The Gift Of Love

The best gift anyone could receive

is Jesus.

Nathan, age 8, was working hard ( with a little help from his grandfather) to build a birdhouse for his mother for Christmas. He referred to it as his "secret project." He gave it careful thought and poured all his energy into it. Most important, he was motivated by love.

Before Nathan started, he calculated the number of hours he thought it would take to make it (7 1/2), and he decided  what colors it should be painted (yellow with a blue roof). On Christmas morning he insisted that it be the first gift opened, and he beamed when Mom said she really liked it.

Nathan's gift was given in the true spirit of the Gift whose birth we celebrate on Christmas. God the Father, moved by His great love, "gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

Think of the love of the father that led to the priceless gift of His Son, which was part of His eternal plan. God's gift of love should fill us with deep gratitude and joy. Let's together proclaim, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" - DCE

That's The Spirit

A person who has no fire in his heart

cannot warm others.

For 37 years, Bob Ufer was the enthusiastic radio voice of University of Michigan football. He delighted listeners with his emotional play-by-play coverage of the Saturday afternoon football games. Anyone who heard him knew at once whose side he was on. The loyal following that Ufer build up through the years indicates how contagious and appealing it is when a person gives himself wholeheartedly to cause he loves.

That sportcaster's fervor reminds us how natural it is to respond with intensity to something that is close to our hearts. The Scriptures give many examples of men who served the Lord with great enthusiasm.

To mark the return of the ark of the covenant, David laid aside his royal dignity and celebrated in the streets. Centuries later, Jesus burned with godly zeal as He chased the money-changers from the temple. And the early church chose men like Stephen because all could see that the Spirit f God was working through them.

What about us? Do people quickly recognize by our enthusiasm that we love and serve God and are filled with His Spirit? Do our lives give evidence of the wholehearted praise that is called for Psalm 148? -MRD II

Count Your Blessings

Life is so fulfilling,

When you always count your blessings.

I always woke up everyday looking back to what had happened for me for the previous days. I've been meaning to inspect each circumstances and intrepidly evaluate the outcomes that had effected on me. And if I saw some mistakes I am always making sure that I studied it intently and make sure it will not be repeated again.

Have I encountered the same situation I always have to scrutinize it and make sure I will not commit the same mistakes again. And I always thanked God for being always there guiding me and assisting me on how to approach such situation. And it feels so good and great after that. And I feel that God is always fair in treating us. He always has plans for us.

I know God is always there to help us. And uttering and offering a fervent prayer in every situation helps in easing the lows, challenges, and adversities that we meet in our lives. God has always the reason why all these situations happened to us. Jesus is always the Way.... and He is the Truth and the Light.

So, in this Thanksgiving Day it is apt to always count our blessings and thank God for all this grace that we had in life. God always has plans for us and we always have to be ready and accept the fact and the truth about it. Happy Thanksgiving to all! -AAP

The Main Pursuit

Happiness is not the goal of life -

Godliness is.

We've all had our share of both laughter and sorrow. Although we naturally enjoy laughter more than tears, we would have to say that most of the wisdon we've gained along the way we owe to the sad times. Yet, many Christians are obsessed with the pursuit of personal happiness. The writer of Ecclesistes rated such a pursuit as foolish.

Several years ago in an interview during his battle with cancer, theologian Francis Schaeffer said, "The only way to be foolishly happy in this world is to be young enough, well enough, and have money enough - and not give a care about other people. But as soon as you don't have any of the first three, or if you have compassion for the weeping world around you, then it is impossible to have the foolish kind of happiness that I believe some Christians present as Christianity."

What is our greatest need in life? Is it to be happy? We may long for a change in our circumstance, and sometimes that's what we get. But a changed life is our deepest need. Changed circumstances may make us happier, but a changed life will make us better, for it will make us like Christ.

What is your main pursuit in life? -JEY

Perhaps Today!

Look for Christ's return

and you'll live for Christ's glory.

As we approach a new millennium, many Christians speak of the "soon return of Christ" as if it will happen in their lifetime. And it may!

Down through history, people have predicted specific days, months, and years for Christ's return. The founder of one sect predicted October 22, 1886. Another leader set 1933 as the end of this age. And another predicted that Christ will come in 2005, saying that we can know the "nearness" but not the "exactness."

The dismal record of date-setters has led many to abandon the subject alltogeher. Andrew Bonar told of a Scottish man who loved the truth of Jesus' personal return. After living in Edinburgh for a time and returning to his village, his neighbors asked him how he liked Edinburgh preachers. "They all fly on one wing." he said. "They all preach Christ's first coming but not His second coming."

We will miss the purifying effect that comes from thinking about the Lord's return if we avoid the subject entirely or if we set a date. But if we watch and pray and live a holy life, we will be ready at all times.

The message of the Bible is clear: Be ready! Jesus could return at any moment - perhaps today! -DJD

The Pure And Gentle Way

Nothing is so strong

as gentleness.

The parents were heartbroken when their young adopted daughter died in an unusual accident. She suffocated when the drawstring of the hood of her jacket became caught in a playground slide. They learned later that she was not the first child to die this way. Design flaws in both the clothing and the slide made this an accident waiting to happen.

Some people might have seen in this tragedy an opportunity fo a lucrative lawsuit against two big corporations. But the parents refused to sue. In a television interview, the mother said they would have seen any remuneration as "blood money." She and her husband knew that the leaders of the companies involved never intended their products to harm anyone. So the parents appealed to the clothing and the slide manufacturers to correct the problems that led to the death of their adopted daughter. Both firms took immediate action. The mother is now leading a crusade to promote child safety.

While I acknowledge that it is not always wrong to sue, I was moved by the choice of those parents to follow the pure, peaceable, and gentle way. What an impact we would make in our society if all of us who profess to believe on Jesus would follow their example! -HVL

The Acid Test

God is not an arsonist;

He's a refiner.

A severe trial is sometimes called an "acid test." This term originated during times when gold was widely circulated. Nitric acid was applied to an object of gold to see if it was genuine or not. If it was fake, the acid decomposed it; if it was genuine, the gold was unaffected.

In God's view, our faith is "much more precious than gold," and it too must be tested. But these "acid tests" are positive ones. The Lord is working to reveal genuine faith, not to expose false faith.

During hard times, though, we may feel overwhelmed with the fear that our faith is decomposing. Ronald Dunn, a Bible teacher who has experienced much personal tragedy, knows what we are going through. He writes, " I', often mystified ..... I don't understand why it is that as I endeavor to live for God and pray and believe, everything seems to be falling apart. Sometimes I struggle, and I say, 'Dear Lord why are You allowing this to happen?'" Dunn concludes, "It's good for us to remember that God is not an arsonist; He's a refiner."

If you're undergoing a test of your faith, you can rejoice because it may be the very thing that God wants to use to purify and strengthen you. -JEY