The "W" in Christmas

Author Unknown

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations -- extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six-year-old. For weeks he had been memorizing songs for his school's Winter Pageant.

I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there would be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as Christmas," I did not expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.

Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snow caps on their heads. Those in the front row center stage held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song.

As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message Christmas Love.

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly we noticed her; A small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter M upside down. She was completely unaware her letter M appeared as a W.

The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake, but she had no idea they were laughing at her. So she stood tall, proudly holding her W. Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together.

A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, and why we celebrated this holiday in the first place. We knew why, even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities.

When the last child held his letter high, the message read loud and clear:

" C H R I S T W A S L O V E " (You cannot get much better than that!)

Protective Love

I have read this before, but I received it in an email today. I thought it was worth thinking about again. How important God's love is to us and how important a parent's love is! Amen!

God's Wings -

A little something to put things in perspective...

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage.

One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick.

When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.

She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast ...because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live.

'He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.' (Psalm 91:4)

From a Book by Joel Osteen

Satanic forces and the presence of demons encompassed me. Fear came on me. It was such hellish fear that I had never imagined could exist. Fear would grip me regarding every area. The devil told me I had a brain tumor. The devil told me I had a fatal illness. Then the devil told me I was dying of an unknown, incurable disease. Sleep went from me. Insomnia is a terrible thing. When morning would come, I would wish for night. When night would come, I would long for morning. My heart would pound as if it would come out of my chest. I was not a baby Christian; I was a minister that needed to use the Word of God. While all of this oppression was on me, I was trying to minister.

We are to demonstrate that Satan is defeated. God has given us His Word. We are to remain in the arena of battle with His Word until we make up our minds to use it and deliver ourselves by the power of the Holy Spirit. When you act on fear, fears takes possession of you! Fear is the devil's tool. Never act on fear. Fear is a vapor, a lie.

I would cry out "Lord, why haven't you heard me or rescued me?" God wanted me to become a oreacher of faith. He wanted me to take the Word of God and help the children of God rise up against the pressures of the devil and demonic forces. He wanted me to be able to unfold the truths that I am now sharing. He wanted me to be a helper to the Body of Christ. The only way I could do this was to come out of it by the Word of God.

If God had run to my rescue and lifted me up like a baby, I would still be a baby. There comes a time when God says, "You are grown up. I have more confidence in you than you have in yourself. I am going to prove you in the field of battle with the Word of God."

This is the reason why some of you have felt that your prayers have not been answered. This is why some of you are still suffering. This is why some of you are wondering why God has not heard you. He is letting you know who you REALLY are as a new creature in Christ

Joy vs. Happiness

Do not confuse joy with happiness. Happiness tends to be temporary. You get an unexpected check in the mail and you are happy. So you go shopping but on the way the car breaks down and needs to be towed. Now you are unhappy.

See? Happiness comes and goes. Happiness depends on what's happening. Even the words have similar spelling.

Joy, on the other hand, comes from a deeper source from within you.. and it steadies you, smoothing out the bumps in the road.

It has yet another name... Gratitude. Without gratitude, there is no joy, so it's important to take the time to look at the things you are grateful for.

You have all your fingers and toes? Good! Some people don't.

Have too much to do? Good. Some people are confined to bed and cannot lift a finger.

How about your children? Start counting your blessings.

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*I was sad because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet." --Author unknown

Something to Think About!

A brother in Scetis committed a fault. A council was called to which abba Moses was invited, but he refused to go to it. Then the priest sent someone to him, saying, "Come, for everyone is waiting for you". So he got up and went. He took a leaking jug and filled it with water and carried it with him. The others came out to meet him and said, " what is this, father?" The old man said to them, "My sins run out behind me, and I do not see them, and today I am coming to judge the errors of another." When they heard that, they said no more to the brother but forgave him.