and He will neither take our side nor the enemy's. But it
depends on whose side are we on. Let it be on God's side.
The cornerstone of any strong relationship is trust. The dictionary defines "trust" as "to have confidence or faith in" or as "the trait of believing in the honesty and reliability of others."
Trust requires time to build and it comes through various tests of confidence. It's doing what you say you're going to do, in the time and way promised. Another way to build trust is by helping propel others forward in life while maintaining their confidences and also protecting their back. All the other building blocks are meaningless without the placement of trust in the relationship foundation.
Trust requires some level of intimate contact with another. It's personal. However, sometimes in order to get to the personal, you have to start with less intimate contact and progress towards the personal.
http://www.kathyherrmann.com
Here is a summary of the preaching in the church last January 23, 2011 talking about being STRONG. Just want to share it.
We need to be STRONG always.
Standing STRONG means you are full of unfolding promises of God and you have able to stand strong in the midst of obstacles.
It is said in: JOSHUA 10:12-14 (NIV)
12 On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the
LORD in the presence of Israel:
"Sun, stand still over Gibeon,
and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."
13 So the sun stood still,
and the moon stopped,
till the nation avenged itself on (a) its enemies,
as it is written in the Book of Jashar.
The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a
full day. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the
LORD listened to a human being. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!
There are different obstacles and oppositions that happened in the book of Joshua that tells us about having faith and being strong in the midst of problem, having that faith and promise of God. The first one is CROSSING THE JORDAN RIVER Joshua 3-4 (NIV). And let us remember that when there's an obstacle, let God be ahead of you and just follow His way. The next one is the JERICHO WALL Joshua 5-6 (NIV). God tells the people of Israelites to put up their knives and circumcise their selves. Circumcision during that time meaning that you have a covenant with God or you are called covenant people. The third one is AI Joshua 7-8 (NIV). The Israelites lost because they didn't stand firm on their faith. Remember that even a small compromise or sin can take away the promise of God. And repentance is a LIFETIME not a ONE TIME event. The last one is GIBEONITES Joshua 9 (NIV). Remember that if we make mistakes and we turn to God and that mistakes can be turn to miracle by God.
Remember this:
Joshua 10:14 (NIV)
There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened
to a human being. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!
REFLECTION:
The Lord will help us and fight on our battle but who's side are we in?
There's a limit drawn between God and man that God is immovable,
unchangeable and He will neither take our side nor the enemy's. But it
depends on whose side are we on. Let it be on God's side.
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