Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to say "Blessings to you all on this beautiful morning. Merry Christmas." You are part of my family and so I wanted to be sure to pop in and let you know you are being thought of at the outset of my day.May you each come to know the One who loves you face to face a little more today.

Thanks...I also wish you a merry Christmas with your family and with your Family :-)Bless

Ah....Christmas. Emanuel!Dear saints,God bless you all. Am just full of praise and thanks to the Lord for everything.Life around here has been so... charged, with change and difficulties, heartbreakings with some loved ones and specifically my wife and a number of things she has been going through, not a very good time of the year for her and just as surely this is the same for many. But underneath all that is an understanding, a compassion and a peace.Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Joh 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.For the hurting we hurt, not because of a humanism, but because we are human, created in God's image. And in some ways altogether differently because we have a hope and a promise in Jesus. What lent me to this musing lately was the thought of 'what if there was no "Christmas"?.What if the Lord never came down to be amongst us and to save us from our selves?What if Christ was not born?And for those who choose not to believe in their heart that He not only came, but did what only He could do.Long lay the world in sin and error pining,Till He appeared and the soul felt it's worthEph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: Having no hope, how did any of us ever survive without this? Not just any hope, in anything, some wishful thinking, but without Christ?Where I wanted to go with this was that even though it can seem a crime to have peace while so many are hurting at this time of year, to peel back all the layers of terrible circumstances that we all face, saved and lost, it most certainly could be worse. Much worse, if this day we commeroate had never came to pass.But...A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices,For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices!O night divine, O night, when Christ was born!O night, O holy night, O night divine.Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger;Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Truly He taught us to love one anotherHis law is love and His gospel is peaceEph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. And in His name all oppression shall ceaseSweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,Let all within us praise His holy name.Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten SonAren't you glad?Merry Christmas everyone.Christ is the Lord, O praise His name forever!His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!**(Italics from "O Holy Night")

Hey Crsshk,We must be flowing with the same spirit, :-) thats quite an awesome thought, your are only about 12 000 miles away.

Zekeo :-) Joh 16:7(ASV) Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you. What's a few thousand miles... :-) It is awesome, isn't it?!

This was wrote by a unknown confederate soldier:"I asked for strength that I may achieve... I was made weak that I might humbly obey.I asked for health that I might do greater things... I was given infirmity that I might do better things.I asked for riches that I might be happy... I was given poverty that I might be wise.I asked for power that I might have praise of men... I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.I asked for all things that I might enjoy life... I was given life that I might enjoy all things.I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for- almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.I am, among all men, most richly blessed."God Bless all during this holiday season. I pray all will be well.